Teachers of literature and composition believe that they are doing the right thing by teaching literary analysis and encouraging students to assume the intellectual rigor of serious study of the language arts. However, the teaching of these courses is seldom justified with reasons other than the practical ones of going to college or finding a job. In this article, the author attempts to clarify the justifications for teaching literature and composition, reminding instructors that it offers to students less concrete but nonetheless practical rewards such as empowerment, self-understanding, and effective communication skills. Teaching literature and the skill of writing about literature provides students with an opportunity to think about the past, learn from it, and prepare for the future.