Literature: An Introduction
Francis F. Diaz
What is Literature?
Literature, a body of written works. The name has traditionally been applied to those imaginative
works of poetry and prose distinguished by the intentions of their authors and the
perceived aesthetic excellence of their execution. Literature may be classified according to a
variety of systems, including language, national origin, historical period, genre, and subject matter.
(Rexroth, 2019)
Various definitions
Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary considers literature to be “writings having excellence of form or
expression and expressing ideas of permanent or universal interest.”
Literary productions as a whole; the body of writings produced in a particular country or period, or
in the world in general. Now also in a more restricted sense, applied to writing which has claim to
consideration on the ground of beauty of form or emotional effect. (Oxford English Dictionary 3a.)
The 19th-century critic Walter Pater referred to “the matter of imaginative or artistic literature” as a
“transcript, not of mere fact, but of fact in its infinitely varied forms.”
Deriving from the Latin littera, “a letter of the alphabet,” literature is first and foremost
humankind’s entire body of writing; after that it is the body of writing belonging to a given
language or people; then it is individual pieces of writing.
And though we may heavily relate literature to writing, it is a common misconception to solely
classify writing as the only form of literature since humans are believed to have learned first how
to speak, then writing, second. Therefore, “oral literature”, or the “literature of preliterate peoples”
also exist.
What is the significance of literature in our lives?
An article from UK-based marketing agency specializing in content writing Coster Content
entitled, “The Importance of Literature in a 21st Century World” tells us the following:
Literature sparks empathy and understanding
Reading a book is one of the best ways to fully immerse your mind into another person’s dialogue
and experiences. Being able to empathize and understand other people’s feelings is a key aspect of
helping you connect to different regions, races, societies, and periods of time. They help a person
take a closer look at the different facets of living aside from what they know and live which can
change perspectives.
Literature lets us learn about past lives
History plays a fundamental role in shaping literature, every novel, play, or poem you read has
been influenced by political context, or a time period, or a relationship from the time it was
written.
Not forgetting the pure history of literature itself with the first novel being penned in 2000 BC -
The Epic of Gilgamesh. Being able to read first-hand something from so long ago is a major
aspect of learning the lives of historical figures and times.
Literature opens doors for escapism and possibilities
Reading can take us into different realms and see other people’s creative thought processes.
Whether it’s flying into Neverland, wandering through Middle Earth, battling at Hogwarts, or
rafting through the Mississippi River with Huck and Jim - books can take you anywhere and any
place.
This is an amazing tool that few entertainment mediums can truly give you and one of the reasons
why literature is so beautiful. Whether you’re having a bad day, stressed out with work, dealing
with new life decisions - books can help you escape into another world and live somewhere else
for a short amount of time.
Literary Genres
Critics invented a variety of systems for treating literature as a collection of genres and often times
are artificial, created with the intention of making literature less scattered, and tidier.
Poetry
Poetry is the first major literary genre. All types of poetry share specific characteristics. In fact,
poetry is a form of text that follows a meter and rhythm, with each line and syllable. It is further
subdivided into different genres, such an epic poem, narrative, romantic, dramatic, and lyric.
Dramatic poetry includes melodrama, tragedy, and comedy, while other poems includes
ode, sonnet, elegy, ballad, song, and epic.
Popular Types of Poetry
Blank verse. Blank verse is poetry written with a precise meter—almost always iambic
pentameter—that does not rhyme.
Rhymed poetry. In contrast to blank verse, rhymed poems rhyme by definition, although their
scheme varies.
Free verse. Free verse poetry is poetry that lacks a consistent rhyme scheme, metrical pattern,
or musical form.
Epic. An epic poem is a lengthy, narrative work of poetry. These long poems typically detail
extraordinary feats and adventures of characters from a distant past.
Soliloquy. A soliloquy is a monologue in which a character speaks to him or herself, expressing
inner thoughts that an audience might not otherwise know. Soliloquies are not definitionally
poems, although they often can be—most famously in the plays of William Shakespeare.
Popular Types of Poetry
Elegy - An elegy is a poem that reflects upon death or loss. Traditionally, it contains themes of
mourning, loss, and reflection. However, it can also explore themes of redemption and
consolation.
Ode - Much like an elegy, an ode is a tribute to its subject, although the subject need not be
dead—or even sentient.
Ballad. A ballad (or ballade) is a form of narrative verse that can be either poetic or musical. It
typically follows a pattern of rhymed quatrains.
Haiku. A haiku is a three-line poetic form originating in Japan. The first line has five syllables,
the second line has seven syllables, and the third line again has five syllables.
Narrative poetry. Similar to an epic, a narrative poem tells a story.
Pastoral poetry. A pastoral poem is one that concerns the natural world, rural life, and
landscapes. These poems have persevered from Ancient Greece (in the poetry of Hesiod) to
Ancient Rome (Virgil) to the present day (Gary Snyder).
Drama
Drama is a form of text that is performed in front of an audience. It is also called a play. Its written
text contains dialogues, and stage directions. This genre has further categories such as comedy,
tragedy, and tragicomedy.
Prose
This type of written text is different from poetry in that it has complete sentences organized into
paragraphs. Unlike poetry, prose focuses on characters and plot, rather than focusing on sounds. It
includes short stories and novels, while fiction and non-fiction are its sub genres. Prose is further
categorized into essays, speeches, sermons, and interpretations.
Fiction
Fiction has three categories that are, realistic, non-realistic, and semi-fiction. Usually, fiction work
is not real and therefore, authors can use complex figurative language to touch readers’
imaginations. Unlike poetry, it is more structured, follows proper grammatical pattern, and correct
mechanics. A fictional work may incorporate fantastical and imaginary ideas from everyday life. It
comprises some important elements such as plot, exposition, foreshadowing, rising
action, climax, falling action, and resolution.
Elements of Fiction
Plot. The structure or organization of events that make up a fictional story.
Exposition. The beginning of a story which introduces the characters, setting, and conflict.
Foreshadowing. A technique used by the writer to show a glimpse of what is to happen in the
future of the story.
Rising action. Events before the climax. A character may attempt to solve the conflict in the
story, but fails.
Climax. The turning point of the story where the suspense and action is at its greatest.
Falling action. The settling down of the action which leads to the resolution of conflicts.
Resolution. The end of the story, all conflicts or problems are resolved… or are they?
Non-Fiction
Non-fiction is a vast category that also has sub-genres; it could be creative like a personal essay, or
factual, like a scientific paper. It may also use figurative language, however, not unlike poetry, or
fiction has. Sometimes, non-fiction may tell a story, like an autobiography, or sometimes it may
convey information to readers.
Other examples of non-fiction include biographies, diaries, memoirs, journals, fantasies,
mysteries, and romances.
