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ENGL2121 Lesson 1

The document provides an introduction to 21st-century literature, defining literature as a reflection of culture and human experience, and categorizing it into oral and written forms. It outlines various literary genres, elements of short stories, and key components such as plot, conflict, character, setting, point of view, theme, tone, and style. The document emphasizes the importance of understanding these elements for a deeper appreciation of literature.

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Joyce Ann
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19 views3 pages

ENGL2121 Lesson 1

The document provides an introduction to 21st-century literature, defining literature as a reflection of culture and human experience, and categorizing it into oral and written forms. It outlines various literary genres, elements of short stories, and key components such as plot, conflict, character, setting, point of view, theme, tone, and style. The document emphasizes the importance of understanding these elements for a deeper appreciation of literature.

Uploaded by

Joyce Ann
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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21st Century Literature from the Philippines and the World

Lesson 01: Introduction to 21st-Century Literature

Literature

Literally, it means "an acquaintance with letters".

In Latin, "littera" means an individual written character.

It represents a language or people; culture or tradition, passion and dignified thoughts. It introduces us to new
world of experience. It records the experience of man. It imitates and interprets life through language. Everything
that is written is literature.

Types of Literature
Literature has two major types: oral and written.

Oral literature includes ballads, myth, jokes, folktales and fables.

Written source has drama, novel, poetry and nonfictional literature.

Kinds of Literature According to Structure

Poetry is an artistic piece of philosophical, personal, imaginative or inspirational nature that is laid out in lines.

Prose is a literary piece that is written without metrical structure.

Literature can also be classified as either fictional or non-fictional.

Fictional literature - a product of one's imaginative mind. It can be a drama, short story, novel, myth, folktale and
poetry.

Non-fictional literature - it comes out of one's personal experiences, a true and factual account of varying
information.

It comprises the interesting facts with analysis and illustrations. It includes autobiography, biography, essay,
literary criticism, journal, newspaper, diary, magazine, etc.

Literary Genres (Forms)

Poem - a composition written in verses having standard measurements and written with a higher intensity of
artistic beauty.

➔ Lyric poem - refers to short poems which express the personal thoughts or emotions of the poet. It can be
a song, ode, elegy or sonnet. It is intended to be sung.

➔ Narrative poem - tells a story. It can be a ballad or an epic.

➔ Dramatic poetry - is a theatrical dialogue performed on stage. It can be a tragedy, comedy, melodrama or
tragicomedy.

Short Story - a small commercial fiction, true or imaginary, and smaller than a novel.

Essay - a literary composition that presents the author’s point of view about any particular topic in a detailed way.
SHORT STORY ELEMENTS

Plot and Structure Plot

It is a reflection of motivation and causation. It is the sequence of incidents or events through which an author
constructs a story. The plot is not merely the action itself, but the way the author arranges the action toward a
specific end (structure).

Structure

It defines the layout of the work. It presents how each event causes or leads to the next.

The plot has the following elements: conflict, exposition, rising action, climax, falling action and resolution.

Conflict

It is where plot is often created. It is a controlling impulse in a connected pattern of causes and effects. It is a
major element of plot because it arouses curiosity, causes doubt, creates tension and produces interest.

Conflict is classified into external and internal:

An external conflict is one between a character and an outside force, such as another character, nature, society,
or fate.

An internal conflict takes place within the mind of a character who is torn between opposing feelings or between
different courses of action. This is also called dilemma, a conflict within or for one person.

Character and Characterization

Character is a verbal representation of a human being. The character is either a protagonist (“the good guy”) or
antagonist (“the bad guy”). A character is also classified as flat, round, stock, static or developing.

Types of Characters

● Flat Character - usually has one or two predominant traits. The character can be summed up in just a few
lines.

● Round Character - complex, many faceted and has the qualities of real people.

● Static Character - character that remains essentially the same throughout.

● Developing Character - a character that undergoes a significant change during the story.

Characterization - the quality of the character which is disclosed through actions, descriptions, both personal and
environmental, dramatic statements and thoughts, statements by other characters and statements by the author
speaking as storyteller, or observer.
Setting

The setting of a story is its overall context- where, when and in what circumstances the action occurs.

● Setting as Place

The physical environment where the story takes place. The description of the environment often points towards its
importance.

● Setting as Time

It includes time in all of its dimensions.

To determine the importance, ask, “What was going on at that time?”

● Setting as Cultural Context (Condition)

Setting also involves the social circumstances of the time and place. Consider historical events and social and
political issues of the time.

Point of View (POV)

Point of view refers to whoever is telling the story. It is the speaker, narrator, persona or voice created by the author
to tell the story.

Theme

Theme is the central idea or message of a story, often a perception about life or human nature.

Tone and Style

Tone is the method by which writers and speakers reveal attitudes or feelings.

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