LESSON 1:

LITERATURE: IT’S GENRES AND ELEMENTS

LITERATURE- Derived from the Latin word “litera’’ which means letter.
-used to described written and spoken material.
-commonly refers to works of the creative imagination.
-represent significant human experiences.
FORMS/GENRES OF LITERATURE
PROSE FICTION- Based on the writer’s imagination and it uses imaginary characters,
places, or events. It uses sentences or paragraph to tell a story of the character.
 NOVEL- Is the longest type of prose fiction.
-Gives the writer plenty of time to develop the plot and characters.
-No exact word count, it is up to the discretion of the author.
 NOVELLA/NOVELLETE- Shorter than a novel and usually consist of more than 30
pages. It also has a room for a plot and character development but not that long.
 SHORT STORY- has a limited time for character development and usually consist of
3 to 25 pages. Only deals with a few characters.
 FLASH FICTION- The shortest among the type of prose fiction, consisting of more
than 1,000 but less than 10,000 words.
NONFICTION PROSE- Based on facts and evidences and it uses real life situations. It also
uses sentences and paragraphs in presenting the story.
 PERSONAL NARRATIVE- Tells true stories about events in a person’s life and is
written by the person himself
 BIOGRAPHICAL NARRATIVE- Are accounts of a person’s life written by someone
else
 DIARY AND JOURNAL ENTRY- Is a highly personal record of experiences,
thoughts, and the feelings of the writer.
 BLOGS- Are online journals showcasing the feelings of a certain person towards
somethings
POETRY- Usually written in verses or lines that makes up stanzas, designed to be recited
or real aloud.
TYPES OF POETRY
  LYRIC POEM- Are highly musical verses that expresses the observations and
feeling of a person.
 NARRATIVE POEM- Are poems that tell a story. It combines elements of
storytelling.
 DRAMATIC POEM- A verse/s which is/are written to be spoken usually by a
character by the author himself.
 EPICS- Adventure and achievements of a heroic figure.
 SONNETS- Are poems with 14 lines. Communicate a various details contained
within a single thought, mood, or feeling, typically culminating in the last lines.
 BALLADS- Are song-like poems (adventure and romance).
 HAIKU- A type of poem from Japan which consists of 3 lines and 17 syllables
(5-7-5). Emphasizes simplicity, intensity, and directness of expression.
 FREE VERSE- Are poems that do not follow any rhythmical patterns.
DRAMA- Is designed to be performed and made up of dialogue and set direction. Presented
by actors and actresses on a stage.
TYPES OF DRAMA
 COMEDY- Is humorous and has a happy ending. Its tone is light and is intended to
make the audience laugh.
 TRAGEDY- Which the main character suffers a downfall (murders, deaths, insanity
and pain).
 TRAGIC COMEDY- Is a special kind of drama that combines the features of tragedy
and comedy.
 MELODRAMA- Which everything is hyperbolized. Simple and without any
unpredictable plot twists.
ELEMENTS OF LITERATURE
CHARACTER- Representation of human being in the story.
-Character can be presented in two ways:
 DIRECT- Narrator describes the character.
 INDIRECT- The characters are describing the others through character’s speech and
reactions.
TYPES OF CHARACTERS
 PROTAGONIST- Is the central character of the story.
 ANTAGONIST- Is the force working against the protagonist (villain).
  STATIC CHARACTER- Remains the same throughout the story, stereotypes. One or
two characteristics that never changes.
 DYNAMIC CHARACTER- Developing, undergoes permanent change.
-Has many sided personalities that change by the end of the story.
 FLAT CHARACTER- Does not undergo substantial change or growth in the course
or a story
 ROUND CHARACTER- Capable of change and evolution throughout the story.

SETTING- The time and place of the story.

-Establishes the historical, geographical, and physical location.
PLOT- Describes the structure of the story.
-Casual arrangements of events and actions within a story.
TYPES OF PLOTS
 CHRONOLOGICAL- The usual flow of the story (Beginning->middle->end)
 FLASHBACK- Starts from the future then go back to the past
 IN MEDIA RES- In the middle of the things.

PLOT COMPONENTS-
Expositions-rising
movement-climax-falling action-denouement
TYPES OF CONFLICT
 MAN VS. HIMSELF
 MAN VS. MAN
 MAN VS. SOCIETY
 MAN VS. GOD