Literature

Literature derives from Latin literatura/litteratura which means "writing formed with letters ".lt is
the expression of truth and beauty of this world which we remain unnoticed by us. The very first
quality of literature is its artistic beauty, the beauty which takes us to a different imaginative
world away from the worldly worries and gives a peaceful and serene environment.
lmportance of Studying Literature
Studying literature and humanities strengthens one's ability to work and affably communicate
with people from different walks of life. lt enhances the ability of an individual to cordially
communicate and work with others in both wriften and spoken word.
.
The most important goal of literature and its studying is that it provides "happiness" to
the readers of various cultural backgrounds, exactly as critics states it. Readers find it
joyful,
comedy or any work of fiction even it is of a tragic the"me.
.
Literature sometimes works as a historical chronicle. For example, Jose Rizal. Stating
his life and depicting the "real" political and social state of the Philippines at the different
periods of time.
o
Literature provides us with moral values as deepens good attitudes inside us. lt shows
you wrong and right, evil and good and so forth.
"
Literature inspires people and works as a guide or "map" showing people how to live
their lives in the right way and make the ultimate use of them.
Types of Literature
-
Prose and Poetry
Prose and Poetryare two ways of classifying types of writing, Sometimes we group literature
according to the topic matter (fiction, non-fiction, mystery, drama, and so on), but here we're
grouping it according to format. Fortunately, the distinction between what is prose and poetryis
usually pretty instinctive.
Poetry
-
Poems are often easy to spot because the author is usually working to create a unique
structure involving all the senses. For instance, the poet may arrange words very deliberately on
the page to look a certain way; poets choose words not only for their meaning, but also because
they rhyme or sound out a special rhythm.
Prose
-
lt is straight forward, and that's what prose writing is like. The story being told might be
complex, but you can count on all the features of everyday speech, such as paragraphs,
sentences and all the usual punctuation. Types of literature that usually fall into the prose
category include most essays, short stories, novels and plays.
But be aware that authors sometimes dabble in the combination of both forms. For example,
Shakespeare is known for switching back and forth within his plays, having certain characters
speak in poetry and others in prose.
Fiction
Fiction is a Literature in the form of prose, especially short stories and novels that describes
imaginary events and people, a belief or statement that is false, but that is often held to be true
because it is expedient to do so.
Fiction is the form of any work that deals, in part or in whole, with information or events that are
not real, but rather, imaginary and theoretical that is, invented by the author. Although the term
fiction refers in particular to novels and short stories, it may also refer to the theatre, including
opera and ballet, film, television, poetry and song. Fiction contrasts with non-fiction, which deals
exclusively with factual (or, at least, assumed factual) events, descriptions, observations, etc.
Elements of Fiction
1. Gharacters
-
A figure in the literary work (personality, gender, age, etc.) The people (or
animals, things, etc. presented as people) appearing in the literary work.
Types of Gharacters:
.
Round Characters
-
are convincing or true to life characters. Have many different
and sometimes even contradictory traits.
c Dynamic Characters
-
undergo some type of change or development in the story,
often because of something that happens to them.
.
Flat Characters
-
are stereotyped, shallow, and often symbolic. Have only one or
two peisonality traits.
.
Sfafic Characterc
-
do not change in the course of the story.
Protagonisl
-
The main character in the literary work.
Antagonisf
-
The character who opposes the protagonist.
2. Seftings
-
The setting is the place where the story takes place. Setting includes the
following:
.
The geographical location
(For example, Philippines, Edsa)
.
The Time Period
(For example, 1986, during EDSA Revolution, today)
.
The Socio-Economic Gharacteristics of the location
(For example, wealthy, depression)
.
The specific building, room, and so forth
(For example, a prep school, a log cabin, a bus, a military base)
Setting - can be used to tell readers about the characters:
Example:
That evening T.J smelled the air, his nostrils dilating with the odor of the earth under his feet.
"lt's
spring", he said, and there was a gladness rising in his voice that filled us all with the same
feeling.
"lt's mighty late for it, but it's spring" ...We were all sniffing at the air, too, trying to smell it the
way that T.J. did, and I can still remember the sweet odor of the earth under our feet. It was the
first time in my life that spring and spring earth had meant anything to me.
"Antaeus" by Borden Deal
Setting
-Can
be used to set the atmosphere for the story:
Example:
"During
the whole of a dull, dark, and soundless day in the autumn of the year, when the clouds
hung oppressively low in the heavens, I had been passing alone, on horseback, through a
singularly dreary tract of country".
"The
Fall of the House of Usher"
By Edgar Allan Poe
Methods of Gharacterization
Direct Gharacterization - The author develops the personality of the character by direct
statement.
For example:
"Jack had been in basic training in Florida and Dottie was there on vacation with her parents.
They'd met on the beach and struck up a conversation. Dottie was the talker, the outgoing one
-
the extrovert. Jack was too shy around girls to say much at all.
"Furlough
-
1944" By Harry Mazer
lndirect Gharacterization - Revealing a Character's personality through;
.
The character's thoughts, words, and actions
.
The comments of other characters
.
The character's physical appearance
3. Plot
-
is the literary element that describes the structure of a story. It shows
arrangement of events and actions within a story.
Plot Components:
Expositionlhe start of the story, the situation before the action starts.
Rising Actionlhe series of conflicts and crisis in the story that lead to the climax.
Climaxlhe turning point, the most intense moment
-
either mentally or in action.
Falling Action:all of the action which follows the climax.
Resolutionlhe conclusion, the tying together of all of the threads.
Plot: Conflict
Gonflict is the dramatic struggle between two forces in a story. Without conflict, there is no plot
Plot: Types of Conflict
.
lnterpersonalGonflict
Human vs. Human
Human vs. Nature
Human vs. Society
.
lnternal Gonflict
Human vs. Self
4. Point of View
-
The perspective form which the story is told.
.
Who is telling the story?
(For instance, is it a player on the home team, someone watching the game?)
.
How do we know what it happening?
(For instance, does a character tell us?)
Omniscient Point of View
The author is telling the story directly.
"Myop carried a short, knobby stick. She struck out at random at chickens she liked, and
worked out the beat of a song on the fence around the pigpen. She felt light and good in the
warm sun, she was ten, and nothing existed for her but her song, the stick clutched in her dark
brown hand, and the tat
-
de
-
ta
-ta -ta
of accompaniment."
"The Flowers" by Alice Walker
Limited Omniscient Point of View
Third person, told from the viewpoint of a character in the story.
"They all laughed, and while they were laughed, the quiet boy moved his bare foot on
the sidewalk and merely touched, brushed against a number of red ants that were scurrying
about on the sidewalk. Secretly, his eyes shining, while his parents chatted with the old man, he
saw the ants hesitate, quiver, and lie still on the cement. He sensed they were cold now."
"Fever
Dream" by Ray Bradbury
First Person Point of View
Told from the viewpoint of one of the characters, using the first person pronoun
"1."
"The
thousands of injuries of Fortunato I had borne as I best could, but when he
ventured upon insult I vowed revenge. You, who so well know the nature of my soul, will not
suppose, however that I give utterance to a treat."
"The
Gask of Amontillado" by Edgar Allan Poe
5. Theme
Theme is the central idea or central message of the story. lt usually contains some
insight into the human condition
-
telling something about humans and life.
The theme can be stated directly or implied by the events and actions in the story
Symbolism
A symbol represents an idea, quality, or concepts larger than itself.
Example:
.
A
journey
can symbolize life,
.
Water may represent cleanliness and renewal.
.
A lion can be a symbol of courage.
.
A red rose can represent love.
6. Style
-
The author's type of diction (choice of words), syntax (arrangement of words),
and other linguistic features of a work.
Elements of Poetry
.
Rhythm: This is the music made by the statements of the poem, which includes the
syllables in the lines. The best method of understanding this is to read the poem aloud,
and understand the stressed and unstressed syllables
.
Meter: This is the basic structural make-up of the poem. Do the syllables math with each
other? Every line in the poem must adhere to this structure. A poem is made up adhere
to this structure. A poem is made up of blocks of lines, which convey a single strand of
though. Within those blocks, a structure a syllables which follow the rhythm has to be
included. This is the follow the rhythm has to be included. This is the meter or the
metrical form of poetry.
.
Stanza: Stanza in poetry is defined as a smaller unit or group of lines or a paragraph in
a poem. A particular stanza has a specific meter, rhyme scheme, etc. based on the
number of lines, stanzas are named as couplet (2 lines), Tercet (3 lines), Quatrain (4
lines), Cinquain (5 lines), Sester (6 lines), Septet (7 lines), Octave (8 lines).
.
Rhyme: A poem may or may not have a rhyme. When you write poetry that has rhyme,
it means that the last words or sounds of the lines match with each other in some form.
Rhyme is basically similar sounding words like 'cat' and 'hat', 'close' and 'shows'. 'house'
and
'mouse',
etc. Free verse poetry, though, does not follow this system
.
Rhyme Scheme: As a continuation of rhyme, the rhyme scheme is also one of the basic
elements of poetry. ln simple words, it is defined as the pattern of rhyme. Either the last
words of the first and second lines rhyme with each other, or the first and the third,
second and thefourth and so on. lt is denoted by alphabets like aabb (1't line rhyming
with 2nd, 3'd with 4th); abab (1'twith 3'0, 2no with 4th); abba (1'twith 4th, 2nd with 3'd;, etc.
.
Theme: this is what the poem is all about. The theme of the poem is the central idea that
the poet wants to convey. lt can be a story, or a though, or a description of something or
someone; anything that the poem is about.
.
Symbolism: Often poems will convey ideas and thoughts using symbolism. A symbol
can stand for many things at one time and leads the reader out of a systematic and
structured method of looking at things. Often a symbol used in the poem will be used to
create such an effect.
.
lmagety: lmagery is also one of the important elements of a poem. This device is used
by the poet for readers to create an image in their imagination. lmagery appeals to all
the five senses. For e.9., when the poet describes, 'the flower is bright red', an image of
a red flower is immediately created in the reader's mind.
Essay:An essay has been defined in a variety of ways. One definition is a "prose composition
with a focused subject of discussion" or a "long, systematic discourse". The word essay derives
from the French infinitive essayer, "to try" or "to attempt". ln English essay first meant "a trial" or
"an attempt", and this is still an alternative meaning, a short work of nonfiction. A writer of
essays is an essayist.
'ln
an essay, an authorial voice typically invites an implied readerto accept as authentic a
certain textual mode of experien'ce.
Elements of Essay
.
lntroduction
-
States the main idea of the topic. Open the essay topic to the reader and
provides an overview of the essay. Containing the reason / purpose.
.
Body
-
a.k.a. supporting paragraph. Takes up the supporting points and add sub points
to convince the reader round to your view. Backs up the main topic with supporting
ideas, details and example.
.
Conclusion
-
lt restates the thesis statement, the supporting points and sums up the
main point. Looks back on the purpose of the essay. Ending statement that makes you
think.
Drama
-
is a composition in prose form that presents a story entirely told in dialogue and
action and written with the intention of its eventual performance before an audience.
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a
The Socialand Health Benefits u-- ,eading Literary Fiction
Some people absolutely love reading fiction, but they might not even be aware of the many social and health benefits
of doing so!
yet,
if you,re like me, a love for novels isn't so natural or passionate. Personally, l've always
preferred works of non-
fiction: history, culture, sociology, theology, and the like. one of the reasons for my preference for non-fiction was that
I didn,t see the value of literary fiction. I assumed reading fiction was
just aboui entertainment
and had little value
beyond improving my vocabulary or language skills'
Ever since I discovered the
plethora of benefits that can be derived from reading literary fiction' however, l've really
enjoyed diving into a good storyl Myrirst reuetation about the benefits of readinglfiction
came from reading works by
Rene Girard, a literary critic and professor ai stantoro University. His amazing insights about the truths that can be
acquired from reading stories opened up a whole new world for me
Before I get into the benefits that can be gained from reading fiction, it's important to distinguish
popular fiction from
literary fiction. while the differences are often subfle, they'rJ important. works that qualify as literary fiction tend to
revolve around the Inner-working and thoughti of complex'characters,
rather than primarily around an exclting
plot (as
in poputar fiction). rne characteis in popuiar iicfion te'na to be fairly simple and easy to predict' while
popular fiction
tends to be more entertaining
and does
prouio" some beneflts, woit<s of literaiy fiction more fully engage the
imagination and critical thinking skills of the ,""J"r. The complex characters in literaiy fiction tend to force the reader
to conjecture, imagine, and predict the thoughts and actions of the characters- skills ihat have application
in real life'
To find good examples of literary fiction, expiore the classics section aiyour local bookstore or look for National Book
Award finalists.
Reading Literary Fiction Helps lmprove SocialSkills
A recent study by Professor of Psychology Emanuele castano, from the The New School for social Research in New
york,
found that when test subjects reao titerary fiction their social skills improved. compared to people who didn't
read and people asslgned to read , pr".rgu i;, ; popular fiction novel' those assigned to read a
passage from a
work of literary fiction demonstrated
an improveO abiliiy to "read people's thoughts'" They were better able to interpret
what people were thinking and expressing through
'body
tanguaie and sp6ech'. Therefore' it's believed that the
practice provided by literary fiction in interprefing
peisonarities arid in-tents of characters carries over to the real world'
The imagined world of "getting into characte.rs heads" may also improve empathy, the ability to feel and relate with the
emotions of others. Empathy is of key importance for building healthy reiationships
and forming cooperative
partnerships. And, as olr.u.rLo in tre "ireation-Based Keys to L6ngevity,;' healthy relationships
ultimately reinforce
good phYsical health.
Reading Literary Fiction Develops Creativity and lmagination
Unlike television, reading activates the imagination ln otherwor!.1'
your mi1d..!as.to..create
all of the images This is
an excellent exercise for the mind that nas ionr"qrence
for health ind daily life. When the mind is active it is more
likely to stay healthy into old age. studies have shown that brain exercises like reading can help reduce the risks of
Alzheimer's.
creativity is also a crucial
part of coming up with new ideas, discoveries, and strategies foi success in relationships
and business.
popular
fiction novels ,r" o"finit"ty better than television in promoting creativity, but literary fiction can
help you take your imagination skills to f,e nerit6uel. ln great works of fiction, authors reveal their ability to create the
illusion of great detail-but often leave much to the miid for imagination. These
gaps in detail force the mind to
spontaneously
create rich images and interpretations of the characters' intents and future actions'
Literary Fiction can Reveal New ldeas and Truths
probably
my favorite benefit of fiction is that it can be a rich source of deep truths and new ideas' Good authors are
usually good philosophers too, with significant Insights into human nature, ineotogy, or philosophy' Authors of literary
fiction posses the unique ability to penetrate and ieveal nuanced truths ihroughte dnlogues and thoughts of their
characters. Take for example The Broneri-Kiramazovby
Fyodor Dostoyevsky
-
in this classic novel Dostoyevsky
reveals stunning insights into human nature anJirre aoitity of bnrlst's sacrificial iove to overcome selfish delusion'
The Take Away: Far from being a luxurious waste of time, reading
great works.of literary fiction can improve
your
sociat skills, devetop
your creativity, ano impior" youl mental anO
ihisicat.healthl
So what are you waiting for? Pick
up agreat book and frnO a parf bench or puit up a seat at your local coffee shop'