Abstract
D.Litt. et Phil. (Applied Linguistics & Literary Theory)
In this thesis I wish to state the case for, and argue the merits of, the teaching of literature as
an independent subject, in standards 6 to 10, in South African high schools. I shall therefore
discuss the relevant sections of the Department of Education and Culture Core Syllabi for
English Second Language and for English First Language Higher Grade for Standards 8, 9 and
10. These are the syllabi on which all present departments of education base their teaching and
prescription of set works and the core syllabi also represent (being for the senior standards and
the Higher Grade) the highest requirements set for English Second Language and for English
2First Language in South Africa. I shall also briefly discuss the Province of Cape of Good Hope
Core Syllabus for English Literature, Standard Grade, Standards 8, 9, & 10 and the Province
of Cape of Good Hope Kernsillabus vir Afrikaanse Letterkunde Standaardgraad, Standerds 8-
10. (While this thesis argues mainly from the point of view of English Second Language, the
Kernsillabus vir Afrikaanse Letterkunde is included, because, at the moment, it is one of the
only two literature syllabi available in South Africa.) From these syllabi I shall extract the
present philosophy underlying the teaching of literature, and proceed to various purposes that
can be served by literature as subject and I shall propose aims, learning content, prescribed
material, methodology and testing methods for such teaching, because I believe that literature
is enriching and: "Enrichment programs should be an organic part of the formal curriculum, not
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optional extramural activities" (Mphahlele, 1990: 46).