Fathu Rahman, Sukardi Weda
Literature has a high status in a civilized community. Appreciation of literary works as cultural product is a must. This is because, literature in its various genres, presents social messages which hopefully bears tolerance and harmony in countries inhibited by different ethnic groups. This study aims to explore students' perceptions in appreciating English literary works through critical command in the English Department at two universities in Indonesia; Hasanuddin University and Universitas Negeri Makassar. The subjects of this study were the students of the Department of English and Literature, Faculty of Cultural Sciences at Hasanuddin University and students of the Department of English Literature Study Program, Faculty of Languages and Literature Universitas Negeri Makassar. A total of 54 subjects (13 male and female 41) participated in the study ranging from 18 - ≥ 30 in ages. The data collection method used was a questionnaire in which the subjects were asked to rate their perceptions, on order to test students' perceptions in appreciating English literary works. The responses were given on a 5-point scale to indicate how much he or she agreed or disagreed with each proposition by selecting (circling) one of the following: Strongly disagree (1), Disagree (2), Neither agree nor disagree (3), Agree (4), and Strongly agree (5). The results of the study revealed that the students of English Department of Hasanuddin University and State University of Makassar strongly agree that English literary works in various genres present social values and could become a cornerstone of harmony and tolerance development. © 2018 Asian E F L Journal Press. All rights reserved.
English Department, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Hasanuddin University, Indonesia; Faculty of Languages and Literature, Universitas Negeri Makassar, Indonesia
