Literature in Language
Teaching
Assistant Prof. Dr. Mehmet Güneş
GENERAL DEFINITION OF
LITERATURE
Defining literature is not an easy task.
Its definition is provided according to literary
criticism which focuses on analysis,
evaluation and study of works of literature.
Considering every written piece is a broad
perspective.
‘’writing consisting of works that claim
special attention because of their formal
beauty or expressive power’’
GENERAL DEFINITION OF
LITERATURE
the word literature refers to all printed
material regardless of their subject or
aesthetic beauty function or classification.
Etymologically, the term derives from Latin
litera "learning, writing, grammar,"
originally "writing formed with letters," from
littera "letter".
GENERAL DEFINITION OF
LITERATURE
We should make a discrimination between
the readers with regard to their purpose of
reading.
Rosenblatt calls a reader whose purpose
is reading a text for the information
conveyed in a text as ‘efferent reader’ and
a reader whose purpose is reading a text
emotionally as ‘aesthetic reader’.
Specific Meaning Of Literature
literature refers to works that present an
imaginative creation of reality through an
artistic use of language.
Genres of literature can be classified as
fiction, poetry, drama.
Literature is an artistic record of life.
Imaginative literature has two major forms:
1.Oral literature and 2. written literature
Specific Meaning Of Literature
Fiction can be divided into two as fiction
and non-fiction.
Non-fiction covers biographical and
autobiographical works.
A work of literature can be both informative
and literary. A writer can give both
information and also appeal to the senses
of readers.
The aims of literature learning
To 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.
It 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.
The aims of literature learning
Literature 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.
Significance Of Oral Literature
Oral literature refers to the verbal art of traditional
culture usually composed orally transmitted from
generation to generation by word of mouth.
Pedagogical function: serves to teach the society
about what is wrong and correct, customs, advice
and warning etc.
Ethological /mythological function: related to
man’s attempt to explain natural phenomenon.
E.g. human character.
Protest function: a vehicle of social protest.
Features of Literary Texts
Scholars use some criteria which are
fictionality, specialised language, lack of
pragmatic function and ambiguity.
These are the distinguishing features of a
literary text.
Fictionality is a term used to describe the
fictitious nature of literary works.
Literature has a specialized language and
is distinct from everyday language.
Features of Literary Texts
Lack of pragmatic function is another
feature of literary texts.
A newspaper has the pragmatic function of
presenting news to the readers.
On the other hand, literary works don’t
have a specific purpose, function or
specific audience although they are given
functions by their readers.
Features of Literary Texts
Ambiguity is also a distinctive feature of
literary texts.
They don’t have fixed meanings, the
meaning in literary texts may be
controversial and open to interpretation.
A single text or part of a text may have
multiple meanings.
Functions of Literature
reflects the various experiences, ideas, passions
of human beings • develop human’s feelings,
ideas, and interests.
give significant contribution for students’
development and knowledge.
Literature of power: means that literature as
power to move the heart and mind of the readers.
• Literature of knowledge: has function to teach. It
means that literature gives particular values,
messages, and themes to the readers.
Functions Of Literature
The contribution of literature in education
covers intrinsic values and extrinsic
values.
The intrinsic values are the reward of a
lifetime of wide reading recognizable in the
truly literate person
the extrinsic values facilitate the
development of language skills and
knowledge.
Functions Of Literature
It is used as an innovative technique of teaching
and even some institutions of education put the
literature as compulsory subject
It helps to attain pleasure and knowledge.
It fosters student’s personal development.
Help to know other disciplines because in
literature there is culture, philosophy, language,
sociology, gender, advertisement, science,
politics, ideology psychology , and social reform.
Functions Of Literature
Lazar (1993) stated the following reasons
for using literature in language classroom:
literature : exposes students to complex
themes and fresh, unexpected uses of
language
is inherently authentic and provides
authentic input for language learning ,
promotes cultural and intercultural ,and
Expanding students’ language
awareness,
Literature and Language
Teaching
Literature and language are interconnected.
Literature gets its resources from life.
Literature has its roots in language, and
language gets life through literature.
As language is at the centre of literature,
studying literature without language or vice
versa seems absurd.
Thus, there is a symbiotic relationship
between the two.
Literature and Language
Teaching
Grammar translation method favoured
using literature in language teaching, but
the focus was only on reading classical
texts.
With the introduction CLT, the focus of
language teaching shifted from teaching
linguistic structures to teaching
communication in the target language.
Literature and Language
Teaching
CLT gives importance to learners
negotiating meaning for themselves,
learning by doing things with language and
integration of language, literature and
culture.
Literature in the Classroom
The reasons for teaching literature necessarily
transcend the circumstances, places, and
contexts in which literature is taught.
Three main reasons for the teaching of literature
have been consistently advanced. Each
embraces a particular set of learning objectives
for the student of literature.
These are: a) cultural model
b) language model
c) personal growth model
The Models Useful For
Literature In Language Teaching
Using literature in language classroom is one
basic need for the benefit of the students:
to understand another culture,
develop students’ interpretative abilities,
expand language awareness and encourage
to talk about their opinions and feelings.
So, Different models suggested on the teaching
of literature to ESL/EFL students : Language,
cultural and personal growth model.
Cultural Model
Cultural model is seen as a means of
transmitting important ideas and feelings, also
sometimes universal, in the target language, and
as a way in which students encounter a wide
variety of words and expressions.
Students learn about their culture and ideology.
Within this model, the focus is on language as a
cultural artifact, requiring learners to investigate
a literary text from social, political, literary and
historical perspectives.
Literary texts provide a very real sense the
vehicle for culture.
Cultural Model
The settings, characterizations, situations,
and assumptions in literary texts offer the
students with manifold opportunities for
raising awareness of difference and for
developing tolerance and understanding.
Literature is a valuable means of attaining
cultural insights”
Literature keeps cultural and artistic
heritage.
This approach tends to be quite teacher-
centred and is very traditional.
Cultural Model
Literature can be viewed as a product of
historical and social circumstance,
Texts can thus be used to engage and
motivate learners and provide more ready and
deeper connections with target cultures.
In the EFL class, a selection of texts may thus
be employed as an integral part of a cultural
course, to aid intercultural understanding, or
the cultural analysis may conversely be
derived from the chosen text(s).
Cultural Model
In this model, literature is an ideal vehicle
for presenting the cultural notions of the
language such as the history, literary
theories, theory of genres, biography of
the authors
Literature enables students to understand
and appreciate cultures different from their
own.
Through this model students learn about a
culture and ideology other than their own.
The Language Model
The focus of the language model is psycholinguistic.
Teachers may choose to focus on how language is
used within a given text.
A literary text may be used to provide exemplars of
particular grammatical points and/or lexical items.
Teachers may ask students to engage in stylistic
analysis of the text, though this may be best
reserved for more advanced students.
It is based on the idea that literature provides a rich
repertoire of contextualized linguistic features
The Language Model
Among the suggested benefits of the
language model are : the expansion of
vocabulary;
increased reading fluency; enhanced
interpretive and inferential skills (due to
dealing with texts of increased complexity
and sophistication); and
exposure to a greater variety of
language (lexis and syntax) due to the use
of ungraded, authentic texts
The Language Model
In selecting a given text, it is the language
teachers’ wish to confront students with
example of good use of language.
The focus is the way language is used, how
linguistic forms conveyed literary meaning,
and going beyond the literary interpretation
of the lines.
Students are supposed to develop their
language through some of the varied
creative uses of the literature language.
The Language Model
this model mainly considers literature for
language development and awareness
purposes. • The main aims are based more on
learners and activities. • In this model the
aesthetic aspect of literature is achieved only
through the linguistic and discourse quality of
literature
For example: if there is a poem in a certain text
book the students will able to develop different
language aspects like vocabulary skills, reading
skills and also the able to develop speaking
Personal Growth Model
It is more student center. • This model has
the potential to meet the aims of the first two
models.
Its aim is to motivate the students: to read
by selecting themes, to a large extent,
related to their own personal experience.
It is sometimes anti-analytical and many
describe its purpose as alone of reading
literature in order to make the text their own.
Personal Growth Model
Students are also encouraged what they read
for themselves and distinguish the merits of the
works
The purpose is: to use literature as a vehicle
to educate, to promote critical awareness, and
to have students assess, evaluate, and
discuss issues within the text and provoked by
the text.
Examples could include reader-response
activities that personalize the reading
experience, or reactions to a text that help
connect reading to students’ lives
Personal Growth Model
This model is used in different contexts but is
particularly well suited to the developing language
learner reflecting on development through childhood
and adolescence, and the high school and
undergraduate university classroom.
When the students interact with a literary text, it
usually involves a deeper level of mental processing, a
greater personal involvement and response.
It is based on students' engagement with literary texts.
Students learn via literature how to appreciate and
evaluate cultural artifacts.
Some theories of Literature
1. imitative theory
2. expressive theory
3. affective theory
Imitative or “mimetic” theory
This 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 theory
This 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 THEY
ARE. But as they seem to exist to the sense,
the passion.”
It will deepen our sensibilities.
Affective theory
Affective 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.
