The Ages of World Literature: These slides present an overview of the major literary periods in world literature.

The Ages of World Literature: These slides present an overview of the major literary periods in world literature.

1. Ages of World Literature
Dr. Ilyas Babar Awan

2. Introduction to World Literature
•Definition:
World literature refers to literary works that are recognized and
studied globally, transcending national or cultural boundaries.
•Key Concept:
The evolution of world literature is marked by technological and
material transformations that affect how we consume texts.

3. Two Ages of World Literature: The Premise
•What is the "Two Ages"?
•Littau argues that world literature can be divided into two major eras:
•Oral and Manuscript Age
•Print and Digital Age
•Focus:
Each age is defined by the dominant medium of text dissemination
and its impact on how literature is produced, consumed, and
understood.

4. The First Age: Oral and Manuscript
Literature
•Key Characteristics:
•Literature was transmitted orally or through hand-copied manuscripts.
•Access was limited to specific groups (e.g., scholars, priests).
•Texts were subject to variation, interpretation, and memory.
•Impact on Literature:
•Stories were often fluid, adapting to different regions and audiences.
•Works like The Iliadand The Odysseywere shaped by oral traditions.

5. The Second Age: Print and Digital Literature
•Key Characteristics:
•The invention of the printing press revolutionized literature in the 15th
century.
•Print led to standardization, wide distribution, and more access to texts.
•Digital age further transformed reading habits through e-books and the
internet.
•Impact on Literature:
•Texts became fixed and widely available.
•Global access to literature increased, leading to the modern concept of
world literature.

6. Materiality of the Text
•Littau’s Central Argument:
•Literature is not just an abstract, intellectual experience but is deeply
shaped by the material form it takes (e.g., oral, manuscript, print, digital).
•Technological Influence:
•Every shift in medium (from oral to print to digital) has altered how
literature is experienced and valued.

7. World Literature and Translation
•The Role of Translation:
•As literature crosses borders, translation becomes essential to world
literature.
•Littau emphasizes that translation not only conveys meaning but also
transforms texts, influencing how they are received in different cultures.

8. Case Studies in World Literature
•Examples:
•Ancient Epic Poems(e.g., The Epic of Gilgamesh, Mahabharata):
Transmitted orally and later written down.
•Modern Novels(e.g., Don Quixote, One Hundred Years of Solitude): Mass-
produced and translated globally.
•Key Point:
World literature has evolved through these ages, but the transition
between mediums always plays a critical role.

9. Impact on Readers
•Reader Experience:
•The material form of literature changes how readers interact with texts.
•Print promotes individual reading, while oral tradition emphasized
communal engagement.
•Modern Day Impact:
•Digital reading creates new forms of interaction with texts (e.g., hypertext,
multimedia storytelling).

10. Conclusion
•Summary:
•Karin Littau’s Two Ages of World Literatureoutlines how the shift from oral
to print and digital media has shaped world literature.
•The materiality of texts plays a crucial role in defining the reader's
experience and the global reach of literature.
•Final Thought:
The ongoing digital revolution suggests that the future of world
literature will continue to be shaped by technological
advancements