Introduction to

Literature
A discussion of literary awesomeness

LITERATURE

LEARNING
Whats 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).
Whats learning?
The acquisition and development of
memories and behaviors, including skills,
knowledge, understanding, values, and
wisdom.

The

aims of literature learning

To 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: Hemingways The old man and the sea,
Dickenss Oliver twist , Shakespeares Hamlet,
George Eliots Silas Marner , Jonathan Swifts
Gulliverss Travel, Stevensons Treasure Island and
Oscar wildes Happy prince.

Another
Popular

Distinction of literary genres:

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
Wordsworths poem

Recently

in Indonesian people talk about:

Secular literature vs Islamic/dakwah
literature.
The secular one refers to Shamans Ayu
Utami and a writer like Dinar rahayu
whereas the Islamic one refers to HTR,
Asma Nadia, Gola Gong etc.

The

aims of literature learning

Literature 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.

Whats

English literature?
Narrow sense: anything that is written:
time tables, plays 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

genres

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.

The

nature of good literature

The 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 literature

It 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 Literature
1. imitative theory
2. expressive theory
3. affective theory

Imitative

or mimetic theory
This 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 theory
This 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 poets 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

theory
Affective 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.