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I had an epiphany (of sorts) today, in how my studies (well, anyone’s at that) can be likened to a fantasy RPG game which is based on a character who gains experience with each task done, learning new techniques and growing stronger as they level up.

Perhaps not much of an epiphany, but I’ll take what I can get.

The example that comes to mind is my first attempt at reading Frances Yates’ The Occult Philosophy of the Elizabethan Age.  It is a very well written, researched, and (when published) an original book.  However, despite my interest in the topic, I was not quite prepared to read it - I didn’t have the background that I needed to understand what I was reading, though I was able to catch some points.  Just like when you are playing a game, you need to start from the beginning and work your way up.  In a game, you go out and complete quests and adventures; in university, you read introductory texts and more intermediate scholarship until you are ready to read the more difficult, and more rewarding, materials.

This may just be one of those epiphanies that makes sense only in my head, and if not I don’t know what use it’ll be anyways.