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WESLEYAN
An Autonomous Methodist University

Mabini Ext., Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija 3100

KOLEHIYO NG MGA SINING AT AGHAM

Modular Instruction in
WORLD LITERATURE

MODULE 1: REVIEW
Introduction to Literature
Week 1 & 2

I. Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this module, you are expected to:

Recall the literary terms that will be beneficial in dealing with literary analysis

II. Learning Activities and Resources

We shall have a discussion, through synchronous session, on the definitions of

literature and its purposes. After which, you are tasked to create your own definition of
literature and explain its purposes in your own words. The task shall be posted in the
Discussion Section/Tab of CANVAS and I am expecting your answers in the comment
section.

III. Introduction

Literature is everywhere. Literature is life. Unconsciously, we create own literary

pieces through life itself. During our childhood days, we knew the basic terms short stories
and poems. Most of us might have known poetry but not prose because we seldomly
heard about it. As we grow older, we realize that a short story is just one of the many
kinds of prose and that poetry has classifications as well.
We cannot say all, but there are people who turns to literature when they are happy
and when they are sad and use literature as their escape goat. In moments when we turn
to literature and appreciate literary pieces, we unconsciously show empathy to the
characters involved. By compassion, we mean moments when characters show
kindness, mercy, and similar qualities. These actions can draw us closer to those
characters, move us to tears, and make those stories all the more memorable. And during
these turbulent times in our world, finding – and writing – stories that demonstrate
compassion may be more important than ever.

IV. Body

Definitions of Literature

a. Literature is a body of written works. The name has traditionally been applied to those
imaginative works of poetry and prose distinguished by the intentions of their authors and
the perceived aesthetic excellence of their execution (Rexroth, n.d.)

b. Literature is books and writings published on a particular subject (Merriam-Webster’s

Dictionary and Thesaurus)

c. Literature is a term used to describe written and sometimes spoken material. Derived
from the Latin word litteratura meaning "writing formed with letters," literature most
commonly refers to works of the creative imagination, including
poetry, drama, fiction, nonfiction, and in some instances, journalism, and song
(Lombardi, 2020).

d. Literature refers primarily to written texts, therefore, it is simply anything that is written
(Bressler, 2011).

e. Literature, as a whole, emerged from broader discourses or “bodies of thought and

writing that made certain texts possible and gave authors their ideas and ways of writing”
(Ryan, 2012).

Purposes of Literature

1) To unlock unfamiliar words

2) To provide entertainment
3) To help us understand more the world we live in
4) To uplift the mind, the heart, and the soul
5) To feed one’s imagination

Division of Literature
a) Prose - is a literary piece which is written in the pattern of ordinary spoken language
and within the common flow of conversation. It is written in sentences and paragraphs. It
is derived from the Latin word prosa which means ‘straightforward’. It is the language of
the mind.
b) Poetry - refers to those expressions in verse, with measures, rhymes, lines, stanzas
and melodious tones. It came from the Greek word poiesis which means ‘making’. It is
the language of the mind.
Types of Prose
a) Fiction - is a series of imagined facts which shows truths about human life.

Kinds:

1. Short Story – It is a fiction of such brevity that it supports no subplots.

2. Novel - A novel is a piece of long narrative in literary prose. Narrative prose is

meant to entertain and tell a story. It is a description of a chain of events which
includes a cast of characters, a setting, and an ending. Most publishers prefer
novels that are in the 80,000- to 120,000-word range, depending on the genre.

3. Legend – It is a Story, sometimes of a national or folk hero, which has a basis

in fact but also includes imaginative material.

4. Adventures – These feature physical action and courageous heroes who save
others from danger or impending doom. The adventure genre of fiction is fast-
paced and usually centers on a protagonist in a dangerous or risky situation.

5. Allegories – teach lessons

a. Fable – It is a narration demonstrating a useful truth, especially in which
animals speak as humans; legendary, supernatural tale
b. Parable - A parable is a short, didactic story that is meant to teach a
moral. Parables use human characters in believable situations so that the
reader or listener feels able to relate. There are many examples of parables
in religious texts such as the Bible and the Quran.

6. Drama – This is usually for theatrical performance, where conflicts and emotion
are expressed through dialogue and action.

7. Fairy Tale – This is a story about fairies or other magical creatures in a magical
world.

8. Mythology – It is a traditional narrative, often based in part on historical events,

that reveals human behavior and natural phenomena by its symbolism; often
pertaining to the actions of the gods.

b) Non-fiction – is based mainly on facts rather than on the imagination.

Kinds:

1. Biography – It is an account or story of someone’s life written by another person.

2. Autobiography – It is an account or story of a one’s life written by that person.

 3. Diary – It is a daily record of events, activities, experiences, and personal
observations of the writer.

4. Letters – These are written or printed messages usually of business or personal

matters by one person or organization to another.

5. Journals – These are written reports on certain fields of education and

professional activity.

6. Essay – It is a short literary compositions with specific that expresses an author’s

opinions, and is informal, and personal in tone.

7. Current Publications – these include news item, articles, in newspapers and

magazines or other forms of periodicals.

8. History – a record of the past.

Branches of Poetry

1. Lyric Poetry – In early days, it was meant to be sung to the accompaniment of a musical
instrument known as lyre.

Kinds of Lyric Poetry:

a. Song – short lyric poem which has a specific melodious quality and is adapted
to be sung.

b. Ode – a poem meant to be sung but longer than a song. It is often addressed to
someone or something.

c. Elegy – a poem expressing lament or grief to the dead. It expresses sorrow,

mourning, and regret of a loved one.

d. Sonnet – a poem of 14 lines written formal line. Types: Petrarchan/Italian

Sonnet, Spenserian Sonnet, English/Shakespearian Sonnet

e. Simple Lyric – embraces a wide variety of poems and is characterized by

subjectivity, imagination, melody and emotion.

2. Narrative Poetry – It tells a story following an order of events.

Kinds of Narrative Poetry:

 a. Epic – a long, majestic narrative poem which tells the adventures of a traditional
hero and the development of a nation, and/or adventures of legendary figures.

b. Ballad – short simple narrative poem composed to be sung and is orally told
from one generation to another.

c. Tale – a poem full of fiction and exaggeration.

3. Dramatic Poetry – includes poems intended for theater or to be presented on stage.

Kinds of Dramatic Poetry:

a. Comedy – a form of poetry which ends a happily.

b. Tragedy – a form of poetry which ends sadly.

c. Dramatic Monologue – a combination of drama and poetry, usually a stage play,

which presents the speech of a character or characters being portrayed by one
person in a particular situation at a critical moment.

d. Melodrama – a play of highly sensational events accompanied with music.

e. Farce – a short comedy.

Elements of a Story

A. The Characters
B. The Plot
C. Point of View

A. The Characters - the people, or sometimes the animals, who participate in the action
of a literary work

Methods of Characterization

1) Direct or Expository Characterization tells the audience what the personality of the
character is.

Example: “The patient boy and quiet girl were both well mannered and did not disobey
their mother.”
Explanation: The author is directly telling the audience the personality of these two
children. The boy is “patient” and the girl is “quiet.”

2) Indirect or Dramatic Characterization shows things that reveal the personality of a

character.
Example from The Cat in the Hat:
Many of the words spoken by the cat at the beginning of the story have an upbeat
connotative meaning. For instance, the cat says to the children, “But we can have / Lots
of fun that is funny!” (7).

Explanation: This reveals that the cat’s character is an upbeat character that likes to have
fun.

Kinds of Characters that can be portrayed

a. According to Roles played

a.1. Major Characters – those that make significant decisions.

a.1.1 Protagonist – The main character of the story is the

protagonist. They should be carefully crafted with a logical backstory,
personal motivation, and a character arc over the course of the story.
Often the story will be told from their point of view. The protagonist is the
character the audience is most invested in. He is called the hero, or
heroine for female counterpart, when he embodies certain noble ideas of
man. However, the protagonist may not always be admirable (e.g. an anti-
hero).

a.1.2 Antagonist – The villain of the story is the antagonist. He is

the primary opposing fore contending the protagonist. The villain can be
another character, the society, nature, fate, or one side of the character that
battles another side in an internal conflict. Note that an antagonist is not
the same as an anti-hero. Anti-heroes are villainous people who function
in a protagonist’s role.

a.2. Minor/Supporting Characters – serve to complement the major

characters and help move the plot events forward.

a.2.1. Confidant (or Confidante) – This type of character is a right

hand, best friend, or sidekick to whom the protagonist or another character
reveals his reflections or hopes. One to whom the central character entrusts
his secrets. Often the protagonist's goal flows through the confidant—
although not every story needs one.
a.2.2. Foil – A foil character primarily serves to bring the
protagonist’s qualities into sharper relief. This is because the foil is
effectively the contrast of the protagonist or another character.
a.2.3. Stock/type – A stock character is an archetypal character with
a fixed set of personality traits who show qualities of a national, social, or
occupational group to which he belongs.
b. According to fullness of development

b.1. Flat – This character is simply depicted and characterized

by one or two traits. He does not go through a substantial growth or
transformation in the course of the narrative and is relatively uncomplicated.

b.2. Round – This character shows fluidity and the capacity for change
from the moment we meet them as he is someone who is three
dimensional; complex; many-sided; with a fully developed personality.

c. According to change undergone in the story

c.1. Static – This character does not noticeably change over the course of
a story. Many villains are also static: They were evil yesterday, they’ll be
evil today, and they’ll be evil tomorrow.

c.2. Developing/Dynamic – This character is one who changes over the

course of the story. As such, a developing character makes the best
protagonist who undergoes a permanent change in his personality in the
course of the story. The change may be large or small, for better or for worse
but it is something basic or important.

B. The Plot

1. Introduction/Exposition

This is the start of the story, where we meet the main character or characters,
understand the setting, and deduce the conflict.
For example, we might meet a main character, named Fiona, who just moved to
Ireland, and is writing her first book. There, we meet the main character, understand she's
in a new country, and will watch her push to overcome the trials and tribulations that come
from each of these new elements.

2. Rising Action

In the rising action, we watch a series of events unfold. There's not much in a story
if everything works out perfectly and there are zero bumps in the road. We need a little
conflict.
Conflict can come in many forms. Continuing with Fiona, perhaps she's battling
some sort of internal conflict. We might see her doubt her decision to move so far away
from home. Or, with regard to her book, perhaps she submits it to her agent and it's torn
to shreds.
Maybe she meets some devilish Irish lad who distracts her from her primary
purpose, and she must realign her priorities. The possibilities for action - and conflict - are
endless.
Conflict – clash of opposing forces in the story. Usually, the main character struggles
against some other force.

Kinds of Conflict

b.1. External Conflict – the clash of the character with the forces outside him,
natural, social or both.

 Man Versus Man – This is the most common type of external conflict. In
this type of conflict, the protagonist, or main character, faces off with an
antagonist who must be defeated. This conflict happens when a hero
fights a villain.
 Man Versus Society – The protagonist questions and perhaps rebels
against the social norms of their community or of society at large. It could
be social evils or discrimination practiced by society that is opposed by
a minority.
 Man Versus Nature – These occur when a character, or characters, find
themselves at odds with forces of nature. The character's enemy is not
another person, but instead the natural world. Often, the protagonist is
stranded in the wilderness, threatened by a storm or blizzard, or struck
by a terrible disease, and must fight for their life.
 Man Versus Fate – This happen when a character is compelled to follow
an unknown destiny. This exists in any story in which the protagonist is
struggling against a god or gods. This conflict is sometimes considered
part of "Man vs. Self" when focused on an internal, moral struggle,
while forcing a character to consciously, or subconsciously, act on his or
her fate.
 Man Versus Supernatural – This occurs when a character battles that
which is beyond nature. It can’t be explained by natural law. This could
be monsters, aliens, witches, vampires, mythical creatures, and so forth.
 Man Versus Technology – This happens when a person is in direct
combat with robots, in the context of science fiction, or it could mean
simply that technology, or man-made entities which may possess
"artificial intelligence", stands in the way of the protagonist getting what
he wants.

b.2. Internal Conflict – the clash of forces within the character.

 Man Versus Self - This conflict takes place within the mind of the main
character, and often involves the character making a decision between
right and wrong, or other mixed emotions. However, this struggle could
also exist in the form of a character battling mental illness.

3. Climax
 The climax of a story is the peak of the action. At this point, we've watched the
main character confront the action or conflict, and now something major has to come to
a head.
Perhaps Fiona makes a new acquaintance who takes on a motherly role, reducing
those feelings of doubt about moving so far away from home. Perhaps she submits the
revised version of her book and it's accepted. Maybe she tells the devilish lad she's not
interested so she can focus on her work.
Just as there are many avenues for action and conflict, there are many ways to
bring a story to a climax. This will be the moment that stirs up the strongest sense of
emotion in the reader.

4. Falling Action

In the falling action, we see things start to wind down.

Fiona and her new motherly acquaintance might have settled into a steady rhythm
of Sunday dinners by now. As for her book, maybe the only thing she's waiting for is the
advanced copy. Perhaps the devilish lad has come back around and they're in a steady
relationship.

5. Resolution

In any story, it's important to conclude with a solid resolution, sometimes called
the denouement. Here, we learn of the final outcome of the tale. Short stories, in
particular, need a defined ending. Books, however, can remain somewhat open-ended.
But, you must bring the story to a close with either a tragic or a happy ending.
Perhaps Fiona is purchasing a crumbling mansion in Ireland with the royalties from
her book. Or, maybe she'll move back to her home country, cherishing her Irish adventure
for what it was. Either way, readers want to experience some sort of finite conclusion, or
resolution.

C. Point of View - Point of view in fiction simply means who tells the story.

1. First Person Point of View – A character in the story serves as the narrator, using "I"
or "we" as the story plays out. This narrator might be a relatively minor character,
observing the action.

2. Second Person Point of View - The reader becomes the main character, addressed
as "you" throughout the story and being immersed in the narrative. The narrator
describes what "you" do and lets you into your own thoughts and background.

3. Third Person Point of View

Types:

3.1. Objective - The narrator reports the events that take place without
knowing the motivations or thoughts of any of the characters. We know little about
what drives them until we hear them speak or observe their actions. The resulting
tone is often matter-of-fact, not colored by any opinions or commentary, nor of
knowledge of what takes place outside the scene.
3.2. Limited - The narrator still exists outside the events of the story, but
does not know the motivations or thoughts of all the characters. Rather, one
character is the driver of the story, and the reader is given a closer peek into
that character’s psyche than the others.
3.3. Omniscient - An omniscient narrator knows every character’s thoughts,
feelings, and motivations even if that character doesn’t reveal any of those
things to the other characters.

V. Summary and Conclusion

Literature is derived from the Latin word litteratura which means writing formed
with letters. It is defined as written works that have lasting value. It reflects humanity.
Lastly, life is manifested in the form of literary pieces.

VI. References:

Bressler, C. E. (2011). Literary Criticism: An Introduction to Theory and Practice (5th ed.).
Pearson.
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Debranda. (2014, June 10). Types of Nonfiction [PowerPoint slides]. Slideshare.
https://www.slideshare.net/debranda/types-of-nonfiction
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September 28, 2020, from www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/literature
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Rexroth, K. (n.d.). Literature. Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/art/literature
Ryan, M. (2012). An Introduction to Criticism: Literature, Film, Culture. UK: Blackwell.

Parable. (n.d.). Literary Devices. Retrieved Sept. 29, 2020 from

http://www.literarydevices.com/parable/
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Tucker, K. (n.d.). Characteristics of Adventure Fiction. Pen and the Pad.
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Writing 101: All the Different Types of Characters in Literature. (2019, December 3).
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