FM-AA-CIA-15 Rev.
0 10-July-2020
Study Guide in (LIT 1: Society and Literature) Module No. 1
STUDY GUIDE FOR MODULE NO. 1
OVERVIEW OF LITERATURE
MODULE OVERVIEW
Literature is a big part of the society. With this being said, this course, Society and Literature will
enlighten the students to dig deeper on the literature in the Philippine context. Due to the fact that we were
colonize by different countries, we have been attached to the different beliefs and perspectives from the
colonizers that sometimes, the Philippine culture and traditions are slowly being forgotten. This will serve as a
realization and an eye-opener on the relevance of literature to the Philippine culture.
Philippine literature reflects the social issues that the society is facing. Thus, in this course, you will
analyze different literary texts using different approaches to literary criticism to get the deeper meaning and to
see literary pieces in different angles and perspective. Learning literature will not be completed at reading and
analysing but in writing a literary piece with the use of one’s creative mind.
Literature has been introduced in the primary and secondary education. So, in this course, some
information will serve as a review. However, you will encounter different approaches that will help you analyze
different literary texts. Later on, you will realize that some literary pieces are old but relevant in today’s era.
MODULE LEARNING OBJECTIVES
At the end of the module, the students are able to:
1. Identify the relevance of literature to the society.
2. Develop a sense of connectivity with social realities and literature.
3. Construct an academic paper which deals on the critiquing and discussion of the relevance of a
literary text to the society.
LEARNING CONTENTS (LITERATURE)
1.1. Literature
In your previous literature classes in high school, literature has been defined literally as an oral or
written works in prose or verse. Indeed, it is a group of words organize to make a sense out of it may it be
in literal or figurative form.
In deeper sense, literature has been defined figuratively by different authors/ writers. One of those is
Roger Don Cerda who defined literature as:
“Literature liberates people from political oppression, social injustice, economic inequality, and
emotional inhibition as reflected in short stories, novels, dramas, essays, and other literary genres.”
This implies that literature is one of the tools to inform people about the social issues depriving one’s
right. Through the literary pieces that we read and analyze, we develop connection on the social realities.
Another definition of literature by Amador Daguio goes:
“It is the beautiful expression of man’s personal interpretation of some aspect of human life, or a
wording out in a unique, beautiful, and personal manner saying what an author thinks is a passionate
meaning of life. This is saying that literature not only becomes but is “life itself.”
Literature does not only reflects situations in the society, but with the fact that it shares emotions,
feelings and opens the mind of readers into a better perspective, it becomes a life, not just a reflection.
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Study Guide in (LIT 1: Society and Literature) Module No. 1
1. 2. What is the Importance of Studying Literature?
Mostly, we take literature for granted saying it is not important to one’s life. However, that is where
some people are wrong. Literature is essential to humankind. The following are some of the importance of
studying literature:
1. Literature helps us grow both personally and intellectually.
2. Literature links us with the world which we are a part.
3. Literature enables us to transcend our immediate time, place, and culture and to make connections with
other human beings and their concerns.
4. Literature encourages us to develop mature empathy with all forms of life- Human, Animal, and Plant.
5. Literature sharpens our sense of moral judgment.
6. Literature stimulates our imagination and ingenuity.
7. Literature shows the significance of irony, paradox, oxymoron, and ambivalence.
8. Literature allows us to see the world in different vantage points.
9. Literature relives history.
10. Literature reminds us that we are human beings.
LEARNING ACTIVITY 1
1. As aforementioned, there are various definitions of literature from different authors. Give your own
definition of literature and explain.
2. As a student, what makes studying literature important? Justify your answer.
LEARNING CONTENTS (Literary Types and Forms)
1.3. Literary Types and Forms
Literature is classified in types and forms.
A. Prose Fiction presents a story that is invented and not literally true. It is written to be read rather than
acted or performed, and the events depicted are told to us by a narrator, not enacted or dramatized.
1. Myth is often a story of origins, how the world and everything in it came to be. It orients people to the
metaphysical dimension, attempts to explain the origins and nature of the world, as well as a certain
custom or practice of a human society, validates social issues, and, on the psychological plane,
addresses oneself to the innermost depths of the psyche.
2. Legend refers to unverified story handed down from earlier times, especially one popularly believed
to be historical.
3. Parable is a simple story illustrating a moral or religious lesson. E.g. The Prodigal Son
4. Fable is a usually short narrative making an edifying or cautionary point often employing as
characters animals that speak and act like humans. E.g. The Turtle
5. Fairy Tale is a kind of folktale or fable. Marvelous and magical things happen to the characters in
fairy tales.
6. Short Story is a piece of prose fiction marked by relative shortness and density, organized into a plot
and with some kind of denouement at the end.
7. Novel is a fictional prose narrative of considerable length, typically having a plot that is unfolded by
the actions, speech, and thoughts of numerous characters placed in a number of different situations.
8. Novella is a fictional prose narrative that is longer than a short story, but shorter than a novel.
B. POETRY is a piece of art written by a poet in meter or verse expressing various emotions which are
expressed by the use of variety of techniques including metaphors, similes, and onomatopoeia.
1. Lyric Poetry is a comparatively short, non-narrative poem in which a single speaker presents a state
of mind or an emotional state.
a. Song is a musical work, an abstract entity that serves as an umbrella for many versions or renditions.
b. Sonnet is a fourteen- line poem in iambic pentameter.
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Study Guide in (LIT 1: Society and Literature) Module No. 1
c. Elegy is a meditative lyric poem lamenting death of a public personage or of a friend or loved one; by
extension, any reflective lyric on the broader theme of human mortality.
d. Ode is a long lyric poem with a serious subject written in an elevated style and formal stanzaic
structure.
2. Narrative Poetry gives a verbal representation, in verse, of a sequence of connected events. It
propels characters through a plot. It is always told by a narrator.
a. BALLAD is a song, originally transmitted orally, which tells a story.
b. METRICAL ROMANCE is a poem which tells a story that ends happily, whether love is involved or
not.
c. EPIC is an extended narrative poem that operates in a large scale, both in length and topic. It uses an
elevated or dignified language, celebrating the feats of a legendary hero with the intervention of
supernatural beings.
3. Dramatic Poetry like narrative poetry, tells stories but the poet lets one or more of the story’s
characters act out of the story.
a. Dramatic Monologue is a combination of the words dramatic and monologue.
b. Soliloquy is long speech in which a character who is alone on a stage expresses his or her private
thoughts or feelings.
C. DRAMA comes from the Greek word “dran” which means “to do” or “to act. It is a story acted out.
a. Tradegy refers to a drama in which heroic protagonist meets an unhappy or calamitous end, brought
about by some fatal flaw of character, by circumstances outside his or her control.
a. Tragicomedy refers to fictional works that blend aspects of the genres of tragedy and
comedy.
b. Melodrama uses music to increase spectator’s emotional response or to suggest character
types.
b. Comedy epicts humorous incidents which protagonists are faced with moderate difficulties but
overcome them and play ends happily.
a. Satirical Comedy generally ridicules human folly and associated political, social or moral
problems.
b. The Comedy of Manners depicts the romantic intrigues of a sophisticated upperclass
including witty.
c. Romantic Comedy involves idealized romantic love, as in romance.
d. Black Comedy induces laughter as a kind of defense mechanism when a situation,
dispassionately considered, would be simply horrifying.
e. Farce depends upon the ridiculous situations, exaggerated character types, coarse humor, and
horseplay for its comic effects.
D. Nonfiction Prose presents factual information and viewpoint.
a. Autobiography is a biography written by the person himself/herself.
b. Biography is a personal account of a person’s life written by another person.
c. Character Sketch is an abbreviated portrayal of a particular characteristic of people.
d. Diary or Journal is a daily record of events in a person’s life
e. Editorial is a statement or an article by a news organization, newspaper or magazine that
expresses the opinion of the editor, editorial board, or publisher.
f. Essay is as brief work of nonfiction that offers an opinion on a subject.
LEARNING ACTIVITY 2
1. Construct a concept map to clearly indicate the links and connection of the literary types and forms.
SUMMARY
Literature is known to be written or spoken words. It is hard to be precisely defined though a lot of
writers have tried. Definitely, the definition of literature is constantly changing and evolving time after time.
PANGASINAN STATE UNIVERSITY 3
FM-AA-CIA-15 Rev. 0 10-July-2020
Study Guide in (LIT 1: Society and Literature) Module No. 1
Literature plays a valuable role in the society as it deals with culture, values, beliefs, and traditions of
a community. It reflects different issues and angles of the society. This makes it important that students be
able to study literature to be enlightened and to grow more mentally, morally, and intellectually.
Literature has different types and forms:
1. Prose Fiction pertains to the collection of literary text written or spoken imaginatively. Prose
fiction includes legends, myths, fairy tales, short story, parable, fable, novel, and novella.
2. Poetry is an art written in a rhythmically and figuratively to conceal meaning. It is divided into
three (3) categories namely lyric, narrative, and dramatic poetry.
3. Drama is a literary piece meant to be performed or acted out. It portrays character or a story
through action. Tragedy and comedy are subgenres for drama.
4. Nonfiction Prose presents factual information rather than fictional ideas. This involves
autobiography, biography, essay, editorial, character sketch, and diary or journal.
REFERENCES
Lacia. 2015. Literatures of the Philippines (3rd ed.). Rex Bookstore
Lumbera & Lumbera. 1997.Philippine Literature: A history and Anthology (Revised Ed.). Anvil Publishing Inc.
Lumbera, B. L., and Lumbera C. N. 2005. Philippine Literature: A History and Anthology. Anvil Publishing Co.
Saymo, Apolinario S. And Judy Imelda L. Lagoy.2004.Philippine Literature. Bulacan: Trinitas Publishing Inc.
PANGASINAN STATE UNIVERSITY 4
