World Literature Lesson 1

Literature Overview

• A body of written works that often embodies aesthetic excellence, primarily in imaginative poetry and prose.
• Informative writing such as technical and journalistic texts is generally not classified as literature.
• Literature serves as a vital form of human expression.

Types of Literature

• Drama: Composed by a playwright; can be performed on various platforms and includes several sub-genres:

  • Melodrama: Features exaggerated emotions and tensions.
  • Musical Drama: Combines dialogue with music and dance.
  • Tragedy: Dark themes; explores suffering, pain, and death.
  • Comedy: Aims to amuse and entertain the audience.

• Fable: Short stories typically using anthropomorphized animals to convey moral lessons.

• Autobiography: A narrative written by a person about their own life experiences.

• Biography: Narrative detailing someone's life, authored by someone else.

• Poetry: Focuses on rhythm, sound, and emotional expression. Key types include:

  • Haiku
  • Free verse
  • Sonnets
  • Acrostic poems

• Prose: Ordinary writing presented in sentences and paragraphs, encompassing various genres such as fiction, non-fiction, and essays.

• Science Fiction: Imaginary narratives often exploring futuristic technologies.

• Journalistic Literature: Combines factual reporting with narrative techniques and creativity.

Importance of Literature

• Participation in literature is declining, especially among young adults.
• Reasons to Study Literature:
  • Enhances communication skills and vocabulary.
  • Provides insight into human emotions and reactions.
  • Immerses readers in historical contexts through engaging narratives.
  • Offers entertainment that enriches leisure time.
  • Promotes wisdom and broader worldviews through thematic exploration.

Literary Standards

• Universality: Affects readers across cultures and time.
• Artistry: Delivers aesthetic beauty that conveys deeper truths.
• Intellectual Value: Stimulates critical thinking and thought-provoking content.
• Spiritual Value: Inspires and motivates, often through moral messages.
• Permanence: Refers to longevity and relevance over time.
• Style: Unique expression of the author that captures reader interest.

Division of Literature

• Prose: Characterized by regular writing without metrical structure; includes plots, characters, and themes.
• Poetry: An artistic form that uses rhyme and rhythm to evoke emotions; structured in stanzas and lines.

Genres of Literature

• Originates from the French term for "kind"; encompasses various forms and types.
• Major Literary Genres:
  • Poetry: Subcategories include epic, lyrical, odes, sonnets, etc.
  • Fiction: Includes short stories, novels, and various narrative forms.
  • Prose: Encompasses essays, autobiographies, biographies, etc.
  • Drama: Divided into tragedy, comedy, and other performance-oriented formats.

Common Fiction Genres

• Mystery: Involves detectives and suspenseful plots.
• Romance: Focuses on love stories with emotional resolutions.
• Historical: Set in the past with realistic and creative elements.
• Western: Revolves around American Old West themes.
• Bildungsroman: Chronicles a character’s maturation.
• Science Fiction: Explores futuristic themes and technologies.
• Dystopian: Depicts problematic societies disguised as utopias.
• Fantasy: Features magical elements and imaginary settings.
• Magical Realism: Blends realistic and magical elements.
• Realism: Aims for truthful depictions of everyday life.

Elements of Prose

• Parallelism: Compares events that are similarly structured.
• Foil Characters: Contrasting characters highlight differences.
• Diction: Signifies the choice of words affecting tone and meaning.
• Mood: Establishes the emotional tone of the narrative.
• Foreshadowing: Hints at future events in the storyline.