An Introductory Course Book of English and American Literature
The Objectives of this course
Enable the students to get a general idea about the development or history of English literature
As equipment for living --- to deal with recurrent situations in daily life.
8. Iser
Ask the reader to join in the game.
What are the forms of literature?
To have a convincing claim on our attention, it must yield not only enjoyment but understanding.
The experience of humankind through the age is that literature may supply such understanding and do so effectively --- that the depiction of imagined experiences can provide real insights.
2. Aristotle & Poetics (384-
322BC) Instinct of imitation and
harmony
3. William Shakespeare (15641616)
They’re the abstract and brief
chronicles of the time. (Hamlet)
1 By “close reading”
2 Be familiarized with some literary terms
3 Information about the social and historical background of the writers is also important.
Enrich the students’ knowledge
What is literature?
Written works of the human experience, past and present that are intended for reading, but not everything intended for reading is classified as literature.
Enable the students to get a general idea about the major genres of English literature in different times, and also the major works of major authors
Cultivate the literary taste of the students
We use the word literature --- in a broad sense, to mean compositions that tell stories, dramatize situations, express emotions, and analyze and advocate ideas;
Literature is a performance in words. It is the work of men who are specially sensitive to the language of their time and who use the skill of language to make permanent their vision of life.
“The truest history is full of falsehoods, and your romance is full of truth.” (Samuel Richardson)
But not all the literature may present such insights. Only some does. Therefore, literature may be firstly classified into two broad categories: literature of escape and literature of interpretation.
4. Wolfgang von Goethe (17491832)歌德 Make a common subject / reality interesting and poetic; and show an apprehension & representation of the individual / particular
Enjoyment is the first aim and good reason of reading literature.
But, unless literature gives something more than pleasure, it hardly justifies itself as our study subject. Unless it expands or refines our minds or quickens our sense of life, its value is not appreciably greater than that of video games, bridge or Ping-Pong.
6. Victor Shklovsky (1893-1984) 什克洛夫斯基
Art as technique: a special way of thinking and knowing --estrangement, displaying language out of its usual
7. Kenneth Burke (1897-)
Since the invention of language, men have taken pleasure in following and participating in the imaginary adventures and imaginary experiences of imaginary people.
5. Friedrich von Schiller (17591805)席勒
Letters on the Aesthetic Education of Man
Beauty makes a full man --combine his sensuous drive with sense drive, to maintain dignity and enjoy life towards perfection and truth.
Poetry Drama Fiction （Novels，Short
stories …) Essays
Why literature?
Why bother to read it? With life as short as it is, with so many
pressing demands on our time, with books of information, instruction, and discussion waiting to be read, why should we spend precious time on works of imagination? The eternal answers to these questions are two: enjoyment and understanding.
Interpretive literature is written to broaden and deepen and sharpen our awareness of life. It takes us, through the imagination, deeper into the world: it enables us to understand our troubles. Its object is pleasure and understanding.
Whatever --- without causing harm --serves to make life less boring, to make the hours pass more quickly and pleasurably, surely needs nothing else to recommend i
A. analytical approach The elements of fiction include
plot, character, setting, point of view, theme, symbol, style, and tone.
(A poem begins in delight and ends in wisdom.)
Other ideas about literature
1. Plato & Republic (428-347 BC)
Not only pleasant but also useful to the states and to human life;
Learning literature ……
Increasing one’s knowledge Cultural enrichment Language enrichment Fostering the ability to appreciate