TOPIC : Nature and Function of Literature

MODULE FORMAT : 2E - 2A Style

I. Introduction
Literature plays an important role in our lives. It help us grow both personally and
intellectually and provides an objective base for knowledge and understanding. Literature
links us with the broader cultural, philosophic, and religious world of which we are apart.

Intended Learning Outcome ( ILO )

At the end of the chapter, learners are expected to :

1. define literature

2. identify the different genres/ types of literature

3. elicit own ideas, feelings, and attitude about literature

II. Intended Learning Outcome

ENGAGE
The word literature is derived from the Latin term litera which means letter. It has
been defined differently by various writers.

Some loosely interpret literature as any printed matter written within a book, a
magazine or a pamphlet. Others define literature as a faithful reproduction of mans manifold
experiences blended into one harmonious expression.

Because literature deals with the ideas, thoughts and emotions of man, literature
can be said to be the story of man. Man's loves, griefs, thoughts, dreams and aspirations
coached in beautiful language is literature.

Types of Literature : The Genres

 Literature may be classified into four categories or genres: 1.) fiction, 2.) poetry, 3.)
drama, 4.) nonfiction prose. Usually, the first three are classed as imaginative literature.

I. FICTION
Any work of literature that includes material that is invented or imagined ,that is not
a record of things as they actually happened is called fiction.

In literature, the term fiction usually refers to the novel or the short story. Much
fiction is based on actual person's experiences, but it almost always involves invented
characters, or invented action or setting,or other details which are made up for the sake of
the story itself.

Forms of Fictions

1.) Short Stories - a fictional narrative written in prose which is shorter than a novel.
Because of its relative brevity, the short story often limits itself to one main event and the
development of one character or a single aspect of character. A short story lacks the
complexity and detail of the novel, but it may gain impact through the compression of
characters and events.

2.) Novel - a long fictional narrative written in prose usually having many characters
and story plots. Because it is longer than a short story, the novel usually allows for greater
complexity of characters and plot development. However, since the novel is a relatively new
form of literature ---- the first taking shape in the 18th Century ----- it is constantly being
redefined as writers continue to experiment with the form.

The broad term novel includes a variety of classification or types :

* The Gothic Novel is one of the earliest forms, and it remains popular today. Gothic
novels create an atmosphere of mystery and danger in a picturesque setting, usually involving
a threat combined with love, intrigue for a romantic young heroine.

* The Historical Novel creates the atmosphere , customs, and events of an actual
historical period , and may even include actual historical figures.

* The Psychological Novel explores the complex emotional lives of the characters.

Other popular forms of the novel include detective stories, spy thrillers, scientific
fiction, and fantasies.
 3.) Satire - a literary work which mocks or ridicules the stupidity or vices of
individuals, groups, institutions, or society in general. Satires are generally of two sorts : that
which is gentle, witty, and amusing, and that which is forceful, bitterly, and even vicious.

4.) Parables- a short tale, usually about ordinary, familiar events for which a moral or
religious lesson is drawn.

5.) Romances - originally a term used to describe medieval tales dealing with the loves
and adventures of kings, queens, knights and ladies and including unlikely or supernatural
happenings. In a more general sense , a romance is any work of imaginative literature that is
set in an idealized world and that deals with heroic adventures and battles in which brave
heroes and heroines struggle against evil villains or monsters. The conflict in a romance is
almost always one of good versus evil. Often the heroes and heroines in a romance are aided
by magic, such as a magical sword, or a magical ring.

II. POETRY
A. Lyric - verse usually brief, which focuses on the emotion or thoughts of the speaker.
Originally the term lyric was derived from the ancient Greece. Certain poems were recited to
the strumming of the lyre, a guitarlike instrument. The musical accompaniment helped
intensify the emotional quality of the poem. Over the centuries, the lyric has lost its musical
accompaniment, but it is still concerned with expressing personal thoughts and emotions.

Forms of Lyric Poems

1. Sonnet - a lyric poem having a fourteen rhymed lines usually written in iambic
pentameter. The most important kind of sonnets are the Petrarchan ( or Italian ) and the
Shakespearean ( or English ). Both forms usually take topic and develop it fully.

Kinds of Sonnets

* Petrarchan Sonnet ( Italian ) - has an eight-line beginning called the OCTAVE, and a six-
line conclusion called the SESTET. The feelings expressed in the octave often contract with
those expressed in the sestet. It rimes abba-abba-cde-cde.

* Shakespearean Sonnet ( English ) - a lyric poem of lines written in iambic pentameter

with three ( 3 ) quatrains and concluding a couplet . It rimes abab-cdcd-efef-gg.
 2. Elegy - is a lyric poem which expresses mourning ,usually over the death of an
individual. An elegy may also be a lament over the passing of life and beauty ,or meditation
on the nature of death. An elegy is usually formal in language and structure, and solemn or
even melancholy in tone. Most elegies are long. Epitaph is another word for elegy.

3. Ode - is a complex and often lengthy lyric poem written in a dignified formal style on some
serious subjects.

4. Song - is a short lyric intended to be sung. It can be secular which has no religious theme.

5. Simple Lyric - a lyric poem that narrates a story . A narrative poem can be as long as an epic
and it can be as short as a popular ballad.

B. Narrative - a lyric poem that narrates a story. A narrative poem can be as long as an epic
and it can be as short as a popular ballad.

Forms of Narrative Poems

1. Epic - a narrative poem that usually centers on a single important character who embodies
the values of a particular society.

2. Ballad - a narrative poem that depends on regular verse patterns and strong rhymes for its
effect. Most ballads have lots of action and adventure and most are tragic.

Kinds of Ballad

* Folk ballads - originated as anonymous songs and are passed orally before being written
down.

* Literary ballad - is composed by known writers and it may or may not be sung.

3. Dramatic Poetry - poetry in which one or more characters speak. Dramatic poetry allows
the writer to reveal characters directly through dialogue, just as a playwright does. A
dramatic poem has many of the characteristics of a play; a definite setting; a dramatic
situation, emotional conflict, with vigorous, and natural long rhythms.

4. Dramatic Dialogue - is a special kind of dramatic poem. In dramatic monologue, one

character speaks to one or more characters, whose replies are not given in the poem. The
speaker in a moment of great personal crisis, reveals his or her deepest thoughts and feelings.
III. DRAMA
Drama - is a story written to be acted out on a stage. The playwright usually
emphasizes characters, conflicts, and actions which are developed by the use of dialogue.
Stage direction is provided to help the actors and directors bring the characters and the
actions to life. When the play is presented, additional elements---- such as the set, props, and
lighting effects-- are used to enhance the emotional impact of the story. Thus, drama is truly a
living form of literature.

Forms of Drama

1. Comedy - a literary work, generally amusing which usually ends happily because the hero
or heroines is able to overcome obstacles and get what he or she wants. Comedy is distinct
from tragedy in that the comic characteristic normally finds a satisfactory resolution of their
difficulties. The focus of most comedies is not on a single figure but on groups of figures ,
placed in a recognizable society. Very frequently, a comedy will have several plots , each with
a group of central characters. Part of the humor comes from seeing how these plots interact.

2. Tragedy - a literary work dealing with very serious and important themes, in which a
dignified tragic figure meets destruction, usually through some personal flaws or weaknesses.

3. Farce - a type of comic play in which ridiculous situations and characters, coarsely wit , and
physical buffoonery are used to make su laugh.

IV. NONFICTION
Nonfiction - is a prose that deals with real events and people. In nonfiction, the
characters, setting, and actions must conform to what is true. They cannot be manipulated by
the imagination of the writers. The two forms of nonfiction includes the following :

1. Autobiography - is someone's account of his or her own life. Generally, an autobiography is

a narrative account, often chronological, of the important events of the person's life . Such
accounts often relate to the person's life story to crucial historical events that are happening
at the same time . They also offer personal evaluation of actions, as well as some speculations
on the significance of certain action and events.
2. Essay - a brief examination of a subject in prose, usually expressing personal or limited
view of the topic . The essay is a modern literary form, probably dating back to Michel de
Montaigne's Essais in French work of "attempts".

- is another form to entertain, and to explain, and to persuade. It makes use of all
major forms of discourse : description which prevents pictures to be used as an impression of
a subject; narration, which relates a series of events; exposition or persuation, which
attempts to influence people's ideas or action.

Classifications of Essay

* Narrative Essay - copies the technique of a short story but the stress falls on the insights
gained by the characters.

* Descriptive Essay - depicts vivid pictures , either of an experience, an event, an object or a

process.

* Speculative Essay - makes assumptions or hypothetical statements on certain issues like

the presence of life in other planets or the stock exchange.

* Scientific Essay - makes philosophies on the essence of grief, joy, death, and life.

* Reflective Essay - analyzes and interprets works of art-- painting, architecture, sculpture,
music, theater, television--- and highlights their merits and demerits.

* Didactic or Aphoristic Essay - moralizes or preaches if not inspires.

* Informative Essay - gives us information of facts that catches one's fancy.

* Editorial Essay - interprets, criticizes, incites ,and shapes readers opinion on the vital
issues of the day that affect the national and international scene.

* Socio- political Essay - presents, questions, and analyzes pressing problems affecting given
society.

* Nature Essay - presents the beauty of creation, travel from within and without to affect
and illuminate awareness.

* Character Sketch - essay features aspects in the life of a person that will enable us to
understand his psyche better.

Elements of Fiction and Drama

A. Plot - the causality of events that makes up the action of a work of fiction.
B. Characters - the personages in a literary work who is revealed by means of 1) what he says
or does, 2) what other characters reveal about him, 3) the way he reacts to certain situation
or problem in the story and 4) foil.

C. Setting - the time and place where the action of a play or narrative occurs.

D. Point of View - the outlook or position from which a short story or novel is presented.

E. Theme - the idea, general truths or commentary on life or people brought by the literary
work.

F. Symbol - an object that stands for or represents an idea, belief, and superstitions of social
or political institutions.

G. Tone - the writer's attitude towards his subject that affects his style of writing and choice
of words. The tone may be flippant, cynical, satirical, prosteting, angry, surprised, etc.

H. Mood - the state of feelings created by the literary work.

I. Atmosphere - the general overall feeling of the literary work, conveyed in large part by the
setting and the mood.

Freytag's Pyramid

It is a term introduced by German critic, Gustav Freytag ( 1863 ), when he

characterized the typical plot as a pyramid shape, consisting of a rising action, climax and
falling action.

* Exposition - the background information that reveals what has occured prior to the time
covered in a literary work; who the main characters are; and what situation has risen that will
lead to a problem requiring a solution.

* Rising Action - also called complication. It is when the conflict or problem is introduced.

* Climax - the point of highest interest or dramatic intensity. Usually it marks a turning point
in the action since the reader is no longer in doubt about the outcome.

* Denouement - the unraveling of the plot following the climax in which the writer explains
how and why everything turned out as it did.
* End - the point when the action or intrigue ends in success or failure for the protagonist, is
solved or the misunderstanding cleared away. ( Abrams, 1998)

EXPLORE

Literary pieces such as stories, poetry, essays have always been enjoyed by people of all
ages. This must be because they reflect our own true experience in life.

With your exposures to various literary pieces in the past, and the present, define literature.
List in the boxes some definitions of the word.

APPLY

Read each statement below carefully. Write TRUE if the statement is correct but if it's
false, change the underlined word or group of words to make it true.
________1. Literary works speak of life - emotions , situation ,and ideas.

________2. Through literature , we can be able to appreciate the beauty of order and
arrangement.

________3. It helps us become a better critical thinkers.

________4. Imaginative literature presents life realities.

________5. Poetry is designed to perform by actors.

________6. News reports , feature articles ,essay ,editorials are fiction prose.

________7. The characters and events of the fictions prose are not based on the imagination
of the writer.

________8. Literary works are preferably read aloud , even until today.

________9. Non fiction prose presents facts as in news of events in the world , history and
science.

________10. Literature encourages us to appreciate , recognize and support talented and

creative people.

________11. Literature allows us to recognize human dreams and the struggle of different
people and places.

________12. Non fiction prose is logic in reasoning.

________13. Fiction prose is imaginative type of literature.

________14. Drama expresses a conservation of interchange of the deeply felt experience of

human beings.

________15. Literature is not an art of writing.

ASSESS
 Essay : Explain in your own words and discuss the significance of Nature and Function
of Literature.

Reference:

Viar, O.M.,Treasures of Philippine Regional Literatures

Kahayon, A.H.,Zulueta, C.A.,Philippine Literature Through thr Years

Lacia, F.C.,et al.,The Literatures of the Philippines