主讲：闫晓茹

Lecture OneLecture One

What is literature?What is literature?

it simply means anything that is written: timetable, catalogues, textbooks, travel brochures (booklet/pamphlet). In this broad sense, an account of yesterday’s football match or an advertisement of soap powder is as much literature as the dialogues of Plato or the novels of D. H. Lawrence.

In a more serious sense, literature is writing thIn a more serious sense, literature is writing that expresses and communicates thoughts, feeliat expresses and communicates thoughts, feelings and attitudes towards life. But someone mngs and attitudes towards life. But someone may ask, what about advertisements, travel booay ask, what about advertisements, travel booklets ect.. They certainly seem to be expressinklets ect.. They certainly seem to be expressing thoughts, feelings and attitudes, yet they are g thoughts, feelings and attitudes, yet they are not literature in the sense in which we have denot literature in the sense in which we have decided to use the word. cided to use the word.

• This is because they lack the qualities that make serious literature so different from advertising or journalism. The quality, I have in mind, is permanence. Such things as advertising, journalism, and even works of information are “here today and gone tomorrow”, but literature is intended to last.

To summarize what has To summarize what has been said, we may conclude been said, we may conclude that that literature is a literature is a permanent expression in permanent expression in words of some thoughts words of some thoughts or feelings or ideas or feelings or ideas about life and the worldabout life and the world..

What is the usefulness of studying What is the usefulness of studying English literature?English literature?

1.Increasing one’s knowledge1.Increasing one’s knowledge a mirror to the social life at different stages of British a mirror to the social life at different stages of British

history history a general expression of the ideas, feelings and a general expression of the ideas, feelings and

aesthetic judgments of writers from different social aesthetic judgments of writers from different social classesclasses

a direct or indirect and vivid expression of the a direct or indirect and vivid expression of the relationship among people of different social classes, relationship among people of different social classes, between people and society, people and naturebetween people and society, people and nature

reflecting the spirit and psychological state of people reflecting the spirit and psychological state of people themselvesthemselves

Therefore, studying literature is one of the best ways Therefore, studying literature is one of the best ways for us to get a good command of English knowledge.for us to get a good command of English knowledge.

2. Improving one’s language ability

Dictionaries cannot show all the subtle shades of meaning of a word. The best way to study the meaning of a word is that of learning it between the lines in the works of major writers. For an intimate understanding of the language, we need to read literary works and to think about what we read.

An author may contribute in various ways to the enrichment of the language he writes. He may do so directly by introducing new words or new usages of words, or indirectly by bringing those existing forms of expression into a general use among people.

Now let’s take a few examples to show what English writers do for the language.

• First, the English Bible. The translators of the Bible have given to the English language many beautiful word combinations, such as “helpmate”, “peacemaker”, “tender mercy”, “loving kindness” and “long suffering”. Even the indispensable word “beautiful” is brought into general use by a translator of the Bible in the early 16th century. Many Bible phrases have become English idioms which are often used with no knowledge of their origin, such as “to cast pearls before swine”, “a labor of love”, “the shadow of death”, “an eye for an eye, a tooth for tooth”.

William Shakespeare also has had a William Shakespeare also has had a great influence on the English great influence on the English language. A multitude of language. A multitude of Shakespearean usages and expressions Shakespearean usages and expressions such as “one pound of flesh” and “to such as “one pound of flesh” and “to wear one’s heart on one’s sleeve” may wear one’s heart on one’s sleeve” may be regarded as “household words” of be regarded as “household words” of the English language.the English language.

The English Bible and Shakespeare are the The English Bible and Shakespeare are the two most notable examples to show the great two most notable examples to show the great influence of English literature on the English influence of English literature on the English language. Almost the same thing has been language. Almost the same thing has been done by such great writers as Milton, Swift, done by such great writers as Milton, Swift, Defoe, Dickens and Bernard Shaw. That is Defoe, Dickens and Bernard Shaw. That is why we can not study the English language why we can not study the English language without learning English literature which has without learning English literature which has woven itself into the whole texture of the woven itself into the whole texture of the English tongue. English tongue.

3. Training one’s thinking

4. Fostering one’s ability to appreciate the works of art

5. Exerting a favorable influence on a person’s feeling or character (or making us better people; in other words, English literature is something from which we get moral education )

6. Enjoying oneself

7.Enabling one to get more education or to appear well educated.

The objectives of this course The objectives of this course

Enable the students to get a general idea about Enable the students to get a general idea about the development or history of English literaturethe development or history of English literature

Enable the students to get a general idea about Enable the students to get a general idea about the major genres of English literature in different the major genres of English literature in different times and also the major works of the major times and also the major works of the major authors.authors.

Cultivate the literary taste of the studentsCultivate the literary taste of the students Enrich the students’ knowledgeEnrich the students’ knowledge Foster the students’ ability of study.Foster the students’ ability of study.

Requirements for the students to take this course

1.Read the untaught texts in the textbooks by yourself.

2.Preview each chapter or unit carefully and make sure you have been familiar with the introductory part of the chapter or unit to be discussed before you come to the class

3. Prepare a notebook and take notes in class.

4. Be attentive and responsive in class.

5. Review after class what you have learnt in class and try to find relevant books to read, so that you may have a better understanding of the text or the studied authors.

6. Try to read in the original, if not or with much difficulty, and then reading its Chinese version is a good choice.

7. Mind your attendance in class (your showing and exercises-oral and written, will account 30% of your final score of this course)

8. Self-study some books about literature and get some common sense about literature. This will help you get a better understanding of the text.

9. Last, but not the least, find your favorite author or authors and have a special study of them. This is helpful for your future study, also for your graduation thesis.