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    What Is Literature

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    Abeeramee Subramaniam
    Literature can be defined in various ways and what constitutes literature has been disputed. Traditionally, literature referred to imaginative fiction but the definition has expanded. The literary canon, or classic works deemed most important, was limited by only including works by white European males. However, over time as societies change, so does what is considered literature. Context and the experiences of readers also influence how a work is interpreted. There is no single definition of literature and values placed on works change over time and based on the dominant social perspectives.

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    What Is Literature

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    Abeeramee Subramaniam
    157 views19 pages
    Literature can be defined in various ways and what constitutes literature has been disputed. Traditionally, literature referred to imaginative fiction but the definition has expanded. The literary canon, or classic works deemed most important, was limited by only including works by white European males. However, over time as societies change, so does what is considered literature. Context and the experiences of readers also influence how a work is interpreted. There is no single definition of literature and values placed on works change over time and based on the dominant social perspectives.

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    What is Literature

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    Literature can be defined in various ways and what constitutes literature has been disputed. Traditionally, literature referred to imaginative fiction but the definition has expanded. The literary canon, or classic works deemed most important, was limited by only including works by white European males. However, over time as societies change, so does what is considered literature. Context and the experiences of readers also influence how a work is interpreted. There is no single definition of literature and values placed on works change over time and based on the dominant social perspectives.

    Copyright:

    Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    157 views19 pages

    What Is Literature

    Uploaded by

    Abeeramee Subramaniam
    Literature can be defined in various ways and what constitutes literature has been disputed. Traditionally, literature referred to imaginative fiction but the definition has expanded. The literary canon, or classic works deemed most important, was limited by only including works by white European males. However, over time as societies change, so does what is considered literature. Context and the experiences of readers also influence how a work is interpreted. There is no single definition of literature and values placed on works change over time and based on the dominant social perspectives.

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    of 19

    What is Literature?

    Language Department IPGK Pendidikan Teknik

    Based on your experience learning literature, what is literature? What are the characteristics of literature? Do you need to learn literature?

    ! Traditionally, literature is imaginative writing.

    ! However, the distinction between real and fake or fact and fiction isnt always a good distinction; many classical works were non-fiction.

    Literature is Subjective
    ! Since the 1980s, the literary canon of works a group of works agreed upon to be the best by well-known scholars and critics, has been disputed.

    Why do you think the canon was disputed?

    ! The Canon excluded most works that were not by white, European males. ! Works of literature by women, homosexuals, and works by individuals of varied races, classes and ethnicities were marginalised.

    How did this happen?


    ! There are many ways of writing but those in power recognised only one, formal way of writing, and this was given the higher value. ! Thus, the literary canon is a construct; it was fashioned by particular people for particular reasons at a particular time.

    ! There is no literary work or tradition that has value in and of itself ! .even Shakespeare!

    ! In his era, Shakespeare was regarded as a hack! ! Time and circumstance has offered the value to particular text; and this value is a transitive term it will change as the people in power change and are altered, and according to the context of the reading of a particular text.

    10 years ago .
    ! BLOGS were stupid. ! NOW, Iraq War Veterans BLOGS are considered vital historic and literary documents!

    Revisioning the Canon:


    ! All literary works are unconsciously rewritten by the societies that read them.

    Context
    ! Readers interpret literary works in the light of their own concerns. ! Readers interpret literary works in the light of a given circumstances. ! Readers interpret literary works in the light of a given time period.

    The Diary of Anne Frank:


    ! Literature? Or Not?

    I Have A Dream:
    ! Is this speech by Martin Luther King, Jr. Literature? Or Not?

    Literature and value


    ! Each of us is constructed by experiences and backgrounds and emotions and ideas and prejudices and knowledge and lack of knowledge ! How we each respond to a particular text is deeply entwined with our broader prejudices and belief systems.

    Basic Definition of Literature


    ! Latin litterae (plural for letter) ! Literally means acquaintance with letters

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    So what is literature?
    ! What constitutes a literary text? ! What qualities will help me to determine the literariness of a text? ! Read What is Literature by Jim Meyer for our class discussion this Thursday.

    !ank You"

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