Classification of Literature: Fiction vs. Nonfiction

CLASSIFICATION OF LITERATURE Fiction vs. Nonfiction Literature can be classified in many different ways. One key distinction for literature is between FICTION and NONFICTION. While non-fiction tells a true story made of facts or hone...

CLASSIFICATION OF LITERATURE Fiction vs. Nonfiction Literature can be classified in many different ways. One key distinction for literature is between FICTION and NONFICTION. While non-fiction tells a true story made of facts or honest opinions, fiction does not have to abide by these restrictions and can be fabricated. Nonfiction includes genres like biography, memoir, creative nonfiction, and journalism; fiction, on the other hand, includes genres like literary fiction, mystery, crime, science fiction, and fantasy. TYPES OF LITERATURE Prose and Poetry I. PROSE - “prosa” which means straightforward. It consists of written works within the common flow of conversation and is presented in a straightforward manner. a. Novel - This is a long narrative divided into chapters. The events may be taken from true-to-life stories and spans for a long period of time. There are many characters involved. b. Short Story - This is a narrative involving one or more characters, one plot and one single impression. c. Plays - This is presented on a stage, is divided into acts and each act has many scenes. d. Legends - These are fictitious narratives, usually about origins. It provides historical information regarding the culture and views of a particular group of people or country. e. Folk tales - A traditional narrative, usually anonymous, and handed down orally. f. Fables (special type of folktale) - These are also fictitious and they deal with animals and inanimate things who speak and act like people. Their purpose is to enlighten the minds of children to events that can mold their ways and attitudes. g. Myths - A traditional sacred story, typically revolving around the activities of gods and heroes, which aim to explain a natural phenomenon or cultural practice. h. Anecdotes - These are merely products of the writer’s imagination and the main aim is to bring out lessons to the reader. i. Essay - This expresses the viewpoint or opinion of the writer about a particular problem or event. The best example of this is the Editorial page of a newspaper. j. Biography - This deals with the life of a person which may be about himself, his autobiography or that of others. k. News - This is a report of everyday events in society, government, science and industry, accidents etc., happening nationally or not. l. Oration - This is a formal treatment of a subject and is intended to be spoken in public. It appeals to the intellect, to the will or to the emotions of the audience. II. POETRY - It is an imaginative awareness of experience expressed through meaning, sound, and rhythmic language choices as to evoke emotional response. A. Narrative Poetry: This form describes important events in life either real or imaginary. 1. Epic - It is an extended narrative about heroic exploits under supernatural control. It may deal with heroes and gods. The hero/heroine usually has the following characteristics: idealism, courage, wisdom, beauty, endurance, chivalry and justice. Two Kinds of Epic poetry a. Popular or ancient epic – often without a definite author and is of slow growth. b. Modern epic – with a definite author. 2. Metrical Tales - This is a narrative which is written in verse and can be classified either as a ballad or metrical romance. 3. Ballads - This is considered as the shortest and simplest of the narrative poems. It has a simple structure and tells of a single incident. Variations of these are: love ballads, war ballads, sea ballads, humorous, moral, historical, or mythical ballads. B. Lyric Poetry: Originally, this refers to that kind of poetry meant to be sung to the accompaniment of a lyre, but now, this applies to any type of poetry that expresses emotions and feelings to the poet. They are usually short, simple and easy to understand. Types of Lyric Poetry: 1. Folk Songs - (Awiting Bayan) These are short poems intended to be sung. 2. Sonnets - This is a lyric of a poem of 14 lines dealing with an emotion, a feeling or an idea. 3. Elegy - This is a lyric poem which expresses feelings of grief and melancholy, and whose theme is death. 5. Psalms - This is a song praising God or the Virgin Mary and containing a philosophy of life. 6. Awit (Song) - These have the measures of twelve syllables (dodecasyllabic) and slowly sung to the accompaniment of a guitar or banduria. B. Dramatic Poetry: This is an emotional piece of literature which includes a story which is recited or sung. Soliloquy and dramatic monologues are the main instruments of this form of poetry. 1. Comedy - achieved the main goal of the characters at the end of the story. 2. Tragedy - did not achieve the main goal of the characters at the end of the story. Activity 1 Provide two examples for each type of literature within the two classifications. Please include the title and author (or origin) of each literary piece.