English Literature Lesson 5 - Essay Example

Literary Evaluation In determining whether a work of fiction is a work of quality or not, there are a variety of criteria that various individuals might seek, much like a shopping list of ‘quality’ elements. However, just because a book has all of the required ‘elements’ in place, it is not necessarily a quality piece. Of the works we have read in class, one of the best in my opinion is the book by Tsitsi Dangarembga entitled Nervous Conditions due to its depth of investigation into the beauty of a particular culture and the dangers associated with culture clash when this culture is overtaken by a stronger or more dominant one while one of the worst, again in my opinion, is Kafka’s “Letter to His Father.

” It is true that Nervous Conditions seems to be written by an immature writer unsure of just what she is trying to say, but this does not automatically disqualify it as having no literary merit. As the story of Tambu is related, the author allows the audience to relax into the character, get to know her from the inside out and to see the world through her eyes. This vision is limited and is presented as such in the novel, which some might view as a weakness, but I view as a strength. By presenting the world through the eyes of a young girl living through the experiences of a third world culture trying to assimilate itself into what they perceive as a more sophisticated and desirable culture, the surprises and observations she makes are very enlightening.

The way in which the modern culture affects her family and her life is also illuminating whether one has actually grown up within the modern culture or is experiencing it for the first time. The insights offered, whether intentional or not, into the gender and cultural divide presented fill this novel with a great deal to think about and general issues that affect a great number of people regardless of their upbringing, social condition or experience. By contrast, I felt Kafka’s letter to his father was a work of considerably less quality because of its reduction in universal experience and sometimes confusing use of rhetoric.

It is hard to blame Kafka for this failing as he wasn’t necessarily writing for the public but was instead making a bid for his father’s approval and understanding. The ideas contained within this work were not as accessible to the general public, some needing a bit of background information on the author in order to understand, and these ideas were continually being apologized for, which detracted from the piece to a great degree in my estimation. Rather than inviting the reader into the world of the writer through a straightforward presentation, Kafka continues to circle around his points, taking his time to outline them and generally confusing issues with unnecessary concessions and excuses.

Through this comparison, I have discovered that the literature that appeals to me generally contains qualities that both invite me into the author’s or character’s world and allows me to see things as they would see them. While both Dangarembga and Kafka offer this form of presentation, Kafka’s approach seems much less straightforward and heavily considered while Dangarembga presents her case simply and matter of factly, offering me a glimpse of her impressions and ideas without apology or reservation.

In doing so, she seems to me to be more sincere and accessible, helping me to understand her points by providing the context through which she has formed her opinions and inviting me to examine my own ideas in relation to her observations.