Studying World Literature can serve more than one purpose. Literature can be used by archeologists and historians as a tool for understanding an ancient culture. You can also use World Literature to become more familiar with a current culture from anywhere else in the world. Because generally a piece of literature shares common themes, values and perspectives of that culture and that time period, whatever they may be.

Analyzing literature requires us to pick apart the specific reading to identify underlying themes, unintentional or intentional cultural concepts and even the authors view point. The Iceberg method mentioned in the lecture is a great example because the main plot and characters will be on the surface but under the water will be deeper themes and meaning.