What is literature 2
What is literature 2Defining literature is a hard task. Many people know what it is but are unable to explain it. Brian Moon defines literature as:
"A shifting category of texts defined by a complex combination of factors including textual features and value judgements."
Literature is language that portrays certain qualities. These qualities are: an impact on the audience, a good use of the resource of language and the style used by the author, which should appeal to the reader. To help define literature it is imperative to provide examples from works classified as literature.
Literature can be found in many styles such as poems, novels, letters and art. In any form it will have an impact on the reader and will often shape or change the reader's views on areas of human life. Three of the main areas which literature will effect are the religious, social and personal view of the reader. It is often people who have strong and high views in these areas that will have a big say in what is classified as literature.
Weevilly Porridge by Eva Johnson looks at the topic of aboriginal treatment by white people in the late 1800's - 1950's. The topic is a pressing issue today in Australian society and poems such as these help everyone understand about the issue of Aboriginal treatment by white people.
A good use of the resource of language is essential for a text to be defined as literary. A good use of the resource of language would include use of syntax, structure, literal and metaphorical levels and imaginative, descriptive and complex language.
An example of well crafted language and also a strong value judgement is in the poem Beauty by Grace Nichols. It emphasises the point that beauty is not all about looks by using metaphors and imagery.
Beauty
Is a fat black woman
Walking in the fields
Pressing a breezed hibiscus
To her cheek
While the sun lights up
Not everyone will agree on wether a text is to be considered literature or not. Dominant groups in determining what is literature are religious groups, education and law systems....
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