What's in it for me?

In Frye’s first lecture, titled “The motive for Metaphor”, he declares that “Every child realizes that literature is taking him in a different direction from the immediately useful, and a good many children complain loudly about this.” (p.3) Through this statement, he is suggesting that when children study “English,” it may not seem immediately useful to them and not as sensible as sciences are, for example. They complain about it because they are studying something that is not directly helping them and not answering the question, “why?” He continues to say that Shakespeare and Milton “are not the kind of thing you must know to hold a place in society at all.” (p.3) What Frye is explaining is that literature, and the interpretation of Shakespearian plays, are not necessary to live your everyday life in society, and that is why kids are confused. He believes that you can have a place in society without the knowledge of literature, but knowing literature makes your place more meaningful. I agree with Frye’s opinion, that children are realizing that literature is not immediately useful. Personally, I too have asked the question “Why are we studying Shakespeare when I’m never going to refer to the character development in this play ever again.” I’m sure most students have had similar thoughts. It is a sign of frustration and lack of using one’s imagination, which in Frye’s opinion is “what you use in understanding it” (literature). In David McCullough’s speech “The Love of Learning,” he states that “the books that will mean most to you, books that will change your life, are still to come.” This quote doesn’t directly connect to Frye’s viewpoint that children are drifting away from literature; however, it similar in that McCullough is encouraging the students he is addressing, to stick with literature. He is telling them to persevere and not to "be one of those” people who don’t even read one novel or short story in a year. He also claims that by talking about the books you read and asking others what they’re reading, “You will learn a lot.” I feel this relates to Frye’s point because what you can learn from literature may not be useful right away, but the day may come when you need it.