What Is It

Each literature genre has distinct sub-genres, structure and elements. Study
the table below:

Genres and Sub-genres of Literature: Elements and Structure

Genre Sub-genre Elements Structure

Written in lines and
stanzas
Lyric (sonnet, ode, Rhyme, meter, 2 lines- couplet
Poetry elegy), dramatic figurative devices, 3 lines –tercet
(soliloquy, symbolism 4 lines – quatrain
monologue, 5 lines - cinquain
dialogue), and 6 lines – sestet
narrative (epic) 7 lines - septet
8 lines - octave
Fiction (stories that fantasy, plot, characters,
did not happen in folklore, theme setting, Written in
reality mystery, suspense point-of-view, paragraphs
or thriller, literary devices
historical fiction,
science fiction,
romance
Nonfiction (factual biography,
stories, with real references plot, characters, Written in
characters and (encyclopedia, theme setting, paragraphs
setting) dictionary, point-of-view,
thesaurus), literary devices
autobiography,
narrative (memoir,
testimonio), and
periodicals
(newspapers,
magazines, journal
that are written
regularly)
Literary element
(script), The script serves as
Technical the text and it is
Drama tragedy, element, performed before an
comedy (scenery (set),make- audience
up, costume, lights,
and sound)
performance
element
(acting, character
analysis, character
motivation…)

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 The given genres with their elements and structures are further discussed in
detail below:
A. Poetry

Poetry is one of the earliest genres of literature. It was either recited or sang
back to prehistoric times to call for help from a deity, narrate a hero’s life and
victories, tell about the love story of their rulers, or describe someone who inspires
them. In order to understand or even write a good poem, you must know the
elements of poetry:

1. Rhyme – it is the identical rhyme if the last words or sounds match each other.
alliteration : followed, flats, front
bother, back
assonance: big, slipper
picked, slimy

2. Meter – it is also called the rhythm in poetry. It is the pattern of beats ( foot)
(stressed and unstressed syllables in a line). It is also called foot.
There are four basic rhythms in poetry:
2.1 Iamb -unstressed / stressed (buh BUH )
buh BUH/ buh BUH
Today, / we live /
2.2. Trochee- stressed / unstressed (BUH buh)
BUH buh BUH buh BUH buh
Captain/ it’s gone/ hold it
2.3. Anapest- unstressed / unstressed / stressed. ( buh buh BUH )
buh buh BUH buh buh BUH
If I cry/ If I leave/
2.4. Dactyl- stressed / unstressed / unstressed (BUH buh buh )
BUH buh buh / BUH buh buh / BUH buh buh
Carnage is / horrible / heritage

3. Imagery and Symbolism

The beauty of poetry is on the carefully chosen words that rhyme and the
lines and stanzas with uniform rhythm. Poetry must also employ figurative
language to creatively express emotions, feeling and ideas.

Here are the commonly used literary devices in poetry:

Metaphor Simile Onomatopoeia

Direct comparison of two Two unlike things compared to Words that imitate a sound
unlike things. each other using “like” or “as”.
Ex. The gushing of wind
Ex. He is a strong lion. Ex. He is strong like a lion. and gnashing of teeth
Alliteration Assonance Repetition
The repetition of the The resemblance of a sound in
same initial sound of the words or syllable. A word, a phrase, or a
words. sentence repeated to
emphasize its importance
Ex. Be brave, be Ex. Who knows how hollows in the entire text.
boundless snore.
Beauty is a bouquet of Ex. Not yet Rizal,
blue baby’s breath Not yet….

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 Synedoche Personification Hyperbole
A part is made to Giving human attributes to an It exaggerates the meaning
represent the whole or object or animal of a sentence.
vice-versa
Ex. The wind spoke of hope Ex. I am so thirsty that I
Ex. Hundred heads of and redemption. could drink an ocean.
cattle bought at a good
price.

Symbols
It is the use of symbols to convey ideas. A symbol represents various ideas or things at
one time. Like darkness or color black may symbolize death, uncertainty, failure, or an
end. A white rose may mean purity, freshness, new beginning, or death.

Example : The cold wind blew my heartaches away

(the cold wind can mean inspiring words, new ideas, new hope)

The warm sunshine filled my emptiness with joy .

(the warm sunshine can mean a person whom the author loves, or an event that made
him be filled with joy)

To appreciate and write a good poem, it is also essential to know its structure.
Poems are written in lines that comprise a stanza. Thus, each type of poem differs
from each other because of its structure.
To identify a poem’s structure is to count the lines of every stanza:

Couplet - 2 lines
Tercet - 3 lines
Quatrain - 4 lines
Cinquain - 5 lines
Sestet - 6 lines
Septet - 7 lines
Octave - 8 lines

On the next page is a sample of a free-verse poem which the author used
symbols and imagery to convey his thoughts and feeling.

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 Moonset at Central Park Station of St. Paul
Subterranean River National Park
John Iremil E. Teodoro

This morning, after the faint scent

of sea grasses
awakened me,
I followed
the setting moon
in the reefs flats
in front of my
bamboo cottage.

I nearly stepped on
a parrotfish
that was caught
by the low tide.
It was as big
as my slipper.

I picked
its slimy body
and returned it
to the sea.
In its excitement
it forgot to
thank me

It didn’t even bother

to look back—
it swam quickly
away from me
It dived
towards the direction
of the horizon
where the moon
was hiding.

Perhaps in my next visit

that parrotfish
will surprise me
with a greeting.
It shall brag to me
about its scales
painted by
the setting moon.

*[Teodoro, J. I. ](2016). Moonset at Central Park Station of St. Paul Subterranean River National Park. In N.
C. Moratilla. Claiming Spaces: Understanding, Reading and Writing Creative Nonfiction (pp. 6-7). Quezon City:
Phoenix Publishing House.

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 The given poem is free-verse and unmetered. It has no rhythm but it uses
alliteration, assonance, repetition, and symbolism.
alliteration : followed, flats, front

bother, back

dived, direction
horizon, hiding

perhaps, parrotfish

assonance: big, slipper

picked, slimy

body, forgot, to
symbols: moon - dreams to be fulfilled, fulfilled dreams,
inspiration
horizon - a place to find or to keep your dreams, a
place which promises good fortune or good life
parrotfish - a gay/ LGBTQ member because of its color
- an ungrateful person
- someone passive
- someone who has a very colourful life
- an experienced person
- a person who picks up someone else’s trash
words/ lines used repeatedly: - sea, moon, parrotfish

B. Fiction:
Fiction is a story of make believe. It is a story made by the author’s creative
imagination. It has various sub-genres like mystery, fantasy, suspense, historical
fiction science fiction, realistic fiction and folklore (myths, fables, legends).
To understand fiction and to write a good fictional story, you must be able to
identify and understand its elements that comprise the texts’ contents and message
the story wanted to impart to its readers.
Now, you will read a legend that tells how a great lake was formed. It was
retold by one of the writer’s former senior high school student who lived a in village
near Lake Sebu.

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 Located in South Cotabato, Lake Sebu is considered as the “Summer Capital of
Southern Mindanao” because of the cool weather and uphill location of the town. It is
the home of the T’boli, a tribe famously called as “Dreamweavers” because of their
colorful bead works and hand-woven cloth called T’nalak.

The Legend of Lake Sebu

(A T’boli Folktale)

Once there was a beautiful. yet

mysterious princess, who came to the land of
the T’bolis. She was loved by the locals.
However, she met a mythical frog whom she
angered. To avenge himself, the frog opened
a big lotus flower that gushed water and
flooded the entire land.
The princess’ brother saw this from
the heavens. He threw leaves and pythons
that became land mass so that his sister can
pass through.

From that day on, the village was

covered with water. The eleven islets became the home of the locals.
*Narrated by Moreno, M. E., Legend of Lake Sebu, June 20, 2020

Activity 2: Let’s Take Note (Noting Details by Employing the Elements of Fiction)

Directions: Answer the following questions briefly:

1. Where can Lake Sebu be found? ____________________________________ (setting)
2. What is another name for Lake Sebu ? _______________________________ (setting)
3. Who once lived on the land of the T’bolis? ___________________________________
_____________________________________________________(characters/ plot-exposition)
4. What problem did the princess had during her stay in the place?
__________________________________________________ (plot/rising action and conflict)
5. What did the frog do to avenge himself?
____________________________________________________________________(plot/climax)

6. Who helped the princess? How was he able to help her? ______________
_________________________________________________________(plot/falling action)

7. How did the princess survived the flood made by the angry mythical frog??
_________________________________________________________________ (plot)
Fiction uses the basic elements of a story, namely; the plot, setting,
characters, and conflict , to convey its ideas.

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 Fiction follows the Freytag’s Pyramid to create an interesting and detailed
narrative. Below is an illustration of the story pyramid which consists also the
parts of a plot.

climax

rising action

falling action

exposition denouement

The following are the elements of short story according to Freytag:

1. Exposition tells about the background of the story. The information can be about
the setting, characters’ back stories, or historical contexts.
2. Rising action is the part of the story after the characters and setting are
introduced and events in the story begin to reveal probable conflicts that the
protagonist must resolve. It also involves events that lead to the climax of the story.

3. Climax is the highest point of tension in the story. It is usually the most
interesting part.

4. Falling action is the part of a story after the climax and before the very end.

5. The denouement is the final outcome of the story and it is where other secrets
are revealed, if there is any.

The setting includes the time or period and place where the event
happened. The characters are the persons/ animals/ or any inanimate object that
functions as the protagonist, antagonist and other minor entities that perform the
actions, speak dialogue and moving the story along a plot line.

Conflict creates tension in the story and it involves the struggle of between
two opposing forces/ characters, usually the protagonist and the antagonist.

Conflict can be internal and external. Internal conflict is a psychological

conflict which arises when the character experiences two opposite emotions (like
love and hate, patriotism and devotion) or aspirations ( like career and marriage,
fame and peace of mind) which usually involves good and evil.

External conflict is the struggle of a protagonist against outside forces that

hamper his/ her progress and hinders him/her to achieve his/ her goal.

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C. Non- fiction: Memoir

Nonfiction is a literary genre that tells about stories that actually happen in
real life. The sub genres of literary nonfiction are biography, memoir, autobiography,
journals, diaries, periodicals and references. These works of literary nonfiction have
character, setting, plot, conflict, figurative language, and theme just like literary
fiction, fiction and thriller or suspense. To interpret fiction, we must analyze and
interpret using the elements of fiction.

The story below was a personal account of the author about his ordinary
encounter with a Champorado vendor which made him realized how lucky he was.

Another Universe

Kurt Joshua O. Comendador

He was about my age and about my size. He first approached us while we
were eating at a cottage at a spring resort.
“Champorado mo, Ma’am. Sir”, he said. “Init pa.”
Champorado. Chocolate porridge. Still hot.
I declined.
I watched him as he went on his way, selling champorado in a small pot to
other resort- goers. He might have more customers if only he has better container
than peddle an iron
pot.
I took a plunge
into the cold.
Everything was
familiar. Too familiar
even: The laughter of
the persons around
me, the giant splash
as a kid cannonballs
into the water, the
off-key singing from a
karaoke booth, the
jovial mood, and the
calming effect as I
float in the spring
water. I always believe that cold waters cleanse the body and the mind from any
stress. It’s like floating in your own universe, as I like to describe it.
Then there he was again, walking on top of the wall that separates the water
into smaller pools.
“Champorado, Champorado. Init pa,” he shouted, hoping someone would buy
his hot champorado.
“I want to eat some more. Do you like to have some champorado?”
I asked my girlfriend.
“No, would you like to buy?”
“We still have siopao in the bag.”

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 From the water, I watched him as he peddled his pot. I noticed that it was not
only small, it was also blackened by soot; he must’ve used it over open fire frequently.
We kept swimming until twilight. The people began to thin down; but he kept
on peddling his champorado.
I let my girlfriend change her clothes first while I sat on a circular bench
nearby. I noticed a guy, looking so miserable, sitting next to me. On his side, on the
bench, was the small, sooty pot. He must be the champorado vendor. I figured. On
his other hand was a slipper. I saw that the front strap broke.
He remorsefully shook his head. I held back tears.
I watched as he tried reattaching the broken strap. Unconsciously, I followed
him with my eyes as he softly placed his slipper on the ground. He tried wearing it,
but it immediately broke again. Then I noticed something- he was wearing two
different footwear. On his left foot is a slide slipper, the one athletes commonly wear,
while on the other foot, the one that broke, is a traditional flip-flops.
I wanted to help him - maybe give him some money to buy a new pair of
slippers. But money, I have none too plenty, I might need it on the way home. Give
him my old pair of shoes? I can’t drive my motorcycle bare-footed. I might get caught
by the traffic enforcers. I saw plenty of slippers repaired by sticking a wire through
the rubber to hold it down. The least I can do is to help him fix his slipper, but the
resort is too dark to find any wire that might be laying on the ground.
I wanted to say something, but no words came out of my mouth.
After a while, he went inside the changing room, carrying his pot on one hand,
and his slipper on the other. He also had a backpack, I concluded that he might
have carried his utensils there.
I was left alone. Trapped in another universe.
He was about my age and about my size. We could’ve been similar in many
ways; he might also be the eldest, he might also have four siblings. He might also
want to plunge into the cold, spring water. I liked to ask him questions: Where he
lives, was the champorado sold out, what happened to his slippers and what he would
do next.
But the biggest question was for myself: would I do the same if circumstances
dictate me so?
My girlfriend finished changing. It was already my turn. He still didn’t come
out.
I tried to take my mind off of him while I change into dry clothes. It bothered
me why it took so long inside the changing room. Was he able to fix his slipper? I
had no way of knowing. When I got out, out of the dusk, at a distance, I saw the
vendor. He had backpack to be exact., there was a little light to see him clearly. He
was sort of walking with a drag. I just hoped he gets home safe and sound.
It was already dark when we were ready to leave. The frogs already began
their chorus. To me, it sounded like a woeful dirge.
I wanted to jump into the cold again- to wash my guilt away.

*Comendador, K. J. (2018). Another Universe. Bagwis: The Paradigm has Shifted, p. 9.

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Study the table below to check on the elements of Non-fiction used in the memoir,
“Another Universe”:
Elements Aspects and Analysis
1. A young man was trying to help a champorado vendor,
yet, he could not do anything because he only had enough
money for him to go home.
Plot (Synopsis)

Setting Time 2. late afternoon at a spring resort

Place
Theme
Characters and
Characterization
Main Character/s:
Other Characters:
Point-of-view Used
Atmosphere/ Mood
Narrative Time
Conflict of the Story
Symbols Used
3. an attempt to help
4. the author
5. author’s girlfriend
6. Champorado vendor
7. first person
8. sad
9 It happened before the essay was written
10. man against himself
11. sooty pot – it was used to symbolize the life and future
of the vendor. It may be dark and sooty but inside is a
satisfying meal for a hungry soul. He is poor but his
dreams of a better life could lead him far.

12. water- represents the need to cleanse himself from

guilt of not helping the vendor.

13. universe- it symbolizes the author’s conscience. He

Important Lines/ Dialogue
Other Literary Device Cited
tries to think of ways to help the vendor.
- it may also be the different worlds where the
vendor and the author dwells. The author is a student
supported by his parents while the vendor, as old as the
author, peddled champorado to support himself and
family.
14. I wanted to jump into the cold again- to wash my
guilt away.
15. Repetition - sooty pot was repeatedly mentioned to
give emphasis to the vendor’s plight as someone from a
very poor family.

D. Drama
A script may only come to existence once it is performed before an audience.
Its basic elements include the literary element (script), technical element (scenery
set, make-up, costume, lights, and sound) performance element (acting, character
analysis, character motivation…)

A script is a written text of a play. It is consist of the dialogues or words that

will be spoken by the actors and the stage directions which give instructions about
the position and movement of the actors and other aspects of the set.

The technical element of a play is complicated. It includes scenery set,

make-up, costume, lights, and sound.

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 A scenery set can be chair, a house or a forest and other properties used to
identify the location and period of the dramatic production. Make-up is used in
drama to aid the actors in taking the appropriate appearance of the character they
play. Costumes are clothes, garments or attires worn by actors on stage to aid
dramatic actions and interpretations. There various types of lights used on stage. It
provides not only visibility of the actors but also creates and enhance the mood and
atmosphere. Sound can be produced by actors or by props, musical instruments,
and recorded music and effects that can help engage the audience and bring them
into another time.

Performance element includes acting, character analysis and character

motivation. Acting is the enactment of an actor or actress who portrays a character,
character analysis is evaluating the character’s traits, his/ her role in the story, and
the conflicts they experience, character motivation is the element that drives the
character to achieve his goal.
That is how complicated a drama is! It is more complicated than other genres
of literature because aside from the script, other elements must suit and work
together to the theme of the show and make the audience feel the plight of the
protagonist, antagonist and other characters in the story effectively.

Below is an excerpt from the script of a one-act play which is included in the
literary element.
The Adopted Healthy Baby

by Layeta P. Bucoy (2015)

(Beat. Howell goes out. Mila continues boxing things. Her cell phone rings. Its ringing
tone is an ordinary one taken from her bag. She answers the call.)

Mila: Hello? Yes, Dad… No, were still boxing ma’am Mendoza’s things… Yes, but
Val texted he’s still caught in the traffic. An hour more, maybe … No, Benjie
is not with me. He’s still in the lab … He can’t force organometallics to
catalyse even if it’s for his thesis … No, don’t wait for us. You have to take
your medicine by seven. Eat your dinner now … Don’t start with your fish
bone story. You haven’t had a fish bone pulled from your throat since Benjie
was born … No, Val won’t join us for dinner. It’s a three-hour drive He has to
start back home after he gets his mother’s stuff … I don’t know about
Howell… Now, stop with your excuses, Dad we’ll have meat once your
arteries are de-clogged … Of course I won’t bend.

I don’t care if you hate fish. It’s what’s good for you now. And I already told
Manang to spy on you. So don’t you dare go out to have meat. (Laughs a
little) She’ll drag you back to the house with all the might of her sumo
wrestler weight … Dad, dad, listen. You know I have to keep you alive ‘til we
visit Mabel and MArnie at Texas next year. We’ll take Benjie with us then
show them where they were all convinced … (Laughs a little) Now don’t be
coy, Dad. Come on. Have fish for dinner, take your medicines, I’ll be home in
an hour. Bye, Dad.
(Mila terminates the call, returns her cell phone to her bag. She tries to carry the filing
cabinet. She gives up after two attempts. Them, she starts pushing it. Howell enters.)

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 Howell: Just three students.

Mila: Three is fine.

Howell: All girls.
Mila: (Pushes the filing cabinet). We don’t need to carry this after all.

Howell: The girls said they’re going to a party.

Mila: It’s a party, Howell. They can be a little late.
Howell: They were also required.
Mila: Even attending parties are required now?
Howell: Dean Ramos required them.
Mila: He must be desperate.
Howell: Do you know how much does it cost to keep someone who’s in a
coma alive, Ma’am?
Mila: I know about your mother, Howell.
Howell: But do you know how much I pay for just to keep her alive?
Mila: You’re not the only one who has –
Howell: Where will I get the money when I lose job?

*[Bucoy, L. P.] (2015). The Adapted Healthy Baby. In SyGaco, S. B. (2017). Writing Techniques in
Creative Nonfiction(pp. 14-15). Quezon City. Great Books Trading.

The New Genres of Literature

The various genres of literature and its sub-genres changes through time. The
invention of electricity, use of electronics and other modern technology affected how
people view life and express themselves differently from their contemporaries 10
years, 20 years, or a hundred years ago.
Technology made our lives easier than the last decade. It made people work
fast. Beating deadlines and presenting marketing and management strategies
creatively. These changes have also brought new literary genres that gave us new
avenues of expressing ourselves; like cell phones and computer screens.
These new genres include mobile textula, hyperpoetry, flash fiction, chick
lit and blogs.
To understand these new genres, their definitions are given below to give you
clue on how similar or different they are from the major genres of literature.

1. Hyperpoetry- It is poetry uploaded in the internet. Its medium is the

computer screen.

Pain is earthly and temporal

Sacrifice is surely irrational
Hope is hazily conventional
Existence is hastily corporeal

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2. Mobile Textula - It is a short poetry in a form of tanaga, that is sent
through SMS on mobile phone. It consists of 4 lines with 7 syllables using
(/)to end a line and (//) to end the stanza.
From: MaryelKate

Mamamaya’y balisa /
Gobyerno’y aligaga /
Salut na karamdaman /
Hinde nalulunasan //

3. Flash Fiction – It is telling a story in a few words, usually about 100-1000

words or less. A flash fiction can be as short as Earnest Hemingway’s 6-word
memoir, “For sale: baby’s shoes; never worn.”

The example below was written by former student to express a person’s

many facets as an individual:

They have known him as a weakling and a loser. He never said a word or done
a thing to defend himself or speak what was on his mind.

“Stupid, unworthy, a menace….has no future..”

Those were his father’s words. He just shrug his shoulders and did what he
thought was the best to prove them wrong.

Ten years have passed and here I am waiting for my son’s return from Manila. There he
is… accomplished, full-fledged doctor, and a hero of the COVID-19 Pandemic.

I am a book with hidden chapters..

Raniel Cuñado
Grade 12 HUMSS A
FNHS 2019-2020

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 4. Chick Lit - It is a heroine-centered fiction narrative; usually focus on the
trials of the protagonist. Below is an excerpt of a chick lit taken from
Wattpad. One needs to download the Wattpad App and the story to
experience reading chick lit.

An Extraordinary Love Story (An Excerpt )

by Mariel Kate Q. Liwag

It was a wonderful day because it is our 4th wedding anniversary. We took a
day off to celebrate it. I woke up at 2:30 in the morning to cook and to prepare a
little surprise. He usually surprises me but this time I wanted him start and enjoy
the day differently.
When I was done cooking, I cleaned our living room. I set a table for two with
wine at the center and partially covered the floor with petals .
When I set it all up I texted him.
“Hon, let us go downstairs. Don't forget to wear white, I love it when you
wear white. I said with a smile.
. “Okay, I'll be there in a minute.” He texted back.
I put down the mobile phone and waited for him. I turned on the CD player
with our favorite song, “I’ll Be” by Edwin McCain.
I was wearing a white jumper suit and as the song started to play, a
handsome man in white shirt and pants walked down the stairs .

“Happy 4th anniversary, Hon.” I said as I came close to him and hugged
him tight.
“Hon, you surprised me. Thank you and I love you. ” He said smiling at me.

5. Blog - a regularly updated web page or website that is written in

conversational style.
Here is a sample blog uploaded on March 15, 2020 on the author’s Facebook
page.

From Words to Action

In a sudden horror, the world is facing a ‘doomsday-like' scenario as an aftermath of
the controversial virus, the CoVID-19. The wave of this pandemic is continually raging
and it never fails to haunt lives of many people. However, amidst this, people are
screaming online–filling bogus claims derived from online trolls, spreading
unfavorable conspiracies, and fabricated news that led people to grave fear. The said
premise is a clear evidence of how the situation is worsened. Instead of doing such,
why not be part of the solution? Why not uphold responsibility in every action? Why
not spread goodwill rather than fear? Why not try to meditate for a second, at least
for just a span of seconds, and contemplate? Why not try to uphold God’s promises?
Lastly, why not strengthen your faith and find refuge in prayer? Sometimes, it is not
the stigma itself that inevitably thrusts us towards danger, it is how we set our minds
to think it would happen and so it did.

Let’s refrain from overthinking, God is not sleeping. He is working, so should

you. In these trying times, we need cooperation and not abomination because in the
end, our unified action amidst this pandemic outweighs the overall cost.
Raniel Cuñado
Grade 12 HUMSS A
FNHS 2019-2020
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