Introduction to Literature

When people compose stories, dramatize situations, express emotions, analyze and advocate ideas◦ A) Verbal (def.) uses words to communicate

1) Initially vocalized- “oral tradition” (scops, troubadours, and bards)

2) Becomes written – scribes (monastic) add religious overtones

B) Demonstrates culture’s beliefs- what’s acceptable or unacceptable

Compositions

1) Homer’s The Illiad and The Odyssey◦ A) Homer was blind Greek poet◦ B) The Illiad ◦ C) The Odyssey◦ D) Cultural implications

1) Hero with hubris 2) Intelligence and courage

** First stories were told for hundreds of years with multiple variations, THEN a compilation of most popular versions were written down

Literature’s Early Timeline

1) When finally written down – in Old English 2) No author given credit for writing (700-1000)

3) Cultural implications – (Anglo-Saxon)◦ A) Tribal lords and structure◦ B) Loyalty and courage

**Technically from Britain where Germanic Old English married French in 1066 to make Middle English (this explains why English has more words than any other language). Most popular work in ME was Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales.

Beowulf

A) One of the most influential people of last 1,000 years – #1 out of top 100.◦ 1) Books and education now available to all◦ 2) Ideas were spread globally and spawned new

ideas◦ 3) Didn’t “invent” but rather repurposed existing

ideas◦ 4) Without this device we wouldn’t have the

literature we have today

Gutenburg

Gutenburg Clip – A & E

Literature is divided into 4 main types◦ 1) Prose fiction/narrative fiction◦ 2) Poetry◦ 3) Drama◦ 4) Prose nonfiction

Genres of Literature

Many ways individual can grow by reading◦ 1) Personal growth◦ 2) Intellectual growth◦ 3) Global interconnectivity growth◦ 4) Reveals man’s dreams and struggles◦ 5) Provides comparative basis◦ 6) Works as catharsis or escape◦ 7) Expands vocabulary and writing conventions

Value of Reading