The Importance of Studying Austen
February 22, 2005
An English professor at Butler University in Indianapolis is profiled in the student newspaper, including words of wisdom about studying literature in general and Jane Austen’s work in particular:
As a final note, Professor Hofstetter would like to forward some advice to all of the students of Butler University. “Take your English courses very seriously. Perhaps you may not thoroughly enjoy Jane Austen, but be aware that the skill it takes to analyze such texts goes beyond appreciating great literature. Such critical thinking skills are valued in every occupation.”
We say: Huzzah for the liberal arts!
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At my undergraduate institution (firmly rooted in the liberal arts), we were told repeatedly that it was their responsibility to teach us HOW to think, not what to think.
While they definitely did teach us how to think, I gather that there’s a lot of opinion being spouted as fact down there these days, and that’s wrong.