Types of Literature

TYPES OF LITERATURE the Editorial page of a newspaper.
Literature can generally be divided into two h. Biography. This deals with the life of a
types; prose and poetry. person which may be about himself, his
autobiography or that of others. Example:
I. PROSE CAYETANO ARELLANO by Socorro O. Albert
Prose consists of those written within the i. News. This is a report of everyday events in
common flow of conversation in sentences society, government, science and industry,
and paragraphs, while poetry refers to those and accidents, happening nationally or not.
expressions in verse, with measure and j. Oration. This is a formal treatment of a
rhyme, line and stanza and has a more subject and is intended to be spoken in public.
melodious tone. It appeals to the intellect, to the will or to the
emotions of the audience.
a. Novel. This is a long narrative divided into
chapters. The events are taken from true-to- II. POETRY
life stories…and span a long period of time. There are three types of poetry and these are
There are many characters involved. Example: the following:
WITHOUT SEEING THE DAWN by Steven
Javallena. A. Narrative Poetry. This form describes
b. Short Story. This is a narrative involving one important events in life either real or
or more characters, one plot and one single imaginary.
impression. Example: THE LAUGHTER OF MY The different varieties are:
FATHER by Carlos Bulosan. 1. Epic. This is an extended narrative about
c. Plays. This is presented on a stage, is divided heroic exploits often under supernatural
into acts and each act has many scenes. control. Example: THE HARVEST SONG OF
Example: THIRTEEN PLAYS by Wilfredo M. ALIGUYON translated in English by Amador T.
Guerrero. Daguio
d. Legends. These are fictitious narrative, 2. Metrical Tale. This is a narrative which is
usually about origins. Example: THE BIKOL written in verse and can be classified either as
LEGEND by Pio Duran. a ballad or a metrical romance. Examples:
e. Fables. These are also fictitious and they BAYANI NG BUKID by Al Perez
deal with animals and inanimate thins who 3. Ballads. Of the narrative poems, this is
speak and act like people and their purpose is considered the shortest and simplest. It has a
to enlighten the minds of children to events simple structure and tells of a single incident.
that can mold their ways and attitudes. There are also variations of these: love ballads,
Example: THE MONKEY AND THE TURTLE. war ballads, and sea ballads, humorous, moral,
f. Anecdotes. These are merely products of the and historical or mythical ballads. In the early
writer’s imagination and the main aim is to time, this referred to a song accompanying a
bring out lessons to the reader. It can be dance.
stories about animals or children. B. Lyric Poetry. Originally, this refers to that
Example: THE MOTH AND THE LAMP. kind of poetry meant to be sung to the
g. Essay. This expresses the viewpoint or accompaniment of a lyre, but now, this applies
opinion of the writer about a particular to any type of poetry that expresses emotions
problem or event. The best example of this is and feelings of the poet. They are usually
short, simple and easy to understand.
1. Folksongs (Awiting Bayan). These are short 3. Tragedy. This involves the hero struggling
poems intended to be sung. The common mightily against dynamic forces; he meets
theme is love, despair, grief, doubt, joy, hope death or ruin without success and satisfaction
and sorrow. Example: CHIT-CHIRIT-CHIT obtained by the protagonist in a comedy.
4. Farce. This is an exaggerated comedy. It
2. Sonnets. This is a lyric poem of 14 lines seeks to arouse mirth by laughable lines;
dealing with an emotion, a feeling, or an idea. situations are too ridiculous to be true; the
These are two types: the Italian and the characters seem to be caricatures and the
Shakespearean. Example: SANTANG BUDS by motives undignified and absurd.
Alfonso P. Santos 5. Social Poems. This form is either purely
3. Elegy. This is a lyric poem which expresses comic or tragic and it pictures the life of today.
feelings of grief and melancholy, and whose It may aim to bring about changes in he social
theme is death. Example: THE LOVER’S DEATH conditions.
by Ricaredo Demetillo
4. Ode. This is a poem of a noble feeling,
expressed with dignity, with no definite
number of syllables or definite number of lines
in a stanza.
5. Psalms (Dalit). This is a song praising God or
the Virgin Mary and containing a philosophy of
life.
6. Awit (Song). These have measures of twelve
syllables (dodecasyllabic) and slowly sung to
the accompaniment of a guitar or banduria.
Example: FLORANTE AT LAURA by Franciso
Balagtas
7. Corridos (Kuridos). These have measures of
eight syllables (octosyllabic) and recited to a
martial beat. Example: IBONG ADARNA
C. Dramatic Poetry
1. Comedy. The word comedy comes from the

Greek term “komos” meaning festivity or
revelry. This form usually is light and written
with the purpose of amusing, and usually has a
happy ending.
2. Melodrama. This is usually used in musical
plays with the opera. Today, this is related to
tragedy just as the farce is to comedy. It
arouses immediate and intense emotion and is
usually sad but there is a happy ending for the
principal character.

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TYPES OF LITERATURE the Editorial page of a newspaper.

1. Comedy. The word comedy comes from the

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