Literature
At the end of the lesson, the students should be able to:
1. Understand literature and literary standards
2. Differentiate literary types and forms
3. Analyze the different elements of fiction.
What is Literature
Literature is the beautiful expression of man’s personal
interpretation of aspect of human life, or a wording out in a
unique, beautiful, and personal manner of saying what an author
thinks is a passionate meaning of life
Amador Daguio
Literary Standards
1. Artistry- a quality which appeals to our sense of beauty.
Two roads diverged in a yellow wood
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveller long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth.
2. Intellectual Value- a literary work stimulates thought. It enriches
our mental life by making us realize fundamental truths
about life and human nature.
3. Suggestiveness- a quality associated with the emotional
power of literature.
Great literature moves us deeply and stirs our feeling and
imagination, giving and evoking visions above and beyond the
plane sense of ordinary life and experience.
4. Spiritual Value- literature elevates the spirit by bringing out
morals which make us better persons.
The capacity to inspire is part of the spiritual value of
literature.
5. Permanence- a great literature endures.
It can be read again and again as each reading gives fresh
delight and new insights and opens new worlds of meaning and
experience.
6. Universality- great literature is timeless and timely
It is forever relevant, appeals to one and all, anytime,
anywhere because it deals with feelings, fundamental truths, and
universal conditions.
7. Style- the peculiar way in which the writer sees life, forms his
ideas and expresses them.
His mistress eyes are nothing like the sun.
He is not unhappy in his marriage.
Literary Types and Forms
Literature is classified into four genres:
A. Prose fiction-presents a story that is invented and not
literally true.
examples: myth, legend, parable, fable
fairy tale, short story, novel
B. Poetry- a piece of art written in meter or verse expressing
various emotions which are expressed by the use of
figurative language, imagery and sound devices.
Life is a classroom.
The wood is lovely, dark and deep.
Full fathom thy father lies
repetition of initial consonant sounds
1. Narrative Poetry- a poetry that tells a story in verse. It
gives verbal representation of a sequence
of connected events.
ballad, metrical romance, metrical tale, epic
Corrido
May isang ibong maganda
Ang pangalan ay Adarna
Pag narinig mong kumanta
Sa sakit ay giginhawa
Awit
O ang pag ibig na makapangyarihan
Sampung mag aamay iyong nasasaklaw
Pag ika’y pumasok sa puso ninuman
Hahamakin ang lahat masunod ka lang
2. Lyric Poetry- a comparatively short poem in which a speaker
presents a state of mind or an emotional state.
song, sonnet, elegy, ode
3. Dramatic Poetry-a poetry that tells a story and the poet
lets one or more of the story’s character act out the
story.
C. Drama- comes from the Greek word “dran’’ which means ‘’to do’’
or ‘’to act’’. It is a story acted out.
Tragedy- refers to a drama in which a heroic protagonist
meets an unhappy or calamitous end, brought about by
some fatal flaw of character, by circumstances outside his
or her control, or simply by destiny.
Comedy –depicts humorous incidents in which protagonists
are faced with moderate difficulties but overcome
them and the play ends happily.
4. Nonfiction Prose- presents factual information or expresses a
viewpoint
autobiography, biography, character sketch,
diary or journal, editorial, essay
The Elements of Fiction
1. Plot- consists of events which are arranged in a meaningful
sequence. It unfolds in the form of human action in
response to a situation or a set of circumstances.
Meaningful sequence- definite arrangement of actions,
incidents and events.
Conflict- the main character’s struggle with set of forces, which in the
story may consist of another character, unfavorable
environmental conditions, or social conventions.
external conflict involves a character who struggles against a force
outside him- or herself, such as nature, a physical obstacle, or another
character.
internal conflict is one that occurs within a character
2. Character- the person in a story, sometimes an animal or inanimate
object.
Characters are primarily responsible for the illusion of “life” in a
work of fiction. They cause the events in the plot, or the incidents that
happen to them. Their actions in response to the situations they face
become integral parts of the plot.
3. Setting- the time and location of the action
The setting provides the background to the events and the
actions of the characters. It also helps create the mood and
atmosphere of a story.
Elements of setting include geographic location, historical period
(past, present, or future), season, time of day, and culture.
Mood- the feeling or atmosphere that a writer creates for the reader.
Descriptive words, imagery, and figurative language all influence
the mood of a work.
“The Morning Walk,” creates a mood of thankfulness and
contentment
4. Point of View- the vantage point from which the characters,
actions, and events are seen.
When a story is told from the first-person point of view, the
narrator is a character in the story and uses first-person pronouns,
such as I, me, and we. In a story told from the third-person point of
view, the narrator is not a character.
5. Symbol- a person, a place, an object, or an activity that stands for
something beyond itself.
6. Language and Style
Style- characteristic manner of expression, the habitual manner
in which a person expresses himself. It involves not only
words but ideas and emotions as well, for a writer’s style
consists not only of how he writes but also of what he
writes about.
The wood is lovely, dark and deep
But I have promises to keep
And miles to go before I sleep
And miles to go before I sleep.
References:
Allen, J et al (2008). Literature. USA: Little Mc Dougal
Ortiz, Ma. Aurora, Teresita Erestain, Alice Guillermo, Myrna Montano, and Santiago A. Pillar
(1976). Art: Perception and Perception. Manila: University of the East
Yagyagan, Daniel , Roger Cerda, Javier Antonio Laurel. (2010). Introduction to Integrated
Humanities. Manila: Mindshapers Co., Inc.
Thank You
