Literature Summary

Long before human civilization started in this world, stories are found among the
constellations, beneath the depths of the oceans, and within the woodland realm.
Long before language was invented, stories were told and engraved upon stone
tablets and wall carvings. Long before humans began to know how to read and
write with the words that our ancestors created, literature already existed.
Literature is the foundation of humanity’s cultures, beliefs, and traditions. It serves
as a reflection of reality, a product of art, and a window to an ideology. Everything
that happens within a society can be written, recorded in, and learned from a piece
of literature. Whether it be poetry or prose, literature provides insight, knowledge
or wisdom, and emotion towards the person who partakes it entirely.
Life is manifested in the form of literature. Without literature, life ceases to exist. It
is an embodiment of words based on human tragedies, desires, and feelings. It
cultivates wonders, inspires a generation, and feeds information. Even though it is
dynamic, endless, and multi-dimensional, literature contributes significant
purposes to the world we live in.
LITERATURE
 Literature is a written record of man’s best thoughts and feelings.
MEANING
14th Century
 Literature is the expression of life in words of truth and beauty; it is the
written record of man's spirit, of his thoughts, emotions, aspirations; it is the
history, and the only history, of the human soul. : When we study literature,
our horizons are broadened, because we can learn about and come to
understand people who are different from us. Conversely, we might discover
characters or poems that we really identify with—it can be really exciting
and validating to discover that your exact thoughts and feelings have also
been experienced by someone else. Because of these effects, literature
encourages us to be sensitive to the whole spectrum of human experience
and to consider this when making decisions in our day-to-day lives.
Academically, studying literature also helps us to refine our own writing
skills and expand our vocabularies.
18th Century
 Literature not only expands your vocabulary; it also helps you to write
articulately and coherently. This means you will be able to write in clear
sentences that flow well and are easily understood using correct paragraph
structures and grammar. You can write in sophisticated sentences and adjust
your writing for different readers such as those in the workplace and those
outside of the workplace.
19th Century
 By reading and discussing literature, we expand our imagination, our sense
of what is possible, and our ability to empathize with others.
PROSE vs. POETRY vs. DRAMA

PROSE
 Prose is verbal or written language that follows the natural flow of speech. It
is the most common form of writing, used in both fiction and non-fiction.
Prose comes from the Latin “prosa oratio,” meaning “straightforward.”:
Straightforward means direct in your approach.
 Prose is a form of language that has no formal metrical structure. It applies
a natural flow of speech, and ordinary grammatical structure, rather than
rhythmic structure, such as in the case of traditional poetry.
 Prose refers to any written work that follows a basic grammatical structure.
 Is the ordinary form of written language.
 Written in full grammatical sentences, which then constitutes paragraph.
4 COMMON TYPES OF PROSE

1. NONFICTIONAL PROSE
- Prose that is a true story or factual account of events or information.
EXAMPLES:
BIOGRAPHY
: Biography or simply bio is a detailed description or account of a person's life. It
entails more than basic facts like education, work, relationships, and death—a
biography also portrays a subject's experience of these events.
AUTOBIOGRAPHY
: An autobiography is a written account of the life of a person
: An autobiography is a self-written life story.
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN BIOGRAPHY AND
AUTOBIOGRAPHY?
Biography: Biography is when I write the story of your life.
Autobiography: Autobiography is when YOU write the story of your life.
LETTERS
: A letter is a written message from one party to another containing information.
DIARIES
: A diary is a record (originally in handwritten format) with discrete entries
arranged by date reporting on what has happened over the course of a day or other
period. A personal diary may include a person's experiences, and/or thoughts or
feelings, including comment on current events outside the writer's direct
experience. Someone who keeps a diary is known as a diarist.
JOURNALS
: Daily record of events or business. Many publications issued at stated intervals,
such as magazines, or scholarly journals, academic journals, or the record of the
transactions of a society.
BOOK REVIEW
: A book review is a form of literary criticism in which a book is analyzed based on
content, style, and merit. A book review can be a primary source opinion piece,
summary review or scholarly review. Books can be reviewed for printed
periodicals, magazines and newspapers, as school work, or for book web sites on
the internet.
Newspaper Article
: A publication, usually issued daily or weekly, containing current news, editorials,
feature articles, and usually advertising.
Literary Criticism
: Literary criticism is the comparison, analysis, interpretation, and/or evaluation of
works of literature. Literary criticism is essentially an opinion, supported by
evidence, relating to theme, style, setting or historical or political context
History
: History is the study of the past – specifically the people, societies, events and
problems of the past – as well as our attempts to understand them.
2. Fictional Prose
 A literary work that is wholly or partly imagined or theoretical.
 Prose fiction is categorized as imagined stories using natural language.
EXAMPLES:
Short Story
: A short story is a piece of prose fiction that typically can be read in one sitting
and focuses on a self-contained incident or series of linked incidents, with the
intent of evoking a single effect or mood. The short story is one of the oldest types
of literature and has existed in the form of legends, mythic tales, folk tales, fairy
tales, fables and anecdotes in various ancient communities across the world.
NOVEL
: A novel is a relatively long work of narrative fiction, normally written in prose
form, and which is typically published as a book.
LEGEND
: Legend is a story coming down from the past
FABLE
: Fables are timeless literary devices because of their ability to deliver moral
messages in a simple way that can be understood and enjoyed by readers of all
ages. In fact, the fable is one of the oldest and most lasting methods of both written
and oral storytelling. They can be found in the literature of almost all countries and
languages, and are a fundamental part of the folklore of must cultures. Morals and
lessons that would normally be difficult for children or even adults to understand
are easily communicated through the fictional examples that fables provide, which
makes them an extremely valuable way to of teaching through storytelling.
Parable
: A parable is a short and simple story that teaches a religious or moral lesson. The
parable of the Good Samaritan and the parable of the Prodigal Son are just two
examples of the many parables attributed to Jesus, as recorded in the four gospels.
3. Heroic Prose
: Narrative prose tales that are the counterpart of heroic poetry in subject, outlook,
and dramatic style. Whether composed orally or written down, the stories are
meant to be recited, and they employ many of the formulaic expressions of oral
tradition.
4. Prose Poetry
 Looks like prose (written in paragraphs)
 Focuses on images
 Includes instances of poetic meter
 Contains language play, such as repetition
FUNCTION OF PROSE IN WRITING

I. In literature, the basic purpose of prose in writing is to convey an idea,
deliver information, or tell a story. Prose is the way a writer fulfills
her basic promise to a reader to deliver a story with characters, setting,
conflict, a plot, and a final payoff.
II. Each writer has their own way of using language, called a writer’s
voice. Using prose in different ways helps writers craft and show off
this voice.
III. Prose is often conversational in tone. This familiarity helps connect
readers to a story and its characters.
POETRY
Literary work in which special intensity is given to the expression of feelings and
ideas by the use of distinctive style and rhythm.
It can be defined as ‘literature in metrical form’ or a ‘composition forming
rhythmic lines’.
A poem follows a particular flow of rhythm and meter.
Poetry is a type of literature based on the interplay of words and rhythm. It often
employs rhyme and meter (a set of rules governing the number and arrangement of
syllables in each line). In poetry, words are strung together to form sounds, images,
and ideas that might be too complex or abstract to describe directly.
Elements of Poetry:
STANZA
: Stanzas are basically the poetic equivalent of a prose paragraph. They are a series
of lines that are grouped together and separated from other groups of lines or
stanzas by a skipped line.
Stanzas of:
● 2 lines are called a couplet
● 3 lines are called a tercet
● 4 lines are called a quatrain
● 5 lines are called a cinquain
● 6 lines are called a sestet, or occasionally a sexain
● 7 lines are called a septet
● 8 lines are called an octave
LYRIC POETRY
: Lyric" comes from the Latin word "lyricus," meaning "of/for the lyre." These
short poems were originally accompanied by music. So in lyric poetry, the mood is
melodic and emotional.
Narrative Poetry
: Narrative poems include ballads and epics, long stories detailing historic
societies, heroic deeds or interesting events. They can also be very dramatic when
re-telling a particular situation and were originally meant to be performed while
dancing.
Descriptive Poetry
: Descriptive poetry usually employs lots of rich imagery to describe the world
around the poet. While it most often has a single poetic voice and a strong
emotional content, descriptive poetry differs from lyric poetry in that its focus is
more on the externalities of the world, rather than the interior life of the poet.
Ode
: Another poetry form that traces its origins to Ancient Greece, odes were
originally intended to be sung. Nowadays, though no longer sung, the term ode still
refers to a type of lyrical poem that addresses and often praises a certain person,
thing, or event.
Elegy
: An elegy is a poem that reflects upon death or loss. Traditionally, it contains
themes of mourning, loss, and reflection. However, it can also explore themes of
redemption and consolation.
● A poem of reflection on death, or on someone who has died
● Usually comes in three parts expressing loss:
○ grief
○ praise for the deceased
○ and, finally, consolation.
Sonnet
: A sonnet is a 14 line poem, typically (but not exclusively) concerning the topic of
love.
:Sonnets are predominantly concerned with matters of the heart. If you see a
sonnet’s recognisably blocky form on a page, there’s a good chance the theme will
be love. There are two common forms of sonnet: Shakespearean and Petrarchan.
They differ slightly in their internal structure, but both have 14 lines. Let’s take
look at some more of the internal characteristics of both forms:
Petrarchan
● Comprises 2 stanzas
● First 8 lines pose a question

● 2nd stanza answers the question posed
● Rhyme scheme is: ABBA, ABBA, CDECDE
Shakespearean
● Comprises 3 quatrains of 4 lines each
● Ends with a rhyming couplet which forms a conclusion
● Rhyme scheme is: ABAB, CDCD, EFEF, GG
Ballad
: A ballad (or ballade) is a form of narrative verse that can be either poetic or
musical.
: Ballads are a type of narrative poetry that has close ties to musical forms. Ballads
written as poetry can often easily be adapted as song lyrics.
● Tells a story, often using simple language
● Often romantic, adventurous, or humorous
● Arranged in groups of 4 lines or quatrains
● Often uses alternating 4 and 3 beat lines
● Rhyme scheme is usually ABAB or ABCB
Haiku
A haiku is a three-line poetic form originating in Japan.
:● They are written in three line stanzas
● 1st line contains 5 syllables
● 2nd line contains 7 syllables
● 3rd line contains 5 syllables
Limerick
: A limerick is a five-line poem that consists of a single stanza, an AABBA rhyme
scheme, and whose subject is a short, pithy tale or description.
DRAMA
 In literature, a drama is the portrayal of fictional or non-fictional events
through the performance of written dialog (either prose or poetry).
 Drama also refers to the performance of written dialogue and stage action. It
allows a literary genre and actors to act out of a writers words directly to an
audience.
 Drama can be performed on stage, film or radio.
 Drama depend heavily on spoken dialogue to keep the audience informed
about the characters’ feelings, personalities, motivations and plans.
 It serve as the function for entertainment for the audience. While reading a
story is powerful, watching the story performed by the actors adds a level of
realism to the work.
Types of Drama:
COMEDY:
 Comedies are usually humorous plays.
FARCE
 A farce is a type of broad comedy. It depends less on a narrative storyline
and more on physical humor, sight gags, silly jokes
OPERA
 Operas are dramas in which the characters sing each line rather than
speaking.
 The entire production is set to a musical score.
TRAGEDY
 Just from the word tragedy, you can assume that the ending will be sad. But
there is more to a tragedy than a play with no happy ending.
TRAGICOMEDY
When you combine the elements of a com
edy and a tragedy, you get a tragicomedy
TEACHING AND
ASSESSMENT IN
LITEATURE
SUBMITTED BY:
JOELA S. CASTIL
BSED-ENGLISH2
SUBMITTED TO:
MS. DINA B. GUINITARAN
INSTRUCTOR
PROSE
Vs.
Poetry
Vs.
Drama

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Long before human civilization started in this world, stories are found among the

PROSE vs. POETRY vs. DRAMA

4 COMMON TYPES OF PROSE

FUNCTION OF PROSE IN WRITING

● First 8 lines pose a question

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