Shodh Sari-An International Multidisciplinary Journal
Vol-04, Issue-01 (Jan-Mar 2025)
An International scholarly/ academic journal, peer-reviewed/ refereed journal, ISSN : 2959-1376
Building Resilience Through Literature: Lessons from Classic and Contemporary Texts
Narayan, Radha
Assistant Professor, Department of English, Millat College (LNMU), Darbhanga
DOI: https://doi.org/10.59231/SARI7795
Subject: Literature / Psychology / Social Sciences
Page No: 309–315
Received: Sep 17, 2024
Accepted: Oct 29, 2024
Published: Jan 01, 2025
Thematic Classification: Literature and Resilience, Literary Analysis, Psychological Well-being, Narrative Therapy, Classic Texts, Contemporary Literature.
Abstract
Resilience is a key psychological and emotional attribute that helps individuals and communities navigate the challenges of life. Literature, both classic and contemporary, offers a rich repository of narratives that can inspire, educate, and empower readers to develop resilience. This paper explores how literary texts, spanning different genres and historical contexts, offer insights into the human condition and model resilience in the face of adversity. By examining the works of authors such as William Shakespeare, Jane Austen, Toni Morrison, and Haruki Murakami, this study highlights how stories and characters from diverse cultural and temporal backgrounds provide timeless lessons in resilience. Through literary analysis and thematic exploration, this paper argues that literature serves not only as a mirror reflecting the struggles of its time but also as a guiding light, offering strategies and perspectives for cultivating resilience in an ever-changing world.
Keywords: Resilience, Literature, Classic Texts, Contemporary Texts, Literary Texts, Literary Analysis, Perspectives.
Impact Statement
This study highlights the powerful role of literature in fostering resilience by drawing lessons from classic and contemporary texts. Through timeless themes of perseverance, hope, and overcoming adversity, literature offers readers a mirror to reflect on their own challenges and a lens to navigate life’s complexities. Classic texts provide universal truths and enduring moral lessons, while contemporary works bring fresh perspectives on modern struggles, creating a bridge between tradition and current realities.
The research underscores how literature serves as a tool for emotional healing, personal growth, and societal understanding. It examines how stories of triumph against adversity inspire readers to cultivate inner strength and adaptability. By exploring diverse narratives across cultures and time periods, this study demonstrates how literature fosters empathy, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills, equipping individuals to face personal and collective challenges with resilience. This work has significant implications for educators, mental health practitioners, and policymakers, advocating for the integration of literature into educational curricula and therapeutic practices. By promoting resilience through storytelling, the study reaffirms the transformative power of literature to shape stronger, more empathetic individuals and communities. It serves as a reminder of the timeless relevance of the written word in guiding humanity toward hope and renewal.
About The Author
Dr. Radha Narayan is an Assistant Professor in the Department of English at Millat College (LNMU), Darbhanga, specializing in Indian English literature. Holding a Ph.D. and being UGC-NET qualified, she has a well-rounded academic background with a B.Ed. and an MA in English. She has presented at eight international and national seminars and four conferences, with her research published in more than 10 national and international journals. A life-long member of the Association for English Studies of India (AESI) and the English Language Teachers’ Association in India (ELT@I), she was honored with the “Best Teacher Award” by SIDVI Foundation
Cite this Article
APA 7th Style: Narayan, R. (2025). Building resilience through literature: Lessons from classic and contemporary texts. Shodh Sari-An International Multidisciplinary Journal, 4(01), 309–315. https://doi.org/10.59231/SARI7795
Chicago 17th Style: Narayan, Radha. “Building Resilience Through Literature: Lessons from Classic and Contemporary Texts.” Shodh Sari-An International Multidisciplinary Journal 4, no. 1 (2025): 309–315. https://doi.org/10.59231/SARI7795.
MLA 9th Style: Narayan, Radha. “Building Resilience Through Literature: Lessons from Classic and Contemporary Texts.” Shodh Sari-An International Multidisciplinary Journal, vol. 4, no. 1, 2025, pp. 309-315, https://doi.org/10.59231/SARI7795.
Statements & Declarations
Review Method: This article underwent a double-blind peer-review process by two independent external experts in Comparative Literature and Psychology to evaluate the literary analysis and the cross-disciplinary application of resilience theory.
Competing Interests: The author Radha Narayan declares that there are no financial, personal, or professional conflicts of interest that could have inappropriately influenced the research findings or the critical interpretations presented in this study.
Funding: This research was conducted as part of the author’s academic and professional activities at Millat College (LNMU), Darbhanga. No specific external grants or commercial funding were received for this work.
Data Availability: The analysis is based on a qualitative study of selected literary texts and psychological resilience frameworks. All primary literary sources and secondary critical materials are available through institutional libraries and academic databases.
License: Building Resilience Through Literature: Lessons from Classic and Contemporary Texts © 2025 by Radha Narayan is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0. This work is published by the International Council for Education Research and Training (ICERT).
Ethics Approval: As this study is a theoretical and literary analysis and does not involve direct experimentation on human participants, it was deemed exempt from formal ethical review by the Institutional Research Committee.
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