DCSZ TOK Class Blog

Many different types of knowledge can be gained from literature such as you can gain a wider range of vocabulary, this then improves your English all together. The reason for the gain in knowledge is that our brain starts to remember and recall similarities in the language what is used or the punctuation that [...]

Question 8: How important is the study of literature in individual/ethical development? In what ways?

I think literature is quite important. Although it can have positive or negative affects, I think it teaches people many new things from different perspectives.

There are many things that cannot be taught in school, at home or through [...]

Translation between languages is an interesting concept, as languages, fundamentally, are the same; however, only on this fundamental level. When we use different languages to convey our meanings, the building blocks that we use to piece together our thoughts are essentially congruent: blue is still blue in Chinese, and door is still door in [...]

Q5) What knowledge of literature can be gained by focusing attention on the author? … Are an author’s intentions relevant to assessing the work? Can a work of art contain or convey meaning of which the artist is oblivious?

When people analyze works of art or literature, I always have a feeling that those [...]

2. How can a literary work of fiction, which is by definition non-factual, convey knowledge?

A work of literature are sometimes perceived to convey knowledge. Usually this is as allegory (one story with two interpreted meanings). Tolkien said “I cordially dislike allegory in all its manifestations, and always have done since I grew old and [...]

Mr Macknight said “storytelling is the most important way of knowing”, since we always claim that “this, by way of saying, is like that”. The reason for this is the “germ of a story”, then all knowledge is storytelling. I disagree. By the same quotation we can also argue that all knowledge is logic. [...]