Grand View University - Viking Yearbook (Des Moines, IA)

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1926-'VIKING-1927 4' -P- The real value in literature is not so much the thought it conveys as it is the thought it gives rise to in us, the inspiration towards something better. It may produce an ideal toward which we will strive but never reach. Each step is rewarded, driving us on and on. We are presented with noble characters of the past - - - we reach them thru reading. Literature has done much in reform, in showing up hypocricy, in removing superstition and in raising the standards of society. Literature is diverse. lt is a prophecy: always pointing towards progress. Literature is a part of humanityg it speaks for humanity and speaks to humanity. It is within literature that the ideals of man are preserved. Bill Andersen, G. V. C. 1926-27. ll : 1I 2-2: --- 9 ' 11111121 - 'll 4' Tr ll-Ili' l A EEE E v.v.v.vs.vs.vxs.v.v.v.v.v.vs.vs.v.vxsx.vx.vssxss.v.vssx.v .-13.-

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1 1926-VIKING-1927 -1 u VF literature HAT is literature? This question has been at large since man realized the value in written expressions. Each age has its own literature characteristic of the times in which it was written. Each changing age has its good and bad literature. The age in which we are now living has its own literature, but how many of us are aware of the fact? How many of us are ready to question the quality of the literature we are reading. These are only two of the questions we should try to face in solving this problem of a better life. A complete definition of literature is impossible. If it were, the subject would cease to be a part of life. Those who are ready to give de- finitions revealing their innermost convictions on literature are only doing justice towards themselves. Definitions presented are numerous. One writer has said that it is every bit of writing since the dawn of time. This is probably correct though rather vague. We learn from Long's Literature that it is reflected life. We observe the subject by realizing the object. Literature is the revelation of the inner- most soul of a people. They are probably correct but I am in doubt as to whether or not they are complete. Literature is sincere expression of typical and genuine emotions. This definition comes closer to reaching the goal than any l have yet found. It considers the source, which in turn determines the quality of literature produced. lt means this: Literature is the expression in words of the writer's deepest emotions, the feelings or sensations of pleasure, pain, passion, excitement and all that is not prompted by the more intellectual side of life. There are two qualities of literature, namely good and bad, as critics choose to call them. One contains art while the other does not. lt is clear that a piece of literature may be considered good by one person and not by another, or that a book may be accepted as great by a majority of critics and writers and not seem at all great to others. There are two sets of standards by which literature is judged. The one is the individual's standard and the other is the collective or the standard of the majority. Each individual should have certain standards and ideals upon which he bases his opinions of good and bad literature. The collective standard is for the benefit of all. We are all aware of the constant impulse that urges us on to expression. We feel it necessary to make others share our thoughts, our experience and our emotions. A man calls another man his friend because he is forever willing to listen to his unending stories of mental sensations. There is a class of people who do not care to relate their experiences to others. They confide in themselves, one might say. They are not driven to express themselves. This characteristic is typical of our northern hunters or our earlier settlers. Why do we study literature? lt is said that the nature of the books a man reads is a most accurate gauge of his moral character. As was stated be- fore, a book may not affect two people the same way. The poem or the poet, the book or the writer, must do something with us. That something must be important, influential, permanent and original. There are two spheres where the contents of a poem or book may touch: the sphere of our emotions and the sphere of our intelligence. One may read a dozen books and receive noth- ing at all from them, and then again one may read another book that has been renounced by hundreds which stirs one's emotions and opens a new range of ideas. Every good piece of literature, whether history or poetry, will operate in both the sphere of the emotions and the sphere of intelligence. Literature reveals and interprets human life. It is forever pointing towards and trying to solve the most important problems in life. We study it in order that we may see ourselves as others see us. It is entertaining, instructive and inspiring. -42-

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1926-VIKING-1927 4 0- Spslen meh ifaisturien ,Oplysning vmre ska! vor Lyst, er det saa kun om Sivet: men fgbrst og sidst med Folkergist Oplysningen om Livet. Den springer ud af Folkedaad Og uokser, som den uugges. Den straale i uort Folkeraad, til Aftenstjetnen slulckeslu Gr. ET, her er sagt, maa vaere noget, der vedkommer en Skole, og da isaer en Skole for unge Mennesker. Det er saerlig Oplysning om Livet, her anbefales. Ikke just om dets Oprindelse eller naturlige Udfoldelse, saaledes som Udviklingslaerens Dyrkere tager det, men Oplysning om Men- neskelivet, dets Kaar, Forhold og Maal. Denne Oplysning springer ud af Folkedaad og vokser, som den vugges, hedder detg men Folkedaad er jo, hvad Historien meddeler os er sket i fjernere og narmere Tiderg ,,den vokser, som den vuggesu, er vel et Udtryk, der er hentet fra Barnelivet, men som vil sige, at jo mere, man sysler med Historien i Kaerlighed og Forstaaelse, des mere Lys faar man over Menneskelivet. De sidste Par Linier: ,,Den straale i vort Folkeraad, til Aftenstjernen slukkesn, er ejendommelige for Grundtvig, der ventede sig saa saerdeles meget godt af et Folkeraad, der var udgaaet af et historisk oplyst Folk, saaledes som han taenkte sig, det kunde ske, naar Danmark Hk sin historisk poetiske Folkehgzijskole i Sorgzi til Folkedannelse. til Lys over Livet, til Dygtigggirelse paa hjemlig historisk Grund. Grundtvig havde stor historisk Sans og saerdeles omfattende historisk Kundskab. Dette har givet sig Vidnesbyrd i hans store Verdenshistorie. I-lan har foretaget et grundigt Studium, gaar til Kilderne og spgzirger fgzirst, hvad mente Sarntiden eller den allernaermeste Eftertid om den eller den Begiven- hed og den eller den Mands Gerning og Virken: under hvilke Forhold, i hvil- ken Aand og i hvilken Hensigt har vedkommende arbejdet, og derefter vup- deret og bedgzimt det, han talte og skrev om. Dette er en af Grundene til, at hans Verdenshistorie indtager en Saerstilling. Dertil kommer, at han stadig spejder efter og faar Qje for Guds Finger i Begivenhedernes Gang. Dette blev et Hjaelpemiddel for mange til at se Sammenhaengen i Udviklin- gen og gav Lys over Livet. Nutiden aenser ikke dette ret rneget, og derfor sker det ikke sjaeldent, at Sammenhazngen bliver borte, og det hele ses som en Ophobning af Tilfalde. Grundtvigs Laerlinge gik i hans Spor, og al mange blev der gjort et Stott Arbejde ved at befare og undersgzige Historiens vide Felter. L. Schrgider, f. Eks., er utrzzttelig i at vise, under hvilke Forhold og af hvilken Omgangs- kreds de historiske Skikkelser fremtraeder, og dette giver Forstaaelse, men det kraever ogsaa et betydeligt Kildestudium. Det er langt lettere, som mange i vore Dage ggbr, at gaa til et Leksikon og der slaa op og laese om den og den Begivenhed eller Person: men en saadan Viden bliver altid ensidig og usik- ker, da det kommer saa meget an paa, hvem der har givet Bidrag til det Leksikon, og i hvad Aand det er. ,,Gensti er Glipstiu, det gaelder ogsaa her. Man maa bort fra Leksikonhistorien og til Kilderne, bort fra Tilfaeldigheder til Forudsaetning og Sammenhaeng, og lade Lyset fra oven oplyse selv de laveste Egne, da skal Historien vise sig at vaere et udmaerket Dannelsesmiddel og bidrage til Lys over Livet. Leksikonnaerede Mennesker bliver lorsatte i Vaeksten: kan synes noget, men ikke vare noget, I I