Introduction to Literature

By Trinh Thi My Le

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 What is Literature?
• Modern definition:
- Literature is defined as language artistically used to convey
meaningful messages.
- Literature is characterized by beauty of expression and form and by
universal intellectual and emotional appeal

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 Prerequisite knowledge and skills
• Sts should nurture enthusiasm for reading literary texts
• Cultural and social background
• Reading skill: advanced level
• Paraphrasing technique
• Sufficient knowledge of language: most important tool

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 Why is there literature?

• Wherever there are people there will be a literature.

• A literature is the record of human experience, and
people have always been impelled to write down their
impressions of life.
• They do so in diaries and letters, in pamphlets and books,
and in essays, poems, plays, and stories.

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 Why teach Literature?
1. The cultural model
• - Insight into other cultures’ ideologies -> enriches your knowledge
about the culture
2. The language model
• - enhance learning and language acquisition -> improves your
language proficiency
3. The personal growth model
• - lasting pleasure in reading
• - Help sts grow as individuals
• - helps you explore the nature of human beings

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 How to study?
• Read and think about the text.

• Study important passages

• Try to analyze the text according to such typical features of literary

analysis as theme, setting, plot, characters, conflict, style, etc.

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