Abstract

This paper addresses the issues related to learners' attitudes towards studying literature, their positive as well as negative views about literature. The paper also investigates why learners do not have the interest to study literature and why they find literature to be a difficult arena when they are majoring in English. In this paper, the investigators have tried to address some basic reasons for students' loss of interest in studying literature. The investigators have also discussed some factors that affect students' lack of motivation to study literature, why they think that literature is difficult and why they also see majoring in literature will ultimately be of no use. The study was conducted on 33 female students of levels 7 and 8 of the B.A. program (English) at a university in Saudi Arabia. They were asked to answer a questionnaire comprising five questions about their attitude towards literature and if they find literature to be helpful in learning the English language. It was found that some learners found literature to be helpful in their language acquisition, while others found it difficult to study and understand literature. Some learners showed a positive attitude towards studying literature while most found it not to be useful in the latter part of their lives. However, both types of learners could not deny the importance of literature as a source for language development.