MODULE 1-Introduction to Literature Module 2 Divisions of Literature

Definitions of Literature
Division of Literature
a. Literature is a body of written works. a) Prose - is a literary piece which is
The name has traditionally been applied written in the pattern of ordinary spoken
to those imaginative works of poetry and language and within the common flow of
prose distinguished by the intentions of conversation. It is written in sentences
their authors and the and paragraphs. It is derived from the
perceived aesthetic excellence of their Latin word prosa which means
execution (Rexroth, n.d.) ‘straightforward’. It is the language of the
mind.
b. Literature is books and writings b) Poetry - refers to those expressions
published on a particular subject in verse, with measures, rhymes, lines,
(Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary and stanzas and melodious tones. It came
Thesaurus) from the Greek word poiesis which
means ‘making’. It is the language of the
c. Literature is a term used to describe mind.
written and sometimes spoken material.
Derived from the Latin Types of Prose
word litteratura meaning "writing
formed with letters," literature most a) Fiction - is a series of imagined facts
commonly refers to works of the creative which shows truths about human life.
imagination, including
poetry, drama, fiction, nonfiction, and in Kinds:
some instances, journalism, and song
(Lombardi, 2020). 1. Short Story – It is a fiction of
such brevity that it supports no
d. Literature refers primarily to written subplots.
texts, therefore, it is simply anything that
is written (Bressler, 2011). 2. Novel - A novel is a piece of
long narrative in literary prose.
e. Literature, as a whole, emerged from Narrative prose is meant to
broader discourses or “bodies of thought entertain and tell a story. It is a
and writing that made certain texts description of a chain of events
possible and gave authors their ideas and which includes a cast of
ways of writing” (Ryan, 2012). characters, a setting, and an
ending. Most publishers prefer
Purposes of Literature novels that are in the 80,000- to
120,000-word range, depending
1) To unlock unfamiliar words on the genre.
2) To provide entertainment
3) To help us understand more the world 3. Legend – It is a Story,
we live in sometimes of a national or folk
4) To uplift the mind, the heart, and the hero, which has a basis in fact
soul but also includes imaginative
5) To feed one’s imagination material.
 often pertaining to the actions of
4. Adventures – These feature the gods.
physical action and courageous
heroes who save others from b) Non-fiction – is based mainly on
danger or impending doom. The facts rather than on the imagination.
adventure genre of fiction is fast-
paced and usually centers on a Kinds:
protagonist in a dangerous or
risky situation. 1. Biography – It is an account
or story of someone’s life written
5. Allegories – teach lessons by another person.
a. Fable – It is a narration
demonstrating a useful 2. Autobiography – It is an
truth, especially in which account or story of a one’s life
animals speak as humans; written by that person.
legendary, supernatural
tale 3. Diary – It is a daily record of
b. Parable - A parable is a events, activities, experiences,
short, didactic story that is and personal observations of the
meant to teach a moral. writer.
Parables use human
characters in believable 4. Letters – These are written or
situations so that the printed messages usually of
reader or listener feels business or personal matters by
able to relate. There are one person or organization to
many examples of another.
parables in religious texts
such as the Bible and the 5. Journals – These are written
Quran. reports on certain fields of
education and professional
6. Drama – This is usually for activity.
theatrical performance, where
conflicts and emotion are 6. Essay – It is a short literary
expressed through dialogue and compositions with specific that
action. expresses an author’s opinions,
and is informal, and personal in
7. Fairy Tale – This is a story tone.
about fairies or other magical
creatures in a magical world. 7. Current Publications – these
include news item, articles, in
8. Mythology – It is a traditional newspapers and magazines or
narrative, often based in part on other forms of periodicals.
historical events, that reveals
human behavior and natural 8. History – a record of the past.
phenomena by its symbolism;
 and/or adventures of legendary
figures.

Branches of Poetry b. Ballad – short simple narrative

poem composed to be sung and
1. Lyric Poetry – In early days, it was is orally told from one generation
meant to be sung to the accompaniment to another.
of a musical instrument known as lyre.
c. Tale – a poem full of fiction
Kinds of Lyric Poetry: and exaggeration.

a. Song – short lyric poem which 3. Dramatic Poetry – includes poems

has a specific melodious intended for theater or to be presented
quality and is adapted to be on stage.
sung.
Kinds of Dramatic Poetry:
b. Ode – a poem meant to be
sung but longer than a song. It is a. Comedy – a form of poetry
often addressed to someone or which ends a happily.
something.
b. Tragedy – a form of poetry
c. Elegy – a poem expressing which ends sadly.
lament or grief to the dead. It
expresses sorrow, mourning, and c. Dramatic Monologue – a
regret of a loved one. combination of drama and poetry,
usually a stage play, which
d. Sonnet – a poem of 14 lines presents the speech of a
written formal line. Types: character or characters being
Petrarchan/Italian Sonnet, portrayed by one person in a
Spenserian Sonnet, particular situation at a critical
English/Shakespearian Sonnet moment.

e. Simple Lyric – embraces a d. Melodrama – a play of highly

wide variety of poems and is sensational events accompanied
characterized by subjectivity, with music.
imagination, melody and emotion.
e. Farce – a short comedy.
2. Narrative Poetry – It tells a story
following an order of events.
Module 3 – Elements of a Story
Kinds of Narrative Poetry:
Elements of a Story
a. Epic – a long, majestic
narrative poem which tells the A. The Characters
adventures of a traditional hero B. The Plot
and the development of a nation, C. Point of View
 story is the protagonist.
A. The Characters - the people, or They should be carefully
sometimes the animals, who participate crafted with a logical
in the action of a literary work backstory, personal
motivation, and a
Methods of Characterization character arc over the
course of the story. Often
1) Direct or Expository the story will be told from
Characterization tells the audience their point of view. The
what the personality of the character is. protagonist is the
character the audience is
Example: “The patient boy and quiet girl most invested in. He is
were both well mannered and did not called the hero, or heroine
disobey their mother.” for female counterpart,
Explanation: The author is directly telling when he embodies certain
the audience the personality of these noble ideas of man.
two children. The boy is “patient” and However, the protagonist
the girl is “quiet.” may not always be
admirable (e.g. an anti-
2) Indirect or Dramatic hero).
Characterization shows things that
reveal the personality of a character. a.1.2 Antagonist – The
villain of the story is the
Example from The Cat in the Hat: antagonist. He is the
Many of the words spoken by the cat at primary opposing fore
the beginning of the story have an contending the
upbeat connotative meaning. For protagonist. The villain
instance, the cat says to the children, can be another character,
“But we can have / Lots of fun that is the society, nature, fate, or
funny!” (7). one side of the character
that battles another side in
Explanation: This reveals that the cat’s an internal conflict. Note
character is an upbeat character that that an antagonist is not
likes to have fun. the same as an anti-hero.
Anti-heroes are villainous
Kinds of Characters that can be people who function in a
portrayed protagonist’s role.

a. According to Roles played a.2. Minor/Supporting

Characters – serve to
a.1. Major Characters – complement the major
those that make significant characters and help move
decisions. the plot events forward.

a.1.1 Protagonist – The a.2.1. Confidant (or

main character of the Confidante) – This type of
 character is a right hand, meet them as he is someone
best friend, or sidekick to who is three dimensional;
whom the protagonist or complex; many-sided; with a fully
another character reveals developed personality.
his reflections or hopes.
One to whom the central c. According to change undergone in
character entrusts his the story
secrets. Often the
protagonist's goal flows c.1. Static – This character does
through the confidant— not noticeably change over the
although not every story course of a story. Many villains
needs one. are also static: They were evil
yesterday, they’ll be evil today,
a.2.2. Foil – A foil and they’ll be evil tomorrow.
character primarily serves
to bring the protagonist’s c.2. Developing/Dynamic – This
qualities into sharper character is one who changes
relief. This is because the over the course of the story. As
foil is effectively the such, a developing character
contrast of the protagonist makes the best protagonist who
or another character. undergoes a permanent change
in his personality in the course of
a.2.3. Stock/type – A the story. The change may be
stock character is an large or small, for better or for
archetypal character with worse but it is something basic or
a fixed set of personality important.
traits who show qualities
of a national, social, or B. The Plot
occupational group to
which he belongs. 1. Introduction/Exposition

b. According to fullness of This is the start of the story,

development where we meet the main
character or characters,
b.1. Flat – This character is understand the setting, and
simply depicted and deduce the conflict.
characterized by one or two traits. For example, we might meet a
He does not go through a main character, named Fiona,
substantial growth or who just moved to Ireland, and is
transformation in the course of writing her first book. There, we
the narrative and is relatively meet the main character,
uncomplicated. understand she's in a new
country, and will watch her push
b.2. Round – This character to overcome the trials and
shows fluidity and the capacity tribulations that come from each
for change from the moment we of these new elements.
 by society that is opposed by a
2. Rising Action minority.

In the rising action, we watch a  Man Versus Nature – These

series of events unfold. There's not occur when a character, or
much in a story if everything works out characters, find themselves at
perfectly and there are zero bumps in odds with forces of nature. The
the road. We need a little conflict. character's enemy is not another
Conflict can come in many forms. person, but instead the natural
Continuing with Fiona, perhaps she's world. Often, the protagonist is
battling some sort of internal conflict. We stranded in the wilderness,
might see her doubt her decision to threatened by a storm or blizzard,
move so far away from home. Or, with or struck by a terrible disease,
regard to her book, perhaps she submits and must fight for their life.
it to her agent and it's torn to shreds.
Maybe she meets some devilish  Man Versus Fate – This happen
Irish lad who distracts her from her when a character is compelled to
primary purpose, and she must realign follow an unknown destiny. This
her priorities. The possibilities for action exists in any story in which the
- and conflict - are endless. protagonist is struggling against
a god or gods. This conflict is
Conflict – clash of opposing forces in sometimes considered part of
the story. Usually, the main character "Man vs. Self" when focused on
struggles against some other force. an internal, moral struggle, while
forcing a character to consciously,
Kinds of Conflict or subconsciously, act on his or
her fate.
b.1. External Conflict – the clash of the
character with the forces outside him,  Man Versus Supernatural –
natural, social or both. This occurs when a character
battles that which is beyond
 Man Versus Man – This is the nature. It can’t be explained by
most common type of external natural law. This could be
conflict. In this type of conflict, the monsters, aliens, witches,
protagonist, or main character, vampires, mythical creatures, and
faces off with an antagonist who so forth.
must be defeated. This conflict
happens when a hero fights a  Man Versus Technology – This
villain. happens when a person is in
 Man Versus Society – The direct combat with robots, in the
protagonist questions and context of science fiction, or it
perhaps rebels against the social could mean simply that
norms of their community or of technology, or man-made entities
society at large. It could be social which may possess "artificial
evils or discrimination practiced intelligence", stands in the way of
 the protagonist getting what he thing she's waiting for is the advanced
wants. copy. Perhaps the devilish lad has come
back around and they're in a steady
b.2. Internal Conflict – the clash of relationship.
forces within the character.

 Man Versus Self - This conflict

takes place within the mind of
the main character, and often 5. Resolution
involves the character making a
decision between right and In any story, it's important to
wrong, or other mixed emotions. conclude with a solid resolution,
However, this struggle could also sometimes called the denouement. Here,
exist in the form of a character we learn of the final outcome of the
battling mental illness. tale. Short stories, in particular, need a
defined ending. Books, however, can
remain somewhat open-ended. But, you
3. Climax must bring the story to a close with
either a tragic or a happy ending.
The climax of a story is the peak Perhaps Fiona is purchasing a
of the action. At this point, we've crumbling mansion in Ireland with the
watched the main character confront the royalties from her book. Or, maybe she'll
action or conflict, and now something move back to her home country,
major has to come to a head. cherishing her Irish adventure for what it
Perhaps Fiona makes a new was. Either way, readers want to
acquaintance who takes on a motherly experience some sort of finite
role, reducing those feelings of doubt conclusion, or resolution.
about moving so far away from home.
Perhaps she submits the revised version C. Point of View - Point of view in
of her book and it's accepted. Maybe fiction simply means who tells the story.
she tells the devilish lad she's not
interested so she can focus on her work. 1. First Person Point of View – A
Just as there are many avenues character in the story serves as the
for action and conflict, there are many narrator, using "I" or "we" as the story
ways to bring a story to a climax. This plays out. This narrator might be a
will be the moment that stirs up the relatively minor character, observing the
strongest sense of emotion in the reader. action.

4. Falling Action 2. Second Person Point of View - The

reader becomes the main character,
In the falling action, we see things addressed as "you" throughout the
start to wind down. story and being immersed in the
Fiona and her new motherly narrative. The narrator describes
acquaintance might have settled into a what "you" do and lets you into your
steady rhythm of Sunday dinners by own thoughts and background.
now. As for her book, maybe the only
3. Third Person Point of View only words, but also
form (lines and
Types: stanzas),patterns of
sound,
3.1. Objective - The narrator  (rhyme, repetition, and rhythm)
reports the events that take place as well as figurative language
without knowing the motivations or and imagery to convey a
thoughts of any of the characters. message, tell a story, or
We know little about what drives express the author’s feelings
them until we hear them speak or or thoughts.
observe their actions. The resulting
tone is often matter-of-fact, not
colored by any opinions or How to analyze a poem?
commentary, nor of knowledge of
what takes place outside the scene. 1. Read through for overall
3.2. Limited - The narrator still meaning. Circle unknown words
exists outside the events of the story, and look up in dictionary.
but does not know the motivations or 2. What information does the title
thoughts of all the characters. Rather, give you?
one character is the driver of the 3. Read again and annotate for
story, and the reader is given a elements of poetry.
closer peek into that character’s 4. Read a final time to determine
psyche than the others. theme.
3.3. Omniscient - An
omniscient narrator knows every Distinguishing Characteristics of Poetry
character’s thoughts, feelings, and
motivations even if that character  Unlike prose which has a
doesn’t reveal any of those things to narrator, poetry has a speaker.
the other characters.  A speaker, or voice, talks to
the reader. The speaker is
MODULE 4 POETRY not necessarily the poet. It
What is poetry? can also be a fictional
person, an animal or even a
 Poetry is a form of literary thing
expression that captures
intense experiences or Poetry is also formatted differently
creative perceptions of the from prose.
world in a musical language.
 Basically, if prose is like talking,  A line is a word or row of words
poetry is like singing. that may or may not form a
 By looking at the set up of complete sentence.
a poem, you can see the  A stanza is a group of lines
difference between prose forming a unit. The stanzas in
and poetry. a poem are separated by a
 Poetry is a form of space.
writing that uses not EXAMPLE:
But believe me, son.  The pattern of beats or
I want to be what I used to be when I
was like you. stresses in a poem.
from “Once Upon a Time” by Gabriel  Poets use patterns of stressed
Okara
and unstressed syllables to
create a regular rhythm.
FORM/ STRUCTURE
 Rhythm is the pattern of
 A poem’s form is its sound created by the
appearance. Poems are arrangement of stressed and
divided into lines. Many unstressed syllables in a line.
poems, especially longer ones, Rhythm can be regular or
may also be divided into irregular.
groups of lines called stanzas.
 Stanzas function like
Example:
paragraphs in a story. Each
one contains a single idea or Try beating out the rhythm with a

takes the idea one step finger as you read these lines.
She was a child and I was a child,
further.
In this kingdom by the sea;
Sound Devices But we loved with a love that was
 Some poems use techniques more than love –
of sound such as: Rhythm I and my Annabel Lee;

Rhyme
Alliteration/consonance RHYME

/ Onomatopoeia  The repetition of the same or

similar sounds, usually in
Repetition stressed syllables at the ends of
lines, but sometimes within a line.
Assonance
There are strange things done in
RHYTHM the midnight sun.
By the men who moil for gold.
Rhyme Scheme
The rhyming pattern that is created at ONOMATOPOEIA
the end of lines of poetry.
 Words that are used to represent
particular sounds.
Mary had a little lamb, A
Its fleece as white as snow. B Crash Boom
And everywhere that Mary went, C Bang Zip
The lamb was sure to go. B

If the poem does not have a rhyme REPETITION

scheme it is considered to be a free  The repeating of a particular
verse poem. sound devise to create an effect.
 To create emphasis, a poet may
repeat words or lines within the
ALLITERATION poem.
 The repetition of consonant IMAGERY
sounds at the beginnings of
words.  Poets use words that appeal to
the reader’s senses of sight,
Seven silver swans swam silently sound, touch, taste , and smell.
seaward. Peter Piper pick a peck of
 Which senses does the following
pickled peppers.
stanza appeal to?
Back, he spurred like a
ASSONANCE madman, shouting curses
to the sky,
 The repetition of vowel sounds
within non-rhyming words. With the white road smoking
behind him and his rapier
Into the ink-filled jar, she inserted the brandished high.
brush.

CONSONANCE
FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE
 Repetitive sound produced Figurative language creates pictures by
by consonants in the middle making comparisons.
or end of words in a phrase/
 SIMILE -a comparison using like
sentence. or as. Talk of your cold! through
Pitter, patter, pitter, patter the parka’s fold it stabbed like a
driven nail.
 METAPHOR- Describes one
thing as if it were another.
 The moon was a ghostly galleon
tossed upon cloudy seas.
 PERSONIFICATION- Gives
human characteristics to
something nonhuman.
…and the stars o’erhead were
dancing heel and toe…
ALLUSION
 When an author or poet refers to
a famous person, place or thing
in history.
In “The Highwayman,” images create a
picture of Tim.
Which figures are used to describe his
eyes and his hair?
His eyes were hollows of madness, his
hair like moldy hay,

eyes : hollows of madness :Metaphor

hair : moldy hay : Simile

MOOD/TONE
 The feelings the author’s word
choices give the poem.

The only other sounds the sweep

Of easy wind and downy flake.
The woods are lovely, dark and deep.

THEME
The theme of a poem is its
central or main idea.
To identify a poem’s theme, ask yourself
what ideas or insights about life or
human nature you have found in the
poem.