LIT 01

FORMALISTIC APPROACH
Formalism rose to prominence in the early twentieth century as a reaction against
Romanticist theories of literature, which centered on the artist and individual creative genius,
once again placing the text itself in the spotlight to show how the text was indebted to forms
and other works that had preceded it.

● New Criticism
● The text itself - we need to look at what the text says

GRATIA ARTIS - Art for the sake of arts

ELEMENTS OF SHORT STORY

A. SETTING - time and place
● VERSIMILITUDE -the quality of seeming true or of having the appearance of
being real
● LOCAL COLOR - custom, tradition, language
● MOOD, TONE, ATMOSPHERE
● CONTEXT - the situation/place that the characters are in

B. CHARACTERS - sometimes setting can also be the character

● PROTAGONIST - the hero/morally right
● ANTAGONIST - the villain
● SUPPORTING - Stereotypes - its personality is a particular idea.
● FOIL -the total opposite of the main character/the sidekick
● CONFIDENTE - is someone who knows the secret of the main character

CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT
● STATIC - don't change
● DYNAMIC - changing
● FLAT CHARACTERS are two-dimensional in that they are relatively
uncomplicated and do not change throughout the course of a work
● ROUND CHARACTERS are complex and undergo development, sometimes
sufficiently to surprise the reader.

C. PLOT
● IN MEDIAS RES - in the midst of

PLOT DEVICES
● FLASHBACK - past - serves a purpose in the story
● FLASHFORWARD - future, the eye of apollo, through divination and
prophecy
● TIME TRAVEL

Exposition - Rising Action - Climax - Falling Action - Ending/Resolution

 D. SYMBOLS - imagery concepts

E. THEMES - general concept/ more encompassing

F. MORAL

G. LITERARY DEVICES - the authors style of writing

● FORESHADOWING - a hint/warning that is going to happen
● EPISODIC PLOTS - a series of chapters or stories linked together by the
same character, place, or theme but held apart by their individual plot,
purpose, and subtext.
● FRAME STORY - a story in a story
● BACK STORY - character's background that will inform the action in the main
narrative. Ex; Cliffhanger
● POINT OF VIEW - 1st person
- 3rd person - Observer
- OMNISCIENT - knows what the characters is
thinking/stream of consciousness

H. CONFLICT - a struggle between opposing forces.

FORMS OF LITERATURE

TYPES OF POETRY
A. Narrative poetry -this form describes important events in life either real or imaginary. The
different varieties are:
1.EPIC- this is an extended narrative about heroic exploits often under supernatural control.
2.METRICAL TALE- this is a narrative which is written in verse and can be classified either
as a ballad or a metrical romance.
3.BALLADS- of the narrative poems, this is considered the shortest and simplest. It has a
simple structure and tells of a single incident.

B. LYRIC POETRY- this is refers to that kind of poetry meant to be sung to the
accompaniment of a lyre,but now, this applies to any type of poetry that expresses emotions
and feelings of the poet.
1.Folksongs- these are short poems intended to be sung. The common theme is love,
despair, grief, doubt, joy, hope, and sorrow.
2.Sonnets- this is a lyric poem of 14 lines dealing with an emotion, a feeling, or an idea.
3.Elegy- this is a lyric poem which expresses feelings of grief and melancholy, and whose
theme is death
4.Ode- this is a poem of a noble feeling,expressed with dignity, with no definite number of
lines in a stanza.
5.Psalms- this is a song praising god or the virgin mary and containing a philosophy of life.
6.Song- these have measures of twelve syllables(dodecasyllabic) and slowly sung to the
accompaniment of a guitar or banduria.
7.Corridos- these have measures of eight syllables (octosyllabic) and recited to a martial
beat.
IDYL - describes pastoral life or elements of nature in a romantic, sweeping tone.

C. DRAMATIC POETRY
1.Comedy- the word comedy comes from the greek term "komos"meaning festivity or
revelry. This form usually is light and written with the purpose of amusing, and usually has a
happy ending.
2.Melodrama- this is ussually used in musical plays with opera. Today, this is related to
tragedy just as the farce is to comedy. It arouses immediate and intense emotion and is
usually sad but there is a happy ending for the principal character.
3.Tragedy- this involves the hero struggling mightily against dynamic forces, he meets death
or ruin without success and satisfaction obtained by the protagonist in a comedy.
4.Farce- this is an exaggerated comedy. It seeks to arouse mirth by laughable lines;
situations are too ridiculous to be true; the characters seem to be caricatures and the
motives undignified and absurd.
5.Social Poems- this is either purely comic or tragic and it pictures the life of today. It may
aim to bring about changes in the social conditions.

TYPES OF PROSE
FICTION
Legend -a traditional story origin or group of stories told about a particular person or place
Short Story - be read in one single sitting
Novel - a piece of long narrative
Novella - a story that is shorter than a novel but not longer than a short story
Fable - religious story with moral
Parable - animals

NON - FICTION
Biography - Facts about a person
Autobiography - an account of person’s life written by that person
History - setting of a real particular historical events
Essay - a piece of writing that presents an argument or a point of view on a particular topic.
It can be formal or informal and can range from a few paragraphs to several pages. Essays
can be persuasive, informative, descriptive, or narrative.
Diary - a personal record of daily events, thoughts, and feelings.
News - is a form of journalism that reports on current events and issues. It is usually
presented in a factual and objective
Anecdote- is a brief and engaging story that is used to illustrate a point. Most importantly,
anecdotes are true stories about one's life.

CORALINE by Neil Gaiman

Real World Characters:
● Coraline Jones: The protagonist of the story, Coraline is a clever and adventurous
girl who is often neglected by her parents. She is misunderstood by everyone around
her and wishes for a more exciting world, which she finds in the universe created by
the Other Mother
 ● Mrs. Jones: Coraline's mother is a busy woman who does not pay much attention to
her daughter. She cannot be bothered about the meals that she feeds her daughter
and does not indulge Coraline in her whims and fancies. This leads to Coraline
wishing for things better in the real world than her own
● Mr. Jones: Coraline's father is an adventurous man who is emotionally distant from
his daughter. He is known for being adventurous with his meals, which are
disgustingly termed as "recipes" by Coraline.
● Miss Spink and Miss Forcible - retired actresses
● Mr. Bobo/Bobobsky - Crazy old man, retired actor in a circus training mice

Other World Characters:

● The Other Mother - Coraline's other mother is an evil shapeshifting entity and the
novel's main antagonist. She initially appears sweet and accommodating, but
Coraline soon finds that she is the evil creator of the other world. Over years, she has
successfully stolen the souls of other children in order to trap them in her universe
● The Other Father: Coraline's other father is the version of her real father who exists
in the other mother's realm. He is, at first, a sunnier, warmer version of her own
father, but he is ultimately revealed to be a puppet controlled by the Other Mother
● The Cat: The cat is a haughty-looking black cat that Coraline encounters in the other
world. He is initially aloof but becomes Coraline's ally in her quest to defeat the Other
Mother. He is able to move between the real world and the other world and is a
source of guidance for Coraline
● Miss Spink and Miss Forcible - they are actresses that entertains dogs

THE ART OF WAR BY SUN TZU

● "The Art of War" is an ancient Chinese military treatise attributed to Sun Tzu, a
military strategist and philosopher.
● t is a classic work on strategy and tactics that has influenced military thinking,
business strategies, and leadership principles.
● The book emphasizes the importance of careful planning, strategic thinking, and
adaptability in warfare.

Key principles from the book include:

● Know Your Enemy and Know Yourself: Understanding your strengths and
weaknesses and those of your opponent is crucial.
● The Importance of Deception: Sun Tzu advocates using deception and
misinformation to gain an advantage.
● Flexibility and Adaptation: Adaptability on the battlefield is essential, as no plan
survives contact with the enemy unchanged.
● The Value of Speed and Timing: Sun Tzu stresses the importance of acting swiftly
and taking advantage of your opponent's vulnerabilities.
● Unity of Command: A well-organized and disciplined command structure is
essential for success.
● Avoiding Protracted Conflicts: Sun Tzu argues that prolonged wars are costly and
detrimental to all parties involved.
The book is organized into 13 chapters, each focusing on different aspects of warfare, from
strategy and tactics to espionage and diplomacy.

"The Art of War" is not limited to military applications and is often used as a guide for
leadership, negotiation, and problem-solving in various fields.

Sun Tzu's teachings promote the idea that victory can be achieved with minimal conflict and
loss if one understands the principles of strategy and applies them effectively.

Its enduring relevance has made it a widely studied and quoted work in the realms of
leadership, management, and conflict resolution.

"The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas" by Ursula K. Le Guin.

Summary: The story is set in the fictional utopian city of Omelas, which is described as a
place of unparalleled happiness, peace, and prosperity. The city's residents enjoy an idyllic
life, and everything seems perfect. However, the source of this happiness is revealed to be a
dark secret. In a basement beneath one of the city's beautiful buildings, there is a suffering
child who lives in squalor and misery. The child's suffering is the price that must be paid for
the happiness of all in Omelas. The citizens are aware of this child's plight, and they must
come to terms with it to maintain their blissful existence.

Meanings:
​ Utilitarianism and Moral Dilemma: The story presents a classic ethical dilemma
rooted in utilitarian philosophy. It asks whether it is morally justifiable to cause
extreme suffering to one individual for the greater happiness of the many. Omelas
embodies the idea of the "greatest good for the greatest number."
​ The Cost of Happiness: Le Guin explores the idea that societal happiness often
comes at a cost, and this cost is sometimes hidden or ignored by those who benefit
from it. In Omelas, the citizens choose to ignore the child's suffering to preserve their
own contentment.
​ Individual vs. Society: The story prompts readers to consider the tension between
individual ethics and the collective good. It raises questions about personal
responsibility and the willingness of individuals to accept or reject a morally
compromised society.

Lessons:
​ Moral Compromise: "The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas" challenges readers
to reflect on the moral compromises we make for our own comfort and happiness. It
underscores the idea that true happiness cannot be built upon the suffering of others.
​ Confronting Injustice: The story encourages us to confront and question the
injustices that may be hidden in our own society. It suggests that sometimes walking
away from a morally corrupt system is the only ethical choice.
​ Complexity of Ethics: The story illustrates the complex and often conflicting nature
of ethical decisions. It reminds us that ethical dilemmas don't always have clear-cut
solutions and that we must grapple with moral complexities.