LESSON 1

• According to Webster, the word Literature is derived from the Latin word LITTERA which means letters.
• He said that literature is a performance in words.


  Robert Lee Frost
• Henry van Dyke says that literature refers to writings which interpret meanings of nature and life, in words of charm and power, touched with the author’s personality, in artistic forms of permanent interest.
• Fr. Joseph Galdon of ADMU says that literature is derived from significant human experience.
• Jane P. Lacuata, PHD says that literature is the enduring expression of significant human experience written in words well-chosen and arranged.
• Mr. Cornelio Elvis S. Gaffud says that literature is life itself.
• The two types of literature are:

  • Oral Literature
  • Written Literature
• Oral literature refers to literature that is handed down from generation to generation by word of mouth.
• Examples of oral literature are riddles, folk songs, epics, tales, and ballads.
• Written literature refers to literature that is handwritten, recorded or printed.
• Examples of written literature are novels, short stories, etc.
• The divisions/genres of literature are:

  • Prose
  • Poetry
• Prose appeals to the mind (critical thinking and comprehension).
• Prose is made up of sentences and paragraphs.
• Prose is written in spoken or written language. It has no metrical structure.
• The kinds of prose or classification of narratives are fiction and nonfiction.
• Narrative refers to story or account or description of series of events.
• Fiction is prose writing that makes use of imaginary characters and events.
• Nonfiction refers to prose writing about reality.
• The forms of prose are:

  1. Legend
  2. Myth
  3. Fables
  4. Parables
  5. Short Story
  6. Novel
  7. Folktales
  8. Essay
  9. Biography
  10. Autobiography
  11. Memoirs
• The fictional forms of prose are:

  1. Legend
  2. Myth
  3. Fables
  4. Parables
  5. Short Story
  6. Novel
  7. Folktales
• The nonfictional forms of prose are:

  1. Essay
  2. Biography
  3. Autobiography
  4. Memoirs
• The subgenres of memoir are journal and epistle.
• Legends may or may not have foundation in fact.
• Legends reflect identity or cultural values with more historical dimension and less supernatural beliefs.
• Myths have religious significance.
• Myth explains actions of gods or heroes and the causes of natural phenomena.
• Fables have animal characters and have a moral or lesson.
• Parables is an allegory that illustrates moral or spiritual lessons.
• Short story is readable in one sitting and contains the major elements of plot.
• Novel is a lengthy prose fiction.
• Novel may be about romance and tears; ordinary life; overwhelming forces of nature and society; behavior and motivation.
• Folktales are a fictional story orally passed down over hundreds and thousands of years.
• Folktales are usually simple and easily understood stories told in straightforward language.
• A short work on a particular subject.

  Essay
• Tells a life story of another person.

  Biography
• Tells author’s own life story.

  Autobiography
• These are records of facts or events in connection with particular subjects and or historical periods known by the writer or gathered from special sources.

  Memoir
• A daily record of occurences/observations.

  Journal
• Apostolic letters in New Testament.

  Epistle