The study of Literature

as an art
LITERATURE
 Is derived from the latin “littera” which means “letter”. Which refers primarily to written
texts. Therefore, literature is simply anything that is written.
 Consists of writings which recognize the meaning of nature and life, in words of charm
and power, touched with the characters of the author, in artistic forms of permanent
interest.
 Is the written, printed or oral productions of the human mind collectively, which deals
with themes of permanent and universal interest, characterized by creativeness and grace
of expression. As poetry, fictions, essays, etc., distinguished from works of scientific,
technical or journalistics nature.

2 Types of Literature
ORAL LITERATURE
 Is the literature of the ancient periods when they did not yet have much concern about an
enduring preservation of the expressions of their wits and emotions or their experiences.

WRITTEN LITERATURE
 Is one that is produced from the use of the pen by literary written.
 Is more permanent than oral literature because it remains.

Some of the reason why people write:

 For self-expression
 To spread knowledge and information
 To pass on ideas and values
 To convey truth, accuracy, and evaluation

The qualities of great literature:

 Permanence
 Universality
 Artistry
 Intellectual Value
 Spiritual Value
 Style
 Suggestiveness
PROSE- Is discourse that follows the continuous and usual flow of conversation which
uses sentences forming paragraphs to express ideas, feelings, and actions. It is divided into
two major divisions, namely fiction and non-fiction.
2 major divisions of Prose
1. Fiction-Is a type of prose writing that is the product of the author’s imagination.
2. Non-Fiction- Is a type of prose writing that is based on facts, real events, and real
people.

Types of Fiction
SHORT STORY
 Is a sequence of events including one or more characters, one narrative, and one single
idea.

Elements of a short story:

 Point of view
 Conflicts
 Plot
 Characters
 Theme
 Setting

NOVEL
 Is a long work of fiction that has chapters where many characters are involved and spans
long period of time.

PLAY
 Is a scripted story executed on stage.

LEGEND
 Is a narrative about the origin of man, place, event and happenings.

FABLE
 Is a narrative where the characters are animals, and non-living objects that speak and act
like people, and usually ends with values that can mold the readers attitudes.

Types of Non-Fiction
ESSAY
 Is a attempt to express the viewpoint and judgement of the writer on a dilemma or event.

ORATION
 Is a formal treatment of the subject and intended to be spoken before a crowd.
BIOGRAPHY
 Is a literary work that gives the life account of a person written by another person.

AUTOBIOGRAPHY
 Is a literary work where the author writes his own life account.

NEWS
 Is a report of expected and unexpected events in society and government and incidents in
the field of science, business etc.

LETTER
 Is a written message sent from one person to another person via writing through a
medium. Letters can be formal and informal.

DIARY
 Is precisely a record of personal or private and daily experiences.

JOURNAL
 Depending on the context, could mean a more universal record or logbook but more
importantly a technical journal, that is a scientific or industry-related
publication/periodical.

POETRY- A type of literature that combines the sound and meaning of language to
create and express ideas and feelings.

3 Types of poetry

NARRATIVE POETRY
 Tells stories and has two form;
1. Epic - are lengthy poems that embody the adventures of epic heroes and divine forces.
They are the oldest remaining form of poetry.
2. Ballad - are narrative poems meant to be sung. They are briefer that the epics and they
usually tell stories about a person.

DRAMATIC POETRY
 Reveals stories, but one or more characters act out the poem. There are plays that are
written as dramatic poetry.

LYRIC POETRY
 The most familiar of the three, is a brief poem that articulates the poets’ thoughts and
feelings.

Forms of lyric poetry

HAIKU
 One of the shortest lyric poems, is a Japaneses verse of 17 syllables arranged in three
lines, the first line has 5, the second 7, and the third 5.

ODE
 Is a serious elaborate lyric poem full of high praises and noble feeling usually about
things.

ELEGY
 Is a poem of meditation on life and death. Many elegies mourn the death of a famous
person or a close friend.

SONNET
 Is a 14-line lyric poem with a certain pattern of rhyme and rhythm.

SONG
 Is a lyric poem intended to be sung.

“Literature always anticipate

life. It does not copy it but
molds it to its purpose.”

-Oscar Wilde