WORLD LITERATURE
LESSON 1
Literature is humanity talking to itself
-Norman Rush
A Performance in Words
-Robert Frost
Writings which Interpret the Meanings of Nature and Life
-Henry Van Dyke
Literature is life which presents human experience
-Arsenia Tan of University of Santo Tomas
Literature is an art of discovering something extraordinary about ordinary people, and saying with ordinary
words something extraordinary
-BORIS PASTERNAK
Meaning and Definition of Literature
● The word “literature” has different meanings depending on who is using it. There are different
definitions given to literature by different writers.
● Taken from Oxford English Dictionary: Literature is literally “acquaintance with letters” (from the
Latin littera meaning letter); Its Latin root “literatura/litteratura” (from littera: letter of the alphabet or
handwriting) was used to refer to all written accounts. Developments in print technology have allowed
an ever-growing distribution and proliferation of written works, which now includes electronic
literature.
● Literature broadly refers to any collection of written or oral work, but more commonly and narrowly
refers to writings specifically considered to be an art form, especially prose fiction, drama, and poetry,
in contrast to academic writing and newspapers. In recent centuries, the definition has expanded to
now include oral literature, much of which has been transcribed.
Importance of Literature
● This helps us understand what life is by reflecting our own life with others.
● Teaches us ( most especially the students), to be mature in dealing with life, or simply the art of living.
● Introduces us to the world of experience.
Qualities of Good Literature
Universality
-It appeals to everyone regardless of culture, race, sex, and time which are considered significant.
-a great literature is timeless and timely
Artistry
-It has an aesthetic appeal to everyone and thus possesses a sense of beauty. Artistry describes literature that is
aesthetically appealing and reveals or conveys hidden truth and beauty.
-a quality that appeals the sense of beauty.
Intellectual Value
-It stimulates critical thinking that enriches the mental processes of abstract and reasoning, making man
realizes the fundamental truths of life and its nature.
Suggestiveness
-It unravels and conjures man’s emotional power to define symbolism, nuances, implied meanings, images and
message, giving and evoking visions above and beyond the plane of ordinary life and experiences.
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Spiritual Value
-It elevates the spirit and the soul and thus have the power to motivate and inspire, drawn from the suggested
morals or lessons of the different literary genres.
-It is associated with emotional power of literature, such that it should move us deeply and stir our creative
imagination, giving and evoking visions above and beyond the ordinary life
Permanence
-It endures across time and draws out the time factor: TIMELINESS, occurring at a particular time, and
TIMELESSNESS, remaining invariably throughout time.
-a great literature endures. It can be read again and again as each reading gives fresh delight and new insights
Style
-It refers to the distinct way the author expresses his or her thoughts. Words can be used in unique, creative
and entertaining ways that make the work memorable. Style is another element that is subject to interpretation
by readers in terms of its appeal.
Forms of Literature
POEM/POETRY- It is a composition usually written in verse. It relies heavily on imagery, precise word choice,
and metaphor, they may have measures (metric feet) consisting of patterns, and may or may not utilize rhyme
like in free writing or free verse.
PROSE- consists of writing that does not adhere to any particular formal structures (other than simple
grammar). It is spoken or written language with or without metrical structure as distinguished from poetry or
verse.
Kinds of Poetry
A. NARRATIVE POETRY- tells a story in verse
Epic
-retells in a continuous narrative the life and works of a heroic or mythological person or group of persons. It
is considered as the oldest form of literature. Ex. Iliad and Odyssey, Biag ni Lam-ang
-A long narrative poem of the largest proportions that tells the life story of a hero (biag ni lam-ang by pedro
bukaneg)
Ballad
- a songlike poem that tells a story, often one dealing with adventure or romance. Ex. Lord Randall, Mary
Hamilton
- A simplest type of narrative stories about romance and adventures of man
Metrical Tale
-a narrative poem that relates to real or imaginary events in simple, straightforward language, from a wide
range of subjects, characters, life experiences, and emotional situations wherein the characters are ordinary
people concerned with ordinary events. Ex. “Canterbury Tales” by Geoffrey Chaucer
- A narrative poem consisting usually of a single series of events that also features realistic events
Metrical Romance
-a long narrative poem that presents remote or imaginative incidents rather than ordinary, realistic experience.
The term romance is originally used to refer to medieval tales of the deeds and loves of noble knights and ladies
Ex. Sir Gawain and the Green Knight and Morte d’ Arthur by Malory
-A narrative poem that tells a story about imaginary incidents. The typical hero is a knight on quest.
B. LYRIC POETRY or LYRIC POEM- expresses the emotions, feelings, and observations of the writer that
presents an experience or a single effect but does not tell a full story.
● Song
-a lyric poem
-A lyric poem in a regular metrical pattern that is intended to be sung
● Sonnet
-a fourteen-line lyric poem focused on a single theme.
● Elegy
-a solemn and formal lyric poem about death. Which may mourn a particular person or reflect on a
serious or tragic theme.
● Ode
-a long, formal lyric poem with a serious theme which often honors people, commemorates events,
responds to natural scenes, or considers serious human problems.
● Simple lyric or lyric
-includes all lyric poems that do not fall under the four other types mentioned above.
C. HAIKU- another kind of poetry which originated in Japan. It is a 700-year-old Japanese verse form. A
three line poem consisting of seventeen syllables (5 syllables of the 1st line, 7 of the 2nd , and 5 of the
final line). It attempts to compress a great amount of meaning in the fewest possible words which is up
to the reader to understand. Most Haiku verses deal with nature.
Lesson 2
KINDS OF PROSE:
The Study of Fiction and Non Fiction
Fiction came from the Latin word fingere which means “to form, create”. This is a prose writing that tells
about imaginary characters and events. Fiction is the product of the imagination of the writer
Kinds of Fiction:
SHORT STORY- a brief prose narrative that can usually be read in one sitting. It contains few characters and a
single plot that revolves around the main character.
NOVEL- consists of a long story written in prose. It has more character with several subplots.
DRAMA- also called as play, it is a narrative prose intended to be played on stage.
FABLE- a brief story usually with animal characters that teaches a lesson or moral.
PARABLE- a short narrative that is at least in part allegorical and illustrates moral or spiritual lesson.
LEGEND- a story that reflects the people’s identity or cultural values, generally with more historical and less
emphasis on the supernatural.
MYTH- a fictional tale, originally with religious significance that explains the action of gods or heroes, the
causes of natural phenomena or both.
FAIRY TALE- a story featuring folkloric characters such as fairies, goblins, elves, trolls, giants, talking
animals, etc. It is a subclass of a folktale which often involves royalty that usually have a happy ending.
The Elements of Fiction:
A. PLOT- the arrangement of events and actions in a story to convey a theme.
● Conventional – the most common type of narrative order in children’s books. Follows start, middle,
and finish.
● Episodic – series of conventional plot in one story. Ex. 13 Reasons Why
● Flashback – occurs when the author narrates an event that took place before the current time of the
story.
PLOT STRUCTURE:
● Exposition - beginning plot that sets the start of the action.
● Rising Action -the primary conflict is introduced (if it hasn’t been already) and is built upon to create
tension both within the story and the reader, who should ideally be feeling more and more drawn to the
text. The conflict may affect one character or multiple characters.
● Climax - the climax is the biggest plot point, which puts our characters in a situation wherein a choice
must be made that will affect the rest of the story.
● Falling Action - This is when the tension has been released and the story begins to wind down. We start
to see the results of the climax and the main characters’ actions and get a sense of what this means for
them and the world they inhabit. How did their choices affect themselves and those around them?
● Resolution or Denoument -This final plot point is when everything has been wrapped up and the new
world—and the new sense of normalcy for the characters—has been established. The conflict from the
climax has been resolved, and all loose ends have been neatly tied up (unless the author is purposely
setting up the story for a sequel!).
● There is a sense of finality and closure here, making the reader feel that there is nothing more they
can learn or gain from the narrative.
● The resolution can be pretty short—sometimes just a paragraph or so—and might even take the
form of an epilogue, which generally takes place a while after the main action and plot of the story.
● Be careful not to conflate "resolution" with "happy ending"—resolutions can be tragic and entirely
unexpected, too!
THREE COMMON CONFLICTS:
● Man vs. man - the major character in the story has a problem with one or more characters.
● Man vs. environment - the character has a problem or in conflict with natural calamities.
● Man vs. himself - the character has a problem in deciding how to act in a given situation or scenario.
B. CHARACTERS- a person, a figure, an inanimate object, or animal that drives the story forward.
Protagonist- the principal figure around whom a story revolves
Antagonist- the principal opponent or foil of the protagonist
● Protagonist –main character of the story.
● Antagonist – a foil to the protagonist.
● Static Character – a character who does not change characterization but is not easy to identify
● Round Character - character who is recognized one or two changes in the circumstances.
● Flat Character - also known as the stock or the stereotype character who does not grow and develop.
● Dynamic – a character who undergo major changes in the story
C. SETTING- the location and time frame in which the action of a narrative takes place.
D. POINT OF VIEW- the “eye” or narrative voice through which you tell a story. (first person, second
person, third person, omniscient narrator)
● First Person I, me, mine, we, us, our(s) – view only one characters’ consciousness. The
narrator is a character in the story.
● Second Person You, Your, Yours – Is used to interact with the reader.
● Third Person he, him, his, her(s), she; they, them, theirs
● Omniscient- When a narrator has knowledge about all the characters in a narrative, it is an
omniscient, or all-knowing, point of view
E. THEME- is what the literary piece is about or its message.
F. DICTION, IMAGE, AND SYMBOL- clarify the unique contribution that the designs of language in
fiction make.
Diction is the choice of a word. Image is the expression of sensed experience that makes
communication possible. Symbol is a representation of something.
B. NON FICTION
A prose writing that presents and explains ideas or tells about real people, places, objects, or events.
Kinds of Non Fiction:
AUTOBIOGRAPHY- it came from the Greek words auton-self, bios-life, and graphein-write. It is a biography
written by the author about himself/herself.
BIOGRAPHY- it came from the Greek word bios-life and graphein-write. It is a written account of individuals
life.
ESSAY- the most common form of literature which consists of paragraphs and main idea. It is derived from
French word essai which means attempt. It is a short work of writing that treat’s a topic from an author’s point
of view. The Father of Essay is Michel de Montaigne.
DIARY OR JOURNAL- a book for writing discrete entries arranged by date reporting on what has happened
over the course of a day or other periods.
POETRY
The Elements of Poetry
Poetry is a composition usually written in verse. It relies heavily on imagery, precise word choice, and
metaphor, they may have measures (metric feet) consisting of patterns, and may or may not utilize rhyme like
in free writing or free verse.
A. SOUND
Poems use rhyme, rhythm, and repetition to create special sound effects.
RHYME- the regular recurrence of similar sounds usually at the end of lines. Ex. TREES
I think that I shall never see,
A poem as lovely as a tree;
A tree whose hungry mouth is rest,
Against the earth’s sweet flowing breast;
RHYTHM- the recurrence of pattern of sound, It is the result of systemically stressing or accenting words and
syllables.
Example: This is chanted while children jump rope:
Along came the doctor!
Along came the nurse!
Along came the lady
With the big fat purse!
METER- the measure which we count the beat of rhythm. It came from the Greek word “metron” which
means “to measure.”
REPETITION- the repeated use of a sound, word, phrase, sentence, rhythmical pattern or grammatical
pattern. There are different forms of repetition.
ALLITERATION- the repetition of initial consonant sounds.
Ex. “He clasps the crag with crooked hands.”
B. CONSONANCE- the repetition of internal consonant sounds.
Ex. “The spotted kitten slept quietly on matted mattress fur.”
C. ASSONANCE- the repetition of vowel sounds.
Ex. “Do not go gentle into that good night.”
D. PARALLELISM- the repetition of grammatical patterns.
Ex. Withered vine,
Rotten tree,
Dark crow,
Little bridge,
Running stream,
Homestead,
Worn-out road,
Western wind,
Lean horse,
The sun is setting in the west;
The broken hearted man is at the end of the earth.
--Ma Chi Yuan
E. ONOMATOPOEIA- words that sound like what they mean.
Ex.“Bang!” to the sound of gun.
“Tic, tac,” of the clock
“Splash” of the water
B. FIGURES OF SPEECH
Figure of speech is an utterance not in its literal meaning but in its implication. The following are reasons why
speakers, conversationalists, and writers use figures of speech:
● It makes language more colorful and interesting.
● It gives more effect to the listener or to the reader.
● It gives more vivid and concrete description.
THE MOST COMMONLY USED FIGURES OF SPEECH:
SIMILE- a stated comparison between two things that are really very different, but share some common
element, It is introduced by like, as, as if, than, similar to, resemble, etc.
Ex. A. A poem as lovely as a tree.
B. “the little star like a diamond in the sky”
C. His mind is like a sponge.
METAPHOR- a suggested or implied comparison between two unlike things without the use of words like as,
as if, or like.
Ex. A. Character is a diamond that scratches every other stone.
B. You are my angel.
C. “She is the apple of his eyes.”
PERSONIFICATION- gives human qualities or attributes to an object, an animal, or an idea.
Ex. A. Only the moon was the witness in the incident.
B. The volcano is very angry.
C. Time had fallen asleep in the afternoon sunshine.
METONYMY- consists of the substitution of the literal noun for another which it suggests because it is
somehow associated with it.
Ex. A. Lend me your ears. (listen)
B. I give you my heart. (love)
C. Malacañang announced a non-working holiday. (the president)
HYPERBOLE- a deliberate overstatement or exaggeration not to deceive, but to emphasize a statement.
Ex. A. She cried a river.
B. He almost died laughing.
C. I will love you until China at Africa meets.
IRONY- a statement of one idea, the opposite of which is meant.
Ex. A. We’ve had a lovely devastating earthquake
B. It is great that a fire station burns down.
OXYMORON- combination of contradicting words to produce a striking effect.
Ex. A. I am loving hate.
B. Less is more.
C. Sound of silence.
APOSTROPHE- a direct address to an inanimate object, a dead person (as if present), or an idea.
Ex. A. O Death! Where is thy sting?
B. Car, please get me to work today.
C. Dear love, please don't shoot me with your Cupid's bow.
