The essay discusses different perspectives on defining literature. It notes that literature can be defined broadly as any type of creative writing such as fiction or poetry. Some see literature as works from a specific time period or culture that express elements of that era. Others view literature as writing that uses creative language and leaves aspects open to reader interpretation. While there is no single agreed upon definition, most see literature as creative written works that can reflect or relate to the culture and time of its creation.

1. Essay on Use of Tone in Literature
For example, if the events that took place in The Things They Carried were described in a
newspaper, we might understand what happened, who died, and what was statistically important, but
we probably wouldn't be told why certain things happened, how people felt about these things, and
what emotional toll the the soldiers endured. In this particular story, tone acts as spot light which
illuminates the informational aspects of the literature. In other words, due to the casual and personal
tone of this particular story, certain things must be said; we the reader must be privy to certain
thoughts and feelings of the characters in the story; this information is neither granted to us, or
expected from us when we pick up a newspaper and read...show more content...
We can see tone in literature in the same way it is heard in music. While different instruments are
able to play the same notes, the tone of an instrument gives the notes character and texture. This is
the difference between one of Beethoven's symphonies played on a cell phone compared to a violin
– the basic notes are there, but tone breathes life into them and gives them meaning, thus making
them perceptible not just as frequencies, but as music.
In the Death of a Salesman the importance and meaning of the story goes beyond "salesmen dies
in car crash." The overall tone of the play, as well as the tone of each character in the play, is
crucial in helping us understand who and why these people did what they did. Willy Loman's
ramblings and hallucinations have a wild and disjoint tone that serves to inform us of his mental
state, fears, feelings, regrets, and emotions. If the content of his hallucinations were presented
directly as background information, or as a coherent dream sequence, we would not understand
Willy in the same way. It is not just what Willy says, but how he says it that gives us such a clear
picture of how far down he has fallen and just how bad things are for him. The contrasting tone of
Willy's wife helps to make Willy stand out even more. Similarly, the tones taken on by Biff and
Happy reveal that they represent the two sides of Willy – a realization not easily determined by the
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2. Essay on Romanticism In Literature
Romanticism In Literature
Romanticism in literature, began around 1750 and lasted until 1870. Different from the classical
ways of Neoclassical
Age(1660–1798), it relied on imagination, idealization of nature and freedom of thought and
expression.
Two men who influenced the era with their writings were
William Wordsworth and SamuelTaylor Coleridge, both English poets of the time. Their edition of
"Lyrical Ballads';, stressed the importance of feeling and imagination. Thus in romantic
Literature the code was imagination over reason, emotion over logic, and finally intuition over
science. All of these new ways discouraged and didn't tolerate the more classic way of literature.
Other significant writers of the...show more content...
References to this can be found in
"Ode to Evening'; by William Collins, and "Elegy Written in a
Country Churchyard'; by Thomas Gray.
With the freedom that Romanticism brought came the broadening of the writers horizons. The
Middle Ages became topic of many stories and settings. The nostalgia of more Gothic times put more
exotic ideas into the author's minds. The supernatural became a substantial part of the literature.
Outcomes of this new idea were "Lines Written a Few Miles Above
Tintern Abbey';, by Wordsworth, and "The Castle of Otranto';, written by Horace Walpole.
The world of the supernatural and exoticness was reinforced by two main things. One was pure
rebellion against the standards of the eighteenth–century rationalism, such as the structure of
neoclassical society. The second was the rediscovery of folk tales and ballads, particularly the ones
collected by Facob and Wilhelm Karl Grimm, also know as the Brothers Grimm.
These gave an inspiration to write many of the pieces of a supernatural nature for the writers of the
Romantic Age.
The Romantic Age started to lose it's glitter by the middle of the nineteenth–century. Literature
started to get serious again focusing on issues such as problems of religion and faith and politics of
the English democracy. Now instead of journeying to mythical places through the reading people
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3. What Is Literature Essay
Charmine J. Cramales
BS Math II
Lit 3 10:30 – 12:00
What is Literature?
Poems, novels, and stories; these are some of the things that first came to my mind upon pondering
on the question 'What is Literature?'. And just lately I have known that literature also includes
songs, speeches, plays, and many others in written and spoken forms. I have also known that things
that are produced out of creative imagination can be referred as literary works which are the ones
that comprise literature. Considering this description of what literature is, the coverage of literature
seems very puzzling. If literary works are those produced out of creative imagining, then it would
directly point to fictional works. But then, there are also...show more content...
Take for example the views of two individuals coming from different places on anovel based on the
culture of one. It would likely be the same if their culture and beliefs are quiet related but if not, then
they would surely have different understandings on certain parts of that novel. Hence, defining
literature as those considered by people as 'literature' is questionable.
Eagleton also associated literature as any kind of works which are valued highly by people. But
then again, since people may have different perceptions on things, one may value highly a certain
work while another person may consider it just as a plain writing. As stated by Ms. Pinzon, a
literature professor, a personal letter can be an example of this. The recipient of the letter can be
expected to really value the letter while her classmate may not. Hence, this can't define literature as a
whole.
Then, what really is literature? Many great critics have tried formulating a fixed definition of
literature but have failed to do so. In the rise of every possible definition of what literature is,
counter arguments also rise.
Literature, though it seems impossible to enumerate everything it covers, play an important role in
every individual's life. One can influence using literature or be influenced by it. Examples of these
are the novels made by our very own national hero, Jose Rizal – the Noli Me Tangeri and El
Filibusterismo. During his time, Rizal has
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4. What Is Literature? Essay
Since the 18th century, the definition of the concept "literature" has become a problematic and a
controversial issue among various literary schools. What is literature? What are the qualities that
distinguish a literary text from a non–literary one? Does literature have any particular function in
society? These are some crucial questions whose answers were supposed to limit and define the
scope of "literature". However, various literary and critical schools have advanced different and
contradictory responses to these same questions, which have consequently led to a failure in
producing an authoritatively established definition of "literature". This failure can be ascribed to
many reasons, but because the length of the paper doesn't...show more content...
This new sense, which was ascribed to the development of printing, was "a specialization В… to
the printed word and especially the printed books with certain quality [imaginative works]"
(Williams, 46). To elaborate on this definition, R. Wellek and A. Warren have stated that "in all of
them [the printed books with certain quality], the reference is to the world of fiction, of
imagination" (Wellek and Warren, Theory of Literature, 25). However, a simple review of the
history of prose narrative forms would show that this definition of literature as a category of
fictional and imaginative writings is irrelevant. Many writings which were written as
anthropological documentaries were making use of fiction, while many other fictional works were
given the status of documentary and factual writings. All travelogue writings and western
historiography between the middle ages and the twentieth century are good examples to illustrate
this point. Works like T.E. Lawrence's Seven Pillars of Wisdom, W.M. Thackeray's From Cornhill
to Cairo, Kingslake's Eothen, and Sir Thomas More's Utopia made use of both fact and fiction.
Moreover, at the time of their appearance, most of these works were conceived of by the western
audience as factual and documentary writings. Later on, due to some historical and political changes
in the world, these writings became conceived of as fictional and imaginary works.
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5. 18th Century Literature Essay
18th Century Literature
The 18th century is a period of great literary works. The styles are different throughout the period,
but the unity of the work is still present.
Much of this period focused on public and general themes, until the Pre–
Romantic era when literary works began to focus upon personal expression. 18th century literature
can be broken down into three main parts: the Restoration, the Age of Pope, and Pre–Romantics.
The literature of the Restoration period covers a time span from
Charles's recovery of the throne to the years until the expulsion of James II in 1688 or until the death
of John Dryden in 1700. The literature of the
Restoration was characterized by...show more content...
This literary time period also included works from John Dryden, who used elegance and cleverness
in his writings. This period ended about 1700, and enabled a new age of literature.
In literary history, the first half of the 18th century is known as the
Age of the Pope. In this age, the writers expressed views of the public and restrained from writing
personal topics or expressions. In the Age of the Pope or the Neoclassical Age, most of the literary
themes were of social, political, and moral life. The Rape of the Lock and Epigrams by Alexander
Pope, and "A
Modest Proposal" and Gulliver's Travels by Jonathan Swift are some examples from the Age
of Pope or the Neoclassical age. Most of the literary works in this period used satirical styles to
express a concern in society. "Puffs, powders, patches, Bibles, billet–doux", from The
Rape of the Lock shows an example of pathos a satirical device used in this age of literature.
Jonathan Swift also uses satire in Gulliver's Travels to mock the Parliament, and in "Modest
Proposal" he writes about eating children as a solution to a socioeconomic problem. After the
writings, literature began to focus on private expressions rather than public thoughts and emotions.
The Age of Johnson or the Pre–romantic era was shown in various ways.
Characteristics of the age included ballads, a new taste for ruins, Gothic
castles
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6. The English Bildungsroman Essay
The English Bildungsroman
The novel has a strong tradition in English literature. In Great Britain, it can trace its roots back to
Daniel Defoe's Robinson Crusoe in 1719 (Kroll 23). Since then, the British novel has grown in
popularity. It was especially popular in Victorian England. The type of novel that was particularly
popular in Victorian England was the novel of youth. Many authors of the time were producing
works focused on the journey from childhood to adulthood: Charlotte Bronte wrote Jane Eyre,
George Eliot wrote The Mill on the Floss, and Charles Dickens wrote David Copperfield and Great
Expectations. All of these novels trace the growth of a child. In this respect, some of the most popular
novels of the nineteenth...show more content...
Similarly, the Bildungsroman is characterized by the growth, education, and development of a
character both in the world and ultimately within himself.
The Bildungsroman is subcategorized into very specific types of the genre, most often found in
German literature. There is the Entwicklungsroman, which can be defined as "a chronicle of a young
man's general growth rather than his specific quest for self–culture" (Buckley 13). In other words, a
story recounting a man's life rather than focusing on the inner changes that contribute to his maturity.
Another form within German literature is the Erziehungsroman; this form is primarily concerned
with the protagonist's actual educational process (Buckley 13). Again, the concern is not the overall
development of the main character, but a specific aspect of that character's life. Finally, there is the
Kunstlerroman. The root Kunstler translates as artist in English. Therefore, this is the development
of the artist from childhood until his artistic maturity, focusing on the man as artist rather than the
man in general. Dickens' David Copperfield and James Joyce's A Portrait of the Artist as a Young
Man are both examples of English Kunstlerroman, as the protagonists of both books are writers
(Buckley 13).
These categories, while strict within German literature, are more free within English literature. For
the most part, it is (within English literature) a
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7. Literature in Life Essay
Literature in Life
Literature is the expressed influence of communities and the individuals in societies. Literature spans
culture, beliefs, and attributes the necessary component for corroborating how literature reflects, and
portrays communities. The language from literature helps gives culture explanation of live in
different society. Literature that is defined by the culture aspect, gives details about such fascinating
and affluent information or context. Certain works, and words used in literature can help the reader
understand and describe the sense of the community being read in the story. In addition, it is not
uncommon for people to write about an imaginary community that is based from their own
community. Community...show more content...
Another example of how a community can affect an author's writing is illustrated in William
Faulkner's "A Rose for Emily" (DiYanni, 2007, p. 79–84). The story takes place in the South after
the Civil War. Faulkner's writing is extremely eloquent and deliberate. The time period also comes
out through the language in his writing referring to African–Americans as Negros and to
Northerners as Yankees. It soon becomes obvious that Faulkner must have been raised in the same
time and place this story takes place. Communities do not only affect the language of the author but
they also can provide the community of the author's work. Some communities act like an extended
family and an author may want to show that aspect. Sometimes an author may wish to write about a
close–knit community that knows everyone else's business. Often a writer will write about their
community, illustrating certain cultural aspects that they hold dear. All of these can be examples of
the writer's community coming to life in their own stories. In "A Rose for Emily," (DiYanni, 2007,
p. 79–84) Faulkner shows us a community that is very involved with each other. They are constantly
talking about what Miss Emily does, what she says, and whom she sees. The author speaks for the
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8. Defining Literature Essay
The definition of literature has been discussed and argued over time and there is no precise
answer to be given. Any reader or author can define literature as whatever they wish it to be
defined as. This is more of an opinion of how one views certain pieces of work or writings and
whether or not they feel that is actually literature or not. Literature is any type of creative writing
such as fiction or poetry, for example. Literature is also any form of body of written works of
language, which could be from the English era or even as far back as the Shakespearean or
Elizabethan era. It is also work from a specific period or culture defining key elements or somehow
relating to and/or expressing how it is exactly from that time. The...show more content...
In her poem, "Dylan" in lines 4 and 5, she writes, "Her hair was a halo of warm light / and color
dripped off her tongue" (23). The reader can interpret just from those two lines the creativity and
imagination not only in that one poem, but also in all poetry. The description of hair being a halo
of warm light allows the reader to use his or her own imagination to perceive that image in
whichever way they would like. Creative writing can be determined by many other things not only
image or structure of how the poem is set into stanzas, but what is left up to the reader for
interpretation. Jewel writes in "Cautious" in lines 23–29, "an open vessel / whose function it was / to
be filled / until my consciousness / could return and / spit out / the bad seeds" (18). After reading
these lines the reader can be left with different feelings and emotions that vary from disgust or
simplicity. This is just another example of how poetry is creative writing. According to the
American Heritage Dictionary, literature is defined as being the body of written works of a
language, period, or culture. An author of any specific type of writing or works can include
certain details pertaining to language or other details, which allow the reader to develop a sensory
image of that specific period or culture. If the reader had no prior knowledge to the language,
period, or culture of the writing he or she would be reading, upon reading and analyzing
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9. Essay On Oral Literature
Is the study or oral literature relevant in the contemporary world? Traditionally, literature in general
has played an important role in language and literary studies. Educators and curriculum developers
have usually focused on including a variety of oral and written texts in different levels of study.
However, as the world has continued to evolve, questions have emerged on the relevance of oral
literature studies in the contemporary world. There are arguments opposing the inclusion of oral
literature in English and other language studies across the board. In response to these arguments, it
is important to note that oral literature plays an important role in highlighting the history of people
from different cultures, as well as illuminating...show more content...
Focusing on the contemporary meanings of words alone provides a bare understanding of
language. However, when students begin the study of language from historical oral literary works,
the understanding is wholesome and more effective. In studying oral literature, students begin to
place words in specific contexts depending on how they are used. For example, reading a poem out
loud can reveal word meanings that could not have been derived otherwise. It creates an opportunity
for students to explore how different authors of oral literature use language as a form of expression.
From such understanding, educators begin to see positive results in how students express
themselves through speaking and writing. The study of oral literature in the modern society is all
the more important because of the poor language use being witnessed presently. Oral literature
authors offer a lot for the students to explore in terms of language use. Students can develop the very
important self expression skills from a study of oral literature. In this perspective, the importance of
oral literature studies cannot be emphasized enough. Though the times are changing, the role of oral
literature in society remains
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