When it comes to literature, what will appear in your mind first? Some poems? Some novels you have read before? Or the Nobel Prize in Literature announced last year? Having been a student majoring in literature for over one year, I get to know about it more clearly than before. Now, I’d like to share with you something about literature and its benefits.
当提到文学的时候，你脑中首先想到的会是什么呢？一些诗歌？之前读过的一些小说？或者去年的诺贝尔文学奖获奖作品？成为一名中文系学生已经一年多的我经过这段时间的学习，对“文学”一词的了解比以前更为深入了。现在，让我分享一些关于文学的知识还有它的益处吧。
First, let’s get started with what the literature is. Literature, in its broadest sense, consists of any written productions. A poem, a novel, a drama, etcetera, can be a kind of literature. Personally, I would rather regard literature as an arm. “Only the very weak-minded refuse to be influenced by literature and poetry. “As Cassandra Clare says in her book Clockwork Angel. We can take this arm to strengthen our hearts
首先，让我们从“什么是文学”开始吧。从广义上来说，文学包括了任何形式的书面作品。一首诗，一部小说，一部戏剧等等，都能成为一种类型的文学。就我个人来说，我更愿意把文学当作一种武器。正如Cassandra Clare在他的作品《发条天使》中说的一样：“只有最弱小的心灵才会拒绝被文学和诗歌影响。”我们可以利用这种武器来磨砺我们的心。
Since you already have an understanding of the concept of literature, I’ll illustrate some of its benefits for life to you.
In my opinion, literature can save your time and cure you for loneliness.
在了解文学的概念以后，我将会为你说明一些文学给我们带来的益处。从我的观点来说，文学能节省你的时间，也能缓解你的孤独。
Literature gives us an access to a range of emotions and events that it would take you years, decades to experience in person. And it takes you to across continents and centuries at almost no cost, turns you into citizens of the world. You could know how Scarlett grew during the Civil War, or you could know how Wuthering Heights decayed with time going by. You could get through the streets of Paris under the guidance of Hugo, or appreciate the night of the Wall Street with Fitzgerald.
文学能给我们一条走近本该花费我们数年，数十年来亲身经历的一些心情和事件的捷径。并且它能几乎不花费多少钱而带你穿越大陆和世纪，把你变成世界上某一个角落的当地人。你能知道斯嘉丽在美国内战中是如何成长的，你也能知道呼啸山庄是如何随着时间流逝而衰落的；你能在雨果的带领下走过巴黎的大街小巷，也能和菲兹杰拉德一起欣赏华尔街的美景。
Literature cures you when you are lonely. It is home to our personal feelings. The writers find the words to describe the fragile and special experience of our inner lives. The light on a summer morning, the anxiety we have felt in gathering, the sensation of a first kiss… Emerson writes: “In the works of great writers, we find our neglected forms.” Writers open our hearts and minds, and gives us maps to ourselves so we can travel more freely.
文学能在你孤独的时候治愈你。它是我们个人感受的归属之地。作家找到了能描写我们内心脆弱和特殊体验的词语，夏天清晨的一束阳光，在聚会时我们内心的紧张，初吻时的感觉……爱默生说：”在作家的作品中，我们找到了我们被忽视的组成部分。”作家打开我们的心灵，给我们自己的一张地图，让我们更自由地旅行。
All in all, literature is a tool to help us live and die with a little bit more wisdom, goodness and sanity. Why not take one book and have a journey of the knowledge?
总之，文学是一种帮助我们有更多智慧、美德和理智去经历生死的工具。为何不拿起一本书来开启一场知识的旅行呢？
Author: Zhu Jiao
Words: 379
Date: 2020-4-1
