UNDERTANDING THE NATURE, FUNCTION
OF LITERATURE
What is the Nature of Literature?
Literature – can be defined as an expression
of human feelings, thoughts, and ideas whose
medium is language, oral and written.
-it is not only about human ideas, thoughts and
feelings, but also about experiences of the
authors.
-it can be medium for human to communicate
what they feel, think, experience to the
readers.
Literature based on Different Point of
Views
• Literature is an art
• Literature is language
• Literature is aesthetic
• Literature is fictional
• Literature is expressive, and
• Literature is affective.
• Literature is everything in print.
• It means any writing can categorized as
literature.
How Dr. Ellis Describes literature
Dr. Rod Ellis – known as the “Father of
Second language Acquisition” (ASL)
(1989:30) defines literature as;
1. The verbal expression of human
imagination, and
2. One of the primary means by which a
culture transmits itself.\
Literature as Art Form
2 Categories:
1. Imaginative Literature – is highly
‘connotative’ which means words that
used in literary works have feeling and
shades of meaning that words to tend to
evoke.
- or “literature of power” includes poems,
short stories, novels, and plays. It
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interprets human experience by
presenting fictious persons, incidents or
situations, not by actual truths about
particular events.
2. Non – Imaginative/Fictional Literature
– means that the words refer to meaning
in dictionary.
- Or “literature of knowledge” includes
biographies and essays which present
actual facts, events, experiences and
ideas.
Literature Differ form Ordinary Spoken or
Written Language
Literature – uses special words, structures,
and characteristics. Primarily the language of
literature differs from ordinary language in 3
ways;
1. Language is concentrated and
meaningful
2. Its purpose is not simply to explain,
argue, or make a point but rather to give
a sense of pleasure in the discovery of
a new experience, and
3. It demands intense concentration from
the readers. It indicates that the
language of literature has originality,
quality, creativity, and pleasure.
2 Categories of Literature According to
Kleden
Kleden – states that literature can be
differentiate based on the kind of meanings
that exist in a text.
a. LITERARY TEXT – consists of textual
meaning and
b. NON – LITERARY TEXT – only
consists of referential meaning.
• The TEXTUAL MEANING – is
the meaning that is produced by
the relationship of texts itself.
• REFERRENTIAL MEANING – it
is produced by the relationship
between internal text and
external text (world beyond the
text)

Literary from the use of language and the
existence – from the use of language and the
existence of meaning in literary works, it can
be concluded that poetry, prose and drama are
put in literary works article, journalism, news,
bibliography, memoir and so on can be
categorized as non- literary works.
FUNCTION OF LITERATURE
1.ENTERTAINMENT FUNCTION – known as
the “pleasure reading”. In this function,
literature is used to entertain its readers.
- it is consumed for the sake of one’s
enjoyment.
2. SOCIAL AND POLITICAL FUNCTION –
literature shows how society works around
them.
- it helps reader “see” the social and political
and constructs around him and shows the
state of the people and the world around him.
3. IDEOLOGICAL FUNCTION – shapes our
way of thinking based on the ideas of other
people.
• Literature also displays a person’s
ideology placed in the text consciously
and unconsciously.
4.MORAL FUNCTION -literature may impart
moral values to its readers.
- the morals contained in a literary text,
whether good or bad, are absorbed by
whoever reads it, thus helps in shaping their
personality.
5.LINGUISTIC FUNCTION – literature
preserves the language of every civilization
from where it originated.
- they are also evidences that a certain
civilization has existed by recording the
language and preserving it through wide
spans of time.
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6.CULTURAL FUNCTION – literature orients
us to the traditions, folklore and the arts of our
ethnic groups heritage.
- it preserves entire cultures and creates an
imprint of the peoples way of living for others
to read, hear and learn.
7.EDUCATIONAL FUNCTION – literature
teaches us of many things about the human
experience.
- it is used to portray the facets of life that we
see, and those that we would never dream of
seeing.
- literature therefore, is a conduct for the
chance to experience and feel things where
we can learn things about life.
8.HISTORICAL FUNCTION – ancient texts,
illuminated scripts, stone tablets etc, keeps a
record of events that happened in the place
where they originated.
- thus, they serve as time capsules of letters
that is studies by scholars and researchers of
today.
The 14 Main Literary Genres
1. Literary Fiction. Literary fiction novels are
considered works with artistic value and
literary merit. They often include political
criticism, social commentary, and reflections
on humanity. Literary fiction novels are
typically character-driven, as opposed to being
plot-driven, and follow a character’s inner
story.
2. Mystery. Mystery novels, also called
detective fiction, follow a detective solving a
case from start to finish. They drop clues and
slowly reveal information, turning the reader
into a detective trying to solve the case, too.
Mystery novels start with an exciting hook,
keep readers interested with suspenseful
pacing, and end with a satisfying conclusion
that answers all of the reader’s outstanding
questions.
3. Thriller. Thriller novels are dark,
mysterious, and suspenseful plot-driven
stories. They very seldom include comedic
elements, but what they lack in humor, they
make up for in suspense. Thrillers keep
readers on their toes and use plot twists, red
herrings, and cliffhangers to keep them
guessing until the end.
4. Horror. Horror novels are meant to scare,
startle, shock, and even repulse readers.
Generally focusing on themes of death,
demons, evil spirits, and the afterlife, they prey
on fears with scary beings like ghosts,
vampires, werewolves, witches, and
monsters. In horror fiction, plot and characters
are tools used to elicit a terrifying sense of
dread.
5. Historical. Historical fiction novels take
place in the past. Written with a careful
balance of research and creativity, they
transport readers to another time and place—
which can be real, imagined, or a combination
of both. Many historical novels tell stories that
involve actual historical figures or historical
events within historical settings.
6. Romance. Romantic fiction centers on love
stories between two people. They’re
lighthearted, optimistic, and have an
emotionally satisfying ending. Romance
novels do contain conflict, but it doesn’t
overshadow the romantic relationship, which
always prevails in the end.
7. Western. Western novels tell the stories of
cowboys, settlers, and outlaws exploring the
western frontier and taming the American Old
West. They’re shaped specifically by their
genre-specific elements and rely on them in
ways that novels in other fiction genres don’t.
Westerns aren’t as popular as they once were;
the golden age of the genre coincided with the
popularity of western films in the 1940s, ‘50s,
and ‘60s.
8. Bildungsroman. Bildungsroman is a
literary genre of stories about a character
growing psychologically and morally from their
youth into adulthood. Generally, they
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experience a profound emotional loss, set out
on a journey, encounter conflict, and grow into
a mature person by the end of the story.
Literally translated, a bildungsroman is “a
novel of education” or “a novel of formation.”
9. Speculative Fiction. Speculative fiction is
a supergenre that encompasses a number of
different types of fiction, from science fiction to
fantasy to dystopian. The stories take place in
a world different from our own. Speculative
fiction knows no boundaries; there are no
limits to what exists beyond the real world.
10. Science Fiction. Sci-fi novels are
speculative stories with imagined elements
that don’t exist in the real world. Some are
inspired by “hard” natural sciences like
physics, chemistry, and astronomy; others are
inspired by “soft” social sciences like
psychology, anthropology, and sociology.
Common elements of sci-fi novels include time
travel, space exploration, and futuristic
societies.
11. Fantasy. Fantasy novels are speculative
fiction stories with imaginary characters set in
imaginary universes. They’re inspired by
mythology and folklore and often include
elements of magic. The genre attracts both
children and adults; well-known titles include
Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis
Carroll and the Harry Potter series by J.K.
Rowling.
12. Dystopian. Dystopian novels are a genre
of science fiction. They’re set in societies
viewed as worse than the one in which we live.
Dystopian fiction exists in contrast to utopian
fiction, which is set in societies viewed as
better than the one in which we live.
13. Magical Realism. Magical realism novels
depict the world truthfully, plus add magical
elements. The fantastical elements aren’t
viewed as odd or unique; they’re considered
normal in the world in which the story takes
place. The genre was born out of the realist art
movement and is closely associated with Latin
American authors.

14. Realist Literature. Realist fiction novels
are set in a time and place that could actually
happen in the real world. They depict real
people, places, and stories in order to be as
truthful as possible. Realist works of fiction
remain true to everyday life and abide by the
laws of nature as we currently understand
them.
IMPORTANCE OF LITERATURE
• Literature improves your command of
language
• It teaches you about the life, cultures
and experiences of people in other
parts of the world.
• It gives you information about the other
parts of the world which may never be
able to visit in your lifetime
• It entertains you and provides useful
occupation in your free time.
• It makes you a wiser and more
experienced person by forcing you to
judge, sympathize with, or criticize the
characters you read about.
• It helps you compare your own
experiences with the experiences of
other people.
• It gives information which may be
useful in other subjects for ex.
Geography, science, history, and social
studies and so on.
IMPORTANCE OF LITERARY CRITICISM
• As a tool in literary studies, critic plays
an important role in doing studies or
analysis about literary work.
• Applying criticism make our focus on
certain aspect or element of literary
work sharper than reading as usual.
• The reader can focus on an aspect as
his interest toward the literary work.
UNIVERSAL CHARACTERISTICS OF
LITERATURE
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1. Timelessness
2. Eternity
3. Universality
4. Permanence
Literature – is a permanent expression in
words of some thoughts or feelings or idea
about life and the world.
LITERARY CRITICISM AND ITS PURPOSE
Literary criticism – refers to analysis and
judgement of works of literature.
- It tries to interpret specific works of
literature and also helps us to identify
and understand different ways of
examining and interpreting them
- Study of literary criticism contributes to
maintenance of high standards of
literature.
LITERARY CRITICISM AND IT’S PURPOSE
- It is the study, evaluation, and
interpretation of literature.
- Modern criticism is often influenced by
literary theory, which is the philosophical
discussion of literature’s goals and
methods.
FUNCTIONS OF LITERARY CRITICISM
-The modern understanding of criticism is
regarded as having two different functions
which helps to achieve the main purposes of
criticism.
-Criticism – is the process of analysis and
description and interpretation of literary works
for the purpose of increasing understanding
and raising appreciation.
HOW DO YOU DO LITERARY CRITICISM?
• Method to applying advanced critical
Techniques
• Read the work of literature critically
• Evaluate as you read
• Brainstorm which aspect to write about
• Formulate a thesis statement
• Create an outline
 • Select quotes and patterns that support 2. Verifying cultural theory
your thesis
3. Supporting cultural history
• Find other criticism to support your
thesis.
TYPES:
1. Theoretical
2. Practical
a. Analytical
TYPES OF LITERARY CRITICISM b. Judicial
- Such analysis may be based from a c. Impressionistic
variety of approaches or movements,
3. Historical
such as:
1. Archetypal Criticism 4. Diagnostic
2. Cultural Criticism
3. Feminist Criticism
4. Psychoanalytic criticism
5. Marxist Criticism
6. New Criticism (Formalism/
structuralism) FEMINIST CRITICISM
7. New Historicism
8. Post – Structuralism and -how literature has represented women and
9. Reader – response criticism relationship between men and women,
drawing attention to how women have been
marginalized and denied a voice on their own
CRITICISM in much of canonical literature

- Greek word "Kriterion" means for -how literature reflects society's prevailing
judging. ideological assumptions with regard to gender
and power

TYPES OF WRITING CRITICISM:

THE FEMINIST MOVEMENT:
1. Scientific
1. First Wave Feminism (1700's-1900's)
2. Popular
2. Second Wave Feminism (1960's-1970s)
3. Creative
3. Third Wave Feminism (1900's-present)

CULTURAL CRITICISM
IMPORTANT FEMINIST WRITING:
- the practice of describing, interpreting and
evaluating culture 1. A Vindication of Rights of Women (1972) by
Mary Wolstonecraft
2. Women and Labor (1911) by Olive
FUNCTION: Schreiner
1. Criticising cultural works 3. A Room for One's Own (1929) by Virginia
Woolf
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4. The Second Sex (1949) by Simone de 8. Innocent
Beauvoir 9. Caregiver
10. Jester
11. Everyman
ELAINE SHOWALTER 12. Ruler

-American literary critic, feminist and writer on

cultural and social issues
-Developed the practice of "gynocritics", a
study of "women as writers"
-has been a television critic for People
Magazine
-commentator on BBC radio and television
NORTHROP FRYE
DIFFERENT PHASES BY SHOWALTER -anatomy of criticism (1957)
1. Feminine Phase (1840-1880)
2. Feminist Phase (1880-1920) Four Main Narrative Genres or Seasons
3. Femal Phase (1920-onwards) 1. Spring (Comedy)
2. Winter (Irony and Sattire)
ARCHETYPAL CRITICISM 3. Autumn (Tragedy)
-focusing on recurring myths 4. Summer (Romance)

ARCHE-original
TYPOS-form
"ORIGINAL FORM"

CARL JUNG
-collective unconscious
-archetypal criticism

EXAMPLES:
1. Hero
2. Lovers
3. Outlaw
4. Magician
5. Explorer
6. Sage
7. Creator
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