What are the uses or functions of literature?

Question

I am a student in college. We are taking up now about literature. the questions are: What is literature? What are the uses or functions of literature? Enumerate the types of literature. So, I need your help by answering my question. Thanks in advance and hope I can get the answer as soon as possible. Anyway we also taking up but on going about Job, Solomon, the prodical sun, the good samaritan(I need a story) Thanks.

Answer 1

When children learn to speak, their (and their parents´) focus is basically on words (lexicon) and pronunciation (phonology). As they grow (as soon as they master the phonological system of their mother tongue, by the age of seven or so), other linguistic levels (syntax, semantics, discourse) become as important or even more important than building up one´s vocabulary. Gradually, between adolescence and early adulthood, they have to be competent at the conversational level. That´s when they learn/acquire rules of conversation (talk, respond, ask questions, take turns, etc.). This is what is called "communicative competence" (cf. Krashen). But, that´s not the end of the road. People need to know how to read/interpret texts (not only in everyday English, but also in metaphorical language). Being able to read/interpret literary texts (the so-called interpretive competence) opens up one´s mind (and one's heart) to symbolic meaning. As a matter of fact, even everyday language is symbolic (cf. "metonymy").

Here´s what some writers have said about poetry (the most difficult texts to interpret), which, to a certain degree, also applies to literature in general (short stories and novels):

"Absolute poetry is the concrete and artistic expression of the human mind in emotional and rhythmical language" (Theodore Watts-Dunton;in Holman:404).

"Poetry is the record of the best and happiest moments of the best and happiest minds." (Shelley; in Holman, idem).

"The proper and immediate object of Science is the acquirement or communication of truth; the proper and immediate object of Poetry is the communication of pleasure". (Samuel Taylor Coleridge; in Holman, idem).

Answer 2

Having others do your work for you defeats the purpose of going to college. You are wasting your time and tuition. If you don't want to work in school, how about getting a job. You do realize though that getting that degree increases your earnning potential and that won't happen if you don't make use of the opportunity.

Answer 3

hehehe i have the same problem as your's, hehe taga uc ka noh?
klasmate guro ta ai!!!