Creative Nonfiction The Genre of Words and Language

Lecture Note 1 A. Literal Language

Name:__________________________________ Grade 11 HUMSS ______ There are also two genres or kinds of words, the literal and
figurative. A literal word means exactly as it says. It is factual and does
not involve fashioning or fabricating. Definition of words in the
Wording the Imagined World dictionary are generally literal.
Creative Nonfiction is a genre where factually accurate narrative
For example, the dictionary defines the apple as a round, yellow,
are written using techniques of fiction, poetry and drama. Forms within or green edible fruit. In figurative words, the apple can lose its fruity
this genre include biography, autobiography, memoir, travel writing, character. The saying “an apple a day keeps the doctor away” refers not
food writing, literary journalism, blogs, and personal essays and other to the fruit itself or of sending the doctor away, but to the belief that it
hybridized essays. Learners must develop their skills in writing critically promotes good health. It does not mean that your eyes have been apples
and creatively using the principles, elements, techniques and devices of when telling someone, “You are the apple of my eye.” It means that
creative nonfiction. someone is very special.
Derived from the old French ficcion, which was taken from the Shakespeare also used it in the 1590s when he wrote A
Latin fictio, fiction is about ‘fashioning, devising, inventing, shaping, Midsummer Night’s Dream:
forming’ words. The reality of literature is formed form one’s Flower of this purple dye;
imagination. Hit with Cupid’s archery,
Sink in apple of his eye.
A French word genre means classification of the variety and
diversity of text or writing we encounter every day. There are many The Bible mentions several times the phrase “apple of the eye”
texts (varied), but they also differ from one another (diversity). as a way of invoking God’s protection:
Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me under the shadow of thy
In the short story, “The Library of Babel” (1941), Argentine
wings. (Psalm 17:8)
author Jose Luiz Borges delightfully yet frightfully portrays the problem
of how to find books in a seemingly infinite library. Genre is like a map B. Non-literal/ Literary/Figurative Language
that helps us navigate a world of words. It does this by helping us find
what we want to read, and by letting us know what to expect from what Non-literal language is figurative or the transfer of a different
we are reading. Genre shapes the writer’s writing habits in order to meaning to a literal word. It is like a word painted to make us see
fulfill the reader’s expectations. As a writer, you need to pay extra something that literal language would not make us see.
attention to what you are reading and observe how the writer has used
the language of a genre to weave words. Reading not only makes you a For instance, journalists covering the 2014 World Cup in Brazil
better reader, it would also make you a better writer. resorted to literary language in describing the fervor and excitement
pervading the game. They all used the term “football fever in Brazil”
even though probably no one was sick of fever.
 George P. Lakoff and Mark L. Johnson (1980) assert that we all Literary Genres
use figurative language, not just the literary writers like the poets. In
their book, Metaphors We Live By, Lakoff and Johnson show how the A. Fiction
notion of time becomes metaphorical in statements like the following:
It is a literary genre that encompasses written stories about
“Take the concept of time. Time is abstract or mental construct, people and events that are not real; imagined by the writer.
which we use to express some metaphorical statements. We thank our
friends for their time. We hurry because we are running out of time. We Herman Northrop Frye said about the modes of fiction. The five
regret losing time for an important event because we are so busy. Life is categories of fiction are based on the hero’s power of action:
but a borrowed time so we spend it wisely and joyfully as we can. In these Category Meaning Sample
metaphorical statements, time is precious. But on its own, time is simply Hero
the movement of numbers set by the clock.” 1. Myth It is a story mode where the hero is Lam-ang
a divine being with an ability that Hercules
There should be no conflict between literal and figurative is superior in “kind” to other
language. They are very much linked together. people and to the environment of
other people.
Trevor Harley’s Psychology of Language (2001) shows us the 2. Romance The hero has marvelous actions, Odysseus
three stages of processing non-literal language: but who is identified as a human Robin Hood
being with an ability superior in Superman
Derive literal meaning “degree” to other people and to his
environment.
3. High Mimetic The hero is a leader with an ability King David
Tets literal meaing against superior in degree to other people in the Bible
context/situation “but not to his environment.” The Achilles
hero has authority, passions, and King
powers of expression far greater Oedipus
If literal menaing makes no sense, seek
alternative, metaphorical meaning than others, but what he does is
subject to both social criticism and
the order of nature.
4. Low Mimetic The hero is one of us, with an Juan
Word/Phrase Literal Meaning Non-literal meaning ability that is superior “neither” to Crisostomo
1. Green A thumb painted Is a person with an exceptional other people nor the environment. Ibarra
thumb green ability to grow plants Willy
successfully Lowman
2. Tying a Tying a knot in a Someone’s getting married 5. Ironic The hero has an ability or Juan Tamad
knot rope or string intelligence inferior to ours so we Mang
3. Flea/flea A flea is an Is a type of bazaar that rents often have a sense of looking down Kepweng
market insect/parasite space to people who want to sell on a scene of bondage, frustration, Charlie
that can be found or barter merchandize. or absurdity. Chaplin
on mammals
B. Play 2.5. You give a happy ending to a Shakespeare’s The
Tragicomedy serious play or when you put Merchant of
Play is a literary genre written by a playwright, usually comedic elements in a tragedy Venice
consisting of dialogues between characters intended for a theatrical to lighten the play’s mood.
performance rather than just reading.
B. According to Length
Drama, on the other hand, is a more theatrical term and deals 1. Full-length play/ Must run for 70-80 minutes to about two hours
with the art of play production. A person skilled in a production of play is Evening-length play
called a dramatist. 2. One-act play 30-minute running time or 15 to 45 minutes
(best for competitions and has a better chance
Types of Play of inclusion in an evening bill with a pair of
other one-acts.
A. According to Theme 3. Ten-minute play It was popularized by The Actors Theatre of
1. Tragedy It is more serious and deals Shakespeare’s Louisville contest. It is actually ten pages or
with darker themes, usually Romeo and Juliet less.
marked by a sad and
depressing ending C. According to Modality
2. Comedy It is meant to be humorous Shakespeare’s A 1. Closet Drama It is not meant to be John Milton’s Samson
with a happy and vivacious Midsummer’s performed onstage Agonistes
ending Night Dream but maybe just
2.1. Satire Comedy play that takes a Bertolt Bretch’s enjoyed by a solitary
comic look at people and The Resistible Rise reader; or perhaps,
current events while at the of Arturo Ui read out in a small
same time attempting to make (satirizes Hitler group
political or social statement and Nazi Party0 2. Monodrama It is a theatrical piece William Luce’s The
like pointing out corruption played by a single Belle of Amherst
2.2. Burlesque Comedy play that tries to Tom Stoppard’s actress usually
make people laugh by Travesties uses portraying one
caricaturing the spirit of real-life characters character.
serious works. like James Joyce 3. Puppet Play Uses puppet of many Bunkaru of Japan
and Vladimir Lenin types including glove Guifnol Puppet of
2.3. Farce Generally nonsensical, Shakespeare’s The or hand puppets, rod France
overacted comedy play that Comedy of Errors. puppets, or the
often uses slapstick humor. marionette on strings
2.4. Melodrama It a tragedy where you Nowel Coward’s 4. Dance Drama conveyed by
exaggerate sensational and Still Life Drama/Dance Play dance movements
romantic topics to play with and sometimes
your readers’ feelings and accompanied by
emotions dialogue
5. Shadow play Uses shadows
 6. Musical Play It has songs, dances B. Fixed verse and Modern Poetry
and music
1. Villanelle is a fixed form poem consisting of five tercets and a
C. Poetic Forms quatrain with a total of nineteen syllables having two rhymes
throughout, and with the first and third lines of the opening tercet
Poetry is a literary genre that formulates a concentrated recurring alternately (like refrain).
imaginative awareness of experience in language chosen and arranged to
create a specific emotional response through meaning, sound, and 2. Sonnet has fourteen lines, usually iambic pentameter. Giacomo da
rhythm. Lentini invented the sonnet form (the name came from Italian son,
meaning “song”. Famous sonneteers are Francesco Petrarcas, William
A. Conventional Poetic Forms Shakespeare and Edmund Spencer.
1. Diona Filipino tercet (three lines) Ang marikit na tula
of heptasyllabic (seven Kapag ‘yong binabasa’y 3. Conceptual Poetry focuses more on the initial concept rather than
syllable) lines. Diona peoms Abot-tanaw na tala. the final product of the poem.
are usually untitled.
- Noahlyn C. 4. Visual Poetry/Concrete Poem has a visual arrangement of the text,
Maranan images, and symbols which are important in conveying the intended
2. Tanaga A Filipino mono-rhyming Singko Sentimong Tula effect of the work.
(identical rhyme) quatrain
(four lines) of heptasyllabic Hinuli ko and dila, 5. Free Verse is still a verse. It still has meter and rhyme; only that, the
(seven syllables) line Hinabi ko anf tugma. meter is inconsistent, and the rhyme is inconsistently present or absent.
Singko sentimong tula:
Butas-butas ang gitna 6. Blank verse is poetry written in regular metrical, but unrhymed,
lines.
- Mark Angeles
3. Haiku Adapted from the Japanese, furu ike ya
haiku comes to you as a kawazu tobikomu
tercet (three lines) with a mizu no oto
total of 17 syllables
distributed over 3 lines in a - Basho
5-7-5 syllabic pattern. Haiku
has no rhyme (at least in an old pond –
English); and in modern a frog jumps into
adaptations, sometimes the the sound of water
syllabic count is ignored. References:
What is kept is the spirit of - Translation by
economy. Peter Solis Nery Israel, L.Q. (2017). Creative nonfiction. Quezon City, Philippines: Vibal
Group, Inc.
Nery, P.S. (2017). Creative writing. Makati City, Philippines: Diwa
Learning Systems Inc.
 Creative Nonfiction In the story, the arrogance and pride of Mohan Lal came back to him at the
Lecture Note 2 end of the story where he was kicked out of the train by two English
soldiers. He wanted to be recognized as an Englishman, in manner of
Name:__________________________________ Grade 11 HUMSS ______ dressing, acting, and speaking the English language but his “accent”
Content of Karma betrayed him.

1. How does the story bring out the issue of pride and arrogance in Sir His “Indian accent” stayed in his tongue despite his English education. He
Mohan Lal’s personality. Cite examples. wanted to be an Englishman and with the Englishmen but he was thrown
out. That is his “karma.” For Lady Lachmi, the simplicity of her life is
Sir Mohan Lal is an embodiment of arrogance and pride because of reflected with the “serenity” or “smooth travel” in the second class
his achievements and educational background. He sees himself as superior compartment compared to the fate that her husband experienced.
due to his western education. He looks up to his fellow Indians as inferior
and treats her wife as second class citizen. He is proud of his Anglicized Style of Karma
education and arrogant in his way of speaking and acting like an
1. What disposition/tone is evoked in the opening paragraphs of
Englishman.
the short story?
“You are so very much like everything else in this country,
Arrogance, pride and prejudice.
inefficient, dirty, indifferent,” he murmured. (An indication of how he
The story opened with a description of a man thinking of himself as
degrades Indian culture) superior and someone degrading his “Indian heritage.”
2. Discuss the issues of a) imitation of foreign culture and (b) “Sir Mohan Lal looked at him in the mirror of a first class waiting
aristocracy and patriotism of the story to Philippine context. room at the railway station. The mirror was obviously made in India. The
red oxide at its back had come off at several places and long lines of
a. Imitation of foreign culture. The Spanish and American heritages have translucent glass cut across its surface. Si Mohan smiled at the mirror with
long lasting imprints of colonial mentality to us. From products, ideas, an air of pity and patronage.”
technology, etc, we look up to western countries as stereotypes of the good, (It suggests a man who underappreciates/underestimates his own
better, and best. At times, we relegate our own culture and cling too much heritage.)
The words like “looks at himself in the mirror of a first class waiting
to foreign ideas.
room”, “Mohan smiled at the mirror with at air of pity and patronage”
b. Aristocracy and Patriotism. Because of too much imitation of foreign (arrogance)
culture, even the values and virtues of aristocracy and patriotism are 2. How did the author present the unexpected turn of the main
patterned after the foreigners. They are the prototypes of these virtues and character’s fate and the inevitable outcome of his actions and
we forget that we have our ways of showing these values and virtues too. thoughts?
We tend to rely to the wisdom of the west in terms of governance, economic The author presented first the details of pride and arrogance of the main
decision, and foreign relations. character: His line of thinking, manner of dressing, way of speaking and
3. Based from the story, how would you define Karma? How is your dealing with people. These details led to his “throwing off” the train and the
definition of the term applied to Sir Mohan Lal? To Lady Lachmi? inevitable “Karma” (bad act reaps bad reaction).

Karma is defined by the Indians as the result of living your dharma (moral In short, the author built the reasons why he deserves to reap the fruit of his
obligation/responsibility) of a person. For them, Karma is holistic. It can be actions at the latter part of the story. However, the ending is not too detailed
positive or negative. For Filipinos, Karma is always negative. on how the Karma worked on the protagonist/antagonist of the story. But
this makes the story more interesting because it leaves the reader to infer
further about the actions that came after Mohan Lal’s “Karma”.
3. As critics called Singh as a “brilliant incisive/insightful writer,” how describe the setting. The setting helps bring out the mood or backdrop or
did he depict unhappy married life and gender discrimination? Pick introduces the conflict of the story. Setting could be dynamic or static.
lines from the story to support your answer.
5. Conflict
Mohan Lal looks at his wife as second class and inferior because she was not
It means the complications in a story. The plot is created through the
educated in England just like him.
conflict. As such, the bloodline of an effective plot is an outstanding conflict.
During her travel, they did not stay at the same compartment. Mohan is at The complications could be in a form of struggle, disagreement, war, verbal
the first class compartment while Lady Lachmi joined others at the second tussles, etc. However, conflict can be:
class compartment.  Man vs man (a character is pitted against other human characters.
 Man vs nature (a character involves man against the forces of nature
Elements of Fiction and the universe)
 Man vs society (conventions, mores or culture challenges man)
1. Plot  Man vs himself (internal struggle happening within a character
It tells what happens in the story. It relates the chain of events through
different stages revealed in the story arc: 6. Point of view
 Exposition –conflict is introduced
 Rising action- all the actions leading to the climax It takes the angle of how the story is narrated. It is from the angles that the
 Pivotal or turning point of the story reader views the people, events, details of the story.
 Denouement or falling action
 Ending or resolution An objective point of view is an angle where the writer narrates what
2. Characters happens without detailing too much about what the character’s feelings and
thinking. The author is a detached observer.
It refers to the person in a work of fiction and his characteristics. He/she
could be a protagonist or the central character to a story and the Third person point of view is not a participant in the story but reveals the
antagonist or the opposing characters involve which include physical feelings and line of thinking of the characters. The third person point of
appearance, line of thinking, feeling, actions, and reactions to events. view is an outside voice of the story.
Moreover, characters to be effective should resemble real life persona who
The narrator of the first person point of view is a participant in the story.
can either be complex, dynamic or stereotypical. Furthermore, a foil is a
Moreover, an omniscient point of view narrates everything about the
character that is in contrast to the main character.
characters but a limited omniscient point of view gives the angles from a
3. Theme story from a limited character.

It is the central idea of a literary work which can be termed as morals, 7. Tone
insights or values implied. It is not intended to preach or teach but it is
It is an element of the story that pertains to the emotional color and
something extracted from other literary elements and techniques like the
meaning of a story. It evokes varied feelings derived from tone of voice or
structure, plot, characters, style of narration, patterns, and symbols. In
inflections. For instance, we cannot fully comprehend a poetry if we do not
short, it is the undying truths and realities of life consciousness and
sense the attitude. Manifested through the words used. Tone can also be
unconsciously created by the author and realized by the readers.
determined through the author’s attitude toward the subject, literary
4. Setting It pertains to the place, time, mood, atmosphere, weather, and devices used, and musicality of language.
social conditions of the story. Authors use sounds and visual images to