Functions of Literature

Literature has three basic functions:

i. To Inform: Literature gives information to the reader about his societyThe term society is derived from the Latin word 'socius' meaning friendship or companionship. Society is a community, nation or group of people who share the same traditions, institutions, rules and... More. It heightens his awareness of the values of his society.

ii. To Educate: Literature gives knowledge in different spheres of human life; culture, religion, politics, etc. As a school subject, it contributes significantly to students’ development and knowledge.

iii. To Entertain: Literature is for pleasure and does not have to be for any other purpose. The literacy use of language gives relief and excitement to readers as it makes them laugh.

Apart from these three basic functions, there are other functions of literature which cannot all be discussed here. In addition to these are:

a. Development of Thought Process: The reading, understanding and appraisal of a literary work in terms of subject matterThe topic dealt with or the subject represented in a debate, exposition, or work of art. More, plot, theme, setting, characterization, narrative techniques etc., gives room for a process of thought development as readers tend to understand literary works from their perspectives to agree or disagree with the views of the author.

b. Preservation of Culture: The main stakeholder in the preservation of culture is the society. Literature is the product of the society. As it mirrors the society in writing it automatically preserves the cultural heritage in writing. Thus, Literature survives the test of time.

c. Vocabulary Development: Literature allows for the vocabulary development of readers, especially students.

In the process of reading, readers come across new words and try to understand such words in the content of usage.