The Nature of Literature

Literature is such a interesting thing and can be all types of things depending on how we look at it.  As I read the reading I was able to explore and think about what literature is and all the different types I am exposed to in my life.

1. Literature as the 'foregrounding of language'

      Before I was typing this blog up, I began talking to my family about these natures of literature and with this first one, if there were any poems that any of them had memorized.  All 3 of my brothers automatically started saying, "Humpty Dumpty sat a wall... " 

Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall,

Humpty Dumpty had a great fall.

All the King's horses, And all the King's men 

Coudln't put Humpty together again. 

Even though this is so short and not that deep, each of us learn it when we are little and could probably recite it at anytime. We have this memorized and it is because of the words and sound patterns within.   Culler talks about how readers notice the sound patterns as well as linguistic patterns.  They look at the rhymes and are able to remember things because of those 2 things. He mentions that the rhyme is what makes the readers recognize the rhythm and remember these words.  As my brothers recited this nursery rhyme and rereading this, I realized that it is the rhyming that makes them remember the story. I don't think they would remember the story of an egg word for word if it wasn't put together with words that rhymed. 

2. Literature as the integration of language

      As I was thinking about this one I was having a hard time finding one that I thought fit, and then I did it!! The slogan for the American Egg Association, “The Incredible Edible Egg”.  They made a jingle and it is easy to remember.  The words incredible and edible sound very similar and edible is found within incredible.  The slogan has harmony and works well together as a whole.  I think it is a great example of integration, and if you listen to the jingle you won’t forget the catchy tune that they put these great words to!!

3. Literature as fiction

       The Chronicles of Narnia are a great example of literature as fiction.  There are so many people that know the story of the Lion, the witch, and the wardrobe, but interpret them differently.  This story can be taken as a fantasy, literally, or symbolically.  People can look at it and just take away what happened with no symbolic representation or you can see it in another way.  Many people see it in a religious way and think that certain characters and situations represent things that they believe religiously.

4. Literature as aesthetic object

     As I thought about this one, I thought a song about our country fit perfect.  It is a composition of words that bridges the gap between the material and spiritual worlds. As you read the words you can see how we praise this land, how we think it is so beautiful.  It crosses gaps in a lot of aspects and allows us to view it how we want.  We can view it as beautiful if we love this country and think it gives praise. 

O beautiful for spacious skies,
For amber waves of grain,
For purple mountain majesties
Above the fruited plain!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea!

O beautiful for pilgrim feet
Whose stern impassioned stress
A thoroughfare of freedom beat
Across the wilderness!
America! America!
God mend thine every flaw,
Confirm thy soul in self-control,
Thy liberty in law!

O beautiful for heroes proved
In liberating strife.
Who more than self their country loved
And mercy more than life!
America! America!
May God thy gold refine
Till all success be nobleness
And every gain divine!

5. Literature as inter-textual or self-reflexive construct

     As I read about this nature of literature, I took it as works that are made possible by other works before them. It is a story that came about because of something that was brought about before it.  The main example I could think of for this is Wicked, probably because I love the play.  But the book, "The Wizard of Oz" was written and after because of it's story, Wicked was able to come about.  The story of Wicked is tied in with things from the Wizard of Oz and answers a lot of questions about the Wizard of Oz.  These two stories are tied together, the relate and answer questions within the other story.