Over recent years, I have begun to admire the vast plethora of interpretations andaspects of Literature which has emblazoned my studies, both independently and in school. Being able to, investigate and explore literary texts provides an immersive insight into an author’s work; the chance to delve into an author’smind and be submerged among their ruminations and emotions scattered along the page is captivating. Consequently, studying Literature at university would be a phenomenal chance for me to further investigate the art of literature.My infatuation with Literature began while reading Maya Angelou’s ‘I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings.” I learned writing was a construction and each aspect of a narrative had a labyrinth of explanations, for instance the metaphorical representation of the free bird being a parallel to the white race and the caged bird being an image of the black race.
The thought of Literary texts being a commentary on society, feminism and the world around us excited me deeply.In my first year at sixth form I learnt to concentrate on areas of narrative in prose, poetry and drama. This allowed me to analyse the literary techniques and the impact of context on the meaning. John Keats’ romantic poem ‘La Belle Dame Sans Merci’ follows an iambic tetrameter meter, however there are only three stressed syllables in the fourth line of each quatrain which effectively destroys the structure. Contextually, this may represent Keats’ need to break restrictive societal constraints. Controlling elements of poetry in this way to constitute a deeper societal meaning truly fascinated me.
Executing additional independent research helped ameliorate my confidence and understanding of the subject while inspiring me to examine texts further. Moreover, my recent study of Crime Literature has been both beguiling and gratifying.After enveloping the texts of ‘Hamlet’ and ‘Atonement’ I was stimulated to read other Crime novels such as ‘The Daughter Of Time’ and ‘Rebecca.’ This independent reading allowed me to develop a superior comprehension of the genre and its characteristics. This also galvanized my captivation with the development of the crime genre and literature across time and how it has affected the presentation of characters, which I would like to research more at degree level. On account of my inveterate passion for literature I read a variety of work in my free time, from ‘Lolita’ by Vladimir Nabokov to Catch-22 by Joseph Heller in order to broaden my understanding of the world and improve my mind both psychologically and cognitively. I also enjoy exploring literature through the medium of drama. I have been part of a Drama club for 5 years, and I have contributed to literary pieces like Othello coming alive on stage.
The basis of Drama is communication, and it has allowed me to communicate with and understand others in different ways. Drama has not only allowed me to further expand my understanding of literature but has taught me self-discipline and how to live in a world that is team orientated. I also had the opportunity to take part in an accelerated reader programme in my secondary school where I assisted children in developing their reading skills and comprehension of literature. Through observing their reading development I was able to recognise the importance of Literature on the growth of a child’s mind, the higher their reading comprehension became the greater their understanding of the world was. Furthermore, I am not a person to eschew from responsibility, I volunteer at a local food bank for deprived families.
This experience taught me to be responsible, organised and accept others without judgment, which in turn helped me express my opinion but also take on board other people’s ideas in order to better myself and others. I am a imaginative, open minded, productive individual who would be both honoured and privileged to study a plethora of both contemporary and historic textsat degree level.