Textbooks are the core materials for students to study and read . There are three functions of a textbook :first , it is for students to read;second , it is for students to consult , and third , it is for instructors to refer to . Considering the abundant western literary works of the 20th century , the literary history is the core element , which contributes to the choice and study of the most valuable literary works . In order to develop a good textbook on the western literature history of the 20th century , it is important to challenge the traditional concept that the textbook is only for instructors to teach and for students to study . Instead , a textbook of the history of literature is not only the teaching guide for instructors but also a guiding book for scholarly study and exploration .