- Is an oral or written records of a

certain period or country

expressing vividly and powerfully
the thoughts and feelings of
mankind.
-is an enduring expression of
significant human experiences in
words well-chosen and arranged.
 Two Aspects of Literature
• Simple enjoyment and appreciation
• Analysis and description

Significance of Literature
• to promote a right moral attitude
•To bring one into contact with great minds
•To expand one’s life immeasurably
•To intensify one’s awareness of the common
lot of man in all ages and in all countries.
 Literature

Prose Poetry

Fiction Non-fiction Drama Prose Narrative Lyric Dramatic

1. Fable 1. Autobiography 1. Tragedy 1. Ballad 1. Ode 1. Tragedy
2. Myth 2. Biography 2. Comedy 2. Epic 2. Elegy 2. Comedy
3. Legend 3. Diary 2.1 Romantic 3. Metrical 3. Song 3. Melodrama
4. Parable 4. Essay 2.2 Satiric Tale or 4. Sonnet4. Farce
5. Folktale 5. Journal 2.3 Sentimental Romance 5. Dirge 5. Social Poems
6. Fairy Tale 6. History 6. Masque
7. Short Story 7. Monologue
8. Novel
9. Novelette
10. Anecdotes
 A. Prose-
-consists of those written within the common flow of conversation in sentences
and paragraphs.

1. Fiction- works of literature based on writer’s imagination.

1.1 Fable- a short tale that contains a moral/lesson and whose characters are
often animals given various human qualities

1.2 Myth- a story or group of interrelated stories that people accept as

making statements about the universe and human life.

1.3 Legend- a story made up from long ago which tells of the origin of things,
events, or forces in nature.

1.4 Parable- a short narrative that use people to illustrate man’s relationship
with God.

1.5Folktale- a narrative filled with the superstitions, anecdotes, proverbs,

legends, and customs.
1.6 Fairy Tale- a narrative that relates the lives and adventures of supernatural spirits, or
of mysterious creatures whose behavior and actions are often playful and benevolent
but also sometimes wicked.

1.7 Short Story- a narrative involving one or more characters, one plot and one single
impression.

1.8 Novel- an extended narrative divided into chapters that portray fictional characters
engaging in action and conflicts.

1.9 Novelette- a fictional narrative that is longer than a short story but stronger than a
novel.

1.10 Anecdote- a story about animals or children that is merely a product of the
writer’s imagination and the main aim is to bring out the lessons to the reader.
 2. Nonfiction
- Works of literature other than novels or short stories especially such works
aside from poetry and drama.

2.1 Autobiography- a life story of a person written by himself.

2.2 Biography- a life story of a person written by another person.

2.3 Diary- a day-to-day account of a person’s activities and experiences.

2.4 Essay- a prose composition of any length expressing the writer’s viewpoint or
opinion about a particular problem or event
2.5 Journal- a report of everyday events in society, government, science, industry,
and accidents, happening nationally or locally.

2.6 History- a chronological record of significant events often with an

explanation of their causes.
 3. Drama
- A composition, whether in prose or poetry,
that tells a story through action and dialogue,
and designed for theatrical performance.
3.1 Tragedy- a serious play in which the character meets with a
disaster , either because of a personal fault or through events that
cannot be helped.

3.2 Comedy- a light amusing play into a happy

ending.
 B. Poetry
- A poem that tells a story or describes important events
in life either real or imaginary with character, setting,
and various elements of plot.
1. Narrative- a poem that tells a story or describes important events in life
either real or imaginary with character, setting and various elements of plot.

1.1 Ballad- a narrative in verse written about popular subjects and intended for oral
presentation, normally for singing and it can be tragic or humorous.

1.2 Epic- is an extended narrative about heroic exploits often under supernatural
control which may deal with heroes and gods.

1.3 Metrical Tale/Romance- a narrative poem of considerable length which treat love,
intrigue, and chivalric adventures, and romance.
 2. Lyric
-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
and they are usually short, simple and easy to understand.

2.1 Ode- a poem of a noble feeling, expressed with dignity, with no definite
number of syllables or definite number of lines in a stanza.

2.2 Elegy- a poem which expresses feeling of grief and melancholy over the death
of a person.

2.3 Song- verses adopted to musical expression.

2.4 Sonnet- a lyric poem of 14 lines dealing with an emotion, a feeling, or an idea.

2.5 Dirge- a lament for the dead, especially one forming part of a funeral rite.
 3. Dramatic
-is a kind of poetry that tells a story through action and dialogue in
verse form and designed foe theatrical performance.

3.1 Comedy- is usually light and amusing with a happy ending.

3.2 Tragedy- involves the hero struggling mightily against dynamic forces; he meets
death or ruin without success and satisfaction.
3.3 Melodrama- is usually used in musical plays with the opera; today, is related to
tragedy which arouses immediate and intense emotion and is usually sad but has a
happy ending.
3.4 Farce- is an exaggerated comedy which seeks to arouse mirth by laughable
lines.
3.5 Social Poem- is either purely comic or tragic and it pictures the life of today; it
may bring about changes in the social conditions.
3.6 Monologue- a dramatic soliloquy (talking to one’s self)
3.7 Masque- a short allegorical dramatic performance popular as a court
entertainment in 16th and 17th century Europe, performed by masked actors often
themselves members of the court and consisting of dumb show combines with
music and dancing.