LITERATURE DEFINED

Literature are written works collectively, especially those of enduring importance,

exhibiting creative imagination and artistic skill (Funk and Wagnalls).
Literature comes from the Latin word literature meaning writing; literatus which means
learning; and thus is literate for learned.
It is both oral and written work characterized by expressive or imaginative writing,
nobility of thoughts, universality and timeliness.
The best way to understand human nature fully and to know a nation completely is to
study literature.
Literature appeals to mans higher nature and its needsemotional, spiritual, intellectual
and creative. Like all other forms of art, literature entertains and gives pleasure; it fires
the imagination and arouses noble emotions and it enriches man by enabling him to
reflect on life by filling him new ideas.
STANDARDS OF GOOD LITERATURE
Artistry
Intellectual value
Suggestiveness
Spiritual value
Permanence
Universality
VALUE OF LITERATURE
Literture nourishes our emotional lives.
Literature broadens our perpectives on the world.
The study of literature engages you in the kinds of problem solving important win a
variety of fields, from philosophy to science and technology.
One of the purposes of a college introduction to literature is to cultivate the analytic skills
necessary for reading well.
TWO MAIN DIVISIONS OF LITERATURE
POETRY
Like all other literary types, poetry presents a heightened awareness of reality, but it is
poetry that features language charged to the nth degree. By that Paul Engle meant that
poetry maximizes the power of language and transmits an intensified artistic experience
chiefly through suggestion, figurative language, imagery, condensation, and sound.
To Robert Frost, poetry is the only permissible way of saying one thing and meaning
another. Whatever the poem wants to say, it expresses in a manner that appears to be

the only right way of saying it in the context of the realities it has started with (Cirilo
Bautista). In poetry the words are so well-arranged such that one delights in repeating the
linesthere appears to be no other way of saying them. Just by the sound alone, one
derives pleasure from a poem. Apart from the idea one derives from poetry, one then also
goes through an experience wrought by the language, music, and imagery that interlock
in a poem, such that one recites the lines over and over to savor the poetic experience.
The content (what the poem says)and form (how the poem expresses its main idea) of the
poem have become one.
PROSE
Prose drama-a drama in prose form. It consists entirely of dialogues in prose, and is
meant to be acted on stage.
Essay-a short literary composition which is expository in nature. The author shares some
of his thoughts, feelings, experiences or observations on some aspects of life that has
interested him.
Prose fiction:
Novel-a long fictitious narrative with a complicated plot. It may have a main plot and one
or more subplots that develop with the main plot. Characters and actions representative of
the real life of past or present times are portrayed in a plot. It is made up of chapters.
Short story-a fictitious narrative compressed into one unit of time, place, and action. It
deals with a single character interest, a single emotion or series of emotions called forth
by a single situation. It is distinguished from the novel by its compression.
ELEMENTS OF FICTION
Characters-are the representation of a human being; persons involved in a conflict.
Round character-is a dynamic character who recognized changes in the circumstances; is
fully developed character, with many traits shown in the story.
Flat character-also known as the stock or the stereotype character who does not grow and
develop; a flat character is not fully developed and do not undergo changes.
protagonist-the main character
antagonist-a foil to the character
2. Setting-the locale and period in which the events occur. A stoyr must take place in
space, time, and therefore must have setting. But the importance of setting varies greatly
from story to story. The setting gives immediacy to the story, can lend atmosphere to a
story and can enter directly to the meaning of a story.

3. Conflict-the struggle of complication involving the characters; the opposition of

persons or forces upon which the action depends in drama and fiction.
Internal Conflict-occurs when the protagonist struggles within himself or herself; the
protagonist is pulled by two courses of action or by differing emotions.
Interpersonal conflict-pits the protagonist against someone else.
External conflict-person against society
4. Point of View- the writers feeling and attitude toward his/her subject; determines who
tells the story; it identifies the narrator of the story.
CLASSIFICATION:
First person- the narrator uses the pronoun I. S/he could be a participant or a character
in his own work; the narrator maybe the protagonist, an observer, a minor character, or
the writer himself/herself.
Third person- the writer is mereky an observer and uses pronoun in the third person.
Omniscient-the narrator sees all; s/he can see into the minds of characters and evne report
everyones innermost thoughts.
5. Tone/Mood- the attitude or mixture of attitude taken by the writer toward his work.
6. Symbolism- stand for something other than themselves, they bring to mind not theri
won concrete qualities, but the idea or obstruction that is associated with them.
7. Theme- the authors comment regarding the subject
8. Plot-a causally related sequence of events; what
happens as a result of the main coinflict is presented in a structured format; is the
sequence of events which involves the character in conflict.