Polycultural Area of a Literary Text

Abstract

This article brings up the issue of polyculturalism in the literary text. The term ‘polyculturalism’ is understood in the light of multilateral and multifunctional dimensions. The literary text contributes to better understanding of a particular nation, its culture, mentality and way of being in general. Special attention is given to the linguistic aspect of a literary work in the foreign language classes. The article provides the examples of both oral and written language activities. Dietrich Krusche is a literary scholar who distinguished four functions of the literary text in the foreign language classes: a) literary text as an exemplification of a linguistic problem; 2) literary text as a factor allowing for drilling and expanding on vocabulary; 3) literary text as a prerequisite for overcoming language barriers (creative and funny tasks); 4) literary text as a material allowing for introducing the relaxation stage during the foreign language classes.