Literary and non-literary worksLiterary and non-literary worksCompare: encyclopedia and short story Compare: encyclopedia and short story Differences and similarities? Differences and similarities? The language, effect, information, story, facts? The language, effect, information, story, facts? Is it literary or non-literary text?: eternal Is it literary or non-literary text?: eternal question question BUT, is it still relevant?? BUT, is it still relevant??

No, it is not.No, it is not.

It is irrelevant (Culler) It is irrelevant (Culler)

FIRST : Theoretical level requires interdisciplinary FIRST : Theoretical level requires interdisciplinary perspectivesperspectives

SECOND : Such a division is NOT the main theme or SECOND : Such a division is NOT the main theme or issue in literary studiesissue in literary studies

FIRST REASON (1)FIRST REASON (1)

Theory: mixture of Theory: mixture of philosophy, politics, philosophy, politics, history, psychology, etc.history, psychology, etc. Meaning: appreciating and interpreting Meaning: appreciating and interpreting literature involve more than one disciplineliterature involve more than one disciplinei.e. “images of women in the early i.e. “images of women in the early twentieth century” will deal with literary twentieth century” will deal with literary texts and non-literary text.texts and non-literary text.

First Reason (2)First Reason (2)““images of women in the early twentieth century”: Virginia Woolf's images of women in the early twentieth century”: Virginia Woolf's writings or Freud's case histories or bothwritings or Freud's case histories or bothIt does not mean that all text are the same but some are stronger, It does not mean that all text are the same but some are stronger, richer, more exemplary, more central, for some reasons richer, more exemplary, more central, for some reasons But, two kinds of texts can be learned and studied together and in the But, two kinds of texts can be learned and studied together and in the same way. same way.

Second reason (1)Second reason (1)There is “the literariness of non literary There is “the literariness of non literary phenomena.” Meaning?phenomena.” Meaning?The nature of understanding histories has The nature of understanding histories has taken as taken as a modela model of understanding a story. of understanding a story. Historians cannot predict, if A and B happens Historians cannot predict, if A and B happens then C will happen, but rather, they show how then C will happen, but rather, they show how an event leads to another eventan event leads to another eventNot why World War I broke out but “HOW”.Not why World War I broke out but “HOW”.

Second reason (2)Second reason (2)

Historical model of explanation Historical model of explanation AREARE the the logic of stories.logic of stories.That is a way how a story shows how an That is a way how a story shows how an event happens, is related to the previous event happens, is related to the previous situation, the development and the situation, the development and the result in a way that makes sense. result in a way that makes sense. History=literary narrativeHistory=literary narrativeAre both different, essentially??Are both different, essentially??

The importance of non-lit textThe importance of non-lit text

Theorists agree with the importance of non-Theorists agree with the importance of non-literary text, e.g. Freud’s Psychoanalysis literary text, e.g. Freud’s Psychoanalysis Theorists would not disagree with the Theorists would not disagree with the significance of literary devices (e.g. metaphor significance of literary devices (e.g. metaphor and symbolism) in non-literary text, such as: and symbolism) in non-literary text, such as: speech and a letterspeech and a letter

The existence of literary qualities in The existence of literary qualities in non-literary fields indicates that non-literary fields indicates that “Literature is important and significant”“Literature is important and significant”

So, what is Literature?? (1)So, what is Literature?? (1)

(1) A child’s and (2) a theorist’s questions? (1) A child’s and (2) a theorist’s questions? Answer:Answer:(1) Literature is prose, poetry and drama(1) Literature is prose, poetry and drama(2) More complex: the questions might be: (2) More complex: the questions might be:

(a)(a)On the object On the object (b)(b)What does it do?What does it do?(c)(c)What is the purpose?What is the purpose?(d)(d)How does it differ from other kinds of How does it differ from other kinds of

writings?writings?

What is literature?? (2)What is literature?? (2)

There are no satisfying answers due to many There are no satisfying answers due to many different variablesdifferent variablesIs Jane Eyre a novel or autobiography? Burns Is Jane Eyre a novel or autobiography? Burns poems tends to be a folk songs, don’t they? The poems tends to be a folk songs, don’t they? The qualities of poetry are found in songs, qualities of poetry are found in songs, conversation transcript, and autobiography.conversation transcript, and autobiography.Barnett: We should not debate literary Barnett: We should not debate literary definition, but definition, but read it to learn “some values of read it to learn “some values of life” life”