Introduction to literature

Introduction to English Literature

Course Code: ENG-1103
Credit Hours: 3
Semester: BS English 1st Semester
Instructor: M. Ashraf
 Course Objectives
• To enable students to meet their real life
communication needs .
• To enable students to communicate properly.
• To develop positive awareness and interest in
language use.
• To tap on the interest of the learners in new
technology and develop further oral and
written academic proficiency in English.
 Recommended Books
• Mastering English Literature by Richards Gill
• A glossary of literary terms by M.H Abrams
• Poetics. Introduction to Aristotle
• The penguin dictionary of literary terms and
literary theory. By J.A Cuddon
• Patterns of College Writing By L.G . Kriszner
and S.R. Mandell
• Grammar in use by R. Murphy
 What is Literature
• Literature, a body of written works. The name
has traditionally been applied to those
imaginative works of poetry and prose
distinguished by the intentions of their authors
and the perceived aesthetic excellence of their
execution. Literature may be classified
according to a variety of systems,
including language, national origin, historical
period, genre, and subject matter.
 Definition literature
• Literature can be defined as ‘pieces of writing
that are valued as works of art, especially
novels, plays and poems’.
(Oxford Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary).
 Literature and life
• Literature reflects or comments on actual
experience, social philosophical. And moral
concern
 Periods of English literature
• 450 – 1500 Medieval
450 – 1066 Old English
1066 – Middle English
• 1500 – 1600 Renaissance
1558 – 1603 Elizabethan
1603- 1625 Jacobean
1625 -1649 Caroline
1649 – 1660 Commonwealth
• 1660 - 1798 Neo Classical
1660 -1700 Restoration
1700 – 1745 Augustan
1745 – 1798 Johnsonian
• 1798 – Modern
1798 – 1832 Romantic
1832 – 1901 Victorian
1901 – 1914 Edwardian
914 – 1939 Modernist
1939 – Contemporary
 Importance of literature
• Literature improves your language
• It teaches you about the life, cultures and experiences
of people in other parts of the world.
• It entertains you and provides useful occupation in your
free time.
• It helps you compare your own experiences with the
experiences of other people.
• It makes you a wiser and more experienced person by
forcing you to judge, sympathize with, or criticize the
characters you read about.
 Functions of Literature
• Knowledge sharing :This is the most basic and important
function of literature. We can learn many new things
about the world with its help; we can fill ourselves with
knowledge and become smarter.
• Upbringing: Literature affects the feelings and outlook of
a person. Why do we read fairy tales in childhood? Well,
mostly because they clearly distinguish between good and
evil, which helps children to understand what is good and
what is bad from early age. Thanks to artistic images,
authors convey basic educational principles to the child.
 Functions of Literature
• Communication: it is the communication between the
reader and the author. Very often, we are impressed by
some characters and do not like others. We can agree with
a point of view of the author and we can disagree with it
altogether. Also, a book can be a topic for discussion with
your friends and acquaintances.
• Entertainment: Even though we live in the digital age with
all forms of entertainment at our fingertips, a lot of people
still enjoy reading books to entertain themselves. After all,
books can take you anywhere without you even leaving
your couch and they can provide you with hours of fun.
They don't even have to be fiction, some folks get a kick out
of reading construction manuals.
 Functions of Literature
• Shaping the aesthetic taste: Literature helps us to
form our own vision of beauty, it pleasantly
influences us, changing our behavior in society and
attitude towards people in general. Literature helps
us to notice everything beautiful around us.
• Pleasure: We get pleasure every time from reading
good verses or beautiful work, or a book with a
great plot, or other interesting facts and scientific
literature. People spend a lot of time looking for
something that really brings them pleasure, and
literature is something that gives joy.
 Literary Genres
Prose
– Fiction
– Non-fiction
Poetry
Drama
 prose
• Writing that is not poetry
• the ordinary form of written language.
All writings fall into one of these two categories:
–Fiction
–Nonfiction
 Fiction
Fiction is not true. It is drawn from the
imagination of the author.
• Ancient: Fables, Tales
• Modern: Novels & Short Stories
 Non-fiction
Nonfiction is true. It is based on real events or
facts.
e.g. biography, autobiography, essay,
advertisement etc.
 Types of fiction
• Historical fiction
• Realistic fiction
• Science fiction
• Fantasy
• Mystery
• Adventure
• folktales
 Types of fiction(cont…)
Historical fiction
• A story that takes place in a historically
accurate time and setting. The characters and
some events are fictional.
 Types of fiction(cont…)
Realistic fiction
• A story that seems real or could happen in
real life. It is set in present day and includes
modern day problems and events.
 Types of fiction(cont…)
Science fiction
• A story that is typically set in the future or
on other planets. It is based on the impact of
actual, imagined, or potential science.
 Types of fiction(cont…)
Fantasy
• A story that is imaginative, but could never
really happen. The setting may be of another
world. Characters might be magical.
 Types of fiction(cont…)
Mystery
• A story that usually involves suspense and
the solving of a crime. Clues are typically given
throughout the story to solve the mystery at
the end of the book.
 Types of fiction(cont…)
Adventure
• A story where a protagonist and other major
characters and are placed in dangerous
situations. The characters must use their wit
and skills to defeat the antagonist.
 Types of fiction(cont…)
Folktales
• Fable
• Fairy Tale
• Legend
• Tall Tale
• Myth
 Genres of fiction
• Short story
• Novel
 Short story
• A brief artistic form of prose which is cantered
on a major main event with a few characters
 Novel
• A long artistic form of prose which covers both
main and sub events.
 Novel and kinds of novel
• Novel: a fictitious prose narrative of book length, typically
representing character and action with some degree of
realism.
• Kinds of Novel
• Realistic Novel
• Picaresque Novel
• Historical Novel
• Epistolary Novel
• Bildungsroman
• Gothic Novel
 Elements of Fiction
• Plot
• Setting
• Characters
• Point of View
• Theme
 plot
• Plot is what happens and how it happens in a narrative.
Stages of plot:
1. Exposition: The part of the plot that tells how the story
begins.
2. Rising action: The action in the story leading up to the
climax.
3. Climax: The point of crisis in the plot. It may be the
reader’s point of highest interest.
4. Falling action: the logical result of the climax
5. Resolution: the final outcome of the story
 Setting
• Time and place, where the action occurs and
state of mind at the time. Setting is the place
where character’s story accurse.
 Type of setting
1.Historical moment in time
2.Geographic location in which a story takes
place
3.Backdrop and view
4.Mood for a story ( condition )
 Characters
• The people, animals or supernatural elements
in the story.
 Types of character
1. Major or central characters are vital to the development
and resolution of the conflict. In other words, the plot and
resolution of conflict revolves around these characters.
2. Minor characters serve to complement the major
characters and help move the plot events forward.
3. Dynamic - A dynamic character is a person who changes
over time, usually as a result of resolving a central conflict
or facing a major crisis. Most dynamic characters tend to be
central rather than peripheral characters, because resolving
the conflict is the major role of central characters.
 Types of character
3. Dynamic - A dynamic character is a person who changes over time,
usually as a result of resolving a central conflict or facing a major crisis.
Most dynamic characters tend to be central rather than peripheral
characters, because resolving the conflict is the major role of central
characters.
4. Static - A static character is someone who does not change over time;
his or her personality does not transform or evolve.
5. Round - A rounded character is anyone who has a complex
personality; he or she is often portrayed as a conflicted and
contradictory person.
6. Flat - A flat character is the opposite of a round character. This
literary personality is notable for one kind of personality trait or
characteristic
 Types of character
7. Stock - Stock characters are those types of characters
who have become conventional or stereotypical through
repeated use in particular types of stories. Stock
characters are instantly recognizable to readers or
audience members (e.g. the femme fatale, the cynical
but moral private eye, the mad scientist, the geeky boy
with glasses, and the faithful sidekick). the Stock
characters are normally one-dimensional flat characters,
but sometimes stock personalities are deeply conflicted,
rounded characters (e.g. "Hamlet" type)
 Types of character
8. Protagonist - The protagonist is the central
person in a story, and is often referred to as
the story's main character. He or she (or they)
is faced with a conflict that must be resolved.
The protagonist may not always be admirable
(e.g. an anti-hero); nevertheless s/he must
command involvement on the part of the
reader, or better yet, empathy
 Types of character
9. Antagonist - The antagonist is the character(s)
(or situation) that represents the opposition
against which the protagonist must contend.
In other words, the antagonist is an obstacle
that the protagonist must overcome.
symbolizes the violent tendencies (the Id) that
William Golding believes is within human
nature.
 Types of character
10. Anti-Hero - A major character, usually the
protagonist, who lacks conventional nobility of
mind, and who struggles for values not deemed
universally admirable. Duddy, in Mordecai Richler's
The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz, is a classic
anti-hero. He's vulgar, manipulative and self-
centered. Nevertheless, Duddy is the center of the
story, and we are drawn to the challenges he must
overcome and the goals he seeks to achieve.
 Types of character
11. Foil - A foil is any character (usually the antagonist or an
important supporting character) whose personal qualities
contrast with another character (usually the protagonist). By
providing this contrast, we get to know more about the other
character.
12. Symbolic - A symbolic character is any major or minor
character whose very existence represents some major idea or
aspect of society. For example, in Lord of the Flies, Piggy is a
symbol of both the rationality and physical weakness of
modern civilization; Jack, on the other hand, symbolizes the
violent tendencies (the Id) that William Golding believes is
within human nature.
 Point of view
Narrator’s point of view:
First Person
Third Person:
A Narrator can also be:
Omniscient
Partially omniscient
Objective
Subjective
 Point of view
• I. First Person point of view
(Uses personal pronouns: I, me,
mine, we, us, our)
- the narrator is the main
character who tells his/her own
story.
 Point of view
• II. Third Person point of view
(Uses personal pronouns: he,
she, it, they, them, etc.)
- This narrator is an outside
narrator.
 Point of view
• A. Third Person: Objective
–This narrator is like a news
reporter. He tells us the facts
only. He cannot enter into the
thoughts of the characters.
 Point of view
• B. Third Person: Limited
–This narrator can see into the
mind of only one character
 Point of view
• C. Third Person: Omniscient
–This narrator can relate the
thoughts of all the characters
 Point of view
• The objective point of view is the point of
view from a distanced, informational
perspective, as in a news report.
 Point of view
• The subjective point of view involves a
personal perspective.
 Theme
• A central message, concern, or insight into life
expressed through the story.
Types of theme:
1. Stated theme: clearly stated in the story
2. Implied theme: must inferred from the story
 Poetry
• literary work in which the expression of feelings and
ideas is given intensity by the use of distinctive style and
rhythm; poems collectively or as a genre of literature.
• Elements of Poetry
• Imagery- It appeals to the senses ( show don’t tell). Ex.
Rhythm- a regular pattern of sounds or movements.
Sound – the rhythm goes along with the general sound
as it is easy to remember. ( euphony and cacophony) 
Density- is how much is said in how little of space. The
ability to use metaphor not to conform to traditional
grammar styles, and incorporate sounds and rhythmic is
unique in poetry Line.
 Forms of Poetry
• Blank verse. Blank verse is poetry written with a precise meter—
almost always iambic pentameter—that does not rhyme. Learn
more about blank verse here.
• Rhymed poetry In contrast to blank verse, rhymed poems
rhyme by definition, although their scheme varies. Learn more
about rhymed poetry here.
• Free verse. Free verse poetry is poetry that lacks a consistent
rhyme scheme, metrical pattern, or musical form. Learn more
about free verse here.
• Epics. An epic poem is a lengthy, narrative work of poetry. These
long poems typically detail extraordinary feats and adventures of
characters from a distant past. Learn more about epics here.
 What Is a Rhyme Scheme?

• There are many different types of rhymes that

poets use in their work: internal rhymes, slant
rhymes, eye rhymes, identical rhymes, and
more. One of the most common ways to write a
rhyming poem is to use a rhyme scheme
composed of shared vowel sounds or
consonants. Learn about 10 different poetry
rhyme schemes here.
 What Is Meter in Poetry?

• A poem can contain many elements to give it

structure. Rhyme is perhaps the most
common of these elements: countless poetic
works, from limericks to epic poems to pop
lyrics, contain rhymes. But equally important
is meter, which imposes specific length and
emphasis on a given line of poetry. Learn
more about meter in poetry here.
 What Is Imagery in Poetry?

• In poetry and literature, imagery is the use of

figurative language to evoke a sensory
experience in the reader. When a poet uses
descriptive language well, they play to the
reader’s senses, providing them with sights,
tastes, smells, sounds, internal and external
feelings, and even internal emotion. Learn
about the seven types of imagery in poetry
here.
 Introduction to Drama
• A drama or play is a form of storytelling in
which actors make the characters come alive
through speech (dialogue) and action (stage
directions). ... To be a part of an audience is
different than reading a play alone. The
response of the audience will also affect our
own response.
 Origin of Drama
• The earliest origins of drama are to be found
in Athens where ancient hymns, called
dithyrambs, were sung in honor of the god
Dionysus. These hymns were later adapted for
choral processions in which participants would
dress up in costumes and masks.
 Drama
• A story put into action, or a story of human life
told by actual representation of persons by
persons, with imitation of language, voice,
gesture, dress, and accessories or surrounding
conditions, the whole produce with reference
to truth or probability, and with or without the
aid of music, dancing, painting, and
decoration; a play.
 Kinds of Drama
• There are four major types of drama: comedy,
tragedy, tragicomedy, and melodrama.
These types originated at different times, but
each of them has its characteristics. However,
all of them have their place in modern culture
 Comedy
• Comedy is a type of drama that aims to make
the audience laugh. Its tone is light and it
mostly has a happy ending. The classic
conception of comedy came from the Ancient
Greek theatre, where comedy first emerged as
a form of drama.
 Tragedy
• Tragedy is a type of drama in which the
protagonist or hero is brought down by
his/her flaws. Murders, deaths, insanity, and
pain are among the most common ideas in
tragedies. Main characters usually have some
kind of weakness or defect that causes their
downfall.
 Tragicomedy
• Tragicomedy is a special kind of drama that
combines the features of tragedy and comedy.
This means that such play may be sad but will
have a happy ending, or it may be serious with
some elements of humor emerging
throughout the whole play.
 Melodrama
• Melodrama is the last one of the four types of
drama. It is a kind of drama in which
everything is hyperbolized. Usually, themes
depicted in melodramas are simple and
without any unpredictable plot twists. There
are quite a lot of stereotypes in such dramas.
 Elements of Drama
• A drama, also known as a play, is a form of literature written intentionally
for theatrical performance. Most of the parts in a drama are consisted of
scripted dialogues, or only the acting in some cases, between characters
intended to be performed by actors and actresses to move the story
along. There are six main elements of drama which serve as the basis of
producing a successful play. These essential elements of drama include
the plot of the story, the theme, the genre in which the story belongs, the
characters, the setting, and the audience. Altogether, they provide a
building block by which dramatic works can be analyzed and evaluated.
By knowing and using the elements of drama, the skills needed in creating
a successful performance, as well as the skills required to analyze a
drama, could be developed. 
 Plot  
• Plot, referring to the basic storyline of the
play, is the structure of a play which tells what
happens as the story goes. The plot structure
can be divided into six stages: exposition,
inciting incident, rising action, climax, falling
action, and denouement. 
 Character
• Characters are the people, or sometimes animals,
subjected in the drama, and are portrayed by the actors
and actresses in the play. They are one of the main
components that move the action of the play forward.
Characters can be categorized into three types according
to the roles they play. The main character of the play is
known as the protagonist. The antagonist is the character
who opposes the protagonist. The other characters that
are neither the protagonist nor the antagonist are called
the secondary characters. They may have a major part or
a minor involvement in the drama.
 Setting
• The setting is the place, together with other
conditions, such as time and the environment,
involved in which the events occur. The setting
in the drama can be presented through the
visual element deals with the scenes,
costumes and special effects used in it. The
setting can as well be enhanced by using
viewable elements, sound effects, and music.
 Theme, Genre

• The theme refers to the message that is

intended to be expressed through the story. In
other word, it is the main idea or the lesson to
be learned from the play. 
• Genre
• Genre is the type of play. The examples of genre
in which the play can be classified include
tragedy, comedy, romantic, mystery, and
historical play.  
 Audience

• Audience is a group of people who watch the

play. Audience can be said to be the most
important element of drama to be considered
about, since it is the audience that determine
whether the play is successful or not. Also,
many playwrights write the plot of the drama
with a great concern regarding to their groups
of audience rather than their own interests. 
 Classical Neo-Classical drama
• Classical drama refers to the theatrical
traditions of ancient Greece and Rome, which
together form the foundations
of dramatic performance..
 Neo Classical drama
• Neoclassicism was the dominant form
of theatre in the eighteenth century. It
demanded decorum and rigorous adherence
to the classical unities. ... The Restoration
period marked a Neo-Classical movement,
modeled on the classics of Greece and Rome.
 Restoration drama
• Restoration tragedy refers to neoclassical rules
making it very imitative. Usually these
tragedies are reworking of
Shakespearean plays. There are three types of
comedies that were popular during
the Restoration. These three types are:
Humor, Manners, and Intrigue.
 Modern Theatre
• Modern theatre includes performances of
plays and musical theatre. The art forms of
ballet and opera are also theatre and use
many conventions such as acting, costumes
and staging. They were influential to the
development of musical theatre.
 Tragedy
• Tragedy is a branch of drama that addresses
the sorrowful downfall of a protagonist in a
serious manner. In many tragedies, the
protagonist is a tragic hero of exalted social
status whose own character flaw combines
with fate to bring about their ruin.
 Greek Tragedy
• Greek tragedies included subject matter,
which told of the misfortunes of heroes as
well as gods and goddesses. It was important
for Greek tragedies to include a catharsis or
release of great emotional tension.
 English Tragedy
• These tragedies are modeled after the Roman
playwright Seneca. In these works, it can be
noted that there is considerable violence and
the occasional supernatural being. Unlike
Greek tragedies, English ones revolve around
realistic people and have many subplots as
well as moments of comic relief.