Brianna Cruz

January 26, 2017

English 203

Dr. Decker

What We Have Loved, Others Will Love by Helen Vendler

Helen Vendler explain her point of view on the matter of passion for literature, reading, and

language. She explains how like art and music, literature is meant to evoke emotion and appeal

to readers senses. On page 32 Vendler states, "Though the state of reading, like that of listening

to a piece of music, is one of intense attention, it is not one of scholarly or critical reflection. It is

a state in which the text works on us, not we on it." She goes on to explain how the first

impression of literature on young students is usually negative due to multiple things; the lack of

passion present from the teacher, the pressure of receiving a grade, and simple lack of interest.

Vendler enlightens her readers by explaining how it is unfair for English teachers to be expected

to teach everyone to read and write although music teachers are not held to the same

expectations. She then asks a question that causes readers to stop and ponder, which can be

found on page 33, "If writing is to reading as speaking is to listening, can we not hope to advance

on the front of composition by providing readings indispensable literary education of the

untrained ear and eye as well as writings training of the uncertain hand?" Causing readers to

reflect on their initial experience with reading and writing, Vendler explains how the approach to

literary study may affect the amount of interest and passion students have toward the subject.
Vendler goes on to explain the connection between the love of literature and language. She

explains how students are taught translated versions of well-known texts such as The Odyssey

and The Idiot (p 35.) Teaching translations of famous works causes them to lose some of their

meaning and importance according to Vendler. She explains that if teachers taught foreign

translated texts as they teach authors such as Dickinson, students might have different reactions

and a better understanding of the text. On page 36 she writes, "We have given too little thought

to the teaching of the language of literature; it is a separate language, with its own rules." Some

literature loses literary devices and certain importance when translated, which may affect how

readers interpret the readings. She further backs up her point on page 37, "Each language is

stubbornly itself, and it never entirely yields up its being except to native speakers."

Vendler concludes her writing by emphasizing the importance of educating people about

literature and creating an atmosphere that allows readers to be passionate about literature and

language. She illustrates the constant change literature has undergone since the beginning of

time, stating "Whole literary genres have disappeared. Literature has passed from being oral to

being written. Beautiful forms of writing, like hieroglyphics, have gone from the face of the

earth" (p 37.) This reminds readers, especially English majors on the importance of having a

passion for literature and sharing it with others.

What would you consider the most effective way to teach a literature class to inspire students?