WORLD LIT

MODULE 1 – Introduction to Literary Studies and Importance of Studying Literature

This module focuses on the Introduction to Literary Studies and Importance of Studying
Literature.
Content:
1. Introduction to Literary Studies
(definitions of Literature)
2. Reasons why studying literature is
important
Intended Learning Outcomes
At the end of the module, students can:
1. Broaden the knowledge about literature in general aspect
2. Reflect on the values drawn from the given insights of authors
Lesson 1 – Introduction to Literary Studies
Topics:
1. Definitions of Literature
2. Importance of Studying literature
Student Learning Outcomes: Expected Output
At the end of these weeks, students should be
able to: A Concept Map

1. Venture on the different definitions of

literature
2. Explain why the study of literature is
important
Learning Activities:
I. UNCOVER

Who among you are creative?

Do you appreciate the beauty of reading?
What makes you interested in reading? Or what makes
you bored in reading?
Are you interested in the past events?
And curious about the new inventions?
You can become adventurous even without going to
places you really want to see, you can reach them all
through reading.

Now, these questions have something to do with our lesson.

Don’t you know that if you’re interested about beautiful creations, inventions; you’re also
creative in thinking who are the people behind them?

In this sense, what happened in the past is part of history and the beauty of things that are
invented is part of literature. Therefore, Literature and history go hand in hand.

What is Literature?

Activity 1

Venture in your own definition of literature based on how you understand it and apply to real life
situations.

For me, Literature is…….

_________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________

II. BRAINSTORM

Try to reflect on the following definitions of literature:

It is the beautiful expression of man’s personal interpretation of some aspect of human aspect,
or a wording out in a unique, beautiful and personal manner of saying what an author thinks is a
passionate meaning. This is saying that not only becomes but is “life itself”.

-Amador Daguio

Literature liberates people from political oppression, social injustice, economic inequality and
emotional inhibition as reflected in short stories, novels, dramas, essays and other literary
genres.
 -Roger Don SJ. Cerda
It develops a keener sensitiveness to life, clearer self-knowledge, a more balanced sense of
values.

- Francisco O. Javines

It adds to reality. It does not simply describe.

-C. S. Lewis
It is a term used to describe written or spoken material. Broadly speaking, “Literature” is used to
describe anything from creative writing to more technical or scientific works, but the term is most
commonly used to refer to works of the creative imagination, including works of poetry, drama,
fiction and non-fiction.
-Esther Lombardi

It is an eternally burning flame, exuding light that renders significance to civilization. It can die
only if the printed word disappears from the face of the earth, and if man ceases to give
effective expression to his thoughts and emotions.
- Teofilo del Castillo and
Buenaventura Medina

III. INSTILL

WHAT IS THE IMPORTANCE OF STUDYING LITERATURE?

1. LITERATURE HELPS US GROW BOTH PERSONALLY AND INTELLECTUALLY.

Since it reflects significant human experiences, it allows us to grow personally by
learning from the experience of other people, thus enabling us to handle varied human
situations that we never experience before; and intellectually because it enhances our
vocabulary range vis-à-vis our mental faculty thus making us think critically to articulate
and defend our point of view.
2. LITERATURE LINKS US WITH THE WORLD OF WHICH WE ARE A PART.
It helps us understand the people across nations—their cultures, traditions, beliefs and
religious practices, thus making us live harmoniously by recognizing and respecting
individual differences.
3. LITERATURE ENABLES US TO TRANSCEND OUR IMMEDIATE TIME, PLACE AND
CULTURE AND TO MAKE CONNECTIONS WITH OTHER HUMAN BEINGS AND
THEIR CONCERNS.
It enables us to break away us from or go beyond our present reality through the power
of imagination, enabling one to travel through time and space at the same time establish
good human relations by realizing people’s angst evident in the literary pieces that we
are exposed to.
4. LITERATURE ENCOURAGES US TO DEVELOP MATURE EMPATHY WITH ALL
 FORMS OF LIFE-HUMAN, ANIMAL AND PLANT.
It nurtures our sensibility and compassion for the environment and everything in it by
making us grasp the interconnectedness of life on earth, that the obliteration of one tree
is tantamount to the extinction of animal and plant species and with that we were
reminded to be the stewards of God’s creation for the earth serves as the habitat of all.
5. LITERATURE SHARPENS OUR SENSE OF MORAL JUDGMENT.
It hones our sense of morality by delineating the distinction between art and
pornography, right from wrong, moral and immoral and that what is ethical may not
necessarily be good in our own personal consciousness; it enables us to make our
personal judgment based on our standard of morality.
6. LITERATURE STIMULATES OUR IMAGINATION AND INGENUITY.
It fuels our imagination and creativity to reconstruct the plot; these are essential to make
sense of any literary work, whether it is read, performed or viewed.
7. LITERATURE SHOWS THE SIGNIFICANCE OF IRONY, PARADOX, OXYMORON
AND AMBIVALENCE.
It acquaints us to different poetic devices and poetic dictions to unearth the message of
the poets different from fictionists and playwrights; most of the time, it will require us to
have working knowledge of literary theories or approaches to recreate the writer’s
intended meaning.
8. LITERATURE ALLOWS US TO SEE THE WORLD IN DIFFERENT VANTAGE
POINTS.
It enables us to see the world in different perspectives, what is perceived to be “good”
may not be good in your own standard, in the same way that what is perceived to be
“bad” may not necessarily be bad in your own consciousness because we see things in
different angles.
9. LITERATURE RELIVES HISTORY.
It has historical grounding, thus making the readers aware of some important facts in the
past to make sense of the present circumstances where we are in, in short, we are able
to establish the connection between the past and the present, and what tomorrow may
bring.
10. LITERATURE REMINDS US THAT WE ARE HUMAN BEINGS.
It makes us realize that we have our own limitations, insecurities and imperfections; that
despite our shortcomings, we learn from our experiences and from the experiences of
other people, making us better individuals-responsible, self-reliant, compassionate, God-
loving and God-fearing.

REFERENCES:
Readings from World Literatures: Understanding Peoples’ Cultures, Traditions and Beliefs by:
Rizza Soriano-Baldonado, Bernado Chua Jr.,Archie Franco. 2013

Literature in the Digital Age: An Introduction by Hammond Adam, Cambridge. 2016