The Ancient Greeks, with all their philosophical wisdom, utilized works of literature to help with the mending of their sick and injured. They believed an active mind was instrumental in stimulating a person's health and healing. It only took over 2200 years for the progress of using literature as a means of a tool for education. This is known as bibliotherapy. This tool was used for the sick and injured until the 1700's where it was used for the mentally ill. The late 1940's is when educators started to use bibliotherapy for the use of special education. In this essay, I intend to explore this fairly new use of this ancient idea.
The use of books to heal is not a new concept. It is believed the Greek civilization used such a therapy dating as far back as 300 B.C., and continued from there. "One of the earliest records of the use of books for treatment purposes appeared in 1272. At this time, the Al-Mansur Hospital in Cairo provided readings from The Koran [sic] as a part of their patients' treatment." (Jack) At this time "moral" readings were in use. This particular method was consistent with the prescribed materials. It was believed that the literature should be of reverence and piety, preferable in religious nature. In 1802, Dr. Benjamin Rush changed that thinking by expanding this treatment for mental patients in a new direction. "Rush recommended two categories of reading. One was intended to provide entertainment (e.g. travel books, novels); the other, knowledge (e.g. philosophical, moral, religious subjects, current events)." (Jack) Rush felt using different strategies for different patients would help elevate the therapeutic advantages. After World War I there were scholars interested in the possibilities that bibliotherapy could help school children. "The idea of using literature to offer solutions to modern problems and minimize a student's inner turmoil was first explicitly discussed by G.
Bibliotherapy of the Creature I saw a creature, naked, bestial, which, squatting upon the ground, Held his heart in his hands, and ate of it. ... The monster as a whole had to see himself as human and Memoirs did not help him in that aspect of literature. ...
In and outside of literature, women are stereotyped as the weaker sex. However, Marie de France is is able to turn tables and portray Guigemar, the male force, as weak and needing the woman to help heal him in his time of distress. ... The fact that the woman was the one holding the healing powers over Guigemar was an extremely different concept than people were used to when reading this. ... Often times in literature, gender roles are ruined by stereotypes and societal expectations. ... Gender roles will always have an important impact on society and literature and will continue to grow and c...
Literature In talking about literature, we can say that principally literature means whatever which is written. However the word of literature, in German is "literatur", in French "literature", literature as the beautiful written is also used in Europe namely "letterkunde" and in Dutch "belles-letters" (Faruk, 2010 40). ... Sociology of Literature Based on the sociology of literature concept means that the study of literary work through the unification between literature and sociology (interdisciplinary). ... In the view of literature, sociology of literatu...
They only made a stronger impact on society towards the end of the 19th century, also known as the decadent age of literature, and became a new source of entertainment in many decadent minds. ... While this period was often associated with ennui, women were presented as objects of pleasure that could heal the mind from this state of boredom, as Stephen Romer quotes it, "Woman [is] not only the foil to the Decadent writer, but his match.... " Women started showing themselves under a new light, they were no longer just housemaids or sexual toys, but individuals – new women &ndash...
He graduated with a degree in French literature and studied modern French Catholicism literature for three years at the University of Lyon. ... Here Jesus opened the Kingdom of God to the people by portraying the love of God through miraculous actions such as curing blind and healing the lepers. Unfortunately, the people were only there to gain the physical aspect of healing that Jesus was offering. ...
Healing When Jesus became a curse he carried in His body all my pains, sickness and diseases. ... He had my pains and I have His healing. ... He was beaten that we might have peace; he was lashed "and we were healed! ... Healing is mine. ... Therefore in the blessing there is healing from all three. ...
Healed, I say, Healed!." ... You are healed." ... The bottom line behind the belief of faith healing is that if the healer and the person to-be-healed's faith is strong enough, than the person will be healed, and that it is to be considered a miracle of God. ... Many faith-healers believe this is the reason they can heal people. ... One could go for one visit and be healed or go back numerous times until healed completely. ...
Folk literature & folklore show a way of culture by sharing their stories. Culture shown through folk literature is about people of a culture & their beliefs & customs. Folk literature is both simultaneously revealing & limiting about an inuit culture. ... Folklore and folk literature show a way of culture by sharing their stories. Culture shown through folk literature is about people & their beliefs and customs. ...
Often through the plot, setting and the characters perceptions and reactions, therefore one interpretation is that gothic literature itself has become fascinated with death. ... Therefore, the fascination with death in this story does characterize gothic literature through the way in which it is presented by Carter and the interpretations it gives. ... On the other hand, in 'The lady and the house of love', it appears that there does not need to be a fascination within gothic literature for it become characterized. ... In conclusion, it is evident that gothic literature is charact...
