Introduction to World

Literature
Introduction to World Literature
• World Literature is the totality of
all national literature.
Introduction to World Literature
• The formation of literature in different
countries happened not at the same time,
which related to the emergences of writing
and artistic creativity. Each nation has its
own artistic and national features. They
improve and enrich each others literature
by borrowing certain literary elements.
Introduction to World Literature
1827
The phrase “World
Literature” comes
from the German
scholar and
poet Johan Wolfgang
von
Introduction to World Literature
1827
Studied the characteristic
features and
interrelationships of
different national literature,
the tendencies of their
development and their
achievements.
Introduction to World Literature
1827
Studied the famous
writers which presented
different literary
phenomena of different
historic periods.
Introduction to World Literature
1827
Claimed that literature
shouldn’t be restrained by
national boundaries.
Introduction to World Literature
Johan Wolfgang von Goethe studied the ff:

Sanskrit Literature of Islamic

India Writings
Introduction to World Literature
Johan Wolfgang von Goethe studied the ff:

Serbian Literature Chinese Literature

Introduction to World Literature
1848
Karl Marx Friedrich
Revolutionary Engels
Sociologist, Historian German Socialist
and Economist Philosopher
Introduction to World Literature
1848 Karl Marx & Friedrich Engels
They used the
“World
Literature” in
their book
“Communist
Manifesto”
Introduction to World Literature
1848 Karl Marx & Friedrich Engels
- Regarded as founding documents of Communism.
- a political theory derived from advocating class war and leading to a
society in which all property is publicly owned and each person works
and is paid according to their abilities and needs.
Introduction to World Literature
1894
The world saw the
first book about
World Literature
entitled “The
History of World
Literature”
Introduction to World Literature
1894

The World Literature emerged because

of the development of Global
Economic and Cultural Relations.
Introduction to World Literature

World Literature
Classifications according to
Period of
Development
World Literature Classifications according to
Period of Development

A. The Bronze age of Literature

B. Classical Literature
C. Medieval Literature
D. Modern Literature
E. Contemporary Literature
F. 21st Century Literature
The Bronze age of Literature
2600 BC
• Covers ancient literature from 2600 B.C.
• Literary works of Sumerians and Egyptians emerged
since they were also the first ancient civilization who
developed the early systems of writing including the
Cuneiform of the Sumerians and Hieroglyphics of the
Egyptians.
The Bronze age of Literature
2600 BC
The Bronze age of Literature
2600 B.C.
Classical Literature
1200 BCE- 455 CE • Refers to the Great
Masterpieces of Greek,
Roman and other Ancient
Civilization.
Classical Literature
1200 BCE- 455 CE

The Greek poet Homer is

credited with being the first
to write down the epic stories
of 'The Iliad' and 'The
Odyssey,' and the impact of
his tales continues to
reverberate through Western
culture.
Classical Literature
1200 BCE - 455 CE
• Ovid, Latin in full Publius
Ovidius Naso
• Roman poet noted especially
for his Ars amatorial and
Metamorphoses
• His verse has immense
influence both by its
imaginative interpretations of
Classical myth and as
example of supreme technical
Classical Literature
1200 BCE- 455 CE
Sophocles – one of classical
Athens great tragic playwrights.
Medieval Literature
476 CE - 1500 CE • Refers to the any work
written in Latin or the
vernacular between C.E. 476
– 1500 C.E., including
philosophy, religious treaties,
legal texts, as well as works
of the imagination.
Modern Literature
Late 19th and early 20th • Originated in the late 19th
and early 20th centuries,
mainly in Europe and North
America.
• Characterized by self-
conscious break with
traditional ways of writing in
both poetry and prose fiction
writing.
Modern Literature
Late 19th and early 20th
Stream of
Consciousness
-A technique in
writing that attempts to
portray the infinite
thoughts and feelings
which pass through the
mind of a narrator or the
Modern Literature
Late 19th and early 20th

STREAM OF MONOLOGUE SOLILOQUY

CONSCIOUSNESS -a literary device -presented by a
-is like the prose used in drama which single character to
fiction version of is characterized by a himself/herself as an
long speech expression of
Soliloquy or
delivered or his/her inner
monologue in the
presented by an thoughts to
genre of drama individual character himself/herself
Modern Literature
Late 19th and early 20th

Stream of Consciousness
Writers

Virginia Woolf
Modern Literature
Late 19th and early 20th

Stream of Consciousness
Writers

Dorothy James Joyce

Richardson
Contemporary Literature
1940s • Set after World War II or
during the 1940s
• Reality-based stories with
strong characters and a
believable story emerged on
this period that gave birth to
the genre of Magical Realism
which was a breakthrough at
the time.
Contemporary Literature
1940s

Magical Realism
• As a literary fiction style. Magical realism
paints a realistic view of the modern
world while also adding magical
elements, often dealing with the blurring
of the lines between realism, the
supernatural realm blends with the
Contemporary Literature
1940s
Magical Realism
• Uses a substantial
amount of realistic
detail and employs
magical elements to
make a point about
reality, while fantasy
stories are often
separated from reality
Contemporary Literature
1940s
Magical Realism
García Márquez
achieved unusual
international
success as a
writer with his
novel in 1967
(One Hundred
Years of
21st Century Literature
2001 onwards

• Refers to any work written from 2001

onwards
• Characterized by the steep increase in the
acceptability of literature of all types,
inspired by the coming of age of millions
of people who enjoyed the work of
writers of speculative fiction
21st Century Literature
2001 onwards

Speculative Fiction
• Speculative Fiction means all fiction that
is non – realist and has many subgenres.
21st Century Literature
2001 onwards

Speculative Fiction
• Such fiction covers various themes in the
context of supernatural, futuristic, and
other imaginative realms.
 21st Century Literature
2001 onwards
Speculative
The Genres under the Speculative
Fiction Fiction category
include, but are not limited to:
a. Science Fiction
b. Fantasy
c. Horror
d. Superhero Fiction
e. Alternate History
f. Utopian and Dystopian
g. Supernatural Fiction
h. Combinations
Thank You