Talks on the study of literature.

"Talks on the Study of Literature" by Arlo Bates is a collection of talks that become a deep investigation into the ideas and reviews about literature, probably created in the late 1800s. The book investigates what makes literature what it is, what makes literature good, and how much feeling literature should have, showing that literature is a vital art that helps people understand the world and their lives. To begin, the book looks at how hard it is to describe literature. Bates tells a funny story about a very exact definition of a lynx to highlight how difficult it can be to explain what literature includes. He proposes that literature should be seen mainly as "refined literature" or "belles-lettres," concentrating on works showing real and common human feelings. By stressing how important honest emotion and artistic expression, Bates prepares for a thorough look at different parts of literature, like ways to study it and the worth of classic works, setting up an intellectual base that highlights how important literature is for making human life better.