____T.H.E. .P.A.S.S.

____Literature And The Insane Poet

"From him, I learnt that a welcome is no mere hello nor farewell a simple goodbye. It is so richly and appropriately expressed."

Minister of State for Education, Rear Admiral Lui Tuck Yew quoted above with reference to the brilliance of JRR Tolkien.

Literature is an art. It is a piece of imaginative and creative written work. Literature is of recognised value. Through literature, we understand the ways of society, master the language in which the work was written in and we appreciate the simple things in life more.

"We memorise portions of literary work. Not because we have to, not because of rote learning, not because it is drilled into us, but because we want to. Years later, we can still regurgitate portions of it simply because we have allowed it to percolate and to resonate inside us." - RAdm Lui

There were times, I was regretful about the fact that I could not make it to the triple pure science stream back during Secondary Two - my ambition was to be a doctor. In the end, I ended up doing literature instead. But thinking back, I am glad to have been given this chance to work under Mr Macdonald from Canada. Here was a teacher who was very different from my previous ones and although he wasn't really my favourite, he was youthful, vibrant and most of all, idealistic with the teaching profession. As a literature-cum-form-teacher, he was kindly and never one to impose an "I'm your teacher and you're my student" stand - which is why now I can repeat words of his that have left a lasting impression.

Literature back then was torturous. Naturally, I didn't do very well then, barely passing most of the time. Yet towards the end of my secondary school years, I was beginning to enjoy Macbeth more and more, understanding and appreciating Shakespeare's almost unparalleled genius. Of course, there were other works I enjoyed - 'Midsummer's Night Dream' and 'Romeo & Juliet'. Due to the fast paced living, office politics and a general I-fight-formyself-attitude, I always felt that Macbeth is a read that is very much suited to the modern times.

I once argued with Chris that a brief brush with the study of literature has helped me more with appreciating movies. His stand was that even though he hadn't studied literature before, he would still be able to enjoy the show enough. Forgive me but I have this impression that people just go and catch a show just for entertainment. Now I just wonder what is the whole point behind it if you just catch a show and do not learn anything about it? For me after stepping out of the theatre in awe, I reflect how the movie's themes can make me a better person. I imagine putting myself through the dilemma as faced by the lead and how I would be able to cope with it should it happen in future.

Now don't get me wrong, I probably have watched far less movies than all of you. I also identify with the fact that I haven't indulged in good books for a long time. Idealistic as I may be, I'm still the very much flawed person that you all know. Maybe I have blasted at you sometimes in this life before, maybe I have passed snide remarks, maybe I have said things out before they have been processed through the brain. But it was all for a good cause.

Having disgressed a little, I shall return now to say that literature has helped me much in maintaining ideas for short essays like the one I'm writing now in my blog. If you have read my first few entries, you would have realised that one of the reasons for this space is to exercise my love for writing. I know, however, that content-wise, I am a little falling backwards because of my reluctance to pick up a book. I write things based on personal experience, I also write a little poetically sometimes - but that's because I cannot play any musical instruments.

I'll leave with just one last quote for you all from RAdm Lui.

"When you read widely, you are exposed to that range of emotions. It becomes part of you even if you have not experienced it for yourself"

An a quote for myself....

"Out, damned spot!"

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