Lannie Mae P.

Samayang BSMA II-B

What is literature? 5. Moral and artistic preference
 From Latin word litera which means letters which
deals with ideas, thoughts, and emotions of man,  People read literature for information, for
thus, literature can be said as the story of man amusement, for higher and keener pleasure, for
(Kahayon, 1998). cultural upliftment and for discovery of broader
 From French phrase “belles-letters” which means dimensions in life (__. Nuggets, 2004)
beautiful writing(Barugo, et al, 2004) Literature and History
 A term used to describe written or spoken
materials  Literature and History are closely interrelated. In
 Refers to the work of creative imagination discovering the history of race, the feelings,
including works of poetry, drama, and fiction aspirations, customs, and traditions of a people
 A faithful reproduction of man’s manifold are sure to be included...which are written in
experiences blended into one harmonious literature.
expression. History can also be written, and this too is literature.
 It is man’s life story including struggles, ideas, Events that can be written down are part of true literature;
failures, sacrifices, and happiness(Ang, 2006). therefore, literature is part of the history.
 Broadly speaking, "literature" is used to describe Literary Compositions that have influenced the world
anything from creative writing to more technical 1. The Bible or the Sacred Writings
or scientific works, but the term is most 2. Koran
commonly used to refer to works of the creative 3. The Iliad and the Odyssey
imagination, including works of poetry, drama, 4. The Mahabharata
fiction, and nonfiction. 5. Canterbury Tales
 As a definition, literature is an art that aims at 6. Uncle Tom’s Cabin
producing beauty in writing and pleasure in the 7. The Devine Comedy
reader. 8. El Cid Compeador
 Literature represents a language or a people: 9. The Song of Roland
culture and tradition. 10. The Book of the Dead
11. The Book of the Days
 But, literature is more important than just a
12. One Thousand Nights or the Arabian Nights
historical or cultural artifact. Literature
Generic Classifications of Literature
introduces us to new worlds of experience.
1. Prose
 Literature is an interpretation of life. The writer of
2. Poetry
literature is not only interested in facts , but also
3. Drama
in the beauty of these facts.
4. Essay
 Deals with ideas, thoughts and emotions of man.
Man’s loves, grieves, thoughts, dreams, and
1. Prose
aspirations coached in beautiful language is
 It uses a spoken or written language without
Literature.
metrical regularity.
 Helps understand the real spirit of a nation.
 It is organized in sentences and paragraphs.
 “Literature expresses the feelings of people to  It imitates the spoken language.
society, to the government, to his surroundings, to Types of Prose
his fellowmen, and to his Divine Creator.”- Brother 1. Fiction- stories based on the writer’s imagination
Azurin 2. Non- Fiction- works of facts and theories
 “Literature is anything that is printed, as long as it
is related to the ideas and feelings of people, Fiction
whether it is true or just a product of one’s 1. Short stories
imagination. 2. Novels
 “True literature is a piece of written work which is 3. Myths/legends/fables
undying. It expresses the feelings and emotions of 4. Parables/ anecdotes
people in response to his everyday effort to live, to 5. Romances
be happy in his environment and, after struggles, 6. Epics
to reach his Creator.”---Atienza, Ramos, Salazar, 7. Plays
and Nazal (Panitikang Pilipino) Non-Fiction
Reasons for studying literature 1. Letters
1. Enjoyment 2. Journals/ Diaries
2. Imagination and inspiration 3. Biographies
3. Vicarious experiences 4. Autobiographies
4. Literary heritage appreciation 5. Histories
Lannie Mae P. Samayang BSMA II-B
6. Newspapers (dodecasyllabic) and slowly sung to the
7. Speech/Oration accompaniment of guitar or banduria.
2. Poetry Corridos/Kuridos- have measures of eight syllables
* It is written with rhythm and is organized in lines and (octosyllabic) and recited to a material beat.
groups lines called stanzas. 3. Essay
* It is highly imaginative and written in condensed It is a short analytic, descriptive, or interpretive piece of
language, stylized syntax, and figures of speech not found literary or journalistic prose dealing with a specific topic.
in ordinary communication. It is a short literary composition which is expository in
Types of Poetry nature.
1. Narrative Poetry- describes important details in life The author shares some of his thoughts, feelings,
following the order of events either real or imaginary experiences, or observations on some aspects of life that
2. Dramatic Poetry-tells stories in dialogue of play have interested him.
rhymes, repeating rhymes and other poetic elements 4. Drama
3. Lyric Poetry-any short poem which is song-like It is an exciting, tense, and gripping event and actions, or
Narrative Poetry an exciting, tense, and gripping quality, either in a work of
Epic- a lengthy narrative poem in elevated language art or in a real-life.
celebrating the adventures and achievements of a It is a serious play written for performance on stage,
legendary or traditional hero television, or radio.
Metrical Tales- tales written in verse and classified as Kinds of Drama
either ballad or metrical romance. Tragedy- is a play which the leading character overcomes
-a narrative poem consisting usually of a single series of trouble of some kind.
connective events that are simple idylls or home tales, Comedy-a play which the leading character overcomes
love tales, tales of supernatural or tales written for a obstacles placed in his way and wins in the conflict; ends
strong moral purpose in verse form. happily
Ballad-narrative song: a song or poem, especially a Farce- a comedy which the situations are too ridiculous;
traditional one or one in a traditional style, telling a story situations are beyond reality
in a number of short regular stanzas, often with a refrain Pantomime- the entire story is told by action; can be
-concerned with some strongly emotional comedy or tragedy
event Historical Play- dramatized some event of history
-halfway between the lyric and epic Puppet Play- some parts are acted by puppets or
Metrical Romance- a metrical tale composed of a long marionettes
rambling love story in verse Plays of Fantasy- actions could not take place in real life
-centered around the adventure of knights but only in the imagination of the writer; full of improbable
and lords and their royal ladies during the actions
age of chivalry
Metrical Allegory - an extended narrative that carries a
second meaning along with the surface story. Things and
actions are symbolic.
Popular Ballad- a ballad of wide workmanship telling
some simple incidents of adventure, cruelty, passion, or
superstition, an incident that shows the primary instincts
of man influenced by the restraints of modern civilization.
Lyric Poetry
Haiku-a form of Japanese poetry with 17 syllables in three
unrhymed lines of five, seven, and five syllables, often
describing nature or a season
Ode-serious lyric poetry which commemorates important
public events
-Consists of stanzas with the same pattern of
rhythm and rhyme
Elegy- common lyrics that deals with life and death
- It mourns the death of a loved one
Sonnet- a short poem with 14 lines, usually ten-syllable
rhyming lines, divided into two, three, or four sections.
There are many rhyming patterns for sonnets, and they are
usually written in iambic pentameter(five beat poetic line).
Song- a lyric poem in a regular pattern to set music.
- composed of twelve syllables