A notable amount of a learner’s time is spent reading encyclopedias, textbooks, journals, academic books, magazines, websites, and newspapers. Various universities offer learners unique opportunities to examine in detail the diverse manners in which literary production is often shaped by the culture and the capability of international travel of themes, motifs, and stories. This paper resolves to discuss the variation in world literature texts in different universities compared to my university.
Ramayana is missing from the reading list for the University of Kent and the University of Texas at Arlington world literature modules. These universities claim to introduce their students to the most important philosophies of world literature (Syllabus: English 2309 Online: Introduction to World Literature, 2018; World Literature, 2021). Ramayana is an early literary monument that integrates a balanced view and attitude to life that can help an individual to resolve endless imaginable queries, unlock ethics and morals, and approach clarification. The Ramayana merges the countless questions by individuals and responds to them with principles, morality and logic. Therefore, Ramayana should be incorporated into reading lists in various universities due to its wide application to life today. Bernstein (2013) posits that it is important to include diverse authors and works. Other universities use texts such as Romeo and Juliet by Shakespeare and Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe, among other texts. Strangely, we do not use these texts despite their frequent and consistent use by others.
In conclusion, there are differences in the texts read in different universities. It is also difficult for students to be equally conversant with all the cultures, religions, societies, languages, and periods that they come across. Notwithstanding, the reading of diverse literature across borders is imperative as it allows for the sharing of knowledge across boundaries as the texts are read by students far and wide.
References
Bernstein, L. (2013). Teaching World Literature for the 21st Century: Online Resources and Interactive Approaches. Collected Essays on Learning and Teaching, 6, 54. Web.
Syllabus: English 2309 Online: Introduction to World Literature. (2018). The University of Texas at Arlington. Web.
World Literature: An Introduction – CPLT3250. (2021). Modules – University of Kent. Web.