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Republic of the Philippines

BOHOL ISLAND STATE UNIVERSITY - CLARIN CAMPUS
Poblacion Norte, Clarin, Bohol

WORLD
LITERATURE

Prepared by:Grethyl Ann O. Nodalo

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Learning Unit 1.INTRODUCTION TO LITERATURE

Lesson 1: Literature: Classification, and Approaches

I. Learning Outcomes
 Explain the definition of literature;
 Create concepts related to literature; and
 Reflect on the relevance of studying the literatures of the world.
Time Frame: 3 hours
Values Integration:Appreciation of one’s literary works
II. Discussion/Content

The word literature is derived from the Latin term litera which means letter. Literature is a
written or spoken text which is formed by using partly orcompletely symbolic language
that gives the human life new meaning that isbased on fanciful perspectives by using
imagination along with the reason.

General Types of Literature

Literature can generally be divided into two types: prose and poetry. Prose consists of
those written within the common flow of conversation in sentences and paragraphs,
while poetry refers to those expressions in verse, with measure and rhyme, line, and
stanza and has a more melodious tone.

Why We Need to Study Literature?

We can enumerate many reasons for studying literature.
Here are but a few: We study literature so that we can better appreciate our literary
heritage. We cannot appredate something that we do not understand. Through a study
of our literature, we can trace the rich heritage of ideas handed down to us from our
forefathers. Then we can understand ourselves better and take pride in being a Filipino.

Like other races of the world, we need to understand that we have a great and noble
trådition which can serve as the means to assimilate other cultures.

Through such a study, we will realize our literary limitations conditioned by certain
historical factors and we can take steps to overcome them.

Above all, as Filipinos, who truly love and take pride in our own culture, we have to
manifest our deep concern forour own literature and this we can do by gtudying ty
literature of our country.

Literature and History

Literature and history arecloselyinterrelated. In discovering the history of a race, the
feelings, aspiration, customs and traditions of a people are sure to be included… and
these feelings, aspirations, customs, and traditions that are written is literature. History
can also be written down are part of true literature. Literature, therefore, is a part of
history.
Literature and history, however, also have differences. Literature may be figments of the
imagination or events of truth, which have been written down, while history is made up of
events that really happened.

Literary Compositions that Have Influenced the World. Among them are:
1. The Bible or the Sacred Writings: This has become the basis of Christianity originating
from Palestine and Greece.
2. Koran: The Muslim Bible originating from Arabia.
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3. The Iliad and the Odyssey: These have been the source cfmytbs and legends of
Greece. They were written by Homer.
4. The Mahab-harata: The longest epic of the world. It contains the history of religion in
India.
5. Canterbury Tales: It depicts the religion and customs of the English in the early days.
This originated from England and wag written by Chaucer.
6. Uncle Tom's Cabin: Written by Harriet Beecher Stowe of the US. This depicted the
gad fate of slaves; this became the basis of democracy later on.
7. The Divine Comedy: (by Dante of Italy) this shows the religion and customs of the
early Italians.
8. El Cid Compeador: This shows the cultural characteristics of the Spaniards and their
national history.
9. The Song of Roland: This includes Doce Pares and Roncesvalles of France. It tells
about the Golden Age of Christianity in France.
10. The Book of the Dead: This includes the cult of Osiris and the mythology and
theology of Egypt.
11. The Book of the Days: This was written by Confucius of China. This became the
basis of the Christian religion.
12. One Thousand and One Nights or The Arabian Nights: from Arabia and Persia (Iran).
It shows the ways of government, of industries and of the society of the Arabs and
Persians.
III. Assessment:
1. Why is it important to study the literatures of the world? (10 points)
IV. References/Notes and Suggested Reading
Approaches of literature

Abcarian R. & M. Klotz. (2000). Literature: Reading and writing the human experience
(7th shorter ed.) Boston & New York: Bedford/St. Martin’s.
Hamilton, E. (1942). Mythology: Timeless tales of gods and goddess. New York &
Boston: Grand Central Publishing.
Tomeldan, Y. V. (general ed.), et al. (1986). Prism: An introduction to world literature.
Mandaluyong City: National Bookstore.

Lesson 2: Poetry and Prose

I. Learning Outcomes
 Compare and contrast prose and poetry through Venn diagram;
 Explain the types of prose and poetry; and
 Reflect on the importance of using the forms of literature in teaching children.
Time Frame: 3 hours
Values Integration:Appreciation of one’s literary works
II. Discussion/Content

Literature refers to written creative work, particularly those which have a high and
enduring value. It is known for its form in which the message is presented or
communicated and its content. Prose and poetry are the two common forms of literature;
wherein prose is written work, which contains sentences and paragraphs, and does not
have any metrical structure. As against, poetry is a genre of literature which is based on
a particular form, that creates a rhyme.

Comparison Chart
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BASIS FOR
PROSE POETRY
COMPARISON

Meaning Prose is a straight Poetry is that form of

forward form of
literature, wherein the
author expresses his
thoughts and feelings
in a lucid way
literature in which the
poet uses a unique style
and rhythm, to express
intense experience.

Language Straight Forward Expressive or Decorated

Nature Pragmatic Imaginative

Essence Message or Experience

information

Purpose To provide information To delight or amuse.

or to convey a
message.

Ideas Ideas can be found in Ideas can be found in

sentences, which are lines, which are
arranged in paragraph. arranged in stanzas.

Line break No Yes

Paraphrasing Possible Exact paraphrasing is

not possible.

PROSE

There are many types of prose. These include novels or biographies, short stories,
contemporary dramas, legends, fables, essays, anecdotes, new, and speeches.

a. Novel – this is a ling narrative divided into chapters. The events are taken form true-to-life
stories and spans a long period of time. There are mny characters involved.
b. Short story – this is a narrative involving one or more characters, one plot and one single
impression.
c. Plays – this is presented on a stage, is divided into acts and each act has many scenes.
d. Legends – these are fictitious narratives, usually about origins.
e. Fables – these are also fictitious and they deal with animals and inanimate things who speak
and act like people and their purpose is to enlighten the minds of children to events that can
mold their ways and attitudes.
f. Anecdotes – these are merely products of the writer’s imagination and the main aim is to bring
out lessons to the reader. It can be stories about animals or children.
g. Essay – this expresses the viewpoint or opinion of the writer about a particular problem or
event. The best example of this is the Editorial page of a newspaper.
h. Biography – this deals with the life of a persion which may be about himself. His
autobiography or that of others.
i. News – this is a report of everyday events in society, government, science and industry, and
accidents, happening nationally or not.
j. Oration – this is a formal treatment of a subject and is intended to be spoken in public. It
appeals to the intellect, to the will or to the emotions of the audience.
POETRY
a. Narrative – this form describes important events in life either real or imaginary. The different
varieties are:
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1. Epic – this is an etended narrative about hero exploits often unfer supernatural
control. It may deals with heroes and gods.
2. Metrical tale – this is a narrative which is written in verse and can be classified either
as a ballad or a metrical romance. Examples of these are simple idylls or home tales, love tales,
tales of the supernatural or tales written for a strong moral purpose in verse form.
3. Ballads – of the narrative poems, this is considered the shortest and simplest. It has a
simple structure and tells of a single incident. There are also variations of these: live ballads,
war ballads, sea ballads, humorous, moral, and historical or mythical ballads.
b. Lyric – originally, this refers to that kind of poetry meant to be sung to the accompaniment of
a lyre, but now, this applies to any type of poetry that expresses emotions and feelings of the
poet. They are usually short, simple and easy to understand. There are different types of lyric
poetry:
1. Folksongs – these are short poems intended to be sung. The common theme is love,
despair, grief, doubt, joy, hope and sorrow.
2. Sonnets – this is a lyric poem of 14 lines dealing with an emotions, a feeling, or an
idea. There are two types: Italian and Shakespearean.
3. Elegy – this is a lyric poem which expresses feelings of grief and melancholy, and
whose theme is death.
4. Ode – this is a poem of a noble feeling, expressed with dignity, with no definite
number of syllables or definite number of syllables or definite number of lines in a stanza.
5. Psalms – this is a song praising God or the Virgin Mary and containing a philosophy of
life.
6. Song – these have measures of twelves syllables (dodecasyllabic) and slowly sung to
the accompaniment of a guitar or bandura.
7. Corridos – these have measures of eight syllables (octosyllabic) and recited to a
martial beat.
c. Dramatic – included in this form are the following:
1. Comedy – the word comedy comes from the Greek term comos meaning festivity or
revelry. This form usually is light and written with the purpose of amusing, and usually has a
happy ending.
2. Melodrama – this is usually used in musical plays with the opera. Today, this is
related to tragedy just as the farce is to comedy. It arouses immediate and intense emotion and
is usually sad but there is a happy ending for the principal character.
3. Tragedy – this involves the hero struggling mightily against dynamic forcesl he meets
death or ruin without success and satisfaction obtained by the protagonist in a comedy.
4. Farce – this is an exaggerated comedy. It seeks to arouse mirth by laughable lines;
situations are too ridiculous to be true; the characters seem to be caricatures and the motives
undignified and absurd.
5. Social Poems – this form is either purely comic or tragic and it pictures the life of
today. It may aim to bring about changes in the social conditions.
III. Assessment
1. Using a Venn diagram, compare and contrast prose and poetry. (20 points)
IV. References/Notes and Suggested Reading
Characterics to prose and poetry writings

Abcarian R. & M. Klotz. (2000). Literature: Reading and writing the human experience
(7th shorter ed.) Boston & New York: Bedford/St. Martin’s.
Hamilton, E. (1942). Mythology: Timeless tales of gods and goddess. New York &
Boston: Grand Central Publishing.
Tomeldan, Y. V. (general ed.), et al. (1986). Prism: An introduction to world literature.
Mandaluyong City: National Bookstore.
https://keydifferences.com/difference-between-prose-and-poetry.html
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Lesson 3: Literary Genres

I. Learning Outcomes
 Identify the main literary genres;
 Create a graphic organizer showing the characterics of the different
genres of literature; and
 Reflect on the relevance of using different genres in literature in
teaching children.
Time Frame: 3 hours
Values Integration:Appreciation of one’s literary works
II. Discussion/Content
Five Main Genres of Literature
A. Fiction
One of the most popular genres of literature, fiction, features imaginary characters and
events. This genre is often broken up into five subgenres: fantasy, historical fiction,
contemporary fiction, mystery, and science fiction. Nonetheless, there are more than just
five types of fiction, ranging from romance to graphic novels.
In fantasy, the characters or settings could not exist in the world as we know it because
they require a sort of “magical” element. The Harry Potter and Twilight series are
popular examples.
Historical fiction, however, features made-up stories that accurately portray life during a
particular period in history. Examples include books such as The Da Vinci Code or The
Boy in the Striped Pajamas.
Similar to historical fiction is the subgenre of contemporary fiction. In this category,
stories take place in the present day and characters encounter modern day difficulties
and issues. The Hate U Give and Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants are popular
contemporary fiction novels.
Another popular subgenre of fiction is mystery. In these suspense-filled stories,
characters use various clues to solve crimes or uncover a culprit. The Nancy Drew and
Sherlock Holmes novels are prime examples of the mystery genre.
The last subgenre of fiction is science fiction. In these types of stories, authors and
readers explore new and exciting realities made possible by imagined technologies or
social changes. Star Wars is one of the most famous examples.
B. Nonfiction
Unlike fiction, nonfiction tells the story of real people and events. Examples include
biographies, autobiographies, or memoirs.
C. Drama
Another popular category of literature, known as drama or play, is a story created
specifically for a stage performance. The most renowned author of drama was William
Shakespeare—the writer of Macbeth, Hamlet, and Romeo and Juliet. More modern
plays include A Streetcar Named Desire and A Raisin in the Sun.
D.Poetry
The fourth genre of literature is poetry. In this style of writing, words are arranged in a
metrical pattern and often (though not always) in rhymed verse. Renowned poets include
E.E. Cummings, Robert Frost, and Maya Angelou.
E.Folktale
Another beloved genre of literature is folktale. Folktale, which is also referred to as
mythology, tells stories of originally oral literature and are meant to pass on particular
moral lessons. These tales often have a timeless quality, dealing with common concerns
that are relevant despite the time period.
III. Assessment
1. Using a graphic organizer, summarize the different genres of literature. (20 points)
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IV. References/Notes and Suggested Reading

Features and characters of literary genres

Anthology of World Literature, 3rd ed. Vols. A., B, C., Norton, 2012.

Abcarian R. & M. Klotz. (2000). Literature: Reading and writing the human experience
(7th shorter ed.) Boston & New York: Bedford/St. Martin’s.
Hamilton, E. (1942). Mythology: Timeless tales of gods and goddess. New York &
Boston: Grand Central Publishing.
Tomeldan, Y. V. (general ed.), et al. (1986). Prism: An introduction to world literature.
Mandaluyong
https://vhlblog.vistahigherlearning.com/the-five-main-genres-of-literature.html

Lesson 4: Techniques for Reading Poetry

I. Learning Outcomes
 Name examples of ICT Policies which are applicable to teaching and learning;
 Discuss some issues that relate to the ICT policy;
 Reflect on the significance of educating teachers and students on safety rules
and issues in using ICT for teaching and learning.
Time Frame: 3 hours
Values Integration: Appreciation of one’s literary works

II. Discussion/Content
Techniques for Reading Poetry
Poetry is one of the hardest forms of literature to read aloud. Every poem has its own
rhythm, can contain rhyme, and often uses fragments or phrases to form lines (which is
drastically different from the complete sentences which people have a familiarity).
Therefore, interpreting how to read a line of poetry is unique from interpreting how to
read a line of prose. However, there are some essential techniques to master in order to
even being uttering verse aloud. The following tactics are the foundation for performing
poetry well.
Do a Preview
Preview the poem by reading the title and paying attention to the poem’s form: shape on
the page, stanzas, number of lines and ending punctuation.
Read Aloud
Read poem aloud several times to hear rhyme, rhythm, and the overall sound of the
poem. This makes it easier to understand the poem.
Understand the Language
There is nothing worse than listening to a Poetry performance where the reader lacks
conviction of the piece. Belief in the message alone is not enough. Understanding the
very words of the poem is crucial. How can a performer properly interpret and express
the needed emotion without fully grasping what the text means? And if there is any
doubt or confusion there is also the chance of it appearing on the performer's face. Thus,
if there are any words which are confusing or not understood, grab a dictionary and
figure out the definition.
Visualize
Visualize the images by paying close attention to strong verbs, and comparisons in
poem. Do the images remind you of anything? Let the comparisons paint a picture in
your head.
Clarific words and phrases
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Clarify words and phrases by allowing yourself to find the meaning of words or phrases
that stand out, are repeated, or you do not understand the meaning. Use dictionary,
context clues, teacher or peer.
Find a Rhythm through Punctuation
Every poem has a specific meter which the poet has instilled with every foot, through
every line, and in every stanza of the piece. There is a rhythm embedded within the
poem that becomes unleashed when read aloud. Poets understand the musicality of
language. How words, when carefully combined, can heighten the beauty or beastliness
of a work. The secret to discovering the poem’s rhythm is to simply read it out loud; as a
poem is meant to be read. As one reads they will take notice of punctuation. This is a
natural occurrence, one we are trained for as punctuation is essentially rules for written
language. Anyway, by adhering to every pause (periods, commas, semi-colons, colons,
line breaks, hyphen, ellipsis, etc.) and not stopping in the middle of a long string of
words, a poem’s rhythm is found. Give appropriate weight, or non-weight, to the
punctuation (such as a comma having a longer pause than perhaps an ellipsis or colon)
and rhythm will become apparent.
Interpretation
Understanding what a poem means is critical for understanding how to read it aloud.
Look at the language, style, diction, punctuation, author’s intent, historical context and
more to decipher what the poem means. When the verse holds some message and
meaning to a performer then it can be read with some feeling. No interpretation means a
shallow presentation of poetry, for how can a reader convey emotion without knowing
what the poem means?
Avoid Being Monotonously Melodic
Though poetry comes with a built in rhythm, this does not mean a reader is exempt from
being trapped in the mode of reciting in a sing-song style. Meaning: the vocal
interpretation of the piece can become predictable and void of feeling. Often, poems
which rely on rhyme are the perpetrators for creating a repeated flow. When this
happens sometimes readers get caught and find it hard to escape the monotony. Try. A
Poetry selection that becomes encased with the same tempo, tone, rhythm, etc.
becomes increasingly boring with every meter.
III. Assessment
1. Evaluate the poem’s theme by asking what message is the poet trying to send or help
you understand? Does it relate to your life in any way?
2. Using a graphic organizer, concisely summarize the different techniques for reading
poetry. (20 points)
IV. References/Notes and Suggested Reading
Steps in reading prose and poetry

Anthology of World Literature, 3rd ed. Vols. A., B, C., Norton, 2012.

Abcarian R. & M. Klotz. (2000). Literature: Reading and writing the human experience
(7th shorter ed.) Boston & New York: Bedford/St. Martin’s.
Hamilton, E. (1942). Mythology: Timeless tales of gods and goddess. New York &
Boston: Grand Central Publishing.
Tomeldan, Y. V. (general ed.), et al. (1986). Prism: An introduction to world literature.
Mandaluyong
https://www.forensicscommunity.com/poetry/techniques-reading-poetry-aloud
https://www.scholastic.com/content/dam/teachers/lesson-plans/migrated-files-in-body/
poetryreadingstrategies.pdf
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