Personal Reflection on Classic Novel Study

The classic novel study has helped me to evolve academically and intellectually in many ways. It has taught me to look at outside sources when evaluating a piece of literature. I have also learned to be critical when reading and not just accepting someone else’s opinions but forming my own based on my thoughts. The wider audience helped me to really analyse my writing before I let it be seen by others, it had to pass my test before it passed anyone else’s. I also found it very interesting to discuss The Scarlet Letter with others who had read it. They had different ideas than me on some points; particularly the virtues of the characters but it forced me to be able to justify my ideas instead of just stating them. I feel this assignment is more beneficial to my education than if the novels had been assigned to us, I for one get much more enjoyment out of a novel when I get to choose it myself. It is also more exciting to analyse a novel that you have interest in. I do not feel like I have improved as a reader, but I do think that my writing skills have grown as they simply do with practice and every writing assignment helps that. Simply because of my novel choice I think I have obtained insight into the flawed nature of all humans, no body can possibly be perfect or completely innocent. Humans are sinners and there is nothing that can be done about it. I am glad I was assigned this project because before I had no intention of reading the Scarlet Letter and I thoroughly enjoyed the book and I feel like it has improved my mind in some way, shape or form. As a bi-product of this novel study I have discovered that I learn at my own pace and that pace is very unpredictable and sometimes, no matter how much I enjoy the subject matter, I just cannot focus. The classic novel study has been a powerful tool for my self development, academically and intellectually.