LITERATURE

Literature is derived from the Latin term “litera” which means letter.

Literature is a body of literary productions, either oral, written or visual,

containing imaginative language that realistically portrays thoughts,
emotions, and experiences of the human condition

Literature is language in use that provides insights and intellectual

stimulation to the reader. As one explores literature, he likewise discovers
the beauty of language.
Literature is a product of a particular culture that concretizes man’s array
of values, emotions, actions and ideas. It is therefore a creation of human
experiences that tells about people and their world.

Literature is an art that reflects the works of imagination, aesthetics, and

creative writing which are distinguished for the beauty and style or
expression as in fiction, poetry, essay ,or drama, in distinction from
scientific treatises and works which contain positive knowledge.
 7 LITERARY STANDARDS OF
LITERATURE
1. ARTISTRY- a quality which appeals to our sense of beauty
2. INTELLECTUAL BEAUTY/ VALUE – a quality that stimulates critical thinking
that enriches mental processes which lead us into realization of the fundamental
truths towards life and human nature.
3. SUGGESTIVENESS – a quality relevant to the emotional power of literature to
define symbolisms, nuances, implied meanings , images and messages that make
us feel deeply and stir our imaginations. It triggers and evokes visions above and
beyond the plane of ordinary life and experience.
4. SPIRITUAL VALUE - a quality that elevates the spirit within us thus bringing
the power to motivate and inspire us to become better persons
5. PERMANENCE – literature must endure across time , that is, can be read again
as each readings gives fresh delight and new insights. It is long –lasting.
6. UNIVERSALITY – literature appeals to everyone as it is timeless and timely. It
is forever relevant regardless of culture, race, gender, and time.
7. STYLE – literature presents peculiar/ unique way in which man sees life as
evidenced by the formation of his ideas, forms, structures, and expressions which
are marked by their memorable substance and by their distinctive styles.
Upon reading literary pieces, TRY to ask these questions:
1. Does it move me?
2. Does it tickle my imagination?
3. What does the event/ plot/ the whole story suggest?
4. What moral /lesson can be drawn out?
5. Does it possess multifaceted natures for all sorts of audiences?
6. Does the style fascinate me? Is it unique or common?
 LITERARY MODELS
( CARTER & LONG, 1991)

1. CULTURAL MODEL – a traditional approach where readers need to discover

and infer the social, political, literary and historical context of a specific text. It
reveals the universality of thoughts and ideas and readers are encouraged to
understand and appreciate different cultures and ideologies in relation to their
own. This model views literature as a source of facts where texts are seen as
cultural artifacts wherein readers become aware and conscious to certain issues
across cultures.
2. LANGUAGE MODEL – an approach that offers readers opportunity to access a
text in a systematic and methodical way. Activities that focused on specific
linguistic features such as vocabulary and structure are used in order to serve
specific linguistic goals. This model is used purely for linguistic practices where
literature is used mechanistically to provide a series of language activities
 LITERARY MODELS
( CARTER & LONG, 1991)

3. PERSONAL GROWTH MODEL - an approach that focuses on the

personal development of the readers including emotions and personal
characteristics. It requires readers to relate and respond to the themes
and issues by connecting them to their personal life experiences. This
model is influenced both by cultural and language models where the
focus is on the particular use of language in a text in a specific cultural
context. Texts are seen as stimuli and mirrors for self- reflection,
making reactions as readers read them thus, creating awareness of the
responses that lead to self- understanding, self- criticism and perhaps a
clarification or a reinforcement of values.
 CLASSIFICATION OF LITERATURE
A.According to FORM ( literary conventions)
1. PROSE – a literary work that is spoken or written within the
common flow of language in sentences and paragraphs which give
information, relate events, express ideas or present opinions. It is a
literary medium that corresponds closely to everyday speech
patterns and is used to provide detailed descriptions of ideas,
objects, or situations.
2. POETRY – a literary work expressed in verse, measure, rhythm,
sound and imaginative language and create an emotional
response to an experience, feeling, fact.
 CLASSIFICATION OF LITERATURE
B. According to STRUCTURE ( the way they are organized)
1.FICTION –a literary work of imaginative narration, either oral
or written, fashioned to entertain and to make readers think and
feel.
2. NON- FICTION – a literary work of “real life” narration or
exposition based on history and facts whose main thrust is
intellectual appeal to convey facts, theories, generalizations or
concepts about a particular topic
 CLASSIFICATION OF LITERATURE
c. ACCORDING to GENRE
1. Fiction –narrative in prose that shows an imaginative recreation and reconstruction
of life and presents human life in 2 levels:
1. world of objective reality- made up of human actions and experiences
2. world of subjective reality- deals with human apprehension and
comprehension categorized as either short story or novel
2. Poetry - a patterned form of verbal or written expression of ideas in concentrated,
imaginative, and rhythmical terms that often contain the elements of sense,
sound and structure.
 CLASSIFICATION OF LITERATURE

3. Essay- a prose composition in moderate length that presents a

tentative exploration or evaluation of a subject thus explains a viewpoint
or anything that can be said on a particular subject.

4. Drama/Play - is a composition in prose form that presents story told

entirely in dialogue and action, and written with the intention of its
eventual performance before an audience.