Professional Documents
Culture Documents
1.1
1.2
1.3
1.4
1.5
1.6
Preamble
What is literature?
Genres of literature
Why use literature in the ESL class?
Maleys reasons for using literature in the ESL context
Reasons for not using literature in the ESL classroom
Key Words
Summary
References
1.1 Preamble
This chapter introduces the meaning of literature and the different genres in literature prose,
poetry and drama. Also discussed are justifications for using literature in the ESL classroom
and also some objections to its use.
Literature originates from Latin litterae which means the art of written work or "things
made from letters". Broadly speaking, "literature" is used to describe anything from creative
writing to more technical or scientific works, but the term is most commonly used to refer to
works of the creative imagination such as works of poetry, drama, fiction, and nonfiction.
Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines literature as:
written works (such as poems, plays, and novels) that are considered to be very
good and to have lasting importance
books, articles, etc., about a particular subject
2
Encyclopedia Britannica defines literature as a body of written works. The name has
traditionally been applied to those imaginative works of poetry and prose distinguished by the
intentions of their authors and the perceived aesthetic excellence of their execution. Literature
may be classified according to a variety of systems, including language, national origin,
historical period, genre, and subject matter.
Literature represents the culture and tradition of people. It introduces us to new worlds of
experience. We enjoy the comedies and the tragedies of poems, stories, and plays; and we
may even grow and evolve through our literary journey with books.
Ultimately, we may discover meaning in literature by looking at what the author says and
how he/she says it. We may interpret the author's message through the use of literary theory.
Literature is important to us because it speaks to us, it is universal, and it affects us. Even
when it is ugly, literature is beautiful.
In short, literature is the art of written works. It is the body of written works of a period or
culture. Literature is published in written works in a particular style or particular subject.
Literature is the mirror of life. Our lives and all the subjects that are related to our lives can
be the subject matters or elements of literature. So we can get the touch with our lives
through literature.
The following are different ways in which the word literature is used:
Genres in Literature
PROSE
POETRY
DRAMA
FANTASAY NOVELS are often set in worlds much different from our own and usually
include magic, sorcery and mythical creatures. e.g. The Harry Potter series by J. K. Rowling
B) POETRY
Comes from the Greek word poiesis broadly to mean create or make, seen also in such
terms as hemopoiesis, more narrowly, the making of poetry. It is refers to those expressions
in verse, with measure and rhyme, line and stanza and has a more melodious tone. Poetry
aims to instruct the reader, provide pleasure to the reader and to uplift the reader to some
higher insight or meaning. The following are different types of poetry:
Folksong - These are short poems intended to be sung. The common theme is
love, despair, grief, doubt, joy, hope and sorrow.
Elegy - This is a lyric poem, which express feelings of grief and melancholy
and whose theme is death.
B) DRAMA
Drama, is simply a work that is written to be performed on
stage by actors. From the Greek dran, meaning "to do,"
drama is thought to have developed from ancient religious
ceremonies. For instance, Greek comedy is traced to
ancient fertility rites. Tragedy (which comes from the Greek
word for "goat song") can be traced back to sacrificial
rituals. The term play has come to mean drama written
exclusively for performance, while the "loftier" term drama,
is commonly reserved for works that are considered to be
more serious works. The following are different types of
drama.
FARCE - Exaggerated comedy, situations are too ridiculous to be true; and the
characters seem to be caricatures and the motives undignified and absurd.
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)
f)
What is literature?
What do you mean by genre?
State the difference between prose, poetry and drama.
Discuss the different types of prose. Give an example for each type.
List the different types of poems.
Explain the different types of drama.
Using literature in the ESL classroom has gaining momentum. Language educators have been
debating as to how, when, where, and why literature should be incorporated in the ESL
curriculum. Discussion of how literature and ESL instruction can work together and interact
for the benefit of students and teachers has lead to the proposal of interesting ideas on
learning and instruction. Many teachers consider the use of literature in language teaching as
an interesting and worth considering (Sage 1987).
Why should a language teacher use literary texts in the language classroom?
What sort of literature texts should be use for teaching of language skills?
What are the benefits of using different genres of literature to teach language?
The use of literature in teaching the four basic language skills (i.e. reading, writing, listening
and speaking) and language areas (i.e. vocabulary, grammar and pronunciation) gaining
prominence in many countries where English is taught as second language. Why do you think
literary texts such as short stories, poetry and drama are used to teach English? According to
Collie and Slater (1990), there are FOUR MAIN REASONS which has led language
teachers to use literature in the classroom (see Figure 1.3).
Real World
Material
Cultural
Enrichment
Why LITERATURE?
R
Language
Enrichment
Personal
Involvement
Universality
Variety
Non-triviality
Interest
Personal Relevance
Ambiguity
1. Universality Because we are all human beings, the themes literature deals with are
common to all cultures despite their different way of treatment - Death, Love,
Separation, Belief, Nature ...the list is familiar. These experiences all happen to
human beings.
2. Non-triviality Many of the more familiar forms of language teaching inputs tend to
trivialize texts or experience. Literature does not trivialise or talk down. It is about
things which mattered to the author when he wrote them. It may offer genuine as well
as merely authentic inputs.
11
The first advantage is that each learners interpretation has validity within
limits.
The second advantage is that an almost infinite fund of interactive discussion
is guaranteed since each persons perception is different. That no two readers
will have a completely convergent interpretation establishes the tension that is
necessary for a genuine exchange of ideas.
Apart from the above mentioned reasons for using literature in the foreign language class,
one of the main functions of literature is its sociolinguistic richness. The use of language
changes from one social group to another. Likewise, it changes from one geographical
location to another. A person speaks differently in different social contexts like school,
hospital, police station and theatre (i.e. formal, informal, casual, frozen, intimate styles
speech).
The language used changes from one profession to another (i.e. doctors, engineers,
economists use different terminology). To put it differently, since literature provides students
with a wide range of language varieties like regional dialects, jargon, differences because of
socio-economic status and so forth.
Povey (19727), in summarizing the aims of using literature in ESL classes, argues that
"literature will increase all language skills because literature will extend linguistic knowledge
by giving evidence of extensive and subtle vocabulary usage, and complex and exact syntax."
12
While several reasons have been put forward on why literature should be part of the ESL
curriculum, there are language educators think otherwise? The following are common
arguments AGAINST USING LITERATURE:.
First, since one of our main goals as ESL teachers is to teach the grammar of the
language, literature, due to its structural complexity and its unique language, does
little to contribute to this goal. For example, the language of poetry may violate
grammar rules and may confuse the learner
Second, the study of literature will contribute nothing to helping our students meet
their academic and/or occupational goals. However, if literature helps one with
their reading fluency, then literature can contribute to their occupation in later life
a) What are Maleys arguments for using literature in the ESL classroom?
b) What are the reasons for not using literature in the ESL context?
KEY WORDS
Literature
Genre
Prose
Poetry
Drama
Language enrichment
Cultural enrichment
Universality
Ambiguity
Non-triviality
13
SUMMARY
Literature originates from Latin litterae which means the art of written work or
"things made from letters".
Literature are written works (such as poems, plays, and novels) that are considered to
be very good and to have lasting importance.
Genre, is a French word which means "kind" or "sort" which originates from Latin
word genus to mean category.
Genre is used as a label for a particular type of work that enables a reader to know
what to expect.
Prose is a form of language which applies ordinary grammatical structure and natural
flow of speech rather than rhythmic structure (as in traditional poetry).
Drama originates from the Greek dran, meaning "to do," drama is thought to have
developed from ancient religious ceremonies.
Poetry comes from the Greek word poiesis broadly to mean create or make, seen
also in such terms as hemopoiesis, more narrowly, the making of poetry.
Poetry refers to those expressions in verse, with measure and rhyme, line and stanza
and has a more melodious tone.
Teachers who have incorporated literature in the language classroom realise their
potential because students are introduced to real life or real life like settings.
14
REFERENCES
Collie, J. and S. Slater. 1990. Literature in the Language Classroom: A Resource Book of
Ideas and Activities. Cambridge: CUP.
Himanolu, M. (2005), Teaching English Through Literature. Journal of Language and
Linguistic Studies. 1(1), April.
Maley, A. 1989. Down from the Pedestal: Literature as Resource in Literature and the
Learner: Methodological Approaches. Cambridge: Modern English Publications.
Maley, A. (2001). Literature in the Language Classroom. in R. Carter and D.Nunan (eds.).
The Cambridge Guide to TESOL (pp. 180-185). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press
McKay, Sandra (1982). Literature in the ESL Classroom. TESOL Quarterly. 16 (4).
December.
15