3 ms·

> I still cannot see a value in studying classical literature. And that is the real tragedy of modern education.

by JackFr 4y ago

CodeSgt 4y ago
You're welcome to explain why you disagree with the OP and what true value can, in your view, be derived from studying classical literature. I likely agree with you, but if you're just going to make a vaguely disparaging statement in the negative without elaborating or contributing to the discussion then you really might as well not comment at all.
- JackFr 4y ago
  To answer both you and in passing GP: ——— My liege and madam, to expostulate What majesty should be, what duty is, Why day is day, night, night, and time is time — Were nothing but to waste night, day, and time. Therefore, since brevity is the soul of wit, And tediousness the limbs and outward flourishes, I will be brief. Your noble son is mad.
  - TillE 4y ago
    I love how "brevity is the soul of wit" has become some wise aphorism, but of course in context of Polonius' rambling, it is a genuinely hilarious joke.
adhesive_wombat 4y ago
Reminds me of a sci-fi short story where the military leaders against an alien (?) invasion keep demanding "harder and sharper" human tools for the war. Finally they need a poet and find they don't have any any more.[1] Though I think that the way classical literature is taught is probably enough to sicken all but the most die-hard readers. Endless dissection of things on a word-by-word basis. Shakespeare (say) wasn't a godlike superhuman imbuing every single word with dozens of layers of meaning. Sometimes it's just a fart joke. Exactly the same as maths teachers drilling integration rules to death and having everyone conclude, not unreasonably, "this is pointless bullshit". Or history teachers listing dates and names. [1]: edit: not aliens, and it's by Alfred Bester: https://archive.org/details/New_Worlds_029v10_1954-11/page/n57/mode/2up https://archive.org/details/New_Worlds_029v10_1954-11/page/n...

> I still cannot see a value in studying classical literature. And that is the real tragedy of modern education.

by JackFr 4y ago

> I still cannot see a value in studying classical literature. And that is the real tragedy of modern education.

You're welcome to explain why you disagree with the OP and what true value can, in your view, be derived from studying classical literature. I likely agree with you, but if you're just going to make a vaguely disparaging statement in the negative without elaborating or contributing to the discussion then you really might as well not comment at all.

JackFr 4y ago
To answer both you and in passing GP: ——— My liege and madam, to expostulate What majesty should be, what duty is, Why day is day, night, night, and time is time — Were nothing but to waste night, day, and time. Therefore, since brevity is the soul of wit, And tediousness the limbs and outward flourishes, I will be brief. Your noble son is mad.
- TillE 4y ago
  I love how "brevity is the soul of wit" has become some wise aphorism, but of course in context of Polonius' rambling, it is a genuinely hilarious joke.

adhesive_wombat 4y ago

Reminds me of a sci-fi short story where the military leaders against an alien (?) invasion keep demanding "harder and sharper" human tools for the war. Finally they need a poet and find they don't have any any more.[1] Though I think that the way classical literature is taught is probably enough to sicken all but the most die-hard readers. Endless dissection of things on a word-by-word basis. Shakespeare (say) wasn't a godlike superhuman imbuing every single word with dozens of layers of meaning. Sometimes it's just a fart joke. Exactly the same as maths teachers drilling integration rules to death and having everyone conclude, not unreasonably, "this is pointless bullshit". Or history teachers listing dates and names. [1]: edit: not aliens, and it's by Alfred Bester: https://archive.org/details/New_Worlds_029v10_1954-11/page/n57/mode/2up https://archive.org/details/New_Worlds_029v10_1954-11/page/n...