Divisions of

Literatures:
PROSE AND
POETRY
All literature falls under two main divisions: (Nuggets, 2004, p.8)
PROSE POETRY

FORM Written in paragraph form Written in stanza or verse

form

LANGUAGE Expressed in ordinary Expressed in metrical,

language rhythmical and figurative
language

APPEAL To the intellect To the emotion

AIM To convince, inform, Stir the imagination and

instruct, imitate and set an ideal of how life
reflect should be

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PROSE!
a. PROSE DRAMA- a drama in
prose form. It consist entirely of
dialogues in prose and is meant
to be acted on stage.

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b. ESSAY – a short literary
composition which is
expository in nature.
c. Prose Fiction
•NOVEL- a long fictitious
narrative with a complicated
plot.
• SHORT STORY – a
fictitious narrative
compressed into one unit of
time, place and action.
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d. BIOGRAPHY AND
AUTOBIOGRAPHY
◈ BIOGRAPHY – a story of a certain
person’s life written by another who knows
him (the former) well.
◈ AUTOBIOGRAPHY – a written account of
man’s life written by himself.

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e. LETTER
- A written message which displays aspects of
an author’s psychological make-up not
immediately apparent in his more public
writings.

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f. DIARY

- A daily written record or account of

the writer’s own experiences,
thoughts, activities or observation.

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G. Journal
A magazine or periodical especially of a
serious or learned nature.

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H. Other Prose
Forms
• Historical Prose • Travel
• Scientific Prose • Parody
• Satirical Prose • Anecdote
• Current Publications • Character Sketch
• Literary Criticism • Parable
•Book Review • Pamphlet
•Philosophy •Eulogy
•Speech
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HISTORICAL PROSE
A prose from dealing with historical events.

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SCIENTIFIC
PROSE
A prose form that deals with the subject science.

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SATIRICAL PROSE
A prose form that ridicules the vices and follies of
men.

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CURRENT
PUBLICATIONS
Books, magazines or newspapers that are commonly known or
accepted or in general usage at the time specified or, of
unspecified, at the present time.

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LITERARY
CRITICISM
The analysis, interpretation and evaluation of literary
works; it does not mean “finding fault with”.

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BOOK REVIEW
An article dealing with the contents, literary worth, etc. of a
book especially a recently published book.

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PHILOSOPHY
A prose form that deals with the processes governing
thought and conduct.

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TRAVEL
A written account trips, journeys, tours, etc. taken by
the writer.

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PARODY
An imitation of another author’s work, where ridicule
is the main objective.

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ANECDOTE
A brief narrative concerning a particular individual
or incident.

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CHARACTER
SKETCH
A short description of the qualities and traits
of a person.
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PARABLE
A short tale that illustrates principle, usually by
setting forth the application of the principle to
something familiar to the hearer or reader.
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PAMPHLET
A small book of the topic pf current interest/events.

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EULOGY
Writing in praise of praise of a dead person, event or thing.

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SPEECH
The general word for a discourse delivered to an
audience whether prepared or impromptu.

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SPEECH
◈ ADDRESS – implies a formal, carefully prepared speech and usually attributes
importance to the speaker or the speech.
◈ ORATION – suggests an eloquent, rhetorical sometimes merely bombastic
speech, especially one delivered on some special occasion.
◈ LECTURE – a carefully prepared speech intended to inform or instruct the
audience.
◈ TALK – suggests informality and is applied either to an impromptu speech or to
an address or lecture in which the speaker deliberately uses a simple
conversational approach.
◈ SERMON – a speech by a clergy man intended to give religious or moral
instructions and usually based on Scriptural Text.
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