Types of Literature

PRESENTED BYRAHILA KHANLECTURER ENGLISH

LiteratureThe word derives from a Latin word “litera”

which means letter. Literature means

“written artistic works, especially those with a high and lasting artistic value”

TYPES OF TYPES OF LITERATURELITERATURE

Prose“prosa” which means straightforward. It consists

written works within the common flow of conversation presented in a straightforward

manner.

Types of Prose1. 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.

2. Short StoryThis is a narrative involving one or more

characters, one plot and one single impression.

3. PlaysThis is presented on a stage, is divided into acts and each act has many scenes.

4.LegendsThese are fictitious narratives, usually about origins.

It provides historical information regarding the culture and views of particular group of people or

country.

5. Folk talesA traditional narrative, usually

anonymous, and handed down orally.

6. Fables 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.

7. MythsA traditional sacred story, typically

revolving around the activities of gods and heroes, which aim to explain a

natural phenomenon or cultural practice.

8. AnecdotesThese are merely products of the writer’s imagination and

the main aim is to bring out lessons to the reader. For example :A mother tells her son a story about a family

vacation when she was growing up.

9. EssayThis 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.

10. BiographyThis deals with the life of a person whichmay be about himself, his autobiography

or that of others.

11. NewsThis is a report of everyday events in society,

government, science and industry,accidents etc., happening nationally or not.

12. OrationThis 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.

PoetryIt is an imaginative awareness of experience

expressed through meaning sound, and rhythmic language choices

as to evoke emotional response.

Types of Poetry

1.Narrative poetry2.Dramatic poetry 3.Lyric poetry

1.Narrative Poetry This form describes important events in life either real

or imaginary.

Types of Narrative PoetryEpic: 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. E.g. BeowulfMetrical Tales: This is a narrative which is written in verse and

can be classified either as a ballad or metrical romance. E.g. The Lady of Shallot by Lord Alfred TennysonBallad: This is considered as the shortest and simplest of the narrative poems. It has a simple structure and tells of a single incident. E.g. The Rime of the Ancient Mariner by Samuel Taylor Coleridge

Epic

Metrical tale

Ballad

2.Dramatic PoetryAn emotional piece of literature which includes a story which is recited / sung.

Soliloquy and dramatic monologues are the main instruments of this form.

Types of Dramatic Poetry1. Comedy: This word comes from the Greek term “Komos” meaning festivity or revelry. This form usually is light and written with a purpose of amusing, and usually has a happy ending.2. Melodrama: This is usually seen in musical play with the opera. Today, this is related to tragedy just as the farce to comedy. It arouses immediate and intense emotion and is usually sad but there is a happy ending for the principal character.3. Tragedy: This involves the hero struggling mightily against dynamic forces; he meets death or ruin without success and satisfaction obtained by the protagonist in a comedy.4. Farce: This is an exaggerated comedy. It seeks to arouse mirth by laughable lines; situations are too ridiculous to be true; the characters seem to be caricatures and the motives undignified and absurd.5. Social Poems: This form is either purely comic or tragic and its pictures the life of today. it may aim to bring about changes in the social conditions.

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3. Lyric PoetryOriginally, 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.Folksongs: These are short poems intended to be sung. The common theme is love, despair, grief, doubt, joy, hope, and sorrow.2. Sonnets: This is a lyric of poem of 14 lines dealing with an emotion, a feeling or an idea. There are two types: the Italian and the Shakespearean.3. Elegy:This is a lyric poem which expresses feelings of grief and melancholy, and whose theme is death.4. Ode :This is a poem of a noble feeling, expressed with dignity, with no definite

number of syllables or definite number of lines in a stanza.5. Psalms: This is a song praising God or the Virgin Mary and containing a philosophy of life. 6. Awit :These have the measures of twelve syllables (dodecasyllabic) and slowly sung to the accompaniment of a guitar or banduria.7. Corridos:These have measures of eight syllables (octosyllabic)and recited to a martial beat. The songs are often about oppressions, daily life of peasants,

and other socially important information.

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