Introduction to Literature

A discussion of literary awesomeness

LITERATURE LEARNINGWhat’s literature?The writing or the study of books, etc

valued as works of art (drama, fiction, essays, poetry, biography, contrasted with technical books and journalism)(Hornby dictionary).

What’s learning?The acquisition and development of

memories and behaviors, including skills, knowledge, understanding, values, and wisdom.

The aims of literature learningTo widen our knowledge and visions to

understand more about some great literary works, famous authors, and their thought. It will also make us get acquainted with their ideas, their feelings, and their attitudes towards life, man, nature and God.

The aims of literature learning It is a means of transformation, that is, indirectly it

may lead the wrong back to the right path although not all literary works are preaching and moralizing.

Instances: Hemingway’s The old man and the sea, Dickens’s Oliver twist , Shakespeare’s Hamlet,

George Eliot’s Silas Marner , Jonathan Swift’s Gullivers’s Travel, Stevenson’s Treasure Island and Oscar wilde’s Happy prince.

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Another Distinction of literary genres:

Popular Fiction vs. “Serious” Literary works

Pop fiction like Harry Potter movies and pop song lyrics are considered less valuable than “serious” literary works like Shakespearian drama, Dickens's novel or Wordsworth’s poem

Recently in Indonesian people talk about:Secular literature vs Islamic/dakwah

literature.The secular one refers to Shaman’s Ayu

Utami and a writer like Dinar rahayu whereas the Islamic one refers to HTR, Asma Nadia, Gola Gong etc.

The aims of literature learningLiterature helps us to be (become more)

realistic, mature, wise and humane. It helps understand human values, sentiments, interests and problems. It brings us closer to other human beings of the same or different nationalities, cultures, human values etc. we become more tolerant, balanced and fuller.

What’s English literature?Narrow sense: anything that is written:

time tables, play’s dialogues, textbooks, travel brochures and so on.

Broad sense: The writing or the study of English books, etc valued as works of art

(drama, fiction, essays, poetry, biography, contrasted with technical books and journalism).it commonly refers to British and American literature.

Literary genresLiterature

prose

Short story

Novella

novel

Drama

Comedy

tragedy

poetry

Epics

Ballads

Lyrical poetry

The nature of good literature

Good literature must seem lifelike and meaningful. it is caused by its focus on the central themes of all literature: life, truth, justice and love.

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The nature of good literatureThe originality of the works of art.

Instances: Hamlet and Machbeth were real historical characters but then Shakespeare by his craftsmanship and style made out of these old figures and stories in a new and fascinating light.

The nature of good literatureIt should be life-enhancing. Matthew

Arnold said about poetry as a criticism of life. Andre harjana says,”literature deals with the the awakeing of mental conscience and inner self insight”(1985:22).

Some theories of Literature1. imitative theory2. expressive theory3. affective theory

Imitative or “mimetic” theoryThis theory holds that art is an imitation of

something. In his Poetics, Aristotle (382-322 B.C) says, that a tragedy is an imitation of an action that is serious and complete. it is not 100% imitation but a “re-creation” or “re-presentation”.

The Expressive theoryThis theory holds that the artist is not

essentially an imitator but a man who expresses his feelings. According to william wordsworth, “poetry is the spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings and “the poet’s job is to treat things NOT AS THE ARE..but as they seem to exist to the sense, the passion.” more than that it is an effort to pluck the blindfold from our eyes and melt the ice around our heart. It will deepen our sensibilities.

Affective theoryAffective theory insists that the aim is not

to induce a temporary emotional state. But to induce emotional state that will lead to action. Leo Tolstoy said that emotion is not an end but a means. Alexander Pope said that the aim or art is to reform those whom it touches.