Exploring the

Origins of Literature

MEI-2304 Teaching English Through Literature

Prof. Jonathan Acuña
Senior ELT Professor
Universidad Latina
 Exploring the Origins of Literature

• How long ago did Literature originate?

• Why was it created?

• How much do you

know about the
Epic of Gilgamesh?

Circa 3000 BC
 Exploring the Origins of Literature

• What are the Vedas or Sanskrit literature?

• What kind of information can we get out of
the Vedas?
• Is it similar to
Greek Literature?

Circa 1500 BC
 Exploring the Origins of Literature

• When was the Torah or Old

Testament written?
• How about Homer’s writings
such as the Iliad and the
Odyssey?
• How original are both pieces of
writing?
• What information do both of
them convey to the reader?
 Exploring the Origins of Literature

• Should literary pieces be written to be

labeled as literature?
• Which of the following was not written until
later on in history?
– Greek theater
– The Bible
– The Iliad
– Beowulf
 Exploring the Origins of Literature

• What about the Popol Vuh?

Can it be considered
literature?
• How much do you know about
the literature produced by our
local indigenous populations?
 Exploring the Origins of Literature

• What do all kinds of literature have in

common?
• Why were they ever produced? For
entertainment? To educate others? What
else?
• How comfortable do you feel having to
deal with literature?