INTRODUCTION TO LITERATURE

CONTENT

1. Introduction
2. Definitions of Literature
3. The Functions of Literature
4. The Genres of Literature
5. Distinctions between the Genres of Literature

Introduction

The term English literature refers to the literature of the people who speak the English language as their mother tongue. So, English literature refers to the literature of the British, Scots, Irish, Welsh and American peoples.

Literature-in-English refers to literary works written in the English Language irrespective of the nationality of the author. The source of literature originated from people’s traditional festivals, folklore, folktales, rituals, chants, praise and work songs, traditional mores. The term orature is often applied to define these sources of literature. Orature as an aspect in literature is yet to be expressed in writing. More recently; the subject matters of literary works in English are derived from the day-to-day social, economic, political and humanistic experiences of people. Both English Literature and Literature in English are studied in the three genres, namely prose, drama and poetry.

Definitions of Literature

Printed materials that educate, inform or instruct are all referred to as literature.