World Literature - Hebrew Literature

Hebrew literature is one of the most influential literatures to date because of its religious significance. Christians and Jew alike follow the teachings of Old Testaments and even the Bible maintains its place as the best seller among books.

The Bible is a rich library of literature ranging from history, short story, poetry, proverb and prophecy. Most of us know the narrative stories of Noah, Abraham, Jacob, Joseph, Moses and among others for we have seen their stories translated into films and documentaries. The books of Ruth and Esther have the artistry of a short story and novelette while the highly metaphorical quality of the poetry of the Psalms and the Song of Solomon are full of imagery and balance of phrasing. The Book of Proverbs gives us the wisdom for our daily guidance. The rhythm of Hebrew literature is mainly more on repetition and balance rather than accents and rhymes. This is the reason why its poetry is more appreciated by the masses because of its free verse structure.

Indeed, we cannot deny the fact that Hebrew literature has a significant influence not only on our lives but on our modern literature as well.

World Literature - Spanish Literatures

The Spaniard is strongly emotional. Witness his intense fondness for discussion, his party spirit, his craving for the excitement of the bullfight and the lottery, his occasional acts of violence. He is patriotic, and loves both his country and his own district. He has a sense of personal pride which gives an impression of arrogance.

Spanish literature displays a noble strain and a passionate and eager spirit. The very language, thoughts, and feelings show the romantic impulses, and the heroic chapters in its history reveal the stuff of which it is made. The land of Cervantes is a land of humor and cheerfulness. Chivalry was pre-eminently a Spanish product, and chivalrous traits still prevail in the Spanish character. Unquestioned obedience and faith in matters of religion are almost universal. The intellectual genius of Spain is slighter than that of either Italy or France. Frequently she has gained much from her contact with other people: from the Moslems, especially during the period from the twelfth to the fourteenth century, when scientific and philosophic studies among the Moors were at their height and when the Greek and oriental classics were being explored by them; from the Italians particularly during Renaissance period; and from the French at frequent stages in Spain’s intellectual career. Yet it must not be supposed that Spain lacks originality or that her total achievement in literature is inconsiderable. She has produced in

World literature - Greek Literatures

Greek Literature is not only the oldest in Europe; it is also the most original and spontaneous. It has the highest intrinsic significance and it is extremely important as a determining factor in shaping the course of Roman literature. It has also fixed most of the literary types in modern times. Directly or indirectly, therefore, it is the source and origin of much of our modern culture. It is not surprising that in the minds of many people cultivated Greek literature, Greek art, and the Greek view of life constitute our most precious human heritage.

The Iliad and Odyssey, the greatest of the world’s epic poems, were cast into their present form in Ionia, Asia Minor, by the end of the eight century B.C. They are ascribed to Homer and may indeed have been composed by him, or at least by one man, though there are some indications of composite authorship. They represent the culmination and perfection of a long development of epic poetry, the earlier stages of which are lost. Matthew Arnold described the Homeric poems as rapid in style, plain in thought and diction, and noble in action. The Iliad deals with the events leading to the final defeat of the Trojans by the Greeks. The Odyssey is a sort of sequel, narrating the adventures of Odysseus (Ulysses) on his return from Troy to his own kingdom, the island of Ithaca. The historical basis of these epics is very likely some struggle that took place between the Greeks and the earlier Phrygian inhabitants of the coast of Asia Minor.

World Literature - Japanese Literatures

Japanese literature is simply unique in its own way and is considered as one of the major Oriental literatures. In some cases, it bears a certain similarity to Chinese literature, nonetheless, both have paved their way and each have marked their own individuality in the field of literature.

Japanese literature, to be precise, their poetry, has been outstandingly known for its explicit beauty and conciseness. You probably have heard of the tankas and the haikus. Tankas does not follow the rhythmic devices of alliteration and accent common to English Poetry. Haiku, on the other hand, is a later development which is even more abbreviated. This unique structure gives the beauty in each poem regardless of its shortness. In both poems, there is the element of surprise, wonder, awe and delight.

Japanese literature is also known for its drama. Their drama has the aristocrat feel to it accompanied by music, dance and extravagant costumes. You may have come across the terms such as Kabuki and Joruri. These are the most common form of entertainment in Japan and are still being performed up to present days. Kabuki deals mainly with mythical subjects while Joruri is performed primarily with lifelike size puppets.

World Literature - American Literatures

Before America became a nation, all the great history types except one were already in existence. In poetry they were the epic, the lyric, and the drama. In prose there were the drama; biography, the novel and the essay.

The short-story is the one contribution that America has made to the literary family. The novel, the older big brother of the short-story, had taken shape in England during the eighteenth century. About a hundred years later the short-story took shape in America.

Irving was the first important story-writer in America. His stories have an unhurried development as compared with those of Poe and Hawthorne. But  Irving’s power of description and of drawing lifelike characters, together with his great gift of humor, keep his work fresh and attractive. A masterpiece I the field of short fiction is “Rip Van Winkle’.

World Literature - Indian Literatures

Indian Literature revolves around mainly on the Aryan, or Indo-European civilization. The Aryans has been into India about two thousand years before Christ. Mainly, their literature involves the beginnings of the Aryan speech, discloses a wealth of material, and gives a glimpse of the early Aryans, their ideas and perceptions about life. The Vedic and Sanskrit were the ancient languages of India.

Indian literature is divided into three periods namely Vedic, Sectarian and Sanskrit. The Vedic period arises from 1500 to 1000 BC, but persisting for several subsequent centuries. The Sectarian period has been dated from the time of Buddha. And the Sanskrit period, overlapped the Vedic period and extended to a period some centuries after Christ. The literature in general has a significant role on their religion and philosophy. As Confucious was a great figure in China, so Buddha was the symbolic figure of India.

The Sanskrit literature was for the most part nonreligious. Some of the works under this period were mainly epics, fables, dramas, and lyric poetry. The two most well-known epics are the Mahabharata which is considerably lengthy than that of the Illiad and Odyssey combined, and the other one is the Ramayana, both coming from the period before Christ.

World Literature - Scandinavian Literatures

Ethnologists tell us that the people of Scandinavian countries represent today the purest strain of the ancient race which settled in Europe so many centuries ago and which has affected so profoundly the thought and civilization of the whole world. Let us remember also that Northern Europe produce great literature as much as a thousand years ago, and that their successors have in our own day made significant contributions to European letters.

Speaking now of the literature, the Eddas and sagas of Iceland demand first attention that a people so small and so scattered, in such untoward circumstances of life and at so early a point in the culture of the North, could produce literature of this order seems amazing to us. This literature is the treasure house of the ancient myths, legends, and traditions of the Northern people.

The two great figures in modern Scandinavian literature are Hans Christian Andersen and Henrick Ibsen. They have taken a sure place in European letters. The contrast between the two is very great.