western literature 1

Literature

The three big questions you should ask yourself:

What is western literature?

What is that for?

Why should we care?

The definition of literature:

14^th century: polite learning through reading.

18^th century: practice and profession of writing.

19^th century: high skills of writing in the context of imagination.

Robert Forest: performance in words.

Modern definition: to achieve identifiable literary quality and convey messages.

The reason why we should learn literature:

Language proficiency

Learn more about western culture

Explore the nature of human (having physical and psychological relief.)

How to study literature:

Analytical approach

Thematic approach

Historical approach

Orientation

Allusion:

Three allusions in western literature:

Biblical allusion

Classical allusion

Literary allusion

Sappho: was a Greek lyric poet, born on the island of Lesbos.  

Lesbian: female homosexual.

Aphrodite: the Greek Goddess of love, beauty, pleasure, and procreation. Her Roman equivalent is the goddess Venus.

Words

Ori- beginning

Mediterranean

Med-middle

Ter-territory, land

Ac-take

Quote

“Keep your friends close, and your enemy closer.”