I.

What is:
a. The meaning of literature
 a body of written works. The name has traditionally been applied to
those imaginative works of poetry and prose distinguished by the
intentions of their authors and the perceived aesthetic excellence of their
execution. Literature may be classified according to a variety of systems,
including language, national origin, historical period, genre, and subject
matter.
 Literature can be defined as an expression of human feelings, thoughts,
and ideas whose medium is language, oral and written. Literature is not
only about human ideas, thoughts, and feelings but also about
experiences of the authors. Literature can be medium for human to
communicate what they feel, think, experience to the readers.
b. The nature of literature

II. The importance of literature
a. To the individual

 literature confirms the real complexity of human conflict”.

 Literature is a reflection of humanity and a way for us to understand each
other. By listening to the voice of another person we can begin to figure
out how that individual thinks.

b. To the society
 Literature allows a person to step back in time and learn about life on
Earth from the ones who walked before us. We can gather a better
understanding of culture and have a greater appreciation of them. We
learn through the ways history is recorded, in the forms of manuscripts
and through speech itself. 
 c. To the world
  Literature acts as a form of expression for each individual author. Some
books mirror society and allow us to better understand the world we live
in.  
 We are easily connected to the psyche of authors through their stories.
However, literature also reiterates the need to understand modern day
issues like human conflict.
III. The forms/genres of literature

a. FICTION

 One of the most popular genres of literature, fiction, features imaginary

characters and events. This genre is often broken up into five subgenres:
fantasy, historical fiction, contemporary fiction, mystery, and science
fiction. Nonetheless, there are more than just five types of fiction,
ranging from romance to graphic novels.

 In fantasy, the characters or settings could not exist in the world as we

know it because they require a sort of “magical” element. The Harry
Potter and Twilight series are popular examples.

 Historical fiction, however, features made-up stories that accurately

portray life during a particular period in history. Examples include books
such as The Da Vinci Code or The Boy in the Striped Pajamas.

 Similar to historical fiction is the subgenre of contemporary fiction. In this

category, stories take place in the present day and characters encounter
modern day difficulties and issues. The Hate U Give and Sisterhood of the
Traveling Pants are popular contemporary fiction novels.

 Another popular subgenre of fiction is mystery. In these suspense-filled

stories, characters use various clues to solve crimes or uncover a culprit.
The Nancy Drew and Sherlock Holmes novels are prime examples of the
mystery genre.
  The last subgenre of fiction is science fiction. In these types of stories,
authors and readers explore new and exciting realities made possible by
imagined technologies or social changes. Star Wars is one of the most
famous examples.

b. NONFICTION

 Unlike fiction, nonfiction tells the story of real people and events.
Examples include biographies, autobiographies, or memoirs.

c. DRAMA

 Another popular category of literature, known as drama or play, is a story

created specifically for a stage performance. The most renowned author
of drama was William Shakespeare—the writer of Macbeth, Hamlet,
and Romeo and Juliet. More modern plays include A Streetcar Named
Desire and A Raisin in the Sun.

d. POETRY

 The fourth genre of literature is poetry. In this style of writing, words are
arranged in a metrical pattern and often (though not always) in rhymed
verse. Renowned poets include e.e. cummings, Robert Frost, and Maya
Angelou.

e. FOLKTALE

 Another beloved genre of literature is folktale. Folktale, which is also

referred to as mythology, tells stories of originally oral literature and are
meant to pass on particular moral lessons. These tales often have a
timeless quality, dealing with common concerns that are relevant despite
the time period.