LITERARY VERSION OF ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND CHOOSING ITS TEACHING BALANCE

This  article  provides  a  review  of  ideas  and  research  regarding  the  role  of literature  in  the  EFL  university  classroom.  After  a  brief  historical  overview  of  the question of using literature in the language classroom, the article discusses the reasons for the demise and resurrection of literature as an input for language classes. Right after that, the article deals with advantages and drawbacks of using literary texts as language tools by means of drawing on recent ideas on language teaching practice and theories. Finally,  in  a  practical  move,  this  paper  depicts  the  past  and  current  approaches  to teaching literature in language teaching classes.