One true definition of literature:
1. Literature traces the past, mimics the present, and sometimes
it also predicts the future.
2. Literature mirrors the civilization of a particular country. It
serves as an instrument to express different feelings and
emotions.
3. That’s why of its general goal is to pronounce and shows one’s
culture.
4. Literature is the mirror of the society.
Two Divisions of Literature: The Poetry and Prose
Poetry
o From a Medieval Latin poetria, from Latin poeta ‘poet’
and from the Greek word poesis for ‘a making,’ is
notable for its unusual structure and meter in language.
o Poetry uses a number of literary techniques which serve
to make it stand apart from prose with obvious
differences in rhythm, imagery, and meaning.
Prose
o Is a term from the Latin word prosa (oratio) which
means straightforward (discourse) and is the type of
writing that mimics everyday speech.
o Prose consist of both fiction and non-fiction, imaginative
and factual writing.
General Type of Prose
There are eight (8) general types of prose which is normal language
or writing not poetry:
1. Short Stories. These refer to a kind of prose that usually
encompasses of less than 7,500 words but can be limited
to as less as 500 words. Many believe that this kind of
writing has been around for thousands of years.
2. Factual Prose. This is commonly used for the writing of
short stories and novels. It has been known that most of
its examples have existed throughout history; it did not
actually develop into a more methodical and orderly form
until a few centuries ago.
3. Letters. These refer to any form of written and printed
communication addressed to a person or group which is
habitually sent out by correspondence.
4. Novels. These refer to long stories written in prose which
give an extra freedom to the writer to experiment with
different literary styles. It consists of over 40, 000 words to
complete the whole novel.
5. Diaries. These are records of everyday events,
experiences, activities, observations, etc. They are also
books for keeping records for personal, occupational, or
business use.
6. Three other kinds of prose are journals, testimonies, and
personal essays which are less commonly used.
Elements of Prose (Parts of a Story)
1. Plot. It is called the “framework” or “skeleton” of the story. It
refers to the sequence of events that are linked together. The
following terms explain what happens in a plot.
Exposition (Introduction) – This comes at the beginning of a
story.
Rising Action (Complication) – The struggle grows stronger.
Climax – The most exciting part in the story. It is the turning
point.
Falling Action – Events move towards the end of the story.
Resolution (Denouement) – The study is brought to an end.
2. Character. This refers to the person or individual in a story
that performs the action of the plot. It is the mental,
emotional, and social qualities to distinguish one entity from
another (people, animals, spirits, pieces of stuff, and other
animated things). It answers the question “Who” of which a
story must have some sort of character for the reader to
follow. This could be a person, an animal, or object that the
story follows.
Characterization is the process or revealing the
personality of a character in a story.
A writer can unveil a character in the following ways:
o Letting up hear the character speak.
o Describing how the character looks and dresses.
o Letting us listen to the character’s inner thoughts
and feelings.
o Revealing what other characters in the story think
or say about the character.
o Showing us what the character does – how he or
she acts.
o Telling us directly what the character’s personality
is for example rude, devious, etc. This is called
‘direct characterization’.
Classification of Characters:
o Dynamic Character – changes as a result of the
action of the story.
o Static Character – does not change much in the
course of the story.
Types of Character:
o Protagonist. He/She is the central person in the
story and is often referred to as the story’s main
character. A protagonist can either be good or
evil.
o Antagonist. The character or force that comes
into conflict with the protagonist which can be
another person, animal, a force of nature, society,
or the character’s own conscience.
o Minor Characters. These are characters who
play a minor role within the story.
3. Conflict. The conflict is a struggle between two or more
characters in a short story. Conflicts normally occur when the
protagonist struggles against an antagonist (villain that goes
against the protagonist) or opposing force.
There are two general types of conflict namely:
o External Conflict. This emphasizes the conflict
between the character and an outside force.
1. Man vs. Man. A character struggles with
another character. Normally, this is the clash
between protagonist and antagonist.
2. Man vs. Nature. A character struggles with a
force of nature (natural disaster, desolation,
animal, etc.) Usually, the character is
struggling to survive.
3. Man vs. Society. In this conflict, a character, or
a group of characters fight against the society
in which they live. The character fights against
social traditions or rules (fight for freedom,
rights, for a cause etc.)
o Internal Conflict. An internal conflict is between
a character and himself/herself. Character
struggles with some personal quality that is
causing troubles.
1. Man vs. Himself/Herself. The character’s
struggle takes place in his/her own mind. It has
something to do with a choice (choosing
between right and wrong), or it may have to do
with conquering one’s feelings and emotions.
4. Setting. It refers to the time and locale of the story. It
answers the question “where” and “when”. This is where and
when a story takes place. Writers regularly employ imagery of
sceneries, buildings, and seasons to give a strong sense of
setting. The setting helps the reader understand the mood
and tone of the story.
5. Point of View (POV). Point of view is the direction from
which the writer has chosen to tell the story. It is from whose
consciousness the reader hears, sees, and feels the story.
Types of Point of View
o First Person. One of the characters tells the story;
talks directly to the reader.
o Third Person Omniscient. It is called “all-knowing”
point of view. An all-knowing narrator is the one
who refers to all the characters as “he” and “she”.
He/She knows and identifies the thoughts and
feelings of ALL the characters.
o Third Person Limited. The narrator centers on the
thoughts and feelings of just one character.
Readers experience the events of the story
through the memory and senses of one single
character.
. DIVISIONS OF LITERATURE
1. PROSE
The most archetypal form of written language
Ordinary grammatical structure
Natural flow of verbal communication
Paragraph
Common flow of conversation
Usual Languages
To inform and to educate
Classifications of Prose
a. Fiction- Tells about imaginary characters and events. Some are
based on real people and some are not. It includes the following:
short story, novel, drama, fable, parable, legend, myth, and fairy
tale.
1. Short story- can be read on one sitting and has only single plot
2. Novel- Long story that has more characters with several sub-
plots
3. Drama- A narrative prose intended to be played on stage. It is
also called play
4. Fable- Brief story with animal characters that teaches lesson or
moral
5. Parable- Illustrates a moral or spiritual lesson
6. Legend- Reflects the people’s identity or cultural values
7. Myth- Explains the action of gods and heroes
8. Fairy tale- A story featuring folkloric characters
b. Non-Fiction- Presents and explains ideas or tells a real people,
places, objects or events. It includes the following: autobiography,
biography, essay, diary, and journal.
1. Autobiography- Written by the author about himself
2. Biography- Written accounts of individual lives by someone else
3. Essay- Short work of writing that treats a topic from an author’s
personal POV
4. Diary or Journal- Writing discrete entries over the course of a
day or period
2. POETRY
Oldest of the arts
The language of the imagination is almost entirely figurative,
and also of musical literary form.
Verse
Metrical, Rhythmical
Use of Figurative Languages
To stir one’s mind
Classifications of Poetry
a. Lyric- Short poem, consisting of the utterance by a single
speaker. It includes the following: lyric, sonnet, elegy, and ode.
1. Lyric- A speaker expresses a state of mind or a process of
perception
2. Sonnet- A fourteen-line lyric poem focused on a single theme
3. Elegy- Solemn and formal lyric poem about death
4. Ode- Long, formal lyric poem with a serious theme
b. Narrative- Non-dramatic; tells a story but in verse; has a plot. It
includes the following: epics, and ballad
1. Epics- Continuously narrate the life and works of a heroic or
mythological person or group of persons
2. Ballad- These are songs, transmitted orally, which tell a story.
Generally, a four-line stanza.
c. Dramatic- Verses which are written to be spoken. It includes the
following: dramatic monologue, soliloquy, and character sketch.
1. Dramatic monologue- A combination of drama and poetry. The
speaker addresses one or more persons who are present and
listening to the speaker.
2. Soliloquy- A serious speech that a character in a play makes to
an audience and that reveals that character’s thoughts.
3. Character sketch- The writer is concerned less with matters of
story
References
a. Acero, V. O., Javier, E.S., & Castro, H.O. (2007). Principles on
teaching 1. Sampaloc, Manila: Rex Book Store, Inc.
b. Corpuz, B.B. & Salandanan, G.G (2013). Principles of teaching 1.
Quezon City: Adriana Printing Co., Inc.
c. Kahayon, A. & Zulueta, C. (2004). Philippine literature through the
years. Mandaluyong City: National Book Store
d. Kirszner, F. (2007). Literature reading, reacting, writing, compact.
Botton: Wadsworth.
e. Madden, F. (2004). Exploring literature : Writing and thinking
about fiction, poetry, drama and the essay. (2nd ed.) New York :
Pearson
f. Showalter, E. (2003). Teaching Literature. Malden, MA: Blackwell
Publishing Inc.
