LIT 214 – World Literature

Unit 1: Introduction to Literature

Defining Literature (Diff. Views and Features of Literature)

REASONS FOR READING

It has been a common understanding among people that reading is mainly for the acquisition of relevant
information and also entertainment.

With this, it is necessary to discern that much information concerning man as well as all the other related
aspects and dimensions of his entirety can be best obtained through reading literature.

Also, most people are engaged in reading different materials like books, magazines and the like which
mainly contain stories of various subjects for entertainment and amusement purposes. The idea of
obtaining enjoyment or pleasure through literature is somewhat broad depending on how a literary work
affects people. Perhaps there are other good reasons to read literature like to satisfy one's curiosity, to
uplift cultural understanding, to escape from reality, and lastly, to fulfill one's desires and aspirations.

Mainly, interest in literature is attributed to one's desire to better understand life. With literature, man has
the power to enrich his experiences and to explore the world which may propel to great discoveries and
genuine realizations about the various dimensions of life and of the world in a broader sense.

DEFINING LITERATURE
Scholars have given some legitimate definitions pertaining to how they perceive literature. Hereunder are
some useful descriptions of what literature is.

 Looking into the etymology of the word literature, it was said to be derived from the Latin word
litteratura which means writing, from litteratus, learning.

 Literature covers both oral and written forms of works which manifest expressive or imaginative
quality, nobility of thoughts, timelessness, and lastly, universality.

 It is also described as for having an excellent form which the expression of ales permanent and
universal ideas can be established aesthetically.

 Literature takes significant human experiences as its main subject.

 It mainly discusses various dimensions of life as well as its miseries and glories.

DIFFERENT VIEWS ABOUT LITERATURE

Various scholars and sources have provided some insights with regard to how they perceive literature.

 Webster Comprehensive Dictionary denotes literature as the collective production of the human
mind that deals with permanent and universal themes ascribed by creativity and grace of
expression.

 Webster 9th New Collegiate Dictionary defines literature as writings manifesting excellence of
form which also covers the expression of ideas of permanent and universal interest produced in a
particular language, country, or age.

 Brooks et. al. in their published book noted that literature mainly provides a unique depiction of
life which is different from what science provides. It enables people to have an imaginative
experience the “lived” meanings of a piece of life.
  According to Tiempo et.al. literature as a general term used for poetry, fiction, and drama is mainly
the expression of meaning articulated through form.

 Baritugo et. al. described literature as the artistic reproduction of human experiences in either
poetry or prose.

KEY FEATURES OF LITERATURE

Below are some of the important features of literature.

 Literature is a form of communication

Montealegre described literature mainly as a product or a commentary on the life process. Thus, man's
inner thoughts, feelings, and conditions can be disclosed and revealed through the power of literature.
As we read stories from the past, our forebears communicated with us through literature. Thus, it goes
across time and space. Truly, literature engages us to share and to impart a portion of ourselves which
may be interesting and benefiting to other people.

 Literature is an art
"Dulce" is a term which refers to beauty and magnificence. Literature takes an excellent form. Its
beauty is a deliberate manifestation of the mind's ability to create and imagine. In addition, it is said to
be an artistic expression of man's desires, aspirations, and conditions.

The appeal of a literary work mainly intensifies its value to the people depending on how they judge
and perceive the beauty and quality of a work.

 Nobility of Thoughts
It is necessary to highlight ideas of great importance and significance. Literature should deal with ideas
that can lead to new responses to the world and can move people to achieve great discoveries of the
dimensions of human life and experience.

 Timelessness
The significant truth about life that a literary work reveals should not wane and dissipate as time passes
by. A work must have an enduring quality in which its beauty as well as its applicability can withstand
the change of time. For example, the famous novels written by Rizal during the Spanish occupation of
the Philippines reveal issues and themes which are still perceived to be in existence.

 Universality
A work must have global applicability in which a work transcends across space. For example, many
Filipinos love to watch dramas and movies of foreign origin. Though these stories are set in a different
locale, Filipinos can effectively connect themselves to and understand these foreign stories.

 Literature has utility

The term "utile" refers to the intellectual, emotional, and social function of any creative or literary
work. Through literature, we can obtain relevant information to better understand people, society, and
culture. Also, with what literature can share, it can lead to personal renewal and transformation.
Montealegre once noted that literature can liberate our minds and can uplift our spirits. It has
the power to influence perspectives about the self and the world in general.
Major Forms of Literature

Literature has two major forms – prose and poetry. These two major forms of literature have distinct and
peculiar features which are truly noticeable. Their unique features can be best exemplified by how the
work is shaped and framed.

MAJOR FORMS OF LITERATURE

a. Prose – This form is mainly ascribed to be composed freely. This form does not have any measurement
scheme for it is known to have a free-flow of sentences. Also, it has greater irregularity and the language
used in this form is ordinary for it has a close resemblance to man’s pattern of everyday speech.

b. Poetry – It is the form of literature characterized by its highly controlled manner of choosing and
arranging language with the use of regulating devices such for sound and rhythm to aesthetically convey
a meaning which may call for a specific emotional response.

GENRES OF LITERATURE

Barritugo et.al (2002) explained that literature has specific classifications. It can be classified into four
genres namely: poetry, prose fiction, drama, and non-fiction prose.
Hereunder are the brief descriptions for each genre of literature.

a. Poetry – ascribed as the most economical means of expression since it only uses limited number of
words. Its beauty is mainly forced by the intricate and careful use of words, figurative expression, imagery,
rhythm and sound.

b. Prose Fiction – This is mainly characterized by scholars as any literary work that is an imaginative
recreation and reconstruction of life. This type covers short stories and novels in which these are said to
be manifestations of the creative and imaginative thinking of a particular writer. Also, it recounts the flow
and development of actions and events involving an identified number of characters who deal and react to
certain conflicts and human issues.

c. Drama – This involves stories involving significant human encounters which are intended to be
performed on stage. It may involve a certain number characters who also deal with some complications
and issues. It presents fictional or imaginative events presented or portrayed by actors and actresses before
an audience.

d. Non-Fiction Prose – This genre mainly attempts to present, to interpret, or to describe facts. With such,
judgments, opinions, and commentaries may be framed and expressed in the form of essays, feature
articles, editorials and the like.

Poetry: Nature, Structure, and Forms

KEY ASPECTS OF POETRY

a. Structure – Most poetic works utilize few words and these are mainly arranged in lines and in stanzas.
However, the structure may have some different feature depending on the style established by a writer.
For example, a haiku, a ballad, and a sonnet have peculiar structures.

b. Language – The writer of a poetic work mainly expresses familiar feelings, emotions, conditions and
the like in an implicit and suggestive way. Thus, the words as they are used in certain expressions may
bear numerous meanings and interpretations. The use of connotation, concrete words, as well as figurative
language can be perceived very evident in poetry writing. The writer may use a variety of figurative
expression to beautify and heighten the effect of a poetic work.

c. Tone, Sound, Rhythm

Poem writing is most likely similar to song-writing. Various elements that may contribute to the total
effect and impact of a poetic masterpiece should be in unity and harmony. In most cases, poets are careful
of using various rhyming patterns and even sound devices. For example, Shakespearean, Spenserian,
Petrarchan sonnets have their own rhyming schemes and measurements. The haiku, Japan’s foremost
poetic form, has also its peculiar measurements for syllabication and line formation.

d. Emotional Appeal – Poems mainly convey meanings in a mysterious way. Thus words, ideas, or
constructs used by the writer may bear certain meanings which go beyond the literal or ordinary sense. A
reader must have the ability to deduce and to interpret certain ideas that may lead to the better
understanding of what the poem reveals. Thus, a poem is composed of few words but it may bear a volume
of meanings depending on its readers.

ESSENTIAL COMPOSITES OF POETRY

There are certain elements that go together to the organization of a poetic work. They all play important
roles for they contribute to the total aesthetic value of poetry.

a. Sense – This element involves diction or known as the word choice, imagery that can truly appeal to the
senses, and lastly, figurative expressions. Thus, sense can be best established by the meanings of words,
symbolisms, and images used by the writer.

b. Sound – This element is on offshoot of a variety of elements like tonal patterns, rhythm, and
measurements. Sound devices, rhyming schemes, and repetitions are mainly utilized to create an effect
and a strong appeal.

c. Structure – This element pertains to the way how words and lines are organized, sequenced, arranged
and formed to ensure unity of form. Thus, this also involves the careful and mindful combination of
different parts, establishing harmony among these to form a whole. This also helps to reveal the meaning
of a poem.

DIFFERENT POETIC FORMS

a. Dramatic Poetry – This is a lyric work that exhibits dialogue and characterization which are known to
be elements of drama. A monologue which is specifically a speech delivered by an individual in a dramatic
performance and another is the soliloquy which is a monologue used to develop the character of a speaker
by providing information by the revelation of the character’s personal thoughts, emotions and feelings
both belong to this type.

b. Lyric Poetry – This mainly discloses a poet’s feelings and emotions which can be perceived to be
subjective and personal. This is known to be melodic since it was first recited accompanied by a lyre – a
U-shaped string instrument. Lyric poetry covers the following: simple lyric which includes pastorals that
describe scenes and objects of nature, songs which are commonly composed of 14 lines, and lastly, an
elegy which mainly laments the death of a person of group of individuals.

c. Narrative Poetry – This is mainly a poem that is non-dramatic in which the prime goal of the author is
to narrate a story. It has a variety of length and of complexity. Examples of narrative poems are epics,
metrical tales and romances, and ballads.
CONSIDERATIONS IN ANALYZING A POEM

 The Author
Know who the writer of the poem is. It is also significant to know the background of the author
including his/her life experiences, writing style, and type of works he/she has developed.

 The title of the poem

Mainly, a title bears important information about a poem. Mostly, titles provides a gist of what the
poem is about.
 What does the title say about the poem?
 What subject is revealed by the title of the poem?
 How is the title connected to the entirety of the poem?

 The Persona and the Addressee

The persona refers to the one speaking in the lines of a poem. (Who speaks in the lines of the poem).
The addressee is the receiver or the one being talked to by the persona. (The entity as to whom the
message of the poem is addressed)

 Tone, Mode, Motifs, and Conditions

These are mainly suggested by the words used by the writer. The prevailing emotion of the persona
towards the addressee can be discerned and elucidated by looking into the choice of words of the
writer. Also, recurring motifs and conditions are also revealed by the quality words found in the text.

 Imagery and Symbolisms

A poem appeals to the senses, thus words may also be effective tools to create connections between
the poem and its readers making them see, hear, taste, smell, and feel whatever the poem presents.
Words utilized in poetry may also be symbolic. In this sense, words may bear other constructs aside
from their literal or ordinary meanings.

 Genre
It is a requisite to know to classify the poetic work based on its prevailing features. For this
consideration, you may inquire if the work is a kind of a dramatic, lyric, or narrative poem or taking
into account the specific types like sonnet, elegy, ode, epic, ballad etc.

 Structure
Look whether the poem has regular or irregular structure. Consider the length and measure of the
poem. Also, do examine the rhyming scheme and sound devices used.

 The Theme
This mainly involves the significant truth or the central idea that the writer attempts to disclose and
to communicate to its readers. Thus, this is also the meaning that readers are expected to discover as
they read the entirety of the poem. Also, as a reader, you may even discuss the writer’s possible
purpose for framing the poem.

 Appeal
This pertains to your impressions about the poem. It includes your personal judgment and evaluation
with regard to the aesthetic quality, intellectual and emotional value of the poem.