Quote by Mary Rose O'Reilley

I would not have majored in English and gone on to teach literature had I not been able to construct a counterargument about the truthfulness of fiction; still, as writers turn away from the industrious villages of George Eliot and Thomas Hardy, I learn less and less from them that helps me to ponder my life. In time, I found myself agreeing with the course evaluations written by my testier freshman students:'All the literature we read this term was depressing.' How naive. How sane.

I would not have majored in English and gone on to teach lit

Summary

The quote highlights the speaker's personal journey as an English major and literature teacher. The ability to construct counterarguments regarding the truthfulness of fiction was instrumental in pursuing this path. However, the speaker laments the current trend in literature where writers deviate from the insightful works of authors like George Eliot and Thomas Hardy. The speaker empathizes with their freshman students' course evaluations, which labeled the literature as depressing. The quote suggests an evolving perspective, recognizing the naivety and sanity in seeking literature that provokes deeper contemplation of life.

Topics

Truth Teaching Fiction Literature

By Mary Rose O'Reilley

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