Week 2_ Intro to World Literature_051303.pptx

A small introduction to World Literature.

1. World literature An Introduction

2. Introduction to world literature The terms that make up its name: “world” and “literature.” The term world literature itself derives from Goethe’s neologism Weltliteratur , recorded by his personal secretary from a conversation one night over dinner: “ National literature is now rather an unmeaning term; the epoch of World-literature is at hand, and everyone must strive to hasten its approach” (165). Primarily, it referred to the masterpieces of Western European literature; however, world literature today is seen in an international context . World literature encompasses all literary works that circulate beyond their culture of origin , either in translation or in their original language ” ( What is World Literature?, Damrosch, 2003 ) World literature is not all the literature of all the world but only that literature which crosses a border. 9/13/2024 Adabal 2

3. World literature is learning about values, cultures, nationalism, attitudes, thoughts, beliefs, feelings, and experiences of the continents of the world. World literature can be defined as ‘works of literature that have been created, distributed, and circulated beyond their country of origin. It refers to any collection of written or oral work, but it more commonly and narrowly refers to writings especially considered to be an art form , especially prose fiction, drama, and poetry . It refers to any written literary genre that exemplifies the most outstanding characteristics of particular national literatures. It is hard to define it and only few regional or national writers can also be classified as belonging to world literature. 9/13/2024 Adabal 3

4. There are three major sources of world literature: the folkloric oral tradition, the Torah and the Bible and the Greek and Roman writers, especially Homer, whose most important works are the Iliad and the Odyssey. The process of selection, translation, publication, and distribution makes a text to be considered in world literature. The field of world literature moved forward in time and out somewhat, redefining itself as the study of “masterpieces” rather than “classics,” but far too many of the masterpieces remained within the confines of Europe, and further were penned all too often by a limited component of the European population. The field grew out of and responded to the Great Books curriculum , which itself presented a set of “classics,” texts central to the development of civilization and society. One of the means by which World Lit distinguishes itself as a field from Comparative Lit is that the language of instruction and reading is usually English as opposed to the original language of composition. 9/13/2024 Adabal 4

5. Elements of World Literature Love and romance Family and marriages Individual struggles toward success Humanitarian values Coping with tragedy (wars, famine, disasters, etc.) Life cycles 9/13/2024 Adabal 5

6. What will we learn in this course: Part One: The Ancient World Middle East _ Introduction to Sumerian Literature The Epic of Gilgamesh and assignments Greece _ Introduction to Greek Literature: Oedipus the King and The Iliad and The Odyssey China _ Introduction to Chinese Literature: The Analects by Confucius China: The Art of War by Sun Tzu India _ Introduction to Indian Literature: The Mahabharata India: The Ramayana Rome _ Introduction to Latin Literature: Metamorphoses by Ovid Part Two: The Middle Ages Europe: The Divine Comedy: Inferno by Dante Europe: The Song of Roland Middle East _ Introduction to Persian Literature: The Rose Garden ( Golestan or Gulistan ) by Saadi Divani Shamsi Tabriz and Masnavi by Rumi 9/13/2024 Adabal 6

7. Questions to be considered: Difference between national and world literature? Does my country have such literature? If so, why. If not why? How a work of art becomes an international? Is there more concentration on the fame of an author or his masterpiece? If an author is famous worldwide but not his work what happens? Is it more important to value religion or culture (values) or patriotism and vandalism? What is the position of subjectivity and objectivity in worldwide masterpieces? 9/13/2024 Adabal 7