We often think of literature as if it, by virtue of being literature, has a natural value. but have you paused to wonder as to why we think about literature in such a way? Created for students and popular audiences, this course will help you understand the nature of your own value system about literature and the literary. Here are some of the things you will learn:

• Why is literature literature?

• Does literature have intrinsic literariness?

• How are your views of literature formed?

• What kind of different ways are there for assigning value to literature.

Most of my courses are designed for an academic as well as a public audience, so even if you are not a student of literature, you will find this course highly useful in understanding the place of literature in our lives. Most importantly, you will learn as to how we academics and scholars lay so much emphasis on study and teaching of literature and how sometimes defending the literary canon becomes synonymous with defending a particular culture and civilization.

Besides the video lectures, the course includes textual resources, links to longer and more detailed videos, and links to the resources on my website. I am also open to any suggestions that you might have and would incorporate them as and when I revise this course. So, please feel free to reach out to me through the course messaging system with your questions, queries, and suggestions.

Thank you so much for taking this course and supporting my efforts: I wish you a happy learning experience!