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Lesson 1 - Purposes and Benefits of Literature: Learning Objectives

This document provides an overview of a lesson on the purposes and benefits of literature. It discusses how literature adds value by not just describing reality but enriching it. It explores how literature impacts society through guiding principles in works like the Bible and poems that have amused readers for generations. Literature also helps people understand life by giving perspective on different facets of living through stories of courage and sacrifice in biographies and novels. In conclusion, the document emphasizes that literature is important for the knowledge, values and enjoyment it provides, as it enriches lives in many ways.

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204 views3 pages

Lesson 1 - Purposes and Benefits of Literature: Learning Objectives

This document provides an overview of a lesson on the purposes and benefits of literature. It discusses how literature adds value by not just describing reality but enriching it. It explores how literature impacts society through guiding principles in works like the Bible and poems that have amused readers for generations. Literature also helps people understand life by giving perspective on different facets of living through stories of courage and sacrifice in biographies and novels. In conclusion, the document emphasizes that literature is important for the knowledge, values and enjoyment it provides, as it enriches lives in many ways.

Uploaded by

Zailah Bonus
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Course and Year: BSED – ENGLISH 3

Subject: EducEng 322 – Literary Criticism


School Year: 2nd Semester, 2020-2021

Lesson 1 – PURPOSES AND BENEFITS OF LITERATURE

Learning Objectives:
After studying this lesson, the students should be able to:
1. discuss the importance of literature
2. show appreciation on the impact of literature on the society

Discussion:

What is the Importance of Literature and its Impact on Society


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“Literature adds to reality, it does not simply describe it. It enriches the necessary
competencies that daily life requires and provides; and in this respect, it irrigates the
deserts that our lives have already become.” ~ C.S. Lewis, a British scholar and novelist

This adage is perhaps the most appropriate description of the importance of literature in
our lives. Literature reminds us of stories, epics, sacred scriptures, and classical works
of the old and modern times. It is defined as the body of written works of a language,
period or culture, produced by scholars and researchers, specialized in a given field.
Why is literature important? Let us see.

Literature Adds Value


As stated in the quote by C.S. Lewis, literature not only describes reality but also adds
to it. Literary works are portrayals of the thinking patterns and social norms prevalent in
society. They are a depiction of the different facets of common man’s life. Classical
literary works serve as a food for thought and encourage imagination and creativity.
Exposing oneself to good literary works, is equivalent to providing one with the finest of
educational opportunities. On the other hand, the lack of exposure to good literature is
equal to depriving oneself from the opportunity to grow.

Parts of Literature
Prose, poetry, drama, essays, fiction, literary works based on philosophy, art, history,
religion, and culture as also scientific and legal writings are grouped under literature.
Creative nonfiction of the olden times and literary journalism also fall under literature.

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Certain extremely technical writings such as those on logistics and mathematics are
also considered as a part of literature.

Literature Impacts Living


Some of the great literary works like the Bible and Indian epics like Ramayana and
Mahabharata, among others, provide society with the guiding principles of life. Works
by poets like Homer, Plato, Sappho, Horace and Virgil, Shakespeare’s sonnets and
notable poetry by W.B. Yeats, John Keats, Wordsworth, Tennyson, and William Blake,
among others, are timeless. They have always amused their readers and shall continue
to. The Lord of the Rings, The Godfather, A Tale of Two Cities, and James Bond Series
are some of the best-selling books of all time that have entertained several generations.
While some literary and poetry works carry life’s lessons, many others make us think.
Some works are known for the sheer entertainment they provide, while others intrigue.
Many works in literature establish a strong connect with their audience through the
stories they narrate or the message the carry. Readers tend to associate themselves
with the emotions portrayed in these works and become emotionally involved in them.
Literature thus has a deep impact on the readers’ minds and in turn, their lives.

Children’s Literature
The Adventures of Pinocchio, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, and Winnie-the-Pooh,
as also the relatively recent Harry Potter Series are some of the greatest works in
children’s literature. Due to a whole new world they create through words, or due to
their characters that the readers can relate to, these books attract children. Amused by
the stories they tell, kids associate themselves with these books’ characters and
idealize some of them. Moral stories are an aid for parents and teachers to let the kids
learn important lessons in life. Aesop, Enid Blyton, Roald Dahl, and Mark Twain, among
many others are some of the most widely popular children’s authors. They have
enriched the childhoods of so many. Their works have amused millions of children the
world over.

Literature Helps Understand Life


It is through reading great literary and poetic works, that one understands life. They
help a person take a closer look at the different facets of living. In many ways, literature,
in its different forms, can change one’s perspective towards living. Biographies of great
people, real-life stories of courage, sacrifice and other good values never fail to inspire

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readers. Such works give the masses an insight into the lives of eminent people, and
also serve as a bible of ideals.

It Provides Information
Literature serves as an enormous information base. Research works by famous
inventors and literary works by notable scientists often narrate stories of their
groundbreaking discoveries and inferences. Ongoing developments in the fields of
science and technology are documented so that the world can know about them.
Several ancient scriptures relating stories of human evolution and narratives of human
life in those times, have been of tremendous help to mankind. Thus, literature has
always served as an authentic source of information.

Scope of Literature
True, languages are the building blocks of literature. But the study of literature cannot
be restricted to only studying languages. In fact, literature cannot be confined to an
educational curriculum. A degree in language and literature is perhaps not able to
provide one with everything that literature can offer. Its scope is so deep and wide that
even a lifetime may not be enough to really ‘study’ literature.

Literature is Important
For the breadth of knowledge it gives, the moral values it carries, and the enjoyment it
provides, literature is important. An exposure to good literary works is essential at every
phase of life as it enriches us in more ways than one. Literature is definitely much more
than its literary meaning, which defines it as ‘an acquaintance to letters’. In fact, it lays
the foundation of a fulfilling life. It adds ‘life’ to ‘living’.

Assessment:

1. Why is literature important?


2. React on the impact of literature to society.

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Eastern Samar, Philippines
[email protected]
https://essu.edu.ph

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