1. Introduction to Literature

2. A. What is literature 1. Definition: Literature is the art of language and words (letters). It is a very special language that says more and says it more powerfully and beautifully than ordinary language 1. Definition: Literature is the art of language and words (letters). It is a very special language that says more and says it more powerfully and beautifully than ordinary language

3. A. What is literature –Why do we read? To learn, to understand, and to eventually become wise. To learn, to understand, and to eventually become wise. To become more fully human To become more fully human To “get the most” out of life To “get the most” out of life (8 Reaons – see handout sheet)

4. What is Literature? --Literature: the stories and writing from those who have experienced life before us; they were written to show us the power, the complexity, the wonder and the suffering of human experience. The universality of human experience across time and culture literature as art—form and content What is Literature? --Literature: the stories and writing from those who have experienced life before us; they were written to show us the power, the complexity, the wonder and the suffering of human experience. The universality of human experience across time and culture literature as art—form and content

5. B. The Three Levels of Literature 1. The surface level--

6. B. The Three Levels of Literature 1. The Surface Level 2. 2. 3. The Thematic Level

7. B. The Three Levels of Literature 1. The surface Level 2. 2. 3. The Thematic Level --the psychological --the social --the social --the universal --the universal

8. B.The three levels of literature 1. The surface level 2. Techniques 3. Thematic level—psychological --social --social --universal --universal

9. B. The three levels of literature 4. How the three levels work— a.The Wizard of Oz 1. plot 2. techniques 3. themes a.Peter Pan

10. C. Approaches to Literature—how to tell what the heck it’s talking about 1. Historical / biographical—how does the work reflect or show the influence of the author’s life and times – e.g. Uncle Tom’s Cabin, Tale of Two Cities

11. C. Approaches to Literature (or how to tell what the heck it’s talking about) 2. Psychological—what motivates the characters? Questions about identity, id-ego- about identity, id-ego- super-ego parallels, super-ego parallels, reference to the reference to the subconsicence, Maslowe’s subconsicence, Maslowe’s “hierarchy of needs” “hierarchy of needs”

12. 2. Psychological approaches a. Freud b. Jung c. Skinner

13. 2. Psychological Approaches 4. Kohlberg—Moral development 5. Maslowe’s Hierarchy of needs

14. C. Approaches to Literature 3. Feminist Theory—What does the work say about the relations and power struggles between the sexes? What about gender roles and identity?

15. 4. Marxist Theory—What does the work say about economic or social power—who has it, who doesn’t, and why?

16. C. Approaches to Literature 5. Archetypal / Mythic— a. What seems familiar about the work (archetypes)? the work (archetypes)? b. What does the work say about our roles in the universe? c. What does the work say about our relation to God or the Divine? d. What does the work say about meaning itself or the meaning of life?

17. C. Approaches to Literature 5.Formalist—How do the literary and artistic techniques reveal themes and meanings?

18. C. Approaches to Literature 7. Textual / Linguistic What do the words mean, and what words mean, and what words are especially powerful are especially powerful and why? and why?

19. C. The Personality of England 1. Timeline of British Literature and Thought 449 1066 1492 1660 1790 1830 1914 1945 l____l_____l_____l___l___l___l___l___ Anglo- Medieval Rennais. Reason Rom. Victor. Mod. Anxiety Anglo- Medieval Rennais. Reason Rom. Victor. Mod. Anxiety Saxon Saxon

20. 2. Britain’s Island Personality Strongly independent nationally (isolated, proud) Strongly independent nationally (isolated, proud) Individual freedom—Anglo-Saxon heritage (Western idea of the worth of the individual) Individual freedom—Anglo-Saxon heritage (Western idea of the worth of the individual) Strongly traditional – class system (medieval), mistrust of the merchant class, still maintains a royal family into the 21 st century Strongly traditional – class system (medieval), mistrust of the merchant class, still maintains a royal family into the 21 st century