Introduction to Literature Lecture Notes PDF

Course: Introduction to Literature Instructor: Mrs. Nada Zoubi Lecture:1 Thursday. Oct 9th. 2024  What is literature? In the broadest sense, perhaps, literature means simply the written records of the race, including all its history and sciences, as well...

Course: Introduction to Literature Instructor: Mrs. Nada Zoubi Lecture:1 Thursday. Oct 9th. 2024  What is literature? In the broadest sense, perhaps, literature means simply the written records of the race, including all its history and sciences, as well as its poems and novels. In the narrower sense, literature is the artistic record of life.  What is literature? Literature is the work of art that uses the language creatively to: - Portray the message to the intended audience. - Express human realities to the society.  Qualities of Literature Literature appeals to our emotions and imagination rather than our intellect. Literature is permanent. Literature is universal. Though we speak of national and race literatures, like Greek and Teutonic, and though each has certain superficial marks arising from peculiarities of its own people. It is nevertheless that good literature knows no nationality, nor any bounds. It is occupied chiefly with elementary passions and emotions- which are essential parts of our human nature.  Types of literature 1. Oral literature: This is a type of literature that presents the message through words of mouth. 2. Written literature: This is a type of literature that presents the message through/ in written form.  GENRES UK /ˈʒɑ̃ː.rə/ US /ˈʒɑːn.rə/  What is Genre in Literature? According to Oxford Research Encyclopedias, genre describes a “grouping of texts related within the system of literature by their sharing recognizably functionalized features of form and content.” Essentially, genres help categorize literary works that share similar traits.  What are the Four Major Categories of Genre? There are four broad categories of genre: 1- Fiction. 2- Non-fiction. 3- Poetry. 4- Drama.  Fiction It is a kind of literature that deals with non factual materials or events. Characters, setting and events are the product of imaginations from the author. It can be inspired by the actual events or completely made up.  Genres of Fiction Literature PROSE FICTION:A prose is any kind of writing that is not poetry or that is not presented in verse form or stanza. It is a specifically imaginative work that includes Short stories Novella Novels.  Genres of Fiction Literature 1- SHORT STORY: This is a story usually about imaginative characters and events that is short enough to be read from the beginning to the end without stopping. It is also a brief work of fiction that can generally be read in one sitting. It usually focuses on one or two main characters that face a single problem or conflict. Example, The Farmer by R. Mabala. The Hitchhiker by Roald Dahl  Genres of Fiction Literature 2- NOVELLA: This is a fiction work that is longer than a short story but shorter than a novel. It is longer than a short story but the characters are not fully developed as in novels. For example, Samuel Beckett’s novella First Love. In this episode the unnamed narrator, who spends most of the time lying prostrate on a park bench, begins to feel his privacy threatened by the visitations of a woman to the same bench.  Genres of Fiction Literature 3-NOVEL: is a work of fiction that is longer and more complex than a short story. In novels, setting, plot, characters and theme are fully developed in great details. Like a short story, the novel has four main elements, setting, plot characters and theme. A person who writes novels is called a novelist. Example, Passed like a shadow by B. Mapalala.  Non-fiction This is a kind of literature that deals with factual materials or events. The people written about in non-fictions are real. Literary non-fictions are written to be read just the same way as fictions. These include; Autobiography Biography Essays Informational articles  Genres of Non-fiction Literature 1- Autobiography: This is an account of someone’s life and experiences written by himself/herself. The person may choose to tell about an important event from his/her life or tell the whole life story up to the time when it is written. Autobiographies are almost always written in the first-person (I). Example, “Gifted Hands” by Ben Carson and “The Narrative of Frederick Douglas: An American Slave. Written by himself.  Genres of Non-fiction Literature 2- Biography: This is a story of someone’s life and experiences written by another person. In biographies the author may choose to interview the biographical subject and also gather information from other sources. The subjects of Biographies are often famous people. E.g. Lincoln: A Photo biography.  Genres of Non-fiction Literature 3- Essays: This is a short piece of writing in which the writer shares his/her point of view about a certain subject. Essays usually deal with a single subject. 4- Informational articles: These are articles that present factual materials about a specific subject. They appear in newspapers, magazines, and in reference books like Encyclopedias, almanacs, and atlases.  Poetry Poetry is a literary genre in which ideas and feelings are expressed in imaginative and musical language. Poems are meant to be recited or sung and words are arranged in such a way that they touch readers’ senses, emotions and mind. Poetry is different from other literary genres and thus it should be appreciated on its own merit. Interview (by Dorothy Parker) The ladies men admire, I’ve heard, Would shudder at a wicked word. Their candle gives a single light; They’d rather stay at home at night. They do not keep awake till three, Nor read erotic poetry. They never sanction the impure, Nor recognize an overture. They shrink from powders and from paints... So far, I’ve had no complaints.  Drama It is a literary genre that tells a story through actions and dialogue and is written to be performed on stage by actors. Drama has the same elements as those in novels and short stories. i.e. setting, plot characters, theme, climax, conflict, symbolism, etc. Example, Macbeth (1623) by William Shakespeare