Functions and Challenges of Studying Literature

INTRODUCTION TO LITERATURE

“ FUNCTIONS AND CHALLENGES OF STUDYING LITERATURE”

LECTURER:

DR. ALEK, M.PD

ENGLISH DEPARTMENT

FACULTY OF TARBIYAH AND TEACHERS TRAINING

“SYARIF HIDAYATULLAH”

STATE ISLAMIC UNIVERSITY

JAKARTA

2012

PROLOGUE

            We are as the firstgroup would like to explain about Functions and Challenges of Studying Literature.May be many people ask, what the literature means. So, by this paper we will explain to reader some materials that are related with literature in this paper.  

             Functions and Chellenges of Studying Literature is the big topic that we will inform to the reader in this paper, the explanation of this paper we devide into five materials, they are: 1. Definiton of Function, Challlenge, Study, and Literature. 2. Understanding of Literature. 3. Three Items that Include in Understanding Literature. 4. Functions of Studying Literature. 5. Cahallenges of Studying Literature.

     Finally, if any a shortage of this paper we need criticism and suggestion to develop our skills in making a paper in the next time.

FUNCTIONS AND CHALLENGES OF STUDYING LITERATURE

A.The Definiton of Function, Challenge, Study, and Literature.

Before we explain the function and challenges of studying of literature as the big topic in this paper, we have to give explanation first about what definition of the function, challenge, study, and literature are.

Based on Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary, the function is devided in some of categories, they are : noun and verb. As a noun the function has a definition as an activity that is natural to or the purpose of a person or thing. And as a verb the function means as work or operate in aproper or particular way.[1]

And based on Cambridge Advanced Learner’s Dictionary, the function is devided too  in two categories, they are: noun and verb. As a noun the function. In noun the function has a definition as the natural purpose (of something) or the duty (of a person). And in verb, the function has definitons as to work or operate. And to have a particular purpose.[2]

In addition, the challenge as a nounbased on Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary which has a definiton as a new or difficult task that tests sb’s ability and skill. And as a verb, the definiton of the chellenge is to question whether something is true or legal.[3]

And based on Cambridge Advanced Learner’s Dictionary, the chellenge as a noun means as (the situation of being faced with) something needing great mental or physical effort in order to be done successfully and which therefore tests a person's ability. And as a verb, the challenge means as to officially question whether something is true or legal, or whether someone has the authority or right to do something. And to compete against someone or ask them to prove that they can achieve a particular goal, etc.[4]

            Moreover, based on Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary, the study means as 1. the devotion of time and attention to acquiring knowledge, especially from books. 2. A detailed investigation and analysisof a subject or situation. 3. A room for reading, writing, or academic work, etc. (As noun). And as a verb the challenge means as to spend time learning about a subject by reading, going to college, etc.[5]

            And based on Cambridge Advanced Learner’s Dictionary, the study means as 1. Studying or work involving studying. 2. A room, especially in a house, used for quiet work such as reading or writing. (As noun). And as a verb, the study means as to learn about a subject, especially in an educational course or by reading books. And  to examine something very carefully.[6]

            And the last about literature, literature . Based on David, “Literature is an art form, like painting, sculpture, music, drama, and the dance. Literature is distinguished from other arts form by the medium in which it works; language”.[7]And other opinions literature is referred to as the entirety of written expression, with the restriction that not every written document can be categorized as literature in the more exact sense of the word. The definitions, therefore, usually include additional adjectives such as “aesthetic” or “artistic” to distinguish literary works from texts of everyday use such as telephone books, newspapers, legal documents, and scholarly writings.[8]

Now, In these pages will be presented about general of  The Functions and Challenges of Studying Literature.

B.   The Understanding of Literature

Before talking about the function and challenge of studying literature, it is necessary to know what the literature itself. There are many opinions about the definition of literature from the experts. Based on David, “Literature is an art form, like painting, sculpture, music, drama, and the dance. Literature is distinguished from other arts form by the medium in which it works; language”.[9]

Whereas the definition from Wikipedia, “Literature from Latin litterae (plural); letter is the art of written work and can, in some circumstances, refer exclusively to published sources. The word literature literally means "things made from letters" and the pars pro toto term "letters" is sometimes used to signify "literature," as in the figures of speech "arts and letters" and "man of letters".[10]

Meanwhile according to Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary, “Literature is pieces of writing that are valued as works of art, especially novels, plays and poems (in contrast to technical books and newspapers, magazine, etc)”.[11]

In most cases, literature is referred to as the entirety of written expression, with the restriction that not every written document can be categorized as literature in the more exact sense of the word. The definitions, therefore, usually include additional adjectives such as “aesthetic” or “artistic” to distinguish literary works from texts of everyday use such as telephone books, newspapers, legal documents, and scholarly writings.[12]

Literature is that the merit of a piece of writing lies in its combination of literary art and human interest. A work of high art which lacks human interest dies. For its human interest to last - and human interests change - the language of a work has to have life, and its form has to please. Admittedly, such qualities of language and form are easier to recognize than to define. Recognition develops with reading and with the strengthening of the historical magination and of aesthetic and critical judgement. No further definition of literature is attempted, though what has been said above about `cultural studies', academic pluralism and partisanship shows that the question is still agitated. In practice, though the core has been attacked, loosened and added to, it has not been abandoned.[13]

From those opinions about the definition of literature above, it can conclude that literature is an art of written expression of human being that the purposes are for entertaining, enjoying, funny, and beautiful. Some people usually related literature with the poems and poetry.

C. Three Items in Understanding Literature, They are: Experience, Interpretation, and Evaluation.

a. Experience

When we read literary work, something happens to us. A poem, for example, may provoke our thinking, evoke our memory, elicit a strong emotional response; a short story may arouse our curiosity what will happen, engage our feelings for its characters, and stimulate our thought about why things happen as they do.

In responding to literary works in these and other ways, we bring our personal and shared human experience to our reading of them.

b. Interpretation.

Our understanding of literary works results from our effort to interpret them, to make sense of their implied meanings. Our interpretation of literature provides an intellectual counterpart to our emotional experience. When we interpret literary works we concern ourselves less with how they affect us and more with what they mean. Interpretation, in short, aims at understanding

How do we come to understand works of literature? How do we develop an ability to interpret literature with competence and confidence? One way is to become familiar with its basic elements or characteristic. In reading fiction, for example, we rely on analysis of such elements as plot, character, setting, and point of view.

c. Evaluation

            Our evaluation of literary works involves two kinds of judgments, they are:

(1). Our assessment of their quality and value

(2). Our assessment of the cultural, social, and moral value display.

Evaluation of literary work, which is a complex process, is closely related to our experience and interpretation of it. Evaluation is also linked to our emotional response and subjective reactions regarding aspects of the work that please or shock us, that stimulate, frighten, repulse, amuse or amaze us.[14]

D.   The Functions of studying Literature

The function of literature is to entertain, to educate, to memorialize actual or fictional events. To leave records of people, places and things and to keep the language intact.[15]

More than two thousand years ago, the Roman poet Horace claimed that literature is "sweet" and "useful." Since then, literature has been traditionally understood, at least in Western cultures, as having the dual purpose of entertaining and educating its audience. Literary texts are constructed in effect as objects of beauty, sources of pleasure and as conveyors of messages and information. While authors often claim no practical purpose for their works, all literature constitutes an attempt at persuasively conveying certain values and ideas. The entertaining and beautiful aspect of literary works acts in reality as part of the appeal and attractiveness which the work tries to attach to the ideas which it seeks to convey. The beauty of literature is therefore a part of its rhetoric, a device intended to strengthen the overall persuasiveness and influence of the work on its audience. While the entertaining aspect of literature may be rather obvious, understanding the ideas or values which a text advances is not always a simple task. Part of the problem is the fact that the ideas of a literary text are almost always presented in indirect or "symbolic" form. Take for example the following very simple narrative.[16]

Critics have been discussing from very early times about the function or functions of literature. Though they differ among themselves regarding the other functions of literature, they are all agreed on one point—that the main function of literature is to entertain the readers, or, in other words, to give them pleasure. Sidney voiced the opinion of Longinus when he said that the chief function of literature is to “move” “I never heard the old song of Percy and Douglas,” he declared, “that I found not my heart moved more than with a trumpet”. Dryden was the next critic who cleared away the ancient stumbling block of criticism—the doctrine that the aim of the writer is to instruct or “make men better in some respect”. He asserted that the aim of the writer is, not to teach, but to please, and he distinguished between literature which is art and literature which is didactic. Instruction may result from the reading of poetry, but it is not the end: for ‘poesy only instructs as it delights”. Referring to the function of literature to delight and to move, De Quincey made the distinction between the literature of knowledge, and the literature of power—“The function of the first is to teach” the function of the second is to move.” Besides giving pleasure or entertaining or moving the readers, literature is supposed to have other functions as well. One important function is to heighten the awareness of the reader to certain aspects of life. The dramatic poetry of the Greeks, the works of Aeschylus, Sophocles, and Euripides were created for festival and ceremonial occasions. They reminded the great concourse of Athenian citizens of the traditional gods and heroes of history.[17]

Thus, from this several description and example we can conclude that the main function of Literature is main functions of literature are to entertain and give pleasure to the reader, and to heighten his awareness of certain aspects of life.

E.   The Challenges of studying literature

The study of literature is the place- there is no other in the most school – the place where in the chief matters of concern are particular of humaness, individual human feeling, human response, and human time as these can be known through the written expression (at many literary levels) of men living and dead, and as they can be discovered by student writers seeking through words to name and compose and grasp their own experience.[18]

The study of literature is therefore an eminently interdisciplinary endeavor through which we attempt to make sense of the human experience throughout history and of the ways in which human beings represent that experience and come to an understanding of themselves and of the world around them.[19]

CONCLUSION:

            Based on all materials of this paper we conclude some important point, they are:

1.    We have to know first, what literature means before we want to know more what functions and challenges of studying literature.

2.    Many opinios about the definition of literature, one of them is Based on David, “Literature is an art form, like painting, sculpture, music, drama, and the dance. Literature is distinguished from other arts form by the medium in which it works; language”.

3.    Understanding literature includes three items, they are: Experience, interpretation, evaluation.

4.    The function of literature is to entertain, to educate, to memorialize actual or fictional events. To leave records of people, places and things and to keep the language intact.

5.    The explanation of challenges of studying literature

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Alexander, Michael, A History of English Literature, London: Macmillan Faoundations, 2000.

Cambridge Dictionary

Diyyani, Robert, Literature, Graw- Hill Companies .Mc., Inc, 2004.

E Kakonis, New York Tom, and David Allan Evans, From language to Idea:an integrated rhetoric, New York: Holt, Rinehart, and Winston. Inc, 1971.

Klarer, Mario, An Introduction to Literary Studies, New York: Routledge, 2005.

A S Hornby, Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary, (New York: University Press, 2000), p. 1344.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Literature

http://myweb.wvnet.edu/~jelkins/lawyerslit/studylit.htm

http://neoenglish.wordpress.com/2010/12/16/the-functions-of-literature/

http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_are_the_two_functions_of_literature_according_to_Horace

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[1] A S Hornby, Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary, (New York: University Press, 2000), p. 547.

[2] Cambridge Advanced Learner’s Dictionary,        

[3] A S Hornby, Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary, (New York: University Press, 2000), p. 204.

            [4]Cambridge Advanced Learner’s Dictionary

[5] A S Hornby, Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary, (New York: University Press, 2000), p. 1344.

            [6]Cambridge Advanced Learner’s Dictionary

[7] New York Tom E Kakonis, David Allan Evans, From Language to Idea: An Integrated Rhetoric, (Holt, Rinehart, and Winston. Inc. New York: 1971), p.139

[8]Mario Klarer, An Intriduction to Literary Studies, (Routledge, New York: 2005) p. 1

[9]New YorkTom E Kakonis, David Allan Evans, From Language to Idea: An Integrated Rhetoric, (Holt, Rinehart, and Winston. Inc. New York: 1971) p. 139

[10] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Literature

[11] A S Hornby, Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary, (New York: University Press, 2000), p.783

[12]Mario Klarer, An Introduction to Literary Studies,  (Routledge, New York: 2005) p. 1

[13] Michael Alexander, A History of English Literature, (Macmillan Faoundations, London: 2000) p. 8

[14] Robert, Diyyani, Literature, (.Mc. Graw- Hill Companies, Inc,  2004) p. 7

[15]http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_are_the_two_functions_of_literature_according_to_Horace

[16] http://myweb.wvnet.edu/~jelkins/lawyerslit/studylit.htm

[17] http://neoenglish.wordpress.com/2010/12/16/the-functions-of-literature/

[18] http://myweb.wvnet.edu/~jelkins/lawyerslit/studylit.htm

[19] Ibid

Cultural Convention vs. Literary Convention

              Cultural Convention vs. Literary Convention

                          Compiled by:

                         1. IpitFitrianiChaerunnisa 109014000209

                         2. Kartika Noor Aulia 1110014000029

                         3. IlhamAditiaRahman 1110014000028

                         4. FaniDwiSafitri 1110014000118

ENGLISH EDUCATION DEPARTMENT

FACULTY OF TARBIYA AND TEACHERS TRAINING

                         STATE ISLAMIC UNIVERSITY SYARIF HIDAYATULLAH                     

 JAKARTA 2012 

                                                           

                                    ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

           

            In the name of Allah the most Gracious and the most Merciful. Let all praises to be Allah SWT, the Lord of the Universe. May the blessing of God prevail on our Prophet Muhammad SAW-akhirulanbiyayahabibullah-, his relatives and friends. The greatest goes to Allah SWT, who gives His Blessing and Grace so that the writers could finish doing this study. The writers would like to give their gratitude, respect, and appreciation to the following persons who have helped and supported them, both doing this study. The writers’ beloved parents:  for their love, care and every single pray uttered to support the writers to get through all bad and good time. Thanks for everything.

            Dr. Alek A., S.S., M.Pd., as writers’ teacher for his support, patience, time, guidance, precious knowledge, and wonderful study experience while guiding Introduction to Literature subject. Thank you, Sir.

            Finally, the writers are grateful to their entire classmates that they cannot mention one by one. Thank you for your supports.

                                   

                                    TABLE OF CONTENTS

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS   ………………………………………….     v

TABLE OF CONTENTS   …………………………………………….    vi

INTRODUCTION

A.   Culture and Literature …………………………………………….   1

B.   Problem Discussion ………………………………………………   1

           

CULTURAL CONVENTION VS LITERARY CONVENTION 

A.    Cultural Convention ………………………………………..      2         

1.    Definition of Culture …………………………………….      2

2.    The Characteristic of Culture ………………………….      3         

3.    The Function of Culture ………………………………..      4

4.    Definition of Convention ……………………………….      5

B.   What is Cultural Convention? ……………………………..      5

C.   The Legal Term of Cultural Convention …………………     6

D.   Literary Convention ………………………………………...       6

1.      Definition of Literature ………………………………..        6

2.      The Element of Literature ……………………………..      7

3.      The Function of Literature …………………………….      8

4.      What is Literary Convention? ………………………...      9

CONCLUSION ………………………………………………………..      11

REFERENCES 

                                    INTRODUCTION

A.  Culture and Literature

      People live together in the world to share and communicate each other. As a human being we cannot live alone. The togetherness of live in the society requires the convention what have to belief and to do called culture. We may have so many definitions towards this word. But we should agree that culture is the result from the effort or creativity of human being such as belief, art, habit, and soon.

Literature represents a language or a people: culture and tradition. But, literature is more important than just a historical or cultural artifact. Literature introduces us to new worlds of experience. We learn about books and literature; we enjoy the comedies and the tragedies of poems, stories, and plays; and we may even grow and evolve through our literary journey with books.

Ultimately, we may discover meaning in literature by looking at what the author says and how he/she says it. We may interpret the author's message. In academic circles, this decoding of the text is often carried out through the use of literary theory, using a mythological, sociological, psychological, historical, or other approach.

B.  Problem Discussion

1.  What is a culture?

2.  What is the characteristic of culture?

3.  What is a Cultural Convention?

4.  What is the Function of Culture?

5.  What is the Definition of Literature?

6.  What is the Element of Literature?

7.  What is the Function of Literature?

8.  What is Literary Convention?

      CULTURAL CONVENTION VS LITERARY CONVENTION  

A.   Cultural Convention

1.    Definition of Culture

Culture has been defined in many ways – from a pattern of perceptions that influence communication to a site of contestation and conflict. Because there are many acceptable definitions of culture ,and because it is a complex concept , it is important to reflect on the centrality of culture in our own interactions.There are some definitions of this term:

a.  Culture consists of patterns, explicit and implicit, of and for behavior acquired and transmitted by symbols, constituting the distinctive achievements of human groups, including their embodiments in artifacts; the essential core of culture consists of traditional (i.e. historically derived and selected) ideas and especially their attached values; culture systems may, on the one hand, be considered as products of action, and on the other as conditioning elements of further action.[1]

b.  Most social scientists today view culture as consisting primarily of the symbolic, ideational, and intangible aspects of human societies. The essence of a culture is not its artifacts, tools, or other tangible cultural elements but how the members of the group interpret, use, and perceive them. It is the values, symbols, interpretations, and perspectives that distinguish one people from another in modernized societies; it is not material objects and other tangible aspects of human societies. People within a culture usually interpret the meaning of symbols, artifacts, and behaviors in the same or in similar ways.[2]

c.   A culture is a configuration of learned behaviors and results of behavior whose component elements are shared and transmitted by the members of a particular society.[3]

d.  Culture is the material and nonmaterial attributes that the members of an organization or a society have created and use to carry out the tasks necessary to collective life.[4]

e.  Culture is the way of life, especially the general customs and beliefs of a particular group of people at a particular time.[5]

f.    Culture is the arts and other manifestations of human intellectual achievement regarded collectively, or the customs, institutions, and achievements of a particular nation, people, or group.[6]

2.    The Characteristic of Culture

a.   Culture is social

Culture does not exist in isolation. It is a product of society. It             develops through social interaction. No man can acquire culture without association with others. Man becomes a man only among men.

b.    Culture is shared

Culture is not something that an individual alone can possess. Culture in sociological sense is shared. For example, customs, traditions, beliefs, ideas, values, morale etc. are all shared by people of a group or society.

c.    Culture is learnt

Culture is not inborn. It is learnt. Culture is often called "learned ways of behaviour". Unlearned behaviour is not culture. But shaking hands, saying thanks' or 'namaskar', dressing etc. are cultural behaviour.

d.    Culture is continuous and cumulative:

Culture exists as a continuous process. In its historical growth it tends to become cumulative. Sociologist Linton called culture 'the social heritage' of man. It becomes difficult for us to imagine what society would be like without culture.

e.    Culture varies from society to society

Every society has a culture of its own. It differs from society to society. Culture of every society is unique to itself. Cultures are not uniform. Cultural elements like customs, traditions, morale, values, beliefs are not uniform everywhere. Culture varies from time to time also.

f.     Culture is dynamic

No culture ever remains constant or changeless. It is subject to slow but constant change. Culture is responsive to the changing conditions of the physical world. Hence culture is dynamic.[7]

3.    The Function of Culture

Culture has been fulfilling a number of functions which may be divided into two: for the individual and the group

a. Importance to the individual:

(1) Culture distinguishes man from animal.

(2) Culture provides solution for complicated situations.

(3) Culture provides traditional interpretation to certain                              situations.

b. Importance for the group:

(1) Culture keeps social relationship intact.

(2) Culture has given a new vision to the individual.

(3)Culture creates new needs.

4.    Definition of Convention

Convention is a noun means;

a.    A formal meeting of members, representatives, or delegates

b.    An agreement between states, especially one less formal than a treaty[8]

c.    The most widely accepted or established view of what is thought to be proper behaviour, good taste

d.    General agreement on or acceptance of certain practices or attitudes

e.    An accepted rule[9]

B.   What is Cultural Convention?

Cultural convention can be defined as data or data formats that are specific to a language, local dialect, or geographic location. Examples are currency symbols, date formats, calendars, numeric separators, and sort orders.[10]

C.   The Legal Term of Cultural Convention

The European Cultural Convention is an international treaty opened for signature by the Council of Europe in Paris on 19 December 1954. Its signature is one of the conditions for becoming a participating state in the Bologna Process and its European Higher Education Area (EHEA). The term convention is used as a synonym for an international legal treaty.

Cultural Convention is an Interscholastic Association of Southeast Asian Schools (IASAS)event, in which delegates from all six  IASAS schools meet at one designated location in order to celebrate their art.Cultural Convention divides into two: "Art and Music" to which a convention is held in one school, and "Dance, Drama, Technological Theater, and Debate" which meet in another. The music delegation includes choir, strings, band, and pianists. In the past few years, students who specialize in the technological side of theater also go to the convention.Each delegate dealing with debate can receive medals for outstanding speeches. The event usually takes place in the first week of March, and is about four days long.

D.   Literary Convention

1.    Definition of Literature

Most attempted definitions of literature are broad and vague, and it inevitably changes over time.  In fact, the only thing that is certain about defining literature is that the definition will change. Concepts of what is literature change over time as well. Generally, most people have their own ideas of what literature is. When enrolling in a literary course at university, people expect that everything on the reading list will be “literature”.

Etymologically, literature has to do with letters, the written as opposed to the spoken word, though not everything that is written down is literature. There is also general agreement that literature foregrounds language, and uses it in artistic ways.  Terry Eagleton goes some way towards a definition of literature and its relationship to language: “Literature transforms and intensifies ordinary language, deviates systematically from everyday speech”.  Just as architecture is the art form that arises out of the human ability to create buildings, literature is the art form that arises out of the human ability to create language.[11]

Literature is a term used to describe written or spoken material. Broadly speaking, "literature" is used to describe anything from creative writing to more technical or scientific works, but the term is most commonly used to refer to works of the creative imagination, including works of poetry, drama, fiction, and nonfiction. Whatever critical paradigm we use to discuss and analyze literature, there is still an artistic quality to the works. Literature is important to us because it speaks to us, it is universal, and it affects us.[12]

The common definition of literature, particularly for university courses is that it covers the major genres of poetry, drama, and novel/fiction.  The term also implies literary quality and distinction.[13]

2.    The Element of Literature

Generally it refers to the things that make up a work of literature, its component parts, as elements. This list contains such things as:

a.  Plot

Because these stories are passed along by word of mouth, the plot elements are simple but unchanging. In all fairy tales, good and beauty always win out over evil and ugliness. As in the case of Snow White, the Evil Step Mother is said to be beautiful on the outside but the events of the story tell us she is ugly on the inside. Snow White, who is beautiful inside and out, is the victor in this story.

b.  Character

As with themes, characters are simple. Stars of traditional literature are not nuanced characters with complicated personalities. Instead, they are more likely one-dimensional, either good or evil -- polar opposites so choices between them are clear to children and grown-ups alike. With simple opposites, listeners and readers should be able to relate to a character and hope to emulate a good character.

c.   Setting

Traditional literature is set in an ambiguous or indeterminate time and place. Because the themes and characters of these stories should have universal appeal, the setting is left vague in order to make it easier to for people to relate. Using a specific setting could potentially alienate a reader.

d.  Theme

      Oral stories have simple themes, like good vs. evil, weak vs. strong, or beauty vs. ugliness. The polarization of opposites serves to highlight each and draw attention to their qualities. These opposite characteristics are often pitted against each other in a battle for power, respect or love. The theme will guide the plot elements of the story.[14]

3.    The Function of Literature

                   The main functions of literature are to entertain and give pleasure to the reader, and to heighten his awareness of certain aspects of life. Besides giving pleasure or entertaining or moving the readers, literature is supposed to have other functions as well. One important function is to heighten the awareness of the reader to certain aspects of life.[15]

4.    What is Literary Convention?

Literary convention is a customary feature of a literary work, such as the use of a chorus in Greek tragedy, the inclusion of an explicit moral in a fable, or the use of a particular rhyme scheme in a villanelle. Literary conventions are defining features of particular literary genres, such as novel, short story, ballad, sonnet, and play.[16]

Literary convention can also defined as a practice or device which is accepted as a necessary, useful, or given feature of a genre, e.g., the proscenium stage (the "picture-frame" stage of most theaters), a soliloquy, the epithet or boast in the epic. Literary conventions are defining features of particular literary genres, such as novel, short story, ballad, sonnet, and drama.

                                              

                                               CONCLUSION

Culture refers to the pattern of human activity and the symbols that give significance to these activities. Culture manifests itself in terms of the art, literature, costumes, customs, language, religion and religious rituals. The people and their pattern of life make up the culture of a region.A gradual change is characteristic to almost every culture. Cultures are subject to change. Culture loses some of its traits and gains new ones. Itis our moral responsibility to understand our culture. There is a need to study our cultural values and ideals, which have been shaping our society. It is necessary to have respect and pride for our culture.

Literature means the production of written works having excellence of form or expression. The function of literature is to entertain, to educate, to memorialize actual or fictional events. To leave records of people,places and things and to keep the language intact. Actually we can conclude that there is a relationship between culture and literature.Literature is the form of culture. It happens in social context as the part of cultural which concern on tradition, convention, norm, genre, symbol, and myth. Literature is part of the culture created by human being in the society. Both of them are important to our life.

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[1]Kroeber, A.L., & Kluckhohn, C. Culture: A critical review of concepts and definitions.            (USA:Harvard University Peabody Museum of American Archeology and Ethnology,              1952). P.47

[2]Banks, J.A., Banks, & McGee, C. AMulticultural education. (Needham Heights, MA: Allyn &                Bacon.1989).P. 67

[3]Linton, R. The Cultural Background of Personality.(New York: 1945) p. 32

[4]http://www.uwec.edu/bonstemj/intro/spring04/Culture.Structure_files/v3_document.htm, accessed on Saturday, October 20, 2012 at 11 a.m.

[5]Cambridge Advance’s Learner Dictionary, 3^rded.

[6]Concise Oxford Dictionary, 9^thed.  

[7]http://www.preservearticles.com/201101173455/characteristics-of-culture.html, accessed on     Saturday October 20, 2012 at 11 a.m.

[8]Oxford Dictionary, 9^thed.

[9]HoughtonMifflin. The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4^th ed.         (USA:      Houghton Mifflin Company. 2009)

[10]http://www.termwiki.com/EN:cultural_convention written by Jean S. and accessed on Friday        October, 19^th 2012 at 9 p.m.

[11] Terry Eagleton.  Literary Theory: An Introduction.  (Oxford: Blackwell Publishers Inc., 1996). P. 37

[12]http://classiclit.about.com/od/literaryterms/g/aa_whatisliter.htm, accessed on Saturday,               October 20, 2012 at 7 a.m.

[13]Paul Hernadi.  What is Literature? (Bloomington & London, Indiana University Press, 1978). P. 66

[14]http://www.ehow.com/info_8171713_characteristics-traditional-literature.html, accessed on      Saturday, October 20, 2012 at 9 a.m.

[15]http://neoenglish.wordpress.com/2010/12/16/the-functions-of-literature/, accessed on               Saturday, October 20, 2012 at 8 a.m.

[16]http://highered.mcgraw-hill.com/sites/0072405228/student_view0/fiction_glossary.html,            accessed on Monday, October 21, 2012 at 7 a.m.