Introduction to LiteratureA discussion of literary awesomeness

What’s literature?literature  1. The body of written works of a language, period, or

culture.2. Imaginative or creative writing, especially of recognized

artistic value.3. The art or occupation of a literary writer.4. The body of written work produced by scholars or

researchers in a given field: medical literature.5. Printed material: collected all the available literature on

the subject.6. Music All the compositions of a certain kind or for a

specific instrument or ensemble: the symphonic literature.http://www.thefreedictionary.com/literature

LITERATURE LEARNINGWhat’s literature?The writing or the study of books, etc valued

as works of art (drama, fiction, essays, poetry, biography, contrasted with technical books and journalism)(Hornby dictionary).

What’s learning?The acquisition and development of

memories and behaviors, including skills, knowledge, understanding, values, and wisdom.

The aims of literature learningTo widen our knowledge and visions to

understand more about some great literary works, famous authors, and their thought. It will also make us get acquainted with their ideas, their feelings, and their attitudes towards life, man, nature and God.

The aims of literature learningIt is a means of transformation, that is, indirectly it

may lead the wrong back to the right path although not all literary works are preaching and moralizing.

Instances: Hemingway’s The old man and the sea, Dickens’s Oliver twist , Shakespeare’s Hamlet, George

Eliot’s Silas Marner , Jonathan Swift’s Gullivers’s Travel, Stevenson’s Treasure Island and Oscar wilde’s Happy prince.

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Another Distinction of literary genres:

Popular Fiction vs. “Serious” Literary worksPop fiction like Harry Potter movies and pop

song lyrics are considered less valuable than “serious” literary works like Shakespearian drama, Dickens's novels or Wordsworth’s poems

Tom and Jerry is a series of theatrical animated cartoon films created by William Hanna and Joseph Barbera for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, centering on a never-ending rivalry between a cat (Tom) and a mouse (Jerry) whose chases and battles often involved comic violence (despite this they sometimes become allies to defeat a 'greater enemy' such as Spike the dog). Hanna and Barbera ultimately wrote, produced and directed 114 Tom and Jerry shorts at the MGM cartoon studio in Hollywood between 1940 and 1957, when the animation unit was closed.

The original series is notable for having won the Academy Award for Animated Short Film seven times, tying it with Walt Disney's Silly Symphonies as the theatrical animated series with the most Oscars. A longtime television staple, Tom and Jerry has a worldwide audience that consists of children, teenagers and adults, and has also been recognized as one of the most famous and longest-lived rivalries in American cinema. In 2000, TIME named the series one of the greatest television shows of all time.

SpongeBob SquarePants

SpongeBob SquarePants (often referred to simply as SpongeBob) is an American animated television series, created by animator Stephen Hillenburg. Much of the series centers on the exploits and adventures of the title character and his various friends in the underwater city of Bikini Bottom.

Harry Potter

Harry Potter is a series of seven fantasy novels written by the British author J. K. Rowling. The books chronicle the adventures of a wizard, Harry Potter, and his friendsRonald Weasley and Hermione Granger, all of whom are students at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. The main story arc concerns Harry's quest to overcome the Dark wizard Lord Voldemort, whose aims are to become immortal, conquer the wizarding world, subjugate non-magical people, and destroy all those who stand in his way, especially Harry Potter.

Since the release of the first novel Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone on 30 June 1997, the books have gained immense popularity, critical acclaim and commercial success worldwide.[2] The series has also had some share of criticism, including concern for the increasingly dark tone. As of June 2011, the book series has sold about 450 million copies, making it the best-selling books series in history and has been translated into 67 languages,[3][4]

 and the last four books consecutively set records as the fastest-selling books in history.

The interestingness of Harry potterA series of many genres, including fantasy

 and coming of age (with elements of mystery, thriller, adventure, and romance), it has many cultural meanings and references.[5][6][7][8] According to Rowling, the main theme is death,[9] although it is primarily considered to be a work of children's literature. There are also many other themes in the series, such as prejudice and corruption.[10]

The Raid: RedemptionThe Raid: Redemption (Indonesian

: Serbuan maut; also known as The Raid) is a 2011[9] Indonesian action film written and directed by Gareth Evans and starring Iko Uwais. This is the second collaboration of Evans and Uwais after their first action film,Merantau released in 2009. Both films showcase the traditional Indonesian martial art pencak silat. The fight choreographers of The Raid are Iko Uwais and Yayan Ruhian who also worked on Merantau. The U.S. release of the film features music by Mike hinoda and Joseph Trapanese.

After its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), The Raid received positive reviews from critics.[10][11][12] The name of the film was changed to The Raid: Redemption in the United States because the production company SPC could not secure the rights to the title; this also allowed Evans to plan out future titles in the series.[13][14] It was released on DVD and Blu-ray Disc on August 14, 2012 in the US.[15]

Recently in Indonesian people talk about:Secular literature vs Islamic/dakwah

literature.The secular one refers to Shaman’s Ayu

Utami and a writer like Dinar rahayu whereas the Islamic one refers to HTR, Asma Nadia, Tasaro’s “Nibiru”, Gola Gong etc.

The aims of literature learningLiterature helps us to be (become more)

realistic, mature, wise and humane. It helps understand human values, sentiments, interests and problems. It brings us closer to other human beings of the same or different nationalities, cultures, human values etc. we become more tolerant, balanced and fuller.

Literary genres

Literature

prose

Short story

Novella

novel

Drama

Comedy

tragedy

poetry

Epics

Ballads

Lyrical poetry

Elements of fiction1. characters: protagonist, antagonist, minor

characters.2. setting: time and place3. plot: beginning, complication, climax and

resolution (dénouement)4.message/theme: what actually the author

want to convey by his or her literary works of art.

The nature of good literature

Good literature must seem lifelike and meaningful. it is caused by its focus on the central themes of all literature: life, truth, justice and love.

.

The nature of good literatureThe originality of the works of art. Instances:

Hamlet and Machbeth were real historical characters but then Shakespeare by his craftsmanship and style made out of these old figures and stories in a new and fascinating light.

The nature of good literatureIt should be life-enhancing. Matthew Arnold

said about poetry as a criticism of life. Andre harjana says,”literature deals with the the awakeing of mental conscience and inner self insight”(1985:22).

Some theories of Literature1. imitative theory2. expressive theory3. affective theory

Imitative or “mimetic” theoryThis theory holds that art is an imitation of

something. In his Poetics, Aristotle (382-322 B.C) says, that a tragedy is an imitation of an action that is serious and complete. it is not 100% imitation but a “re-creation” or “re-presentation”.

The Expressive theoryThis theory holds that the artist is not

essentially an imitator but a man who expresses his feelings. According to william wordsworth, “poetry is the spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings and “the poet’s job is to treat things NOT AS THE ARE..but as they seem to exist to the sense, the passion.” more than that it is an effort to pluck the blindfold from our eyes and melt the ice around our heart. It will deepen our sensibilities.

Affective theoryAffective theory insists that the aim is not to

induce a temporary emotional state. But to induce emotional state that will lead to action. Leo Tolstoy said that emotion is not an end but a means. Alexander Pope said that the aim or art is to reform those whom it touches.