Literature - Hedgeschool

Literature in the Culture of Life

Language is the lens of culture;

including writing as well as reading,

it is the measure of a culture,

its first music.

In the anti-culture,

literature is about persuasion,

about passion and pleasure in words,

about tolerance of ambiguity.

There are two fundamental aspects of language:

1) The grammar and syntax aspect, which enables clarity

2) The creative works aspect, whereby, in every discipline, the cultural contribution of other places and generations is available to us, to the literate.

Dependent upon these two aspects of language are two important skills:

— of speaking, which enables us to participate in culture

— and of writing, which enables us to contribute to culture over time.

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We have spoken of the foundations, the concepts of God, of thought, and of man. Before moving on to speak of the individual disciplines, it is necessary to speak of the single discipline which is the principal vehicle of culture, the lens through which others are viewed – the discipline of the written word.

In medieval times, the requirements of elementary education, called the Trivium, had to do with three linguistic achievements – grammar, logic and rhetoric.

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Into Deep Eternity is both an introduction to the American poet and mystic, Emily Dickinson, and an introduction to poetry: an answer, by way of example, to the question: "How should I read a poem?"

The first part, illustrations, paraphrases, and comments on 16 of Emily Dickinson's poems, was written for a young lady named Emily on the occasion of her 13th birthday.

The second part was written for a family member named Mary who wanted Mrs. O'Keefe to explain her thoughts about the relationship between Emily Dickinson and St. John of the Cross.

65 pages Acid-free paper

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