Introduction to Literature – SS1 Literature-in-English Lesson Note (First Term)

Literature, in its general sense, means written language: everything that is written. As a subject of study, it is a creative or imaginative work of art by a novelist, poet or playwright, and it mirrors society.

Behavioural objectives

By the end of the lesson, students should be able to:

1. explain the general meaning of literature;
2. define literature as a subject of study;
3. state the difference between English Literature and Literature-in-English;
4. name the three genres of literature and give one example of each;
5. give reasons for studying literature;
6. explain what literary appreciation means.

What is literature in the general sense?

Literature, in the general sense, means all written language on any subject.

• Law: statutes, court judgments and legal documents.
• Science: textbooks, reports and research papers.
• Sports: match reports and sports journals.
• Religion: scriptures and religious teaching.
• History: records and accounts of past events.
• Economics and Technology: written studies and guides in these fields.

• Everyday use: people speak of “medical literature” or “campaign literature” to mean written material on a subject.

What is literature as a subject of study?

Literature as a subject of study is a creative or imaginative work of art produced by a novelist, poet or playwright.

• Creative: the writer invents characters, events and settings.
• Imaginative: it uses language artistically to move the reader.
• Mirror of society: it reflects the beliefs, problems, values and way of life of a people.
• Written or oral: it may be written down or passed on by word of mouth, as in folktales, proverbs and songs.

How does the general meaning differ from the subject meaning?

The general meaning covers every kind of writing. The subject meaning covers only imaginative works of art.

What are the genres of literature?

There are three genres of literature: prose, poetry and drama.

• Prose: writing in ordinary sentences and paragraphs, such as the novel and the short story. Example: Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe.
• Poetry: writing arranged in lines and stanzas, often with rhythm and imagery. Example: “The Piano and the Drums” by Gabriel Okara.
• Drama: writing meant to be acted on stage, told through dialogue and action. Example: The Lion and the Jewel by Wole Soyinka.

What is the difference between English Literature and Literature-in-English?

English Literature is the body of literature produced in England, while Literature-in-English is literature written in the English language anywhere in the world.

What is English Literature?

• Meaning: literature of England and its writers.
• Starting point: it is generally seen as beginning with the epic poem Beowulf, dated between the 8th and the 11th centuries.
• Language: Beowulf is the most famous work in Old English.
• Status: it has national epic status in England, although the story is set in Scandinavia.

What is Literature-in-English?

• Meaning: literary works written in English by writers from many countries.
• Coverage: it includes works from Nigeria, other parts of Africa, the Caribbean, the United States and Britain.
• In Nigeria: it is the name of the WAEC and NECO subject, which covers African, non-African and British texts.

How do they compare?

Why do we study literature?

We study literature to enjoy it, to learn from it and to understand society and ourselves better.

1. Travel: we can vicariously travel to other places, even outer space. Vicariously means through the experience of others.
2. Wisdom: we can learn from the profound thinkers of the world.
3. Writing skill: we can learn to express ourselves better in writing.
4. Vocabulary: we can increase our vocabulary.
5. Escape: we can divert ourselves from our daily problems.
6. Entertainment: we can be entertained, laugh and be amused.
7. Emotion: we can be lifted to a higher (more noble) emotional level.
8. Morals: we can be lifted to a higher (more noble) moral level.
9. Imagination: we can fantasise and develop our imaginations.
10. Adventure: we can go on exciting adventures.
11. Society: we can learn more about society and ourselves.

What is literary appreciation?

Literary appreciation is the analysis, criticism and understanding of literature.

• Analysis: studying the parts of a work, such as plot, character, theme and language.
• Criticism: judging how well the writer has done the work.
• Understanding: explaining what the work means.

What activities count as literary appreciation?

• Discussing: talking about the meaning of a poem.
• Writing: composing an essay on a poem, novel or play.
• Analysing: examining the theme, characters or style of a text.

Evaluation

1. What does literature mean in its general sense, and how is it defined as a subject of study?
2. Name the three genres of literature and give one example of each.
3. With which work is English Literature generally seen as beginning?
4. State five reasons for studying literature.
5. What is literary appreciation?

Assignment

In your exercise book, write a short paragraph on any three reasons for studying literature. Then give one example of an activity that counts as literary appreciation.