Introduction
According to Mesoudi (2007) in the Journal of Social, Evolutionary & Cultural Psychology, he has noted that, for us to understand history well we cannot ignore what historians have discovered and recorded in the books. Actually, it’s through books that the historians are able to communicate through generations as well as present what they have discovered and the collected information. Better still, history is known as the time after writing was invented and put into practice. Thus, it is logical that if there is any person who wants to understand literature work, he has no choice but to be well placed and in a position where he can understand history and appreciate history and literature in equal measure.
On the other hand, according to Raoul (1976) in the journal of American Ethnologist the existing literatures have been historically analyzed and the knowledge, information and ideas interpreted in ways that they bring into view the interpretations of the past. Though modern literature writers are in contention and agreement to avoid looking at literature in the lenses of history, I strongly disagree with them because historical analysis of literature helps in bringing a clear and well advised understanding of the literally work or subject of the matter. Thus through history, the modern writer can understand and write on presentism. In deed this has been used by some historians and writers to write history in a manner that the past is put or used to validate or give meaning to the present.
Therefore, the two ideas, history in the eyes of the books, and literature in the lenses of history cannot be separated because they go together. This is because through history we can get to know the present by simply getting an interpretation of the past historical findings which are captured in books. And by knowing the present, scholars can nowadays write literally works focusing on the future happenings based on the recorded past histories.
Also, literature has got a great history that develops from the historical development of writings, be it in poetry or prose in ways that it brings instruction, caution or entertainment to the readers as well as communicating the intended historical message. Thus it is only proper to understand literature better in the lenses of history because of the great historical journey of the literature. Indeed, there are decades of historical literary work, including decades of recorded literature work and compiled data (Segal, 2000).
In conclusion, history and literature are so much intertwined together that one can not ignore or assume any of the works. Through books a person can learn and get to know the past occurrence, predict the present and the future. Also, through history, one can develop literature based on the past and the existing facts.
Reference
Mesoudi, A. (2007). American History. Journal of Social, Evolutionary & Cultural Psychology, Vol. 1(2). pp. 35–58.
Raoul, N. and William T. D. (1976). History and Literature. American Ethnologist. 3: 97–128.
Segal, D. (2000). Western Civ" and the Staging of History in American Higher Education The American Historical Review, Vol. 105, No. 3. pp. 770–805
