Module: Teaching literary texts

Introductory lecture
• Definition of teaching:
According to Brown (2000, p.7) Teaching defined
as showing or helping someone to learn how to
do something, giving instructions, guiding in the
study of something, providing with knowledge,
causing to know or understand.
• Edmund Amidon (1967) defined teaching as
“an interactive process, primarily involving
classroom talk which takes place between
teacher and pupil and occurs during certain
definable activities”.
Based on the definitions above, can be conclude
that teaching is a process of helping the
students to gain or acquire knowledge in a
learning activity that guided by teacher.
 Teaching Methods:
• Translation grammar method:
Also called the classical method/ focuses on
grammatical rules, memorization of vocabulary
and of various conjugations, translations of
texts, doing written exercises
• Direct Method:
The second language learning should be more
like the first language learning (lots of oral
interaction and little or no analysis of
grammatical rules.
• Audio-lingual method:
It owes its existence to the Behaviourist models
of learning. Using the Stimulus-Response
Reinforcement model, it attempted, through a
continuous process of such positive
reinforcement, to engender good habits in
language learners,
• Community Language Learning :
In the classic form of community language
learning (CLL) students sit in a circle. It is up to
them to decide what they want to talk about. A
counselor stands outside the circle if, for
instance, a student says something in their own
language, the counselor can then give them the
English equivalent for them to use. The job is to
‘facilitate‘ rather than to ‘teach‘.
• Suggestopedia:
Developed by Georgi Lozanov (1970), it sees the
physical surroundings and atmosphere of the
classroom as of vital importance. By ensuring
that the students are comfortable, confident and
relaxed.
Stages of suggestopedia: Presentation, concert
cession, elaboration, practice.
Definition of literature
The word literature derives from the Latin word ‘littera’
meaning “a letter of the alphabet”.
The quest to discover a definition for literature is a road that is
much travelled, though the point of arrival, if ever reached, is
seldom satisfactory. Most attempted definitions are broad and
vague, and they inevitably change over time. In fact, the only
thing that is certain about defining literature is that the definition
will change. Concepts of what is literature change over time as
well. What may be considered ordinary and not worthy of
comment in one time period may be considered literary genius
in another, (Australian Catholic University)
• “written artistic works, especially those with a
high and lasting artistic value.” (Cambridge
Dictionary),
• Something is a work of art if and only it is made
in a central artform and is intended to fulfill a
function of art, or it fulfills such a function with
excellence, (Stecker, 1996, p, 255),
• “I suggest, then, that prototypical literary works are:
• * written texts
• * are marked by careful use of language,
• including features such as creative metaphors, well-
turned phrases, elegant syntax, rhyme, alliteration…
• * are in a literary genre (poetry, prose, or drama)
• * are read aesthetically
• * are intended by the author to be read aesthetically
• * are deliberately somewhat open in interpretation “
(Meyer, 1997,p. 05)
• We believe that there is no such thing as
literary language. When we say this, we mean
that we find it impossible to isolate any single
or special property of language which is
exclusive to a literary work. It does not mean
we deny that language is used in ways which
can be distinguished as literary” (Brumfit
&Carter, 2000, p. 6)
• Literature was in oral forms such as songs
(labour songs), myths, folktales aimed at
warning, encouraging hardworking, criticising
evil and maintaining values or ethics. It was
transmitted by word of mouth from
generation to another.
• Written literature is expressed in a written
form and started after the invention of
writing.
 Genres of literature
• Prose: it is the ordinary form of written
language. It that possesses ordinary syntax and
natural speech rather than rhythmic structure;
in which regard, along with its measurement in
sentences rather than lines, it differs from
poetry.
• Fiction: (Novels, novellas, short stories)
• Non-fiction: narrates real experiences by real
persons; biography, autobiography, Memoir,
Atlas, How-to…)
• Poetry: Poetry is a form of literary art that
uses aesthetic and rhythmic qualities of
language to evoke meanings in addition to, or
in place of, ordinary intended meaning. Poetry
has traditionally been distinguished from
prose by its being set in verse.
• Drama: it is a story written to be performed by
actors. Although it is meant to be performed,
one can also read the script or the written
version and imagine the action. (Comedy,
tragedy, musical drama…)
 Literature and language
* “the best expression of a nation’s spirit in the
medium of language” (cited in Kantarcioglu,
1997, p. 112).
Let’s think of an artist who while painting
his/her tableau, uses colours by help of the
brush to make his work. In this example colours
stand for language in a literary work of art and
brush is the style of the author. Poets or writers
gives new shapes to the words or makes archaic
words alive (as Horace said in his Art of Poetry)
just like the painter does this to colours with the
brush. (Serbes & Albay, 2017,p. 2)
 Literature and culture
• Edward Tylor defined culture as “the complex
whole which includes knowledge, belief, art,
law, morals, custom, and any other capabilities
acquired by man as a member of society”
(1871, p. 1)
• The impact of literature and culture on each other is
undeniable. When we talk about the culture, the
literature can also appear unconsciously because the
culture is composed of thoughts, feelings and
emotions and the styles and personal ways of society.
• Literature is loaded with cultural connotations and
assumptions. Literature serves either as illustration or
as starting point for the study and mediation of
cultural phenomena.
• It is understood as part of a specific foreign
civilization, thus by learning about the social,
historical, linguistic, and other cultural
implementations in literary texts.
• The literature discloses and transmits many
concepts to other generations and the
relationships exist from the beginning of
history until now.
• Cultures consist of people's beliefs, traditions
in any society, and literature, on the other
hand, discloses these elements in term of
different literature. So, literature is in
interaction with and impacting on culture.
• The interaction between culture and literature
is due to the involvement of culture in
different areas like tradition, thoughts, and
human perspectives and in this process
literature acts as a powerful instrument.
 The importance of literature

• To educate people. Literature teaches people

on existing social, political and economic
systems.
• To express people’s culture. Literature like
language is an element of culture. It expresses
people’s life and they culture they have from
one generation to another.
• To entertain people. Literature as an art form
gives those entertainments that appeal to
human lives and evoke pleasure to the
readers.
• To influence people in the society. Literature
is also designed to influence people by
instilling in them the revolutionary ideas and
different ways of thinking especially those
positive and sustainable ideas.
• To develop language. Literature uses
language. Therefore, in so doing, literature
develops and improves a particular language
through all four language skills, namely,
listening, speaking, reading, and writing to the
readers. It also improves vocabulary and
grammar.
• To liberate people. Literature also liberates
people or awakens them from unfavorable
conditions of life or bad treatments in the
society.
• To criticize the society: Literature as a tool for
awareness criticizes the society by pointing
out the evils and other injustices in the
society. When criticized, the people in the
particular society take necessary actions.
 References
• Brown, D. H. (2000). Principles of language learning & teaching. (4th ed.). New
York: Longman
• Edmund, A Cited in Isola Rajagopalan. (2019) “Concept of Teaching.” Shanlax
International Journal of Education, vol. 7, no. 2,2019, 5-8,
• STECKER, R. (1996). What Is Literature? Revue Internationale de
Philosophie, 50(198 (4)), 681–694. http://www.jstor.org/stable/23954554.

• Meyer, J (1997) "What is literature? A definition based on prototypes," Work

Papers of the Summer Institute of Linguistics, University of North Dakota Session:
Vol. 41, Article 3.
• Brumfit, C & Carter, R (1986), Literature and Language
Teaching. (1986). Grèce: Oxford University Press.