LITERATURE artistic and creative

Literature is the total of preserved writings belonging Characteristics:

to a given language or people.
Fiction/Fanciful
Literature is the class or the total of writings, of a Subjective – subject to varied interpretations
given country or period, which is notable for literary Partial at times (Impartiality always sides with the
form of expression, as distinguished, on the one hand, truth)
from works merely technical or erudite Figurative language is used – to catch the reader’s
attention or interest, to allow variety of interpretations,
Literature consists of those writings which interpret to entertain.
the meanings of nature of life, in words of charm and
power, touched with the personality of the author, in PROSE
artistic forms of permanent interest. (Henry Van All forms of written or spoken expression that are
Dykes) consciously organized and that lack rhythmic patterns;
implies logical order, continuity of thought and
Is an art form which comes as either oral or written individual style
record of man’s thoughts, behavior, aspirations,
emotions, and manifold experiences that has POETRY
withstood the test of time because of its universal An arrangement of lines in which form and content
appeal fuse to suggest meanings beyond the literal meanings
of the words; the language of poetry is more
Why do we write? compressed and more musical.
Self-expression RHYME – words rhyme when the sound of their
To pass on ideas and values in order to form attitudes accented vowels and all succeeding sounds are
Spread knowledge and information which is worth identical.
recording and remembering
One’s love for truth, accuracy and evaluation and to RHYTHM – it refers to the cadence of poetic lines or
enable others to analyze, evaluate, form valid prose passage; the regular recurrence of stressed
judgments, and make wise decisions and unstressed, long and short, high-pitched and low-
pitched syllables creating a pattern in the lines of the
Form
poem; gives the poem its melodious quality.
Conventions, rhyme, rhythm, measure, patterns,
structure etc
METER – (organized rhythm) The repetition of regular
Content rhythmic unit in a line of poetry; measured pattern or
Themes, symbols, “ideas”, “message”, literary merits, grouping of syllables called metric foot, according to
etc accent and length; a group of metric feet forms a
poetic line and a group of poetic lines or verses is
Categories called a stanza
Utilitarian – “Literature of Knowledge” LITERARY GENRES
chief aim is to supply information
appeals to the mind/intellect NARRATIVE POETRY tells a story in a verse form

Characteristics: Epic – the longest form of narrative poetry; tells about

Factual – information must be truthful and the the exploits/adventures and heroic deeds of a hero or
evidence must be measurable; as perceived by the a semi-legendary being; it is set in the distant past.
senses. - the language is chaste and polished, befitting of
Objective – perceivable by all or a large majority in the lofty themes it embodies
the same manner
Literary Epic – a product of a literate society,
Impartial – does not take sides; no biases or
educated class; written; has a single known author
prejudices
Uses simple and direct language – must be Kantata ni Daragang Magayon, Paradise Lost
understood by all Divine Comedy, Aeneid
Artistic/Aesthetic – “Literature of Power Folk Epic/ Tribal Epic/ Epic of Growth – product of
the preliterate society (concept of education has not
to arouse human interest
been conceived of; oral in origin and verbal in
appeals to the feelings/emotions
transmission; people/generation involved; many
versions or interpretations; no original version only TYPES OF LYRIC POETRY
most popular; standard measurement per Ode – a monodrama where the author is the actor
line/verses/melody; no known author because the himself who shares an unforgettable experience in
authorship is communal life; a poem addressed to some person or thing; most
Examples: Ibalong, Beowulf, Iliad, Odyssey majestic type of lyric poetry; exalted in tone and
express lofty praise for some person, object, event or
Epic of Growth – an epic which continues to idea. Example: Annabel Lee by Edgar Allan Poe
grow/change/evolve through the years; no fixed form;
always in the process of becoming until it is written Elegy – a poem about death or mourning expressed
down in lamentations. Example: O Captain, My Captain by
Walt Whitman
MAJOR THEMES OF EPICS
The celebration of the founding of a great civilization Sonnet – a poem of fourteen rhymed lines in iambic
or race. pentameter. Example: How Do I Love Thee by
The celebration of the founding of a great religion. Elizabeth Barret Browning
A reverend idealization of the past Song – a poem intended to be sung.
Secular – have non-religious themes; deals with
Metrical Romance – a long rambling story which different themes and emotions, including present-day
embodies the ideals of the medieval times (age of protest
chivalry); talks about the lives and adventures of the Sacred – includes hymns, anthems, oratories,
nobility, of chivalry and knighthood. cantatas; basically songs to praise God.
Example: Le Morte d’ Arthur (Thomas Malory) Psalm– a religious song.

Hymn – a song of praise or adoration either sacred or

Metrical Tale – a long narrative poem which tells the secular.
lives of ordinary people.
- has an element of realism Modern Ballad– based on a narrative which serves
Examples: Decameron by Boccaccio, Canterbury as the poet’s inspiration. There is a story behind the
Tales by Chaucer ballad. Example: Puff the Magic Dragon by Paul
Simon
Ballad – a narrative about heroic deeds, love
episodes or romantic encounters, a supernatural Idyll – a poem of rural or pastoral feeling, the author
element but simpler than epic, metrical romance and expresses sentiment for his immediate surroundings.
metrical tale. Example: Trees by Joyce Kilmer
The word ballad means “dance song” because Simple Lyric– a short poem with verses that are
originally ballad-singing often formed the musical and a subjective and emotional tone.
accompaniment of dancing games and rhythmic
swaying of the body. LITERARY GENRES OF PROSE
Example: Lord Randall by Sir Walter Scott
Short Story - a narrative told by a known author with
characters, settings, plot and time.
DRAMATIC POETRY– a stage presentation or
Novel – an extended form of short story with several
production in verse form.
settings and more characters, minor, and major
Tragedy – has a sad ending; main character often
themes, main plot and subplots
meets death; has a somber or serious tone.
Examples: Romeo and Juliet, Oedipus Rex Myth – prose narrative considered sacred and true to
Comedy – light and sprightly in tone, always has a societies where they are told; embodiment of dogma
happy ending. or religious doctrines set in a remote past.
Examples: The Merchant of Venice, The Frogs
Legends – prose narratives considered to be true to
LYRIC POETRY – a short poem that expresses
societies where they originated and thrived; set in the
feelings which may or may not be set to music.
distant past.
It is the metrical embodiment of the author’s thoughts,
feelings, and becomes the direct and immediate
Folktales– not an embodiment of dogma, told for
channel of communication with his reader.
entertainment, definitely fiction.
Lyric poetry is not confined to emotions alone, it may
in fact, also reflect philosophical, reflective,
interpretative and didactic thoughts.
Parables– stories containing morals or religious Point of view is the physical and psychological
lessons and allegories position taken by the narrator and therefore
establishes the “authority” by which the reader is to
Fables – characters are animals, expresses the follies perceive the fictional material
of men without directly attacking them.
First-person narrator– In the first person pronoun,
Essay – a literary exposition expressing the author’s this narrator can be the protagonist, a secondary
views or ideas about a subject, may be formal or character in the action, or an observer who has a
informal minimal role in the plot

ELEMENTS OF FICTION Third-person subjective narrator or limited

omniscient narrator – Everything in the story comes
FICTION The interpretation of human experience in from a perspective of a character in the third-person
narrative form pronoun and thus can penetrate into the depth of this
character
Setting - this is where the action/story takes place
Omniscient narrator – Possessing considerable
Characters - the textual representation of a human
freedom or movement, h/she can enter any
being
character’s consciousness and can summarize,
Major Characters – almost always round or three-
interpret and comment on the fictional events
dimensional characters. They have good and bad
qualities. Their goals, ambitions, or values change Dramatic or objective narrator– a reporter-like
narrator who records the facts and events in the story
Round Characters are lifelike or complex. Round
objectively
characters typically have fully fleshed-out and multi-
faceted personalities, backgrounds, desires, and Tone is the author’s attitude, stated or implied,
motivations. towards a subject. This is revealed through the choice
Dynamic Characters undergo some type of of words and details within the story.
change or development in the story often because of
what happens to him. A dynamic character progresses Mood is the climate or feeling in a literary work. The
to a higher level of understanding in the course of the choice of setting, objects, details, images and words
story all contribute towards a specific mood
Minor Characters – almost always flat or two Symbolism – A person, place or object which has a
dimensional-figures. They have only one or two meaning in itself but suggests other meanings as well.
striking qualities. The predominant quality is not
balanced by an opposite quality. Theme – The main idea or underlying meaning of a
Flat Characters are stereotyped, shallow and often literary work. A theme may be stated or implied
symbolic.
Static Characters do not change throughout the LITERARY STANDARDS
course of the story.
Artistry – This is a quality which appeals to our sense
Plot – a series of causally related actions that move of beauty.
the story forward. It is the way the writer selects and
orders events of an action in order to convey a Intellectual value – A literary work stimulates
meaning thought. It enriches our mental life by making us
realize fundamental truths about life and human
Conflict- the essence of fiction. The conflict creates nature
the plot
Suggestiveness – This is the quality associated with
Man vs. Man Man vs. Nature Man vs. Himself Man vs. Society
the emotional power of literature. Great literature
Narrator and Point of view moves us deeply and stirs our feeling and
The narrator is a means by which the writer controls imagination, giving and evoking visions above and
the way in which the fictional material is beyond the plane of ordinary life and experience
communicated to the reader.
Spiritual Value – Literature elevates the spirit by
It is in the narrators point of view that the story is told.
bringing our moral values which makes us better
person. The capacity to inspire is part of the spiritual
value of literature
Permanence – A great work of literature endures. It
can be read again and again as each reading gives
fresh delight and new insights and opens new worlds
of meaning and experience. Its appeal is lasting

Universality – Great literature is timeless and timely.

Forever relevant, it appeals to one and all, anytime,
anywhere because it deals with elemental feelings,
fundamental truths, and universal conditions

Style – This is the peculiar way in which a writer sees

life, forms his ideas and expresses them. Great works
are marked as much by their memorable substance
as by their distinctive style. Style should suit content