Reply to Majoring in English—why so much disrespect?

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]An example of Chaucer's Canterbury Tales in Middle English. Understanding it is only the beginning.

"Whan that Aprill with his shoures soote 
 
The droghte of Marche hath perced to the roote,

And bathed every veyne in swich licour,

Of which vertu engendred is the flour."[/quote]
but, why do people need to understand this?   I read Shakespeare, Flaubert, etc.. but I don't see the point in needing to understand very old English.  My DH is English. He doesn't even like reading those types of books[/quote]

Which then begs the question, why do I need to study so many subjects that I will never use in my career? It's not necessarily the specific subject matter that's important, its the the thought processes and skills that we develop that's important.[/quote]
I can understand learning history, social science, but none of those classes are taught in ye olde English.  So, again, why does one need to understand Chaucer's old English?

I think it's important to read some classics, but I don't think it's important to read every classic.[/quote]

Majoring in English is not only (or primarily) about reading the classics. It's about thinking about literature and the ways that literature reflect (or doesn't reflect) society and our culture. It's about expanding our imaginations and empathy through seeing the world through others' perspectives. And it's about close reading and defending ideas with specific examples.[/quote]

I agree with you, but sadly that is what is lacking in today's society and spefically here on DCUM[/quote]

Dcum -- and the world -- would be a better place with more English majors and fewer business majors.[/quote]

We need more doctors and nurses. [/quote]
Who need to be literate and critical thinkers and be able to see/understand things from various perspectives. I think this thread has encouraged me to encourage my kid to go with their heart and do that English major. [/quote]
do you really think that English is the only major to teach how to think with their heart? Goodness. BTW, that's really about personality, not the major.[/quote]

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