Purposes, Values and

Benefits of Teaching
Literature - Literature as a
Significant Human
Experience
"Literature is a faithful reproduction of life,
executed in an artistic pattern. It is the
orchestration of the manifold but elemental
experiences of man blended into harmonious and
desired patterns of expression."

- by Del Castillo and Medina (1964) in their

book "Philippine Literature from Ancient
Times to the Present"
Lynch-Brown and Tomlinson (2005) in
their book "Essentials of Children's
Literature" recognized that reading
literature will gain personal and academic
value for our learners.
 Personal Value Academic Value
• Enjoyment • Improving Reading Skills
• Developing Writing Voice and
• Imagination and Inspiration
Style
• Learning Content-Area
• Vicarious Experience
Knowledge
• Understanding and Empathy • Promoting Art Appreciation
• Cultural Heritage
• Moral Reasoning
• Literary and Artistic Preferences
Parkinson and Thomas (2000) in Sell (2005) has listed
benefits of teaching literature in the language classroom as
collected from various authors and research studies.

1. Cultural Enrichment - promote cultural understanding

and awareness
2. Linguistic Model - provide examples of good writing,
linguistic diversity, expressive ranges
3. Mental Training - train the mind and sensibility
4. Extension of Linguistic Competence - stretch the competencies
of learners who have mastered the linguistic rudiments
5. Authenticity - literature is a genuine linguistic material to be
studied and read
6. Memorability - can be a memorized archive of linguistic usage
7. Rhythmic Resources - assimilates the rhythm of language
8. Motivating Material - engage with and motivate a learner to
deal with subjects and themes of interest to the learner.
9. Open to Interpretation - serve as a basis for "genuine
interaction" between learners
10. Convenience - literature is a handy resources
• The list can be summarized in three purposes and benefits of
studying and learning literature: language acquisition,
cultural competence, and real-life issues and experiences.

• It can be deduced that teaching literature will give learners an

opportunity to enhance their language competence by
identifying correct linguistic patterns and structures from these
texts.
• These texts can also be a representative of a particular race or
group which students can gain insight vicariously about such
culture.
• Lastly, these literatures can communicate to the learners and to
everyone else how life can be relatable, relevant, inspiring through
the real-life depiction of existing personal and social issues.

• Studying literature therefore is worthwhile and beneficial- for

young and old, rich and poor, men and women, to the
disadvantaged, oppressed and vulnerable. Literature is inclusive
for all as it showcases significant human experiences for
everyone.