On the whole, literature is a type of entertainment, and its forms were created for the reader to enjoy. Entertainment and escapism is one of its main functions, and this could be the reason that many works of fiction can, at first, be related to real life, but then rapidly change. This is demonstrated in violent thrillers, romance novels full of deceit and betrayal, or stories of other dimensions and magic. The tales of ‘Narnia’ by C.S Lewis, tell the story of children who find a route through a wardrobe into another world and have dramatic adventures there. It does however, begin with the real life setting of evacuees during the Second World War. Entertainment is the reason so much money is spent at the cinema each year. Films are another aspect of literature, one which takes this distraction a step further by providing the imagery that is only described in a novel. This escape from fact into a fictional world created by the writer is an opportunity for diversion for the reader and this is an important func

Literature also has an important role in giving the reader hope. It can be used to get them through difficult times by letting the reader relate to the protagonist of the story. These books often seem to be written by an author who is using the book as a way of telling their own account of an event. ‘Tiger Eyes’ by Judy Blume and ‘Bitter Fruit’ by Brian Keaney both deal with young teenage girls whose father’s have died. It shows how this has affected them and could help people going through this with dealing with the guilt and grief involved. ‘A Different Life’ by Lois Keith, is about a teenager who mysteriously becomes paralysed from the waist down. These difficult subjects are all touchingly presented, and give an insight into an event that some people may not have thought about.

As education is an important function of literature, it is apparent that literature’s primary function is for it to be a medium with which the author can put across a belief or an observation that he or she feels needs to be made, or to inform the reader and inspire them into wanting change. In "What is Literature?" by Jean-Paul Sartre, he challenges anyone who thinks literature can be seen as separate from history or society, as this is a major characteristic of literature; to reflect the author’s opinions of culture and it’s past. The areas of life commented upon are as varied as politics, war, and show business or lifestyle. Wei Hui, authoress of ‘Shanghai Baby’, has said, “I was looking for a voice of my generation…the gap that dives us and the older generation has never been so wide”. This book, banned in China, tells the story of a young w

Some topics in this essay:
War Entertainment, Karl Marx, , Rudyard Kipling’s, Matt Beaumont, Harper Lee, Jean-Paul Sartre, Wei Hui, Lois Keith, George Orwell, function literature, aspect literature, real life, non-fiction books,