Some of the concepts that you learn in school will have an obvious impact on your life going forward and others will have more subtle effects. Many people think that unless you are planning on becoming a writer or English teacher, you will not need to learn literature concepts and how they shape the story. These concepts can do more than just help you get through your school years, however, they can also further your career and help you better understand pop culture.
Getting Through School
Knowing concepts such as what is an exposition and how do you write one is essential for getting through your schoolwork, especially if you are taking English, Literature or Writing classes. This, and literary devices such as metaphor, antagonist and cacophony can help you write the papers you are assigned and even help you do well on end-of-level testing and on college placement tests.
Luckily, there are many resources to help you learn and understand literary concepts as a student. Not only can you get extra help from teachers and fellow students, but you can also find third-party tutoring services and online resources to expand your learning. This can help if the teaching style of your teacher does not line up with your learning style as a student.
Furthering Your Career
One of the biggest benefits of learning literature and literary devices is that these things can help make you a better communicator. Furthering your career means being able to clearly and concisely communicate your goals and skills to both yourself and your employer. Being a prolific reader can help you better formulate resumes and cover letters as well as draft interdepartmental communications. Knowing how to use literary devices such as metaphor, irony and imagery and integrate them into your professional presentations can get you a step ahead of the competition.
Understanding Pop Culture
Literature has always been about influencing and immortalizing popular culture. These devices can be found in all types of media, both fictional and nonfictional and are used to convey a deeper meaning to an audience. Literary devices such as simile and metaphor are used to help audiences understand why the hero fights the antagonist in a movie as well as helping politicians understand how legislation impacts constituents. This helps new generations develop new slang and a new cultural identity. Being able to recognize these devices and use them in your professional and private lives can help develop a better understanding of the world around you.
The better you read and understand what you are reading, the easier it will be to communicate with your teachers, coworkers and peers. Whether you are currently a student or just trying to gain an edge in your career, learning literary devices can be a good way to start. Lists and definitions of these devices can be found online alongside current event or pop culture examples to help you learn. This can help you graduate at the top of your class, further your career and even understand pop culture better.
