Meaning of Literature in English

Back to: LITERATURE IN ENGLISH SS1

 

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In today’s class, we will be talking about the meaning of literature in English. Enjoy the class!

Meaning of Literature in English

Introduction

Both English Literature and Literature in English sound somewhat similar and confusing. However, the term literature refers to the collective body of literary works scattered all over the world, apparently written in multiple languages, but not just one language.

As the study of literary work has interested many people from different parts of the world for ages, literature has become a subject taught at schools, colleges and universities offering diverse programmes for students since it is a broad term, it has many sub-branches which refer to literature either country-wide, for example, American Literature, French Literature, English Literature, and so on, or chronological period-wise, that is, Old Literature, Classical Literature, Victorian Literature, Modern Literature, and so on.

On a larger geographical area-wise, Western Literature, Eastern Literature, South Asian Literature, etc. Literature is written in any language native to a country, and regional literature encompasses literary work written in many languages of the region.

What is the English literature?

English literature is the term which refers to literary work written not just in England, but also in Ireland, Wales, Scotland, British Colonies, including the United States of America.

However, with literary works blooming in America mainly since the late 18^th century and early 19^thcentury, a sub-branch of English literature called American literature emerged. Based on the chronological period, English literature is divided into several eras such as Old English literature (c. 658 -1100), Middle English literature (1100-1500), English Renaissance (1500-1660), Neo-Classical Period (1660-1798), 19^thCentury literature,  English literature since 1901, which includes Modern, Post-Modern, and 20th-century literature.

Renowned English literature writers of all time include William Shakespeare (England) Jane Austen (England), William Blake (England), Mark Twain (United States), James Joyce (Ireland), Arthur Conon Doyle (Scotland), Virginia Woolf (England), T.S. Eliot (United States), Salman Rushdie (India), Dylan Thomas (Wales), among others.

Literary works such as drama, poetry, fiction, non-fiction, short stories, essays, and so on, make up English literature. Learning English literature is important as it deals with universal themes and values that help readers grow in their everyday lives.

What is literature in English?

To some, literature in English refers to the same as English literature. Though it may not be entirely a false perception, it is subtly different from English literature. Literature in English refers to any literary work written in any other language other than English but translated to English. For instance, French literature is entirely written in the French language.

However, renowned French novel Les Miserables by Claude-Michel Schönberg and Alain Boublilis translated into English. Also, another novel by Samuel Beckett En Attendent Godot was translated into English, and in view, that becomes Literature in English. Thus, literary works written in different parts of the world in different languages and scripts when translated to English are called literature in English.

Differences between literature in English and English literature

• English literature refers to the literary works written in Great Britain and the British Colonies, whereas Literature in English refers to literary works from all over the world written in any other language.
• English literature is written in the English language while Literature in English is written in other languages but translated into the English language.
• English literature mainly reflects the English culture, while Literature in English mirrors diverse cultures.

From the above discussion, it is evident that distinct and subtle differences abound in both terms, that is, Literature in English and English literature. Hence, it is comprehensive that the former and the latter terms are two different notions although in some cases they are falsely used interchangeably.

 

In our next class, we will be talking about the Sources of Literature.  We hope you enjoyed the class.

Should you have any further question, feel free to ask in the comment section below and trust us to respond as soon as possible.

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