Lesson 1: What is "Literature"?

CUES/QUESTIONS: ANSWERS:

____________ 1.) It is writing that LITERATURE

uses artistic expression and form and
is considered to have merit or be
important.
LITERATURE
____________ 2.) As an artistic term,
________ refers to written works, such
as novels, short stories, biographies,
memories, essays, and poetry.
LITERATURE WITH A SINGULAR VERB
____________ 3.) Literature should be
used with a singular verb. Uncountable
nouns are almost always singular, even
if they refer to multiple "items". It
gives the impression that there is only
one kind of literature governed by so-
called time- less standards that are CONTEXT
universally applicable.

____________ 4.) It includes the

genre, mode, or form in which the
work was written, or the set of CONTEXT
conventions an artist grapples with in
producing a work of art.

____________ 5.) It also includes the

historical, cultural, social, economic,
political, affective, and other material
conditions that have bearings on the
writing, publishing, and reading of
ORAL CULTURE
literary texts.

Modern literature vs. Traditional

forms
____________ 6.) It is the term being ONLINE CULTURE
typically applied to those having no
written literature and in
which intergenerational cultural
transmission of values, attitudes, and
beliefs is by word of mouth. PRINT CULTURE

____________ 7.) It is a culture based

on the many manifestations of
LITERATURE WITH A CAPITAL “L”
computer networks and their use for
communication, entertainment,
business, and recreation.

____________ 8.) It embodies all

forms of printed text and other printed
forms of visual communication.

____________ 9.) Literature with a

capital "L" is writing that is inventive, PLATO
especially literature of recognized
artistic value; it's writing of lasting
value that imaginatively expresses
ideas of permanent and universal
interest. "L" brings up the concept of MATTHEW ARNOLD
literary canon, the idea that some
works deserve to be included in a kind
of literary hall of fame.

____________ 10.) For him, Poetry

was a product of fanciful or untruthful LITERATURE WITH QUOTATION
thinking. You can turn to literature as a MARKS
kind of substitute religion if you want
to learn "how to live".

____________ 11.) He said that,

poetry is "The best that is known and LITERARY
thought in the world." Literature as a
"powerful and beautiful application of
ideas to life - to the question: How to
live."

____________ 12.) Putting quotation

marks around words foregrounds the
constructedness of their meanings. IMAGINATIVE WRITING
The same goes for definitions of
literature - there is no one correct or
essential or natural definition.

____________ 13.) It is the artistic

written expression as opposed to
traditional forms like myths, epics,
folktales, legends, ballads, proverbs, RALPH WALDO EMERSON
folk drama, which had oral culture as
their life and basis. Literary authors
are likelier to develop their own voice
and style, a self-conscious view of the
world and their own art.

____________ 14.) As ________, LITERARINESS

fiction is written by authors who self-
consciously make use of creative
techniques and devices to render their
theme in the best way possible. It is in
creative distortion and the use of
figurative rather than plain language
that the truth for a literary author is
most clearly expressed.
FICTION
____________ 15.) He said that,
"Fiction reveals truth the reality
obscures." Fiction, rather than plainly
reflecting reality, creatively refracts it
to show something that would have
otherwise escaped our attention.
REALISM and ROMANCE
____________ 15.) It is the apt use of
devices, techniques, and figurative CREATIVE NON-FICTION
language in the careful shaping of the
elements of poem or story to
communicate a point or insight. The
use of creative techniques must not
feel forced or artificial; verbosity or
shallow, decorative applications of
MINA ROY
figurative language do not qualify as
literariness.

____________ 16.) It is basically prose GWENDOLYN BROOKS

narrative, its distinctive feature being
the centrality of plot action. _______ is
not just about plot. It is an interplay
POETRY
and interlayering of other elements
like characters, setting, point of view,
and tone.

____________ 17.) Two Modes of LYRIC POETRY

Fiction.

____________ 18.) This is a genre that

incorporates elements of fiction and NARRATIVE POETRY
poetry in the retelling of a personal
experience. ________ may include
memoir, personal essays, feature-
DRAMATIC POETRY
length articles in magazines, and
narratives in literary journals.

____________ 19.) She defines poetry

as "prose bewitched".
DRAMA
____________ 20.) She says that
poetry is "life distilled" through words
and language.

____________ 21.) It works via

suggestion, implication, and ambiguity
rather than via literal, straightforward
communication.

____________ 22.) It is a type of

poetry that expresses the thoughts,
ideas, or feelings of the speaker or
persona.

____________ 23.) It is a type of

poetry that deals with a series of
events.

____________ 24.) It is a type of

poetry which the speaker is an
imaginary character addressing
another imaginary character who
remains silent.

____________ 25.) It is an ancient

form of communal expression. Best
enjoyed when performed, with the
sounds and rhythms in poetry heard
and the spectacle in drama seen by an
embodied audience.