MODULE 3: FORMS OF LITERATURE

MODULE OVERVIEW

People’s reason for wanting a definition is to take care of the borderline case, and this is what a
definition, as if by definition, will not do. That is, if an individual asks for a definition of

poetry, prose and drama, it will most certainly not be the case that he has never seen one of the
objects or examples for these forms; on the contrary, an individual is already tolerably certain what
are these terms in the main is, and the reason for wanting a definition is either the certainty

has been challenged by some factors or that he wants to take care of a possible or seeming
exception to it. Hence, the perennial squabble about distinguishing poetry from prose to drama and
vice versa which is rather like distinguishing rain from snow—everyone is reasonably capable
of doing so, and yet there are some weathers that are either-neither.

With these concerns, this module is the way to widen the horizon of knowledge about the forms of
literature. The module is divided into three lessons. The first lesson deals with poetry

with its divisions and types. The second lesson concentrates on prose and its different divisions
and types. Lastly, the third lesson focuses on drama and other concept related on it. Also, this
module will present valuable information regarding the various forms of literature and its divisions
as well as its types. These details will be tackled one by one thus giving you enrichment of your
knowledge about literature before going deeply to the different examples of literary pieces.

MODULE OBJECTIVES

At the end of the module, you should be able to:

1. Define what is poetry, prose and drama as forms of literature;

2. Differentiate poetry, prose and drama; and
3. Construct literary pieces for each form of literature.

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 LESSONS IN THE MODULE

This module contains the following lessons:

Lesson 1: Poetry-Its Divisions and Types

Lesson 2: Prose-Its Divisions and Types
Lesson 3: Drama

MODULE 3: FORMS OF LITERATURE Lesson 1: Poetry-

Its Divisions and Types

TIME FRAME

This lesson is intended for four days only.

INTRODUCTION

Many people are daunted by the mention of the word “poetry.” It is often perceived as

something that is cryptic and beyond understanding. But there are some pieces of information
that can help us to grasp poetry whether we are just starting to learn about analyzing poetry or
trying to find our own poetic voice. Poetry has often reflected the voice of the time. This means that
subject matter and language choices may change with whatever is considered an everyday
concern in the current society’s expectations. However, not many contemporary poems will use
the same language as Shakespeare, but that does not mean that they are any less valid.
Similarly, poetry that lasts through the transition of time still resonates with the reader in some

way.

No good poem offers to any reader all that it has on the first reading. Poetry tends to be far denser
than prose, requiring concentration on every word, every line, every rhyme, every
metaphor, every sound, every image, every punctuation mark. It all matters. Poetry is not throw
away writing, like you might find in a newspaper, to be read quickly and pushed aside. The poet,

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 Ezra Pound, said that “Literature is the news that stays news.” Good poems have something more
to say on the second, fifth, or fiftieth reading. This lesson will open the door to what is poetry and
what are its divisions and types. Hence, this will also provide a chance for you to
produce your own master piece. So, hit while the iron is hot through enjoying the journey through

poetry.

ABSTRACTION

Definition of Poetry
Poetry refers to those expressions in verse, with measures, rhymes, lines, stanzas and
melodious tone. Students who delight in the study of poetry and appreciate poems are usually
those who have awareness of artistic features.
Poetry is not intended merely to entertain. It has a very useful and serious function: to embody
the deep truths reveal to us the complex living organism called human being. It has a two-fold
function: to delight and to instruct, which was defined by Horace, the Roman writer who lived
during the reign of Augustus Caesar in the 1 st century B.C. Poetry usually canters on
comments and ideas that are necessary to human needs.
The aim of poets is either to be beneficial or to delight, or to combine charm and high
applicability to life in their phrases. Delighting and teaching the reader, the poet who mixes
the sweet with the useful has everybody's approval.
Poets are not only authors of language and music, they are also the institutions of laws, the
founders of civil society, the inventors of the arts of life, and teachers who draw into certain
dimensions the beautiful and the truth.
Poets are mirrors of the future who cast gigantic shadows upon the present. They the
acknowledged legislators of the world.

Divisions and Types of Poetry

a. Lyric Poetry – The utterance of the human heart is in poetic form. In earlier times, lyric poems
were meant to be sung to the accompaniment of a musical instrument known as the lyre. A lyre
is a stringed instrument of the harp class which was used by the ancient Greeks.
The subject and moods of lyric poetry dwell on love, death and grief, religion and feelings, the
beauty and love of nature, art, the world of fancy and imagination, the environment and others.
It is subjective of the author's feelings and thoughts. It includes the following:

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

subjectivity, imagination, melody and emotions.
b. Song – This is a short lyric poem which has a specific melodious quality and is
intended to be sung and can be set easily to music. It can either be religious or secular.

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 Religious songs include hymns, anthems and oratories. Secular songs deal with
different themes and emotions.
c. Sonnet – It is a lyric poem of 14 lines with a formal rhyme. It was perfected in Italy by
Francesco Petraca in the 14th century.
d. Elegy – It is poem expressing lament or grief for the dead. It may express the personal
sorrow of the author over a loss of a loved one or it may be a form of meditation on
death in general. It is solemn and sorrowful, yet it can suggest hope and faith to
alleviate sorrow.
e. Doe – This is the most splendid type of lyric poetry. It is exalted in tone, projects deep
feelings and expresses high praise for some persons, objects, event or ideas.

b. Narrative Poetry – It tells a story follow an order event. It includes the ballad, metrical tale,
metrical romance and the epic.

a. Ballad – It is a short simple narrative poem composed to be sung, and is orally told
from one generation to another. The folk, primitive or popular ballads are kinds of
ballads which were written anonymously.
b. Metrical Romance – This is narrative poem which is written in verse and can be
classified either as a ballad or a metrical romance. It is a long rambling love story in
verse which is centered around the adventures of knights and lords, and their royal
ladies during the age of chivalry. It is heavily flavoured in romance, fantastic events,
supernatural occurences, magic and the ideas of the medieval period such as truth,
courage, reverence and justice.
c. Epic – This is a long, majestic narrative poem which tells the adventures of a traditional
hero and the development of a nation. Examples of epics are Homer's the Iliad and
Odyssey from Greece, Beowulf of England, Mahabharata and Ramayana of India, El
Cid of Spain, the Song of Roland of France and the Nibelungenlied of Germany.

c. Dramatic Poetry – This poetry has elements that are closely related to drama because it is
written in dramatic form or makes use of a dramatic technique. It may suggest a story but more
emphasis is placed on the characters rather than the narration. Examples include:

a. Dramatic Monologue – This is a combination of drama and poetry which presents

the speech of the character in a particular situation at a critical moment. The speaker
addresses one or more people who are present and are listening to the speaker, but
who remain silent. The personality of the speaker, his character, his relationship to
others, and his values and attitudes towards life are indirectly collected from his
monologue.
b. The Soliloquy – This is a passage spoken by the speaker in a poem or by a character
in a play except that there is no more present to hear him except the reader or the
audience. The thoughts express the emotions displayed, and the revelations are made
freely without inhabitations that give deep insights into the character. It is often used
in poetic dramas to enrich. To make characterization clearer and to inform the
audience about other developments in the play.

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 c. Character Sketch – This is a poem classified by Laurence J. Zillman, in which the
writer is concerned less with complete or implied matters of a story, but rather with
arousing sympathy or antagonism for, or mere interest in an individual. The poet
serves as an observer and commentator.

Importance of Poetry
Poetry is probably the oldest form of literature, and probably predates the origin of writing
itself. The oldest written manuscripts we have are poems, mostly epic poems telling the
stories of ancient mythology. Examples include the Epic of Gilgamesh and the Vedas (sacred
texts of Hinduism). This style of writing may have developed to help people memorize long
chains of information in the days before writing. Rhythm and rhyme can make the text more
memorable, and thus easier to preserve for cultures that do not have a written language.
Poetry can be written with all the same purposes as any other kind of literature – beauty,
humor, storytelling, political messages, etc.

Suggested Reading:
Cole, Merrill. Introduction to Poetry Lecture Notes.
http://faculty.wiu.edu/MCole/LectureNotes.pdf

CLOSURE

Congratulations for finishing this lesson and thank you for accomplishing all the task and

guided questions given. Do you have an amazing learning experience in finishing this lesson? If
yes, continue that motivation to learn on the next module however if it is no, keep going and make
learning as a fun experience.

Have great interest and passion for learning because it is the key to unleash your previous
knowledge to the new ones. Again, congratulations and see you on the following lessons and
module.

MODULE 3: FORMS OF LITERATURE

Lesson 2: Prose-Its Divisions and Types

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 LEARNING OUTCOMES

At the end of the lesson, you should be able to:

1. Define what is prose;
2. Recognize the importance of prose; and
3. Write a piece among the various types of prose.

TIME FRAME

This lesson is intended for four days only.

INTRODUCTION

After learning what is poetry and other concepts related on it, another form of literature will be
presented in this lesson. This lesson focuses on the definition and other related concept of prose.
Is the term prose seems so familiar with you? Or is it your first time to hear or read the
term? Let us take a look first of a short information about prose before flipping to the following
pages in support with these details.

Prose is a form of language which applies ordinary grammatical structure and natural flow
of speech rather than rhythmic structure (as in traditional poetry). While there are critical debates
on the construction of prose, its simplicity and loosely defined structure has led to its adoption for
the majority of spoken dialogue, factual discourse as well as topical and fictional writing. Prose,
instead, comprises full, grammatical sentences, which then constitute paragraphs and overlook
aesthetic appeal. Some works of prose do contain traces of metrical
structure or versification and a conscious blend of the two literature formats is known as prose

poetry. With this information, I know your interest was being ignited to learn more about prose.
So, have fun in learning and hit while the iron is hot.

ABSTRACTION

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Definition of Prose
It is literally piece which is written in the form, ordinary written or spoken language and within
the common flow of a conversation. It is easily understood as compared to poetry. In subject
matter, propose generally concentrates on the familiar and the ordinary, but may also deal
with subjects such as heroism, beauty, love and nobility of spirit.
Prose gives the writer the freedom to make use of different grammatical structures. It is the
most popular genre of literature.

Divisions and Types of Prose

Prose is usually categorized into fiction and nonfiction.

a. Fiction – This is defined as a series of imagined facts which illustrate truths about human life.
Fiction is not contrary to truth at all. Incidents that may not have happened in real life and
characters that may not actually have existed could be created by fiction to show what may and
can happen, as long as the laws of probability necessity are not violated. It does not deal with
what has been done, but with what could happen within the bounds of what is possible and
probable.

1. Short Story – This is brief, artistic form of propose fiction which is centered on a single main
incident and is intended to produce a single dominant impression which may be sadness,
surprise, sympathy, terror or other reactions. The qualities of a short so try are economy,
compression, brevity and emphasis.
- It has a definite time and place setting. The short story may be developed within a day or two or
even hours, usually in one place. Only the important features of the action are narrated and events
are compressed to allow the meaningful and indispensable to be included in the narration.
Emphasis is placed on important details.
2. Novel – This is more extensive form of prose. The modern novel is a novel of fiction which is
elastic. Its length extends to hundreds of pages. The novel has expanded its scope to include
various types of objectives.
- The length of a novel permits a greater number and a variety of characters, a more complex plot,
and a more elaborate use of the setting. It has greater complexity of theme which the short, story
does not have. The novel is capable of revealing both a broader and deeper view of human nature
and the human experience.

b. Nonfiction – These are literary works that are based mainly on fact rather than on the
imagination. Although they may contain fictional elements. Examples of these are essays and
biographies.

1. Essay – The essay is a prose composition of moderate, length, usual expository in nature, which
aims to explain an idea, a theory, an impression or a point of view.

a. Formal Essay – It deals with serious and important topics such as philosophy,
theology, science, politics, morality and others. It is primarily addressed to the intellect

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 of an individual. The tone is objective and impersonal. The style is clear and
straightforward. It primarily aims to teach or to instruct.
b. Informal or Familiar Essay – This may deal with any subject, subject, even the
ordinary and common place. While the formal essay is objective, the informal or
familiar
essay is subjective in the handling of the subject. The main source of interest is the
personality of the author which is revealed in the style and treatment of the subject. It
possesses a charming, interesting and distinctive purpose – to entertain and amuse.
Therefore, the tone is light, friendly and oftentimes humorous like a person talking to his
friends with interest and affection.
c. Other Forms of Essay – The essay may have other forms.
1. Critical Essay – It seeks to analyse and evaluate a literary work or any
other work of art.
2. Biographical Essay – It deals with the personal life and achievements of
an individual.
3. Essay of Travel – It informs, as well as entertains, by its personal
treatment of various experiences in a given place and time.

MODULE 3: FORMS OF LITERATURE Lesson 3: Drama

LEARNING OUTCOMES

At the end of the lesson, you should be able to:

1. Define what is drama;
2. Recognize the importance of drama; and
3. Produce an original script from the topic given.

TIME FRAME

This lesson is intended for one week.

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 INTRODUCTION

In the past (up until the rise of Hollywood), drama had an entirely different meaning. It was
any kind of fictional performance – usually a play, but also including short skits, vaudeville shows,
musicals, etc. Anything with actors counted as drama, even when it was a comedy. This

definition is still used sometimes (for example, in the phrase “drama class”), but it’s become much
less common than the other. This older definition also has an impact on the more modern
definition: modern dramas are still “acted,” usually onscreen – that’s why novels can’t be
dramas.

However, to see to it that the basic concepts will be more useful as going to the deeper purpose
of this course, this lesson will present important concepts of what is a drama and its types. Though
some terms will be quite familiar already with you, but you are assured that you will encounter new
experiences upon starting until finishing this lesson. Thus, giving enough opportunity for you as a
learner to craft your own script and might be used for the next courses you will be engaging into.
With this, enjoy while learning because it is great to not just learn but
also unlearn in order for you to relearn.

ACTIVITY
Drama To Go Activity
Direction: From the given emojis below, capture a photo of your own version while stating a one
sentence statement. Upload the video on the course Facebook page within the span of 1-2 days
only after the start of this lesson.

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 2.

3. 4.

5.

1.

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 ABSTRACTION

Definition of Drama
Drama is a mode of fictional representation through dialogue and performance. It is one of the
literary genres, which is an imitation of some action. Drama is also a type of a play written for
theater, television, radio, and film.
In simple words, a drama is a composition in verse or prose presenting a story in pantomime
or dialogue. It contains conflict of characters, particularly the ones who perform in front of
audience on the stage. The person who writes drama for stage directions is known as a
“dramatist” or “playwright.”

Types of Drama: Let us consider a few popular types of drama:

• Comedy – Comedies are lighter in tone than ordinary works, and provide a happy conclusion.
The intention of dramatists in comedies is to make their audience laugh. Hence, they use
quaint circumstances, unusual characters, and witty remarks.

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 - Comedies place offbeat characters in unusual situations causing readers to do and say
funny things. Comedy can also be sarcastic in nature, poking fun at serious topics. There are
also several sub-genres of comedy, including romantic comedy, sentimental comedy, a
comedy of manners, and tragic comedy—plays in which the characters take on tragedy with
humor in bringing serious situations to happy endings.
• Tragedy – Tragic dramas use darker themes, such as disaster, pain, and death. Protagonists
often have a tragic flaw — a characteristic that leads them to their downfall.
- Rarely enjoying happy endings, characters in tragedies, like Shakespeare's Hamlet, are
often burdened by tragic character flaws that ultimately lead to their demise.
• Farce – Generally, a farce is a nonsensical genre of drama, which often overacts or engages
slapstick humor.
- Featuring exaggerated or absurd forms of comedy, a farce is a nonsensical genre of
drama in which characters intentionally overact and engage in slapstick or physical humor.
Examples of farce include the play Waiting for Godot by Samuel Beckett and the hit 1980
movie Airplane!, written by Jim Abrahams.
• Melodrama – Melodrama is an exaggerated drama, which is sensational and appeals directly
to the senses of the audience. Just like the farce, the characters are of a single dimension
and simple, or may be stereotyped.
- Melodramas depict classic one-dimensional characters such as heroes, heroines, and
villains dealing with sensational, romantic, and often perilous situations. Sometimes called
“tearjerkers,” examples of melodramas include the play The Glass Menagerie by Tennessee
Williams and the classic movie of love during the Civil War, Gone With the
Wind, based on Margaret Mitchell’s novel.
• Musical Drama – In musical dramas, dramatists not only tell their stories through acting and
dialogue, but through dance as well as music. Often the story may be comedic, though it may
also involve serious subjects.
- This versatile genre of drama combines theater, dialogue, music, and dance to tell grand
stories of tragedy or comedy. Since characters express their feelings and intentions through
song rather than dialogue, performers must be both skilled actors and singers. The decidedly
tragic La Bohème, by Giacomo Puccini, and the bawdy comedy Falstaff, by Giuseppe Verdi
are classic examples of opera.
Docudrama – A relatively new genre, docudramas are dramatic portrayals of historic events
or non-fictional situations. More often presented in movies and television than in live theater,
popular examples of docudramas include the movies Apollo 13 and 12 Years a Slave, based
on the autobiography written by Solomon Northup.

Function of Drama
Drama is one of the best literary forms through which dramatists can directly speak to their
readers, or the audience, and they can receive instant feedback of audiences. A few
dramatists use their characters as a vehicle to convey their thoughts and values, such as
poets do with personas, and novelists do with narrators. Since drama uses spoken words
and dialogues, thus language of characters plays a vital role, as it may give clues to their
feelings, personalities, backgrounds, and change in feelings. In dramas the characters live
out a story without any comments of the author, providing the audience a direct presentation
of characters’ life experiences.

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fictional situations.

GLOSSARY
The following terms used in this module are defined as follows:
Drama- In literature, the word drama defines a genre, or style of writing. Drama is a play that can
be performed for theatre, radio or even television. These plays are usually written out as a script, or
a written version of a play that is read by the actors but not the audience.
Poetry- It is a literature that evokes a concentrated imaginative awareness of experience or a
specific emotional response through language chosen and arranged for its meaning, sound, and
rhythm.
Prose- This is a verbal or written language that follows the natural flow of speech. It is the most
common form of writing, used in both fiction and non-fiction. Prose comes from the Latin “prosa
oratio,” meaning “straightforward.”

REFERENCES

Saymo, A. S., Esperon, R. M., Alfonso, V. S., Banaag, A. G., Cabrteja, D. M., Santiago, R.
E., and Amado, R. F. (2012). World Literature. Jimczyville Publications, Concha Street,
Tinajeros, Malabon City

https://literaryterms.net/poetry/

http://egyankosh.ac.in/bitstream/123456789/27394/1/Unit-1.pdf

http://faculty.wiu.edu/M-Cole/LectureNotes.pdf

https://literarydevices.net/drama/

https://www.thoughtco.com/drama-literary-definition-4171972

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