Location via proxy:   [ UP ]  
[Report a bug]   [Manage cookies]                

summary

Download as docx, pdf, or txt
Download as docx, pdf, or txt
You are on page 1of 4

Definition of Literature

The word comes from Latin "litteratura," meaning “writing with letters.” There
are numbers of definition such as: Literature is any written work, and some
definitions also include spoken or sung texts. More strictly, it refers to writing
with artistic quality. The meaning of Literature different things to different
people. It uses words creatively to express human experiences. Moreover, it
reflects social realities, like a mirror.
History
Literature started in ancient Egypt and Sumeria around 4000 BC. It included
both written and spoken stories. Before writing, people shared stories out loud,
which helped shape early literature like the Epic of Gilgamesh. Talking and
writing have always been connected.
Relationship Between Language and Literature
 Language and literature are closely linked.

 Literature uses language to show human experiences.

 Language is how we share stories.

 Language is the medium or tool of communication in literature, no

language, no literature
Types of Literature\ There are two main types of literature:
1. Oral/Old Literature
o This is shared by word of mouth from one generation to another.

o It is the earliest form of literature, created before writing.

o It includes verbal songs, myths, folktales, and epics.

o Oral literature is the foundation of all literature today.

2. Written/Modern Literature
o This is expressed through writing and began with the invention of

writing.
o It is called a secondary source because it came after oral literature.

o Written literature includes three genres:

1. Prose: it can be divided into: novels, novella and short stories


2. Poetry:
3. Drama:
Small Test
1. What is the broad definition of literature?
o Literature is anything written.

2. What is the narrow definition of literature?


o Literature is writing that shows ideas and feelings.

3. What are convention and innovation in literature?


o Convention is the way literature follows social rules. Innovation is

how it changes with new ideas.


4. What is production and reproduction in literature?
o Production is sharing literature. Reproduction is making new works

based on old ones.


Elements of Literature
Literature has two main parts: form and content.
1. Form: How the story is built.
o Plot

o Setting

o Characters

o Language and Style

2. Content: What the story is about.


o Theme

o Conflict

o Message

o Lesson
Form
Form: This is how a work of art is arranged.
 Plot: This shows how events are organized in a story. It includes conflicts,

which can be moral, personal, or physical.


 Style/Technique: This is how the story is created.

 Flashback: This is when the author tells events from the past before

moving back to the present.


 Setting: This is the environment where the story happens. It includes the

time, culture, and place. It can be real or imaginary.


 Characterization: This is how characters in a story are described.

 Language/Diction: This is how words are chosen and put together in a


story. It affects how the story feels and how characters talk
Types of figures of speech in the English language
1. Personification: Giving human traits to things.
o Example: "The flowers danced in the wind."

2. Alliteration: Same beginning sound in nearby words.


o Example: "Busy bees buzz."

3. Assonance: Repeating vowel sounds.


o Example: "The cat sat."

4. Consonance: Repeating consonant sounds.


o Example: "The big dog ran."

5. Hyperbole: Exaggeration.
o Example: "I have a million toys!"

6. Simile: Comparing using "like" or "as."


o Example: "He is as fast as a cheetah."

7. Metaphor: Comparing without using "like" or "as."


o Example: "The classroom was a zoo."

8. Euphemism: A nicer way to say something.


o Example: "He is getting older" instead of "He is old."

9. Sarcasm: Saying the opposite for fun.


o Example: "Nice job!" when someone makes a mistake.

10. Irony: Saying something but meaning the opposite.


o Example: "A rainy day at the beach."

11. Synecdoche: A part represents the whole.


o Example: "We need more hands" meaning more helpers.
Content
Content: This refers to what a story or piece of writing is about. It includes:
 Theme: The main idea or topic of the work.

o Example: Love, friendship, or bravery.

 Message: The lesson or moral we learn from it.

o Example: "Honesty is the best policy."

 Conflict: The struggle or problem faced by characters.

o Example: A disagreement between friends or an internal struggle.

 Climax: The most intense or exciting part of the story, where the conflict

reaches its peak.


o Example: The moment when the hero confronts the villain.

 Crisis: A turning point where the conflict escalates and must be resolved.

o Example: A character faces a major decision that impacts the

outcome.
 Philosophy: The author's beliefs or views expressed in the work.

o Example: Ideas about what is right or wrong in society.

You might also like