COURSE DESCRIPTION

The course provides the students a venue to explore and

experience the different cultures and traditions of the world from
different times. While it introduces various kinds of literature, literary
devices and literary theories, this course also showcases the
universality of the human experiences that transcend time and space.
Literature
 Taken from Oxford dictionary:
 Literally “acquaintance with letters”
(from the Latin littera meaning letter.
 A collection of text or work of art.
 The class of writings in which
imaginative expression, aesthetic form,
universality of ideas, and permanence
are characteristic features, as fiction,
poetry and drama;
 It may also mean any printed material
 According to Robert Frost, Literature is “a
performance in words”
 According to Henry Van Dyke, literature
consists of “writings which interpret the
meanings of charm nature and life, in words
of charm and power, touched with the
personality of the author in artistic forms of
permanent interests.”
 To Arsenia Tan of UST, literature is life which
presents human experience.
 Literature Defined
It is an artistic representation and
reflection of the individuality of a
group of people and of their life
manifested in different forms or
expressions. It is a timeless treasure
because it is an embodiment of a
nation’s traditions, customs and
cultural patterns and is also a
vehicle for expressing experiences,
thoughts, innermost feelings, beliefs
and attitudes of the people.
Roles of Literature in Society
1. Transmitter of values
2. Preserver of ideals, customs and
traditions
3. Mirror of culture
4. Agent of change
5. Source of pleasure
Transmitter of values
Events, as we read them in literature,
make us look at ourselves and live through the
experiences of the characters. We glean from the
stories the morals that lend to good life: honesty,
respect, love of country, justice, honor, etc.
Preserver of ideals, customs and traditions
Literature is our link to the past. We get
a glimpse at our ancestors’ way of life by
reading their stories and poems. Reflecting on
their practice, beliefs and attitudes make us
understand more deeply our roots, thereby
inspiring us to strengthen our ideals, customs
and traditions at the present.
Mirror of culture
Literature reflects the cultures of
different races. Those who do not have the
resources to travel and personally observe
the ways of people from other parts of the
world may enrich their knowledge vicariously
through literature. Knowing how people from
the other side of the planet live broadens our
perception of life and humanity.
Agent of change
History bears records of significant
changes in society brought about by literature. The
choice of Tagalog as basis for Filipino, the national
language of the Philippines, has been partly due to
the popularity of writings in Tagalog like Francisco
Balagtas’ Florante at Laura.
Today, literature in the mass media is a
potent force swaying public opinion. Ideas
massively delivered, whether orally or in writing,
can greatly influence people’s thinking. They can
make or unmake heroes, presidents, etc.
Source of pleasure
Like other forms of art, literature
entertains and gives pleasure. Some people
read literature for the fun of it, while some
people read for the wisdom they get from it.
Others enjoy analyzing the message in it or
the style and structure of the selection.
 FORMS OF LITERATURE

 POEM: a composition usually written in verse.

Poems rely heavily on imagery, precise word
choice and metaphor; they may take the form of
measures consisting of patterns of stresses or of
patterns of different – length syllables and they
may or may not utilize rhyme.
 FORMS OF LITERATURE

PROSE: consists of writing that

does not adhere to any particular
formal structures. It is spoken or
written language without metrical
structure as distinguished from
poetry or verse.
 ASSIGNMENT

Look for and read the poem entitled,

“The River Merchant’s Wife: A
Letter”