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"English Literature rode to power on the back of wartime nationalism."
This shows that English gave emotional and national strength. It was more than just a subject. It helped grow and keep the empire.
Literature as Cultural Weapon: English was used to spread values. It taught colonized people British thinking. They learned about British heroes and ideas. It shaped minds with foreign culture. This made people admire their rulers. They followed ideas they read in class. Eagleton says,
"Like religion, literature works primarily by emotion and experience."
Literature touched hearts like religion once did. It helped control without using force. This cultural rule was very powerful. English literature became a soft weapon. It worked quietly but deeply in society.
Training the Imperial Officers: The empire needed strong, loyal officers. They had to feel morally superior. So, they were taught great English texts. These books gave a sense of mission. They believed they were civilizing the world. Poems and plays gave them confidence. English studies made the ruling feel like a duty. Eagleton writes,
"English was literally the poor man's Classics."
It was easy to teach and learn. It replaced Greek and Latin in training. It worked well for the empire's needs. Officers carried books with guns and flags.
Making Empire Look Natural: English literature showed rulers as heroes. It hid the violence of the empire. Stories and poems made the empire look good. It looked peaceful, moral, and wise. The bad parts were hidden in beauty. This helped rulers feel guilt-free. Colonial rule was shown as helpful. Eagleton says,
"Literature, in the meaning we inherited, is an ideology."
Literature made power look natural and right. It shaped emotions, not just knowledge. So, people did not question the system. They saw empire as order, not control.
Long-Term Effects of Imperial English: English stayed in many colonies after the rule. Schools still teach British writers today. This shows the deep roots of the empire. Language and culture continued to spread. It gave old rulers silent power. English became a global subject later. People connect it with knowledge and success. However, it started as a tool of the empire. Eagleton's essay helps us understand this clearly. He deeply connects language, history, and politics. So, English is more than literature. It shaped the modern world through the empire.
In termination, Eagleton clearly shows how English rose. It was tied to power and empire. Literature worked like religion and law. It ruled minds, not only lands. The rise of English was not neutral. It helped build and protect British imperialism.
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