I am a student in college. We are taking up now about literature. the questions are: What is literature? What are the uses or functions of literature? Enumerate the types of literature. So, I need your help by answering my question. Thanks in advance and hope I can get the answer as soon as possible. Anyway we also taking up but on going about Job, Solomon, the prodical sun, the good samaritan(I need a story) Thanks.

When children learn to speak, their (and their parents´) focus is basically on words (lexicon) and pronunciation (phonology). As they grow (as soon as they master the phonological system of their mother tongue, by the age of seven or so), other linguistic levels (syntax, semantics, discourse) become as important or even more important than building up one´s vocabulary. Gradually, between adolescence and early adulthood, they have to be competent at the conversational level. That´s when they learn/acquire rules of conversation (talk, respond, ask questions, take turns, etc.). This is what is called "communicative competence" (cf. Krashen). But, that´s not the end of the road. People need to know how to read/interpret texts (not only in everyday English, but also in metaphorical language). Being able to read/interpret literary texts (the so-called interpretive competence) opens up one´s mind (and one's heart) to symbolic meaning. As a matter of fact, even everyday language is symbolic (cf. "metonymy").

Here´s what some writers have said about poetry (the most difficult texts to interpret), which, to a certain degree, also applies to literature in general (short stories and novels):

"Absolute poetry is the concrete and artistic expression of the human mind in emotional and rhythmical language" (Theodore Watts-Dunton;in Holman:404).

"Poetry is the record of the best and happiest moments of the best and happiest minds." (Shelley; in Holman, idem).

"The proper and immediate object of Science is the acquirement or communication of truth; the proper and immediate object of Poetry is the communication of pleasure". (Samuel Taylor Coleridge; in Holman, idem).

American writers in the American romantic period set out to create a new form of literature which was different from what European writers were doing. Why do you suppose they wanted this

America freed themselves from the British, blah blah, their free but it's because of the British that they had to fight for their freedom blah blah. I've nothing against either country but let's face it those countries hate each other. basically Americans were trying to create their own national literature that could stand up to critics in Britain and on the Continent. they wanted their OWN form of literature, an American form. I am NOT American, i am not British, i only know what i'm saying from a class discussion and internet resources, it's my opinion from everything i've heard though that America wanted nothing to do with England, they are a free and independent country, they wanted to be fully American, and therefore they needed a different way of literature than that of the english right?

Consider the nature of history and literature- both arenarrative forms, both generated by an author, both claim to have some truth value, what is the difference?

With History you have citations and notes, sometimes eyewitness accounts to base things off of. Things that other people can look up to verify. Literature may be based on a historical fact, but makes no pretense to stand up to deep study & verifable facts.


There is some introduction about chinese literature taoism , and so on, maybe useful to you.


Types of prose include drama, articles, novels, short stories, books, newspapers, magazines, encyclopedias, broadcast media, films, letters, history, philosophy, and biographies.

Types of poetry include lyric and narrative and they are: epic, ode, ballads, blank verse, free verse, elegy, epigram, haiku, idyll, limerick, and the lay.

It’s important to remember though, that one piece of literature can contain parts of another.


check out this site.

http://www.seasite.niu.edu/Tagalog/Literature/literary_forms_in_philippine_lit.htm

hope it helps!:)


math and science can be, but art and literature are definitely forms of culture. art/literature can express a cultures perspective on life, religion, or way of thinking. good examples are Hindu text, Japanese folklore, Greek art, Chinses medicines and Mayan astrology (both of which math and science contribute to).


forms: novel, poetry, essay, history, drama, biography, short story… Types: epic, tragedy, comedy, satire, on and on…
try these:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Literature
http://academic.brooklyn.cuny.edu/english/melani/cs6/genres.html

Is an understanding of the form in which literature is written the basis of our ability to make sense of its contents?

The basis of our understanding of literature is language. "Form" has several different interpretations in such a broad category, so I think you should narrow it down for a more helpful answer. (Do you mean genre, style, structure, etc?)

If you're short on time though, this could help you out:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oHg5SJYRHA0

Thank you for the help. =]

Poetry, Essay, Prose, Drama, and Fiction

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