What defines a piece of literary work as "Literature" and another as an ordinary piece of writing?
When we set out to clarify our understanding of a concept we use the following:
We collect examples
We identify features
We identify the function and value that the concept has in society.
For example:
Concept: Insects
Examples
Fly
Ant
Termite
Ladybug
Features
Three body segments
Three pairs of legs
An external skeleton
Spiracles for breathing
Function or value
Pollinate flowers
Consumes waste
Feed small animals
Provide useful chemicals
This approach assumes that we have some idea of the concept we are discussing.
We will employ this approach to the concept of Literature.
In pairs, complete the following table.
Concept: Literature
In groups of four:
How similar are your tables. Do they offer the same definition of "Literature"?
Which column was the most difficult to complete? Why? Which was the easiest?
Which column seems to best explain what is commonly meant by "Literature"?
Once you have defined your concept do the following:
Working in groups of four use your definitions to decide weather a piece of work is "literary" or "non literary".
State wether it would be regarded as literary or non literary by schools, college, universities
Is it literary or non literary by definition you provided
Comment on how confident you are in your classification.
What was the criteria you relied on when you made your decisions?
Which items were the most difficult to classify?
Which items were the easiest to classify?
How much agreement or disagreement is there between the school classification and yours? Suggest reasons for this.