What is literature? First Part

September, 11th, 20138-9: 20 AM

Course Title: Introduction to LiteratureCourse Code & NO.: LANE 341Course Credit Hrs.: 3 per weekLevel: 5th Level

Instructor: Dr. Noora Al-MalkiCredits of images and online content are to their original owners.

Session Content

- Unit Learning Outcomes- Can we REALLY define literature?- The READER & Reception - Discussion of selected definitions - Qualities of literature- Importance of literature- NEXT lecture

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Unit Objective:

In this lecture, we are going to review some critical views on the nature of “literature”. Our main aim would be to consider the possibility of developing our own interpretation of literature which is based on these various perspectives we are going to discuss.

Learning Outcomes:

Upon completion of this unit, students will be able to:- Review some definitions which highlight the meaning of literature.- Discuss some of the prominent qualities of literature.- Write short notes about the literary movements and periods they study. - Distinguish between the main literary genres and sub-genres (presented in this unit).

Can we REALLY define literature?

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- Different philosophers, critics, authors have different (sometimes contrasting) views of literature.

- What is considered non-literary in one age can be treated as a literary masterpiece in another.

(e.g. Moby-Dick by Herman Melville 19th C. American author)- We do not even have a set of fixed criteria which we can use to judge

a work as literary or otherwise. (all we have, then, are subjective views)

The READER & Reception

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- Some critics believe that we have to study how literature works with the reader, rather than how the author set about writing it.

- We have to consider the judgment of the reader on a literary work as essential and important in categorizing it as literary or not.

- Reception- literary taste- Is it safe to leave it to the reader to decide the value (fate) of a

literary work?

Discussion of selected definitions

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Oscar Wilde, 19th C English novelist Ernest Hemingway, 20th C American novelist

Jonathan Swift, 17th & 18th Cs, English novelist C. S. Lewis, 20th C Irish novelist, poet

Qualities of literature

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- Artistic quality (beauty of expression)

- Suggestiveness (ability to appeal to emotions)

- Permanence (everlasting, eternal influence)

Importance of literature

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- In your own words, write a short paragraph about why you think literature is important to you?

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NEXT LecturePrepare

- Literary Periods and MovementsWe will focus on literary periods and movements with special interest in English literature, so I encourage you to download and read this file (pgs. 7-15). You can as well surf the net looking for more information.

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Have a super day….