Introduction to Literature

Tell me what you see.

Tell me what you see.
Tell me what you see.
Tell me what you see.
 ORIGIN OF LITERATURE
Factors
 Geography of the country
 People’s experiences
 Aesthetic ideals of a particular group
of writers
 Physical environment
 Social and economic organization of
people
 DEFINITIONS OF LITERATURE
CONVENTIONAL
 printed matter of any kind
 imaginative representation of life and nature
(Aristotle)
 collection of writings with excellence and beauty of
form expressing ideas of permanent or universal
interest
 collective body of literary productions upon given
subjects, embracing the entire results of knowledge
and fancy preserved in writing
 DEFINITIONS OF LITERATURE
CONVENTIONAL
 From the Latin word “littera” which means
acquaintance with letters

 Human experience through the medium of

language in various FORMS, in specific
STRUCTURE, and in chosen ANGLE OF
VISION.
 DEFINITIONS OF LITERATURE
According to Terry Eagleton:
 words used in peculiar ways
 not just an imaginative fiction or fact
 fine or good writing (belles-lettres)
 based on value judgment
 Just a reminder:

It is a challenge for you, students, to have

your own definition of literature.
It is your judgment which to consider as
literature.
 Why Study Literature?
To be DELIGHTED
 Not physically entertain, but provides
spiritual nourishment and intellectual
stimulations
 Delight refers to the “good feeling”
literature provides
 Feeling is not physical and short-lived; it is
permanent and long-lasting
 Why Study Literature?

To be INSPIRED
 Literature is value-laden and emotion-
filled
 Good literature arouses positive
emotions and introduces values
necessary for one’s growth and
development
 Why Study Literature?

To be INSTRUCTED
 Not merely inform, but readers
must apply teachings/lessons;
 Reflect on teachings and
use/apply them
 Why Study Literature?

To REALIZE and ACHIEVE ideals

 Literature propagates cultures
and introduces lifestyles and
ways of thinking of other people
in the world.
 Why Study Literature?
To UNDERSTAND life
 Reflect, think deeply and critically
 Writers are critical members of
society
 They observe, attack society, its
surface realities
 Through critical observation,
unofficially become the conscience
of society
 Why Study Literature?
To UNDERSTAND life
 Literature challenges readers’
concept of truth and reality
 Develop critical thinking and open-
mindedness
Let’s ponder:

TRUE LITERATURE
instructs,
delights,
humanizes,
and concretizes facts.
 An Open Letter to the one
who chose not to stay:
I will leave this here...

Long have I not spoken. And you did not hear anything from me. But It's like I've been
awaken from this long, hopelessly recurring, sad dream. I could imagine myself
standing by the edge of a cliff, ready to fall, ready to jump into this bottomless pit of
destructive passion and uncertainty. I was gullible, and yet so consumed. My whole
being, I found relentless. Ready to wage war, shake heavens and earth, undaunted to
cross rivers and move mountains; all for a single preposterous plea. And that is simply,
for you to fight for me. To do the same thing I could do for you.

But you never did.

Or at least you try? But you cannot outweigh what I could've, what I would've done
for you. In the end you said you didn't asked it from me...

How cruel.
But right now I'm awake. I am alive more than ever. I can't imagine that inside this
untainted, tenacious heart, I can actually say these things to you. And I'm not acting out
of bitterness. I just merely realized what a mess I've been through. Maybe I should've
listened. Maybe I was more so in to you. But I think it's the end the now.

I'm closing my chapters. You were some thick, historic, legendary book. But my story
will not end here. It has yet to continue it's greatest, most glorious living chapters.

But for you my dear, you will never die. You were a part of my heart, my life-full of
literature. You shall live and walk this earth, knowing that you have found, and lost me.

To this day forward,

SAM