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Exploring the Nature of Literature

Sep 11, 2024

Defining Literature: Literature with a Capital L vs. Small l

Introduction

  • Question: What makes a text literary?
  • Objective: Explore different critical approaches to understanding literariness.

Distinction between "Literature" and "literature"

  • "Literature with a small l": Refers to any written text.
  • "Literature with a Capital L": Refers to a select subset of texts worth studying.

Origins of the Term

  • Etymology: "Literature" originates from Latin, meaning "the use of letters."
  • Evolution: Gained the meaning "knowledge from reading" when adopted by Romance languages.

The Question of Canonicity

  • Canonical Literature: Defined by cultural institutions as artistically or culturally significant.
  • Issues: Historical bias (traditionally White, male gatekeepers).
  • Contemporary Literature: Issues with canonicity as it hasn't stood the test of time.
  • Examples:
    • Moby-Dick: Initially poorly received, now canonized.

Alternative Definitions

  • Subjective Definition: "If you love it, then it’s Literature."

    • Limitations: Highly subjective, personal attachment not equal to literariness.
  • Inherent Textual Qualities:

    • Derek Attridge's Definition:
      1. Invention or inventiveness.
      2. Singular vision of the author.
      3. 'Otherness' that alters the reader's perspective.
    • Impact: Focus on style and construction over content.

Historical Context and Critiques

  • Poetry vs. Novels: Poetry preferred in English tradition for cultivating mature readers.
  • Victorian Era: Literature seen as a vehicle for spiritual development.

Irony and Defamiliarization

  • Irony: Multiplicity of meanings essential to Literature.
  • Defamiliarization: Texts that challenge conventional perceptions.

Roland Barthes' Theory

  • Text of Pleasure vs. Text of Jouissance:
    • Pleasure: Everyday reading.
    • Jouissance: Demands more from readers, evokes strangeness.
    • Balance: Between objective and subjective definitions.

Challenges with Definitions

  • Repeatability and Innovation: Genre fiction's conventional nature challenges definitions based on innovation.

Conclusion

  • Three Factors: The world, the text, and the reader determine what is considered literary.
  • The "Test of Time": Longevity as a measure of literary value.
  • Continuous Reading: Engagement with texts is key to understanding Literature.

Important Takeaways

  • Literature is a complex concept involving various definitions and criteria.
  • Canonicity, subjectivity, and textual qualities each play a role in defining Literature.
  • The continuous evolution of what constitutes Literature highlights its dynamic nature.