LITERATURELITERATURE Introduction to Humanities Introduction to Humanities

The Humanities Through the ArtsThe Humanities Through the Arts

kamesh kumarkamesh kumar

Spoken language is the basic medium of Spoken language is the basic medium of literature.literature.

Literature is an art whose medium is Literature is an art whose medium is language used to affect the language used to affect the imagination.imagination.

Words themselves can evoke a Words themselves can evoke a response even when they are response even when they are spoken independently of a spoken independently of a grammatical setting, such as a grammatical setting, such as a sentence.sentence.

Fiction writers and poets share many Fiction writers and poets share many of the techniques of literature of the techniques of literature because their effects depend on because their effects depend on universal language art.universal language art.

Subject matter, Artistic Form, Subject matter, Artistic Form, and Contentand Content We can describe the subject matter We can describe the subject matter

and form,and form, But we can only point to the content,But we can only point to the content, For the content is being said.For the content is being said. There is no other way of saying it,There is no other way of saying it, Because to change even one word Because to change even one word

changes the sound and changing the changes the sound and changing the sound changes the meaning and in sound changes the meaning and in turn, the content.turn, the content.

Literature as spoken languageLiterature as spoken language

Treating literature as spoken Treating literature as spoken language points up its relationship to language points up its relationship to other serial arts such as music, other serial arts such as music, dance, and film.dance, and film.

Literature happens in time.Literature happens in time. In order to perceive it, we must be In order to perceive it, we must be

aware of what is happening now, aware of what is happening now, remember what happed before and remember what happed before and anticipate what is to come.anticipate what is to come.

A Work of LiteratureA Work of Literature

A work of literature is, in one sense, A work of literature is, in one sense, a construction of separable elements a construction of separable elements like architecture.like architecture.

The details of a scene, a character The details of a scene, a character or event, or a group of symbols can or event, or a group of symbols can be conceived of as the bricks in the be conceived of as the bricks in the wall of literary structure.wall of literary structure.

If one of these details is imperfectly If one of these details is imperfectly perceived, our understanding of the perceived, our understanding of the function of that detail – and, in turn, function of that detail – and, in turn, of the total structure - will be of the total structure - will be incomplete.incomplete.

The Literary ThemeThe Literary Theme

The theme (main idea) of a literary The theme (main idea) of a literary work is usually a structural decision, work is usually a structural decision, comparable to an architectural comparable to an architectural decisions.decisions.

Decisions about the sound of the Decisions about the sound of the language, the characters, the events, language, the characters, the events, the setting, the setting,

Are comparable to the decisions Are comparable to the decisions regarding the materials, size, shape, regarding the materials, size, shape, and landscape of architecture. and landscape of architecture.

Literature as works of Literature as works of elementselements It is helpful to think of literature as It is helpful to think of literature as

works composed of elements that works composed of elements that can be discussed individually in can be discussed individually in order to gain a more thorough order to gain a more thorough perception of them.perception of them.

And it is equally important to realize And it is equally important to realize that the discussion of these that the discussion of these individual elements leads to a fuller individual elements leads to a fuller understanding of the whole structure.understanding of the whole structure.

Literary TermsLiterary TermsThe Narrative and the NarratorThe Narrative and the Narrator

The Narrative is a story told to an audience The Narrative is a story told to an audience by a teller controlling the order of events by a teller controlling the order of events and the emphasis those events receive.and the emphasis those events receive.

Most Narratives concentrate upon the Most Narratives concentrate upon the events. But some narratives have little events. But some narratives have little action.action.

Sometimes the Narrator is a character in Sometimes the Narrator is a character in the fiction…The author controls the the fiction…The author controls the narrator and through the narrator leads the narrator and through the narrator leads the reader.reader.

And reveals depth of character through And reveals depth of character through responses to action.responses to action.

Literary TermsLiterary Terms

The symbol, simile, metaphor, The symbol, simile, metaphor, images, and diction (word images, and diction (word choices) are the main details of choices) are the main details of literary language that we will literary language that we will examine.examine.

All these details are found in All these details are found in poetry, fiction, drama, and even poetry, fiction, drama, and even the essay.the essay.

Literary TermsLiterary Terms

Language has denotation: a Language has denotation: a literal level where words mean literal level where words mean what they obviously say,what they obviously say,

And connotation: a subtler level And connotation: a subtler level at which words mean more than at which words mean more than they obviously say.they obviously say.

THE LYRICTHE LYRIC

The lyric structure is The lyric structure is virtually always virtually always a poema poem, primarily reveals a limited , primarily reveals a limited but deep feeling about something or but deep feeling about something or event.event.

The lyric is often associated with the The lyric is often associated with the feelings of the poet, although we feelings of the poet, although we have already seen that it is not have already seen that it is not difficult for poets to create narrators difficult for poets to create narrators distinct from themselves and to distinct from themselves and to explore hypothetical feelings.explore hypothetical feelings.

The LyricThe Lyriccont’dcont’d If we participate we find If we participate we find

ourselves caught up in the ourselves caught up in the emotional situation of the lyric.emotional situation of the lyric.

Poets can understand and Poets can understand and interpret emotions without interpret emotions without necessarily undergoing them.necessarily undergoing them.

The lyric has feeling – emotion, The lyric has feeling – emotion, passion, or mood – as basic in passion, or mood – as basic in its subject matter.its subject matter.

LITERARY DETAILSLITERARY DETAILS

Literature with reference to structure, Literature with reference to structure, the overall order within every the overall order within every structure are details that need close structure are details that need close examination in order to properly examination in order to properly perceive the structure.perceive the structure.

Literature uses language to reveal Literature uses language to reveal meanings that are usually absent meanings that are usually absent from daily speech.from daily speech.

Image, metaphor, symbol and diction Image, metaphor, symbol and diction are central to literature of all genres.are central to literature of all genres.

LITERARY DETAILSLITERARY DETAILS

THE IMAGETHE IMAGE

An image in language asks us to An image in language asks us to imagine or “picture” what is referred imagine or “picture” what is referred to or being described.to or being described.

Most images appeal to our sense of Most images appeal to our sense of sight, but sound, taste, odor, and sight, but sound, taste, odor, and touch are often involved.touch are often involved.

One of the most striking resources of One of the most striking resources of language is its capacity to help us language is its capacity to help us reconstruct in our imagination the reconstruct in our imagination the “reality” of perceptions.“reality” of perceptions.

LITERARY DETAILSLITERARY DETAILS

The MetaphorThe Metaphor

Metaphor helps writers intensify Metaphor helps writers intensify language.language.

Metaphor is a comparison designed Metaphor is a comparison designed to heighten our perception of the to heighten our perception of the thing compared.thing compared.

Poets or writers will usually let us Poets or writers will usually let us know which of the things compared know which of the things compared is the main object of their attention.is the main object of their attention.

LITERARY DETAILSLITERARY DETAILS The SymbolThe Symbol The symbol is a further use of The symbol is a further use of

metaphor.metaphor. Being a metaphor, it is a comparison Being a metaphor, it is a comparison

between two things; but unlike most between two things; but unlike most perceptual and conceptual perceptual and conceptual metaphors, only one of the things metaphors, only one of the things compared is clearly stated.compared is clearly stated.

The symbol is clearly stated, but The symbol is clearly stated, but what it is compared with (sometimes what it is compared with (sometimes a very broad range of meanings) is a very broad range of meanings) is only hinted at.only hinted at.

LITERARY DETAILSLITERARY DETAILS SymbolsSymbols cont’d cont’d For instance, the white whale in For instance, the white whale in

Herman Melville’s novel, Herman Melville’s novel, Moby Dick, Moby Dick, is a symbol both in the novel and in is a symbol both in the novel and in the mind of Captain Ahab, who sees the mind of Captain Ahab, who sees the whale as a symbol of all the the whale as a symbol of all the malevolence and evil in a world malevolence and evil in a world committed to evil.committed to evil.

We may believer that the whale is We may believer that the whale is simply a beast and not a symbol at simply a beast and not a symbol at all.all.

LITERARY DETAILSLITERARY DETAILS DICTIONDICTION

Diction refers to the choice of words.Diction refers to the choice of words. Writing involves the choice of words, the Writing involves the choice of words, the

term “diction’ is usually reserved for literary term “diction’ is usually reserved for literary acts (speech as well as the written word) acts (speech as well as the written word)

Words chosen especially for their impact.Words chosen especially for their impact.

““To be, or not to beTo be, or not to be.”.” The diction of a work of literature will The diction of a work of literature will

sometimes make that work seem sometimes make that work seem inescapable, as if there were no other way inescapable, as if there were no other way of saying the same thing.of saying the same thing.