THE CREATIVE DIMENSIONS OF LITERATURE
environment.
LITERATURE
• Literature is considered as one of the most important
forms of art that has ever been invented.
• helped a lot in the development of early civilization
• Literature is instrumental in bridging the gap and
differences among nations of different culture.
Bautista (2007) defines literature
• As the linguistic evidence of the mental and emotional
attempt of people to shed light on human struggles and
aspirations.
Literature
• is derived from the Latin term “Litterae” which means
“letters”.
• It is the enduring expression of significant human
experiences in words well-arranged.
• It is also defined as the author’s ultimate expression of
his thoughts and feelings.
WORDS
• are considered as the flesh and blood of literature.
• Literature is how to interpret emotions and thoughts by
words in different forms and faces. (Hejazi et.al 1995)
AIMS OF LITERATURE:
1. Inspire and uplift the taste
2. To read for pleasure
3. Widens experiences
4. Broadens sympathies with other people
Values Derived from Literature
• Intellectual - the way how a particular work is
presented and what are the basic truths realized.
• Emotional - a personal appeal made to the reader (the
effect or impact of a work).
Some authors define the values of literature as the following:
• Aesthetic- concerns with the beauty enclosed in a
particular literary work, in terms of how it has been
written, the lines and most especially the message it
conveys.
• Didactic- this value of literature which imparts moral
aspects in which it can bring about improvement in the
customs and norms of the society.
• Functional- define the use of literature. Most writers
use their works as avenues in expressing their ideas and
thoughts while others use their works in order to echo
their grievances a social and political system either
presently or in the past.
IMPORTANT GOALS OF CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENT
LITERATURE:
• Prepare the child to know, love and create the
• To introduce the child to himself, to create respect
for human dignity and the desire for continuous
improvement.
• Entertaining and enjoyable.
• Making the child interested in studying and making
it habitual.
• Creation and strengthening of peace in the world.
CHILDREN’S LITERATURE
What is children’s literature?
• Children’s literature is said to be a collection of works
and writings (books, articles) that are provided by
specialist writers for the study of children, and all of
them the taste and level of development and
development of children are considered.
• Books, stories, folklore, riddles, poems, etc
• From birth through age 13.
• “A significant truth expressed in appropriate elements
and memorable language” (Lukens, pp. 9, 2007).
What differentiates between children and adult literature?
Children
• Simpler expression of ideas.
• Simple vocabulary
• Attention span
• Stories are told more directly and the relationship
among characters shown clearly.
• Children more open to experimenting with more forms
of literature than adults.
• Children find spontaneous pleasure in rhymes & jokes,
cartoons, comics, etc.
• Adults tend to stick to one type of literature.
Definitions of Genres of children’s literature
• A genre is a kind or type of literature that has a
common set of characteristics.
• A genre is a grouping of books with similar style, form,
or content. The same term is used for movies, music,
plays, TV shows, artwork, etc.
• They often overlap, especially those of Early childhood.
Book format: another form of classification
• Book format refers to the way a book is put together or
looks.
• Wordless picture books,
• Easy-to-read books. -Paperback books
• Illustrated books -Grocery store books
 • Chapter books -Series books
• Hardcover books
Did you know that…
th
• Up until the 19 century books written for children
were entirely religious, instructional, or for the
improvement of their morals and manners.
• In 1865 , “Alice in Wonderland” was written, the first
book that was written for mere enjoyment & that
marked the beginning of children’s literature
Why do we read to children?
 It is fun!
 It benefits children's growth as readers and learners.
 It teaches children to appreciate the written word.
 It helps children develop important language skills that
will help them learn to read on their own.
 It helps build children’s listening skills and attention
spans.
 It prepares them for learning to read and keeps them
reading as they learn and grow.
 It helps build relationships between the child and the
reader.
 It helps them to learn social skills.
 It introduces the child to new concepts.
How Does Reading to a Child Affect the 4 Areas of
Development?
• Intellectual- learning about written word
• Social-interaction with others
• Emotional- creates feelings
• Physical-holding book and turning pages
LITERARY GENRES OF CHILDREN’S LITERATURE
A. Early Childhood Books-
books written for children from birth through age 6.
• Concept – picture books that present numerous
example of a particular concept, such as the common
color.
• Alphabet – a concept books that present letters of the
alphabet.
• Counting – a concept book that presents the counting
numbers.
• General – a concept books that present common
concepts such as colors and opposites.
• Pattern Books - predictable books that contain
repetitive words, phrases, questions, or structure.
• Wordless Book – books in which the story is revealed
through a sequence of illustrations with no – or very
few – words.
B. Traditional Literature -
stories, songs, and rhymes with unknown authorship
that were passed down orally through generations.
• Myths – traditional religious stories that provide
explanations for natural phenomena, usually containing
deities as characters.
• Fables– very brief traditional stories that teach a lesson
about behavior, usually with animal characters.
• Ballads – traditional stories that were sung as narrative
poems
• Legends- traditional stories that combine history and
myth, based in part on real people or historical events.
• Tall tales– exaggerated stories with gigantic,
extravagant, and flamboyant characters.
• Fairy tales– traditional stories written for
entertainment, usually with magic and fantastical
characters.
• Traditional Rhymes – traditional verses intended for
very young children.
C. Fiction-
literary works designed to entertain; the content
being produced by the imagination of an identifiable author(s).
• Fantasy – fiction story with highly fanciful or
supernatural elements that would be impossible in real
life.
• Animal Fantasy– fantasy in which the main characters
are anthropomorphic animals that display human
characteristics.
• Contemporary Realistic Fiction – fictional story set
in the modern times with events could possibly occur.
• Historical Fiction– realistic story in a real world
setting in the historical past with events that are partly
historical but largely imaginative.
• D. Biography and Auto biography-
• nonfiction works describing the life (or
part of the life) of a real individual.
• E. Informational Books-
trade books with the primary purpose of informing
the reader by providing an in-depth explanation of
factual material.
F. Poetry and Verse-
verse in which word images are selected and
expressed to create strong, often beautiful impressions
IMPORTANCE OF CHILDREN & ADOLESCENT’s
LITERATURE
 • Giving children and adolescents access to all varieties
of literature is extremely important for their success.
Educators, parents, and community members should
help students develop a love and passion for reading.
Not only is reading literature important in developing
cognitive skills to be able to succeed in a school or
work setting, but it is valuable for other reasons as well.
Donna Norton (2010)
• Children and adolescent’s literature provides students
with the opportunity to respond to literature and
develop their own opinions about the topic.
• it gives students appreciation about their own cultural
heritage as well as those of others;
• it helps students develop emotional intelligence and
creativity;
• it nurtures growth and development of the student’s
personality and social skills; and
• it transmits important literature and themes from one
generation to the next.
ADOLESCENT’s LITERATURE
• Our purpose in this lesson:
-to open the door for readers to explore young adult
literature.
-know what literature is available and be familiar with a
wide range of genres
-appreciate, understand, and evaluate the literature
-develop ways to connect readers with the literature
Defining Adolescent’s Literature
• It is the works that are appropriate both in terms of the
theme, construction, image, in terms of language and
presentation, and manner or presentation, with the
needs, interests, experiences and abilities of adolescents
to understand and read.
• It is the literature that young adults select, on their own,
to read.
• Contemporary young adult literature is more than
fiction. As Chelton (2006) points out, many adolescents
read nonfiction, including biographies, and turn to
magazines for pleasure reading and not just for
research.
• Adolescent’s literature will be defined as literature in
prose or verse that has excellence of form or expression
in its genre ( Merriam-Webster’s Encyclopedia of
Literature, 1995 ), provides a unique adolescent point of
view ( Herz & Gallo, 1996 ), and reflects the concerns,
interests, and challenges of contemporary young adults
( Brown & Stephens, 1995 ).
Adolescent ‘s Literature Today
• As adolescent’s literature has matured, authors have
begun to incorporate more complex characters,
subjects, and situations ( Cart, 2001 ). The boundaries
of young adult literature have expanded as authors
explore topics of cruelty and crime, personal abuse, and
racial violence ( Dresang, 1999 ), accompanied by a
change in the perspectives represented in literature.
Qualities of Adolescent’s Literature
1. It should reflect young adults’ age and development by
addressing their reading abilities, thinking levels, and
interest levels.
2. It should deal with contemporary issues, problems, and
experiences with characters to whom adolescents can
relate.
3. This includes topics such as dealing with parents and
other adults in authority; facing illness and death;
dealing with peer pressure, etc.
3. It should consider contemporary world perspectives,
including cultural, social, and gender diversity;
environmental issues; global politics; and international
interdependence.
• In addition to helping students develop the five macro
skills, it can offer a connection to alienated students,
mirror the lives of young adults, improve literacy skills,
and provide a forum for adolescents to discuss what it
means to come of age, including navigating difficult
problems, accessing tools needed to become problem
solvers, and fostering empathy ( Stallworth, 2006 ).
• Today’s adolescent’s literature is sophisticated,
complex, and powerful . . . [and that] it deserves to be
part of the literary tradition of students.
Characteristics
• Young adult literature reflects the changes adolescents
experience.
• Young adult literature reflects their experiences with
conflicts, focuses on themes that interest young people,
includes young protagonists and mostly young
characters, and has language common to young adults
( Campbell, 2003b ; Vogels, 1996 ).
Purposes:
• Teaches adolescents about diverse peoples and the
world beyond their community.
• Provides pleasure reading
• Demonstrates the range of human emotions and allows
adolescents to experience them as a result of reading
quality literature
• Reveals the realities of life
• Provides vicarious experiences
• Focuses on “essentials” that make order out of chaos
• Depicts the functions of institutions of society
• Allows readers to escape into the realms of fantasy
• Introduces readers to excellent writers and writing
• Increases literacy and the ability to analyze literature
 Note: Of course, adolescent’s literature cannot provide
these benefits unless adolescents actually read the
books.
Genres of Adolescent’s Literature
Adolescent’s literature consists of a number
of different genres or categories that serve unique
purposes and satisfy individual reading choices.
1. Contemporary Realistic Fiction
It sometimes called the problem novel, appeals to
many adolescents and uses plots, themes, settings,
and characters to reflect the world as we know it
and the problems and challenges many young
people face daily.
2. Adventure, Mystery, and Humor.
• Many adolescents are attracted to books
about adventure and survival or mystery and suspense.
• Adolescents enjoy the usually fast-paced plots found in
adventure stories and the challenges to find out “who-
done-it” in mystery novels.
• Some young adults read humorous novels to have a
good laugh and to escape the problems of everyday life.
3. Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror
Books from these genres regularly appear in top
10 reading lists selected by young adults.
In fantasies, readers can go to magical places
while, in science fiction, they can explore the
possibilities of science and technology both on
Earth and on other worlds.
“Wellwritten informational books “
Authors and publishers try to meet young adults’
needs and expectations by providing books on
timely topics that are written on appropriate
reading and interest levels.
7. Poetry, Drama ,and Short Stories
Poetry, drama, and short stories are important
categories for many young adults, especially for
readers who prefer shorter pieces to longer books.
• Rather than relying on the classics, many adolescents
look for works that deal with their contemporary
concerns and daily interests and that speak directly to
them with words they can understand and situations
they can relate to.
8. Comic Books, Graphic Novels, Picture Books,
and Magazines.
Growing up in a visual and digital society,
contemporary adolescents are comfortable with
the visual styles found in comic books, graphic
novels, and magazines.
• Since its beginnings in the 1960s, young adult literature
has come a long way in its quest for respectability and
acceptance. More and more teachers and library media
specialists have recognized the need for and the value
of quality literature that speaks directly to the interests,
needs, and desires of adolescents.

Horror books allow readers to confront the terrors

that populate their worst nightmares.

4. Historical Fiction

Helping adolescents experience the past, explore

misfortunes and triumphs, and examine the
background of current events, historical fiction
can be both interesting and informative.

• Young adults can read and learn new perspectives of

cultural diversity; perceive challenges associated with
disabling conditions; examine societal ills such as
poverty, drug addiction, crime, and racism; and explore
almost any historical period.

• Historical fiction includes stories based in actual events

as well as stories set in the past with little or no
reference to recorded history or actual people.
Recurring topics include wars and clashes of people,
quests for freedom and equality, and overcoming
disabling conditions.

5. Biography

Through biographies, young adults explore the

frustrations, obstacles, and achievements in the
lives of all kinds of people, from the historically
famous to contemporary leaders and names in the
news, as well as those who have persevered
through challenging circumstances.

6. Nonfiction / information