1. AP English 11: Introduction to American Literature
Mrs. Knighten-Miller

2. The Origins of Literature
From human interest in telling a story
In arranging words in artistic forms
In describing our human experiences
Definition: literature is a language artistically used to achieve identifiable literary qualities and to convey meaningful messages

3. Coming of the Word
Word “literature” comes from 14th century sense of polite learning through reading
From mid-18th century it referred to practice and profession of writing
Since 19th century it has been the high skills of writing with imagination

4. Characteristics of literature
Beauty and expression
Form and universality
Intellectual and emotional appeal
Great works enable us to study how people live their
social roles and roles of societies at a certain point

5. Characteristics continued
Important in human life because not based on history or reality
Less bound to fact but can comment on fact
Arrange fact in unusual ways
Speculate on what fact ought to be

6. Writers of Literature
People with visionary or prophetic insight into human life
Broaden our knowledge about individual, social, ration or international affairs
Enable us to understand how people came to live at certain time

7. Why Read Literature? Read for pleasure, entertainment
Reading for relaxation
Reading to acquire knowledge
Reading to confront experience
Reading for Artistic Appreciation
**draw a box on your page of notes and give an example of each of these reasons to read. Correctly write the title of what you read.

8. Pair/Share
Turn to your neighbor and share the pieces of literature you wrote. Be ready to share with the class one that is the most interesting from your partner’s list.

9. How to Improve Reading Skills
Reading literature is different than reading other texts. You will spend less time on reading and more to understanding.
Intellectually guess at the meanings of new words
Learn to notice details, main idea and skim for meaningful passages
Cherish desire for greater meaning