Resolved: Fictional Literature Serves No Purpose

In order to fulfill my burden of proof, I need only provide one example of how fictional literature serves a purpose. I will, however, provide more than just one. Educational PurposeCritical ThinkingThe main purpose of fictional literature is for teaching critical thinking and analysis skills. Non-fiction books, while they are great for simply information, spell everything out for the reader. The point of non-fiction books is to educate the individual with facts. Fiction, on the other hand, does not necessarily do that. With fiction, there is more leeway for authors to explore literary techniques in order to truly evoke the feelings they want out of the reader. In fact, some authors of fictional literature delve so deeply into the story and technique that they are heralded for their complex styles. One book that is often taught in high schools for purpose of teaching analytical skills is The Sound and the Fury, by acclaimed author William Faulkner. In this book, chronological order is almost completely ignored, and there is little to no indication of when there are time shifts. When reading this book, students will have to determine which parts of the story are from what time by analyzing the text and searching for evidence in order to extrapolate what the differences between two sets of paragraphs (1)(2). By assigning this book for reading, students truly learn critical thinking skills. More Critical ThinkingThe idea of teaching critical thinking extends to Shakespeare's works. In Shakespeare's plays, the script follows complex, poetic Victorian language that doesn't always directly say what is happening, but often alludes to the events of the story and the emotions of the characters. When a student reads a play like Hamlet or Titus Andronicus, the student must use and improve his or her critical thinking skills to interpret the play, and understand its significance. Why Critical Thinking is ImportantCritical thinking is a skill that allows the individual to analyze facts and situations and decide for themselves what to believe and how to act, rather than keeping people as passive receptors of information. It aids in problem solving skills, which are necessary to just about any difficult situation (3). Essentially, promoting critical thinking is a practical purpose of fictional literature. Everyday PurposeFosters ImaginationWhen a person reads a work of fictional literature, the person often has no pictures to base it on. It is instead necessary for the reader to imagine the world of the story in order to truly understand the literature. The Harry Potter series has actually been shown to promote creativity and imagination. Studies have actually shown that the portrayal of magic in the series "unleashes kids' creative thought (4). " One might say that imagination is not practical. However, imagination serves many practical purposes. It could be argued that imagination fuels progress. Take Albert Einstein as an example. He used thought experiment to solve complex problems. These led him to his theory of special relativity, the basic concepts of general relativity, and the idea that gravity and acceleration are the same (5). With these experiments, which were only tested with his imagination, he managed to spur a revolution in science. Einstein even went as far as saying "Imagination is more important than knowledge. For knowledge is limited to all we now know and understand, while imagination embraces the entire world, and all there ever will be to know and understand (6). " So, while it is unfair to say that fictional literature is the sole cause for imagination, it does encourage it, and isn't fictional literature encouraging imagination a purpose? ConclusionIn conclusion, fictional literature does not just serve one purpose. It serves many. It hones critical thinking skills, and it refines the imagination. Fictional literature does serve a purpose. I look forward to my opponent's response. Sources:1. . http://edsitement.neh.gov...;2. . http://bzu.edu.pk...3. . http://www.wired.com...4. . http://blogs.babycenter.com...;5. . http://www.pbs.org...6. . http://quotationsbook.com...;