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.