Why teach Literature?

Literature is the ideal vehicle to enable English as a second language. Students recognize their own and other points of view and values. When using literature in an English foreign language class, students get the chance to interact among them, they are able to explore the English language because literature is made of language.
Literature is a great tool to be used in an E.F.L.class because students will be in contact with the language they are learning. The more students read literary texts the more involved they will be with language; this is a way for students in EFL classroom to develop language competence. Carter and Long (1991) states that “there are three main reasons for the teaching of literature these are: The cultural model, the language model, and the personal growth.” These main reasons allow students from an EFL class achieve culture and ideology from an English speaking country, by using literature, students, through language, have the opportunity to read, listen, write and speak, to access a text in a systematic and methodical way in order to exemplify specific linguistic features e.g. literal and figurative language, direct and indirect speech. These skills are developed in an EFL class. And, of course, while knowing about language and culture the student is being helped to grow in a second language. Learners are encouraged to express their opinions and feelings and make connections between their own personal and cultural experiences and those expressed in the text.
In a E.F.L.classroom, the major purpose is for students to communicate In the foreign language. Teachers should expose them to a variety of oral and written language. Savvidou (2004) mentions Kinneavy’s communication triangle which is useful for English students to reinforce the oral and written skill. This triangle includes: 1) expressive: it focuses on personal expression (letters, diaries, etc.); 2) transactional: it is about the reader and the message (advertising, business letters, editorials, instructions, etc.); and 3) poetic: it takes into account the form and language (drama, poetry, novels, short stories, etc.) It is clearly seen that literature is useful in the EFL classroom. It can provide a powerful pedagogic tool in learners’ development. Students, through Literature, are able to acquire vocabulary and study grammar structures.

A Great Epic Story!

After watching the greatest song for a hero of all times, we must complete our objective and finish the evaluation process. For those of you who were amused by the strength, the bravery and the adventurous spirit of this real life hero it will not be difficult to complete this task.
In order to continue with the purpose of this blog, first you must answer this general question in the blog and second answer the five questions for the movie analysis and send them to my e-mail.
Beowulf tried hiding the result of his encounter with Grendel’s mother and we all know the result of that action. Can a lie be held for ever? Is the age of demons over?

Evaluation:
1. Describe the setting of the story.
2. What does the main character look like and what makes him the main character?
3. How is the advance of Christianity shown in the movie?
4. How is the Danish and Northern-Saxon culture displayed?
5. What morale can be brought from this story?

Answers will be received until Sunday 6:00 pm.

Men as Gods thanks to Literary Ideals

I came across this book the other day, a fabulous book about English Literature by William J. Long. As I was reading more and more of it I discovered how important the existence of Literature in mankind is; and how by reconstructing the past through unique literary pieces we can build a great future.
Feel like Gods and Goddesses and rejoice with this:
Importance of Literature: It is a curious and prevalent opinion that literature, like all art, is a mere play of imagination, pleasing enough, like a new novel, but without any serious or practical importance. Nothing could be farther from the truth. Literature preserves the ideals of a people; and ideals--love, faith, duty, friendship, freedom, reverence--are the part of human life most worthy of preservation. The Greeks were a marvelous people; yet of all their mighty works we cherish only a few ideals,--ideals of beauty in perishable stone, and ideals of truth in imperishable prose and poetry. It was simply the ideals of the Greeks and Hebrews and Romans, preserved in their literature, which made them what they were, and which determined their value to future generations. Our democracy, the boast of all English-speaking nations, is a dream; not the doubtful and sometimes disheartening spectacle presented in our legislative halls, but the lovely and immortal ideal of a free and equal manhood, preserved as a most precious heritage in every great literature from the Greeks to the Anglo-Saxons. All our arts, our sciences, even our inventions are founded squarely upon ideals; for under every invention is still the dream of Beowulf, that man may overcome the forces of nature; and the foundation of all our sciences and discoveries is the immortal dream that men "shall be as gods, knowing good and evil."
William’s opinion about ideals makes me wonder. Can writing really free the inner beast? Will our ideals change as society once we conquer our individual fears? Will we be as gods, knowing good and evil?

What is Literature?

The origin of the word comes from the latin expression “litterae” which means letters or instructions, group of knowledge or skills for writing and reading well. It is also related to grammar, rhetoric and poetry.
Literature represents written or spoken words marked with the careful usage of language, including features such as creative metaphors, well-turned phrases, elegant syntax, rhyme, alliteration and meter. It must be included in a literary genre (poetry, prose fiction, or drama) and it is intended by the author to be read aesthetically. Spoken words are also considered literature because of the genres of poetry and drama (plays and interpretations) and most probable because this was the way epic stories were transmitted from generation to generation before the invention of the Gutenberg press.
Sometimes considered the science of well writing, other times considered the art of the words; literature has been with mankind since the interpretation of the first cave paintings.
That brings us to the general question: What is Literature? Can simple pictures of the history of mankind be considered Literature? If so, Can body art like Tattoos and Piercing be considered a form of Literature, because of the interpretation we give to this art?