INTRODUCTION TO LITERARY STUDIES
EXAMINATION TOPICS
1. an entertaining function,
2. an informative function,
3. an aesthetic function, and last but not least,
4. an intellectual function.
An entertaining function of literature consists in giving us pleasure. What is it that makes
literature pleasant? A variety of features can make a literary work delightful. It depends on the reader and his or her taste. A book of adventures will be pleasant reading for many young and adult readers. Others will read thrillers and police novels for pleasure and enjoyment. A few, however, will find this type of reading unworthy of notice. They will rather read literature to expand the knowledge of the past, present or future world. They seek information in literature. A certain percentage of readers achieve aesthetic and/or intellectual experience in literature. They read literature because it offers them a unique delight or satisfaction or some sort of truth which they are looking for. Literature has one more function: (5) it contributes to social integration. Literature is a common cultural heritage of mankind. It also integrates, preserves, and improves a national language.
Intertextuality refers to the relationships between different works of literature. A literary text is treated as a dialogue with other texts.
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