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What is literature?
1. It is the body of written works of a language, period, or culture.
2. It is marked by the use of figurative language—such as creative metaphors, well-turned
phrases, elegant syntax, rhyme, alliteration, meter, and the like.
3. It is in a literary genre: poetry, prose fiction, drama, etc.
4. It is read aesthetically.
5. It is intended by the writer to be read aesthetically.
6. It contains many implications—which are open to the reader’s interpretation.
Qualities of literature
1. From the earliest of times, cultures have been defined by their literature, whose medium
comprises language.
2. Literature falls into two categories:
a) utilitarian
b) creative
3. People read creative literature because they expect it to hold their interest a nd
provide pleasure.
4. The formal divisions of literature are:
a) fiction
b) non-fiction
c) poetry
d) drama
Types of literature
I. Fiction—are works that emanate from the author’s imagination rather than from fact. It takes
one of two approaches to its subject matter:
a) realistic—the appearance of observable, true-to-life details
b) non-realistic—fantasy
Fictional elements can appear in narrative poetry, drama, and even biography and epic poetry.
II. Non-fiction—consists of works based mainly on fact rather than on the imagination, although
non- fictional works may contain fictional elements.
Types of fiction
Fiction is divided into two categories:
A. Novel—is a prose narrative of considerable length, has a plot that unfolds from the actions,
speech, and thoughts of the characters. They can be classified by subject matter:
1) epistolary
2) gothic pseudo-medieval
3) historical
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(Introduction to) Philippine Literature
4) manners
5) picaresque
6) psychological
7) sentimental
B. Short story—is a short prose work concerning only a single, significant episode/scene and
utilizing a limited number of characters.
Types of non-fiction
Examples of non- fiction are:
A. Biography—undertakes a written account of an individual’s life using literary
narratives, catalogues of achievement, or psychological portraits.
B. Essay—is a composition on a single subject, usually presenting the personal views of
the writer. It may be:
1) informal—tend to be brief, conversational in tone, and loose in structure; topic is familiar
(or personal)
2) formal—which are longer and tightly structured, focusing on impersonal subjects
and places less emphasis on the personality of the writer
Types of poetry
III. Poetry—is written to convey a vivid and imaginative sense of experience, using
condensed language selected for its sound, suggestive power, and meaning. It employs
literary devices such as:
a) meter
b) rhyme
c) metaphor
Poetry can be divided into three types:
a) narrative—tells a story such as an epic poem, a ballad, or a metrical romance
b) dramatic—involves portraying a life/character usually involving conflicts and emotions
through action and dialogue
c) lyric—is originally intended to be sung like a sonnet
Types of drama
IV. Drama—consists of a composition in prose or poetry intended to portray a life/character or
to tell a story usually involving conflicts and emotions through action and dialogue. It is often
intended for theatrical production. It can be classified as a:
a) tragedy—recounts the events of an individual’s life that results in an unhappy catas trophe
b) comedy—aims primarily to amuse and ends happily
c) absurdity—presents characters cut off from religious/philosophical roots and live in
meaningless isolation in an indifferent world
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(Introduction to) Philippine Literature
References:
Bain, C., Beaty, J. & Hunter, J. (1981). The Norton introduction to literature. New York: Norton.
Barnet, S. (2007). An introduction to literature. Harlow: Longman.
“Glossary of Literary Terms”. The University of North Carolina at Pembrok e.
http://www.uncp.edu/home/canada/work/allam/general/glossary.htm , retrieved March 2009.
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