ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS

QUESTION 1

What is literature? What is the purpose of literature? What is literature’s function in our lives? What is it supposed to do? What are the reasons that individuals, cultures, and societies create stories or literature? Why are stories so important or so essential to the human experience? What moves us to create this way?

QUESTION 2

Does literature reflect culture or does literature shape it? Does culture, experience, or belief influence the understanding and appreciation of literature? Is all literature influenced by bias and perspective?

QUESTION 3

How is language used to influence, empower, and manipulate us? Why is language so powerful? Is it possible to have a culture without language? Is it possible to think without language? How is our understanding of culture and society constructed through and by language?

QUESTION 4

How does the study of literature and texts help individuals consider and construct their understanding of reality? How can reading and writing lead to self-discovery? What of our own stories can be found in the stories of others?

QUESTION 5

Where does the meaning or truth of a text reside? How is a text used to convey meaning or truth? How does an author create meaning or reveal truth in a text? And what makes that meaning valid?