Literature is a word-based art form, usually a work of fiction. Works of literature include poems, plays, short stories, novels, and stories that are written down. Some are transcribed from oral tradition while many are original works of writing. Scholars and historians often categorize these works by language, genre, historical period, theme, and region.

Why study literature?

There are several advantages to studying literature, notably the way it builds critical thinking skills and increases cultural awareness. Literature is a window into the human experience, allowing readers to visit places and understand events that may be inaccessible through other means. Reading stories and poems also is entertaining and provides a stress-reducing escape from the world around you.

What beneficial outcomes can I expect if I study literature?

Studying literature changes the way you view the world and yourself. When you read a novel set in another country or depicting customs from other cultures, you may discover similarities between these faraway places and your own neighborhood that help you make sense of cultural differences. A story may spark an interest in a specific topic that can lead to a new hobby or career. Analyzing the way writer’s use words builds your vocabulary and boosts your ability to look for patterns and trends—even outside the context of a story.

What career opportunities can arise from studying literature?

The communication and critical thinking skills you develop from studying literature can lead to a variety of career opportunities like a promotion or a job in a different field. Connecting with characters in a story develops empathy, an important skill for anyone who works in a management or supervisory role. Analyzing the use of language in a story can improve your own language and communication skills, which make you a better team member.

How can online courses help me study literature?

Online courses create an opportunity for you to study literature more deeply than you would by reading on your own. Knowing you have deadlines to meet motivates you to make reading a priority and increases the chance that you'll finish the story. You can choose a specific genre or theme to explore in-depth. The coursework of an online class may guide you to see different perspectives and ask questions that you may not otherwise consider.

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Tsinghua University
Just Reading and Writing English 1
Skills you'll gain: Negotiation, Human Learning, Culture, Emotional Intelligence, Entrepreneurship, Leadership and Management, Software Engineering, Strategy and Operations, Sales, Marketing, Probability & Statistics, Resilience, Other Programming Languages, Research and Design, Bioinformatics, Communication, Business Analysis, Application Development, Critical Thinking, English Language, Speech, Computer Programming, Grammar, Business Psychology
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Johns Hopkins University
Biostatistics in Public Health
Skills you'll gain: Analysis, Basic Descriptive Statistics, Biostatistics, Business Analysis, Data Analysis, Data Visualization, Econometrics, Experiment, Feature Engineering, General Statistics, Machine Learning, Mobile Development, Plot (Graphics), Probability & Statistics, Probability Distribution, Regression, Risk, Statistical Analysis, Statistical Tests, Statistical Visualization, iOS Development
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In summary, here are 10 of our most popular literature courses

中國園林文學 (一) (Chinese Garden Literature (1)): National Taiwan University
Understanding Research Methods: University of London
Uncommon Sense Teaching: Deep Teaching Solutions
Learning How to Learn: Powerful mental tools to help you master tough subjects: Deep Teaching Solutions
Wonders of Ancient Egypt: University of Pennsylvania
Academic Information Seeking: University of Copenhagen
Strategic Self-Marketing and Personal Branding: The State University of New York
Just Reading and Writing English 1: Tsinghua University
Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA): Erasmus University Rotterdam
Biostatistics in Public Health: Johns Hopkins University

Frequently Asked Questions about Literature

There are several advantages to studying literature, notably the way it builds critical thinking skills and increases cultural awareness. Literature is a window into the human experience, allowing readers to visit places and understand events that may be inaccessible through other means. Reading stories and poems also is entertaining and provides a stress-reducing escape from the world around you.‎
Studying literature changes the way you view the world and yourself. When you read a novel set in another country or depicting customs from other cultures, you may discover similarities between these faraway places and your own neighborhood that help you make sense of cultural differences. A story may spark an interest in a specific topic that can lead to a new hobby or career. Analyzing the way writer’s use words builds your vocabulary and boosts your ability to look for patterns and trends—even outside the context of a story.‎
The communication and critical thinking skills you develop from studying literature can lead to a variety of career opportunities like a promotion or a job in a different field. Connecting with characters in a story develops empathy, an important skill for anyone who works in a management or supervisory role. Analyzing the use of language in a story can improve your own language and communication skills, which make you a better team member.‎
Online courses create an opportunity for you to study literature more deeply than you would by reading on your own. Knowing you have deadlines to meet motivates you to make reading a priority and increases the chance that you'll finish the story. You can choose a specific genre or theme to explore in-depth. The coursework of an online class may guide you to see different perspectives and ask questions that you may not otherwise consider.‎

This FAQ content has been made available for informational purposes only. Learners are advised to conduct additional research to ensure that courses and other credentials pursued meet their personal, professional, and financial goals.

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149 results for "literature"

中國園林文學 (一) (Chinese Garden Literature (1))

Understanding Research Methods

Uncommon Sense Teaching

Learning How to Learn: Powerful mental tools to help you master tough subjects

Wonders of Ancient Egypt

Academic Information Seeking

Strategic Self-Marketing and Personal Branding

Just Reading and Writing English 1

Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA)

Biostatistics in Public Health

Econometrics: Methods and Applications

Love as a Force for Social Justice

Searches related to literature

In summary, here are 10 of our most popular literature courses

Frequently Asked Questions about Literature

What is literature?‎

Why study literature?‎

What beneficial outcomes can I expect if I study literature?‎

What career opportunities can arise from studying literature?‎

How can online courses help me study literature?‎

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Filter by

149 results for "literature"

Searches related to literature

In summary, here are 10 of our most popular literature courses

Frequently Asked Questions about Literature

What is literature?‎

Why study literature?‎

What beneficial outcomes can I expect if I study literature?‎

What career opportunities can arise from studying literature?‎

How can online courses help me study literature?‎

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Start or advance your career

Browse popular topics

Popular courses and articles

Earn a degree or certificate online

Coursera

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