Introduction to the Study of Literature-in-English

INTRODUCTION TO THE STUDY OF LITERATURE-IN-ENGLISH

Definition of Literature What is literature? Literature is a piece of writing that is valued as work of art specially written with excellence of form or expression, expressing ideas of permanent of universal interest and it also has artistic value. As a work of art, literature may be discussed as the organization of words to give pleasure which elevates and transforns experience beyond moral pleasure. Literature is derived from the Latin ‘literature’ which means ‘writing’. Also one can also talk of literature either in a loose or in specific sense in a loose sense, literature is a collection of writings. Researchers and scholar often talk about literature review which means any given subject or any printed information on a particular subject or field and comments on what has already been written by other people in a given area of study. The idea of literature review shows that every subject may have a corpus of literature. Literature in a specific sense is a discipline or subject of study like Mathenatics, Physics, Economics in like manner, M. Abrams defined literature as any other writing including Philosophy, History, and even scientific works addressed to be general audience that are specifically distinguished inform expressions and emotional power (178). Essentially, literature is all about man and his society, as it examines man as a social being. It looks at human virtues, views and foibles as products of varying circumstances. It studies man’s successes and failures, his strengths and weaknesses and how these are affected by time and environment. Literature is a recreation of life or a kind of mirror through which life and society are seen. Literature could also be defined as an imaginative performance or interpretation that a literary artist puts into writing. Ways of life in society are partly represented through plays novels and poems. Literature covers different facets of life which include: death politics, marriage, religion, romance, metaphysics, adventure, love, inspiration, culture, etc. Literature adds reality, it does not simply describe it, it enriches the necessary competencies that daily life requires and provides. The main distinguishing feature of literature is that it presents fictional accounts of human experience. Differences between English literature and Literature in English English literature is the literature written by the British showcasing the English literature and culture. This type of literary work is written in English Language which is the mother tongue or native dialect of these people. The works written by the English people cover the three genres of literature. It can also mean literature written by an English person in a style that is part of certain tradition. Some literature scholars also argued that English literature is the literature composed in English not necessarily from England. For instance, James Joyce was Irish, Joseph Conrad was Polish, but all are considered “important writers on the history of English literature. It is also referred to as the type of literature written by English person or people in a particular geographical setting or location. That is why we have American literature, Caribbean literature, British literature, African literature and Nigerian literature. Literature-in-English

Literature-in-English is the literature which is translated in English. It is the literary work that covers all regions or countries of the world written in English by people who are not necessarily English people. It can be German, French or any other literature translated in English. It is a type of literature written in English language. Reason for Studying Literature and aims of teaching literature Literature transforms the man who reads it towards the man who write brings to birth in us. Today, there are too many people who believe that literature is simply not important or underestimate its abilities to stand the test of time. Below are some of the reasons for studying literature. (i) It helps in building our critical thinking, skills (abilities). When we read words of literature, we learn to look between the lines. We are taught to find symbols, make connections, find themes, learn about characters. Reading expands these skills, Literature makes us better thinkers. (ii) Appreciation for our culture and other beliefs: Literature provides a method learning about cultures and belief systems not only in our cultures but also to know about others. It allows you to understand and experience three other systems of living and other world. We can learn, understand and appreciate it. (iii) It helps in building one’s writing skills: Literature improves the quality of readers’ language. One who reads literary work frequently tends to write and speak better than one that is not. This is because reading of well crafted expressions can improve one’s vocabulary fast. (iv) Addressing humanity and its problems. All literary works be it poems, plays, prose help us address human nature and condition which affect all people. We learn that life must be lived to the fullest. We need literature in order to connect with our own humanity as it provides growth and gives us the ability to think outside the box. (v) It teaches core values of life Literature develops in student and enduring values, such as integrity, compassion, loyalty and responsibility. For example, in a literary work like Arthur Miller’s The Crucible, the main character chooses to sacrifice his own life rather than betray his friend and neighbours.When considering this character’s motivations students develop the value of integrity and honesty. (vi) It help to appreciate people’s history and origin: Literature enables people to know the history of a nation’s spirit, past and originated our ancestral value system. This is because our past is very important before we forge ahead. Origin of Literature and Other Facts about Literature

Literature is described as the Latin “Littera” meaning “letters” referring to written word. Literature originated from the southern Mesopotamia region of Sumer and flourished in Egypt and later in Greece. The first author of literature in the world was Enhedu anna (2265-2250). The earliest literature centres on the activities of the gods, but humans came to be featured as the mean characters in such works. Also literature generally originated from people’s expression and dramatization of their cultural religions and moral beliefs. From pagan and vital practices, traditional festivals for the celebration of ancestors of the land and their exploits, chants incantations, innovations, witch doctors masquerades dances songs, traditional displays and the traditional oral African literature emerged. Other literature of the world also evolved and the European literature was influenced by ancient Greek literature with its origin in pagan rites, rituals and ancestor worship. The aforementioned practices were converted to literature. Functions of Literature i. Entertainment: Literature entertains. This is achieved by using literary poetic language which is different from the every mundane language of communication. By using figures of speech such as alliteration, which delights human ears, through descriptions of nature, etc our imagination is fired and we are transported to the beautiful enacted realms for superior to our perfect real world. It is full of humour (comedy) which makes you forget your ‘cares and concerns’. ii. Moral: Literature helps to inculcate or instill morals on younger generation. This is the primary function of literature as it teaches acceptable moral standard and the ones our society should frown at. Literature serves as a weapon of social control and also it is like a watchdog to the society. Iampoons satirizes and criticizes the evil in our society through satire epigram and sarcasm with a view to correcting them. iii. Education: Literature educates the mind and soul and transform it for greater exploits. It transcends humand limitation and also enriches life and gives a kind of perspective and direction that one other wise does not have When we read literary works, we travel in space, we travel in time, we travel through all kinds of historical periods and imaginary worlds, educate ourselves with the culture, belief and values of other people around the world. iv. Instruction: Literature instructs and teaches basic things of life. It heightens the awareness of the reader to certain aspect of life. Literature teaches the younger ones how they should behave in the society in order to shun social vices. The subsidiary functions are propaganda, ‘release’ and ‘escape’ but they are subordinated to the primary function of literature other facts about Literature Other Facts About Literature i. The first English novel was written by Daniel Defoc titled Robinson Cousoe. ii. Don Quixola is the best-selling novel of all time with over 500 million copies sold. iii. Pride and Prejudice was originally titled First impression iv. Catch 22 by Joseph Heller is a cornerstmone of American literature and is one of the funniest and most celebrated books of all time written in 8 years. v. Alice in Wonderland was banned in China because the book suggest animals can talk and write just like humans vi. The Mouse Trap by Agatha Christie is the longest running play in history. vii. All of the roles in William Shakespeare’s plays were originally acted by men and boys because at that time it wasn’t proper for females to appear on a stage. viii. John Milton used 8,000 different words in his poem ‘paradise lost’ ix. Silent and listen are spelt with the same letters. x. Indians are the world most avid readers. xi. The first book printed in English in 1479, was the Recuyell of the Histories of 3 frose by English man William Caxton. xii. Victor Hugo’s Les Miserables contained the longest sentence in the World without a full stop, and it contains 823 word long. LANGUAGE OF LITERATURE AS A FORM OF ART Literature does make use of figurative language which is referred to as imaginative language, especially in poetry where language required extra meaning beyond the literal such expression are for grounded meaning they stand out for the surrounding words or images and there is a complete deviation from our everyday usage. “It is not only the content that matters in literature, but also the form and style”{Atamaen 104} – the language of literary or creative work is quite different from the non- creative write up or otherwise known as ‘background and foregrounding’ in literay stylistic. In the same vein, literature is not only about what is said but also how it is being said. That is why the motto of the Department of English literature, University of Benin declares it “Not just what but how said”. Although, all genres of literature employ or use figurative language, Poetry uses much of the figurative language. Egudu also sees the language of literature as a method of expression. It is not just a subject that expresses idea, but rather it is the way or method in which idea is said and written. It is this fact that distinguishes it from other subjects like History, Geography, , Economics, and Religion. He (Egudu) also illustrates the language of literature, with Igbo saying to show it is not what is expressed. “Let the hawk perch, let the egret perch, the one which says that the other should not, may it lose its wings. The proverb simply means we should be considerate and desist from intimidating one another. it is a clarion call for spirit of brotherhood. Note the proverb is not expressed directly but in indiect way using animals like hawk and egret. Essentially, poetry cannot do without the use of figures of speech. Posts can deviate from the norms of truth and reality in language in order convey the idea that suits them (poets). This is known as poetic lience – that is, poet liberty artestdom to use and violate use of language. GENRES OF LITERATURE Genre is a Frence term (in origin) which means types or classes of literature. They are prose, drama and poetry. Some writers see it as forms or elements of literature. POETRY Poetry in ancient Greek “poleo” means “I create”, ‘Poetry is in first instance, literature and a method of expression’ (Egudu 104). Poetry is the crown of literature. Poetry expresses thoughts by means of suggestion and invention. Part of the pleasure of poetry lines in its relation to music. It awakens in us a response to rhythmic repetitions. Poetry is not just a kind of music, but also a combination of musical and linguishstic qualities of sound regarded both pure sound and as meaningful speech.”Poetry is expressive language” (Klaus 523). Poetry is a kind of musical word game because of its expressive qualities, but not all poems are musical, playful and equally expressive in the same way. Poetry has no universally acceptable definition.

Poetry (as well as prose, drama biographies and essays) is the form of writing stimulated by emotion, expressing a deep feeling that cannot be well-expressed in ordinary or everyday language. It is emotion put into measure, usually written in verse and staza. The poet uses images to express idea.for the poet, words should be be turned into pictures to have clear meaning. This is why the poet does not use too many words. All the words in a poem are important because they have been carefully selected. If one of the words is dropped, the meaning of remaining words is affected. However, poetry is also an imaginative awareness of experience expressed through sound and rhythmic language which involves an emotional response.it employs metre and rhyme. This is what distinguished poetry from prose. Fiction and drama. Note that imaginative of use language is a good mark of poetry. ELEMENTS OF POETRY There are three major core elements of poetry. These elements help us to understand more deeply the meaning in poetry. They are: Imagery, Rhythm and Sound. 1. IMAGERY AND IMAGE: The language of poetry is suggestive and vivid and therefore appeals to our senses. We can speak of seeing something ‘in the mind’s eye’. An image is a mental representation of anything not actually present to the senses. All the images drawn up by a poem and the words that call them up are known as imagery. It is also anything that descriptive and evocative in poetry; anything which helps the reader not only to form “a mental picture” of a situation, but also to make an imaginative response. Images are created through ‘figures of speech like simile, metaphor, personification and metonymy. For instance, many of South Africa poets do create imagery of suffering, opposition and racial discrimination in the poem, e.g. Oswald Mishali’s “Night Fall in Soweto” (Eguria.com/Night Fall in Soweto). J. P. Clark’s “The Executives” also have the imagery of corruption and poverty. An image in poetry usually gives a clue to one of the following (A) Rhyme (B) Assonance (C) Paradox (D) Theme (E) Refrain. (JAMB 1973 Q. 17) option D is the correct answer. Types of Imagery Types of imagery include the following: Visaul Imagery helps us to see, Auditory imagery evokes in us the sense of hearing, while Therms imagery creates in us the sense of heat and cold. Others are: Tactile (touch). Gustatory (taste) Kinesthetic (motion or sensation of movement) and olfactory (smell) (a) Diction: It is simply the choice of words or the vocabulary used in literary work especially in poetry. A poem can be simple, because the poet makes use simple language while difficult works and expressions make a poem difficult to understand. Although some literary critics are of the opinion that Charles Baudelaire and Wole Soyinka’s poems are noted to be difficult and complex because of their esoteric (strange) use of imagery and dictions. There are two aspects of diction. They include: (b) Denotation: It is the dictionary meaning of a word. It is the exact meaning of a word for instance, ‘Red’ denotes a color. (c) Connotation: It refers to the things suggested by a word or word associated with it e.g. red connotes more than one thing . it connotes ‘blood’, ‘danger’, ‘anger’, ‘stop’, revolution’, etc. a word may have many connotations but one denotation. (d) Mood: It is the emotion or the state of mind of the poet. E.g. “If we must die let it not be like hags Hunted and penned in an inglorious spot While round us hark. The mud hungry dogs” Cluade Mckay. “If we must die”. The mood of this poem is disgust and sadness. (e) Tone: It is the feeling or attitude of the poet when writing a poem also the voice of the poet. In in a literary work, the tone of a speaker’s or poet’s language could be high, low,sad, or humorous, harsh or happy (mild), blunt or non-committal, indifferent, defiant, or conformist, serious, light, bitter, loving, arrogant, condescending, etc. (f) Symbol and Symbolism: A symbol is an image or event which signifies something beyond itself or suggestive of something more abstract. It is crucial to distinguish a symbol from metaphor. Metaphors are comparison between two dissimilar things, but symbol has two meanings. They are both literal and figurative. A metaphor might read. “His life was an oak tree that had just lost its leaves”, a symbol might be ‘the oak tree; that could evoke the cycle of death and rebirth through the loss and growth of leaves. For instance, apple pie suggests innocence or homespun values; ravens signify death, fruit is associated with sensuality. Note that no symbol has absolute meaning, because a symbol can suggest different meaning in poetry. Symbolism: This is the representation of person or something in poetry. The use of symbolism is the core aspect of poetry. It is known as the major element of poetry. The “bread” in the bible verse” our daily “bread” is not the bread we know, but “food” (human needs) and other material things”. (2) Rhythm: it is a strong regular repeated pattern of sounds or movements in poetry. It is also the rising and falling of repeated points or beats. Here poets do invent new arrangement of words in order to produce a special kind of beat, movement, or rhythm. Though beat or rhythm, the poet also suggests ideas, emotions and feelings. For instance, the irregular movement of JP Clark’s “Ibadan” suggests the disorderly arrangement of house in Ibadan. Repetition is one major characteristics of rhythm. (3) Sound: Since poetry was originally meant to be sung or read aloud (like ballad), sound could be classified as one important element of poetry (see the stylistic implication of sounds for detail).