21ST CENTURY LITERATURE REVIEWER

DEFINING LITERATURE
- Literature covers both oral and written form of works which
manifest expressive or imaginative quality, nobility of thoughts,
timelessness, and lastly, universality.
- Literature take significant human expenses as its main subject.
- Literature is the art of written work and can, in some
circumstances, refers exclusively to published sources.
Literatura - writing
Litteratus - learning
Dulce - refers to beauty and magnificence
Utile - intellectual, emotional, and social function of any
creative or literary work.

KEY FEATURES OF LITERATURE

Literature is a Form of Communication - the transmission of a

written or spoken text between a sender and a receiver.
Literature is an Art - the appeal of literary work mainly
intensifies its value to the people depending on how they judge
and perceive the beauty and quality of a work.
Nobility of Thoughts - literature should deal with ideas that can
lead to new responses to the world and can move people to
achieve great discoveries of the dimensions of human life and
experience.
Timelessness - the significant truth about life that a literary
work reveals should not ware and dissipate as time passes by.
Universality - a work must have global applicability in which a
work transcends across space.
Literature has Utility - through literature, we can obtain
relevant information to better understand people, society and
culture.
GENRES OF LITERATURE

Poetry - the most economical means of expression. Uses

limited number of words. Careful use of words, figurative
expression, imagery, rhythm, and sound.
* highly controlled manner, use of regulating devices.
Prose Fiction - imaginative recreation and reconstruction of
life. Covers short stories and novels which these are said to be
manifestation of the creative or imaginative thinking of a
particular writer.
* composed freely, free flow of sentences, no manner of
rhymes scheme.
Drama - involves stories involving significant human encounters
which are intended to be performed on stage. Fictional or
imaginative events portrayed by actors and actresses below on
audience.
Non-Fiction Prose - attempts to present, to interpret or to
describe facts. Judgement, options, and commentaries may be
framed and expressed in the form of essays, feature articles,
editorials and like.

21ST CENTURY LITERATURE FINAL REVIEWER

The Epic Conventions
Epic - is classified as a kind of a narrative poem of relative length
which recounts and highlights the deeds of a hero who is identified
to be a supernatural being with extraordinary qualities.
IMPORTANT FEATURES OF THE EPIC:
A. An epic begins with an invocation addressed to the Muse whereas
poets request the gods to give them divine inspiration and the power
to recount the stories as effectively and as forcefully as possible.
B. Most epics begin with the in medias res pattern. Also, it may delve
into past events as may be included in strategic parts of the story.
C. Journeys in the underworld may be considered evident in most
epics.
D. Inclusion of extreme battle scenes and the hero’s struggles for
glory.
E. Exhibition of valor or extraordinary courage, power, weaponry, and
war games.
THE GREAT EPICS OF THE WORLD:
 * The Iliad and the Odyssey - from Greece; both attributed to Homer
* El Cid - epic from Spain
* Nibelungenlied - from Germany
* The Shahnama - great epic of Iran; written by Firdawsi
* The Divine Comedy - written by Dante Alighiere
* Beowulf - national epic of England; of unkown authorship
* The Aenid - from Rome; written by Virgil as commissioned by Rome
* Mahabharata - from India; narrated by sage V yasa
* The Song of Roland - from France

21ST CENTURY LITERATURE PRE-FINAL REVIEWER

UNDERSTANDING DRAMA
What is Drama?
- drama has some significant similarities to fiction. It is the mainly the art of
depicting or portraying potential or imagined events and experiences. Mainly,
drama is best celebrated in theaters as scenes and situations are presented and
actors deliver lines on stage before an audience.
Important Definitions of Drama:
* Aristotle’s Poetics - “imitation of an action”.
* a complete story with structure and unity can be dramatic or comical,
having a beginning, middle, and an end.
* an artistic depiction of how a writer views and sees life through the use of
a conflict which is significant to make the events interesting and the
creation of characters that take part in the actions of the story.
* a work of literature which considers series of events developed to be a
cted out or performed on stage, with lines, actions, inactions, and silences
which are all intended to be delivered and projected by the characters to
establish the impression that the events are lifelike before a crowd.
Essential Features of Drama (Fumar, 2009)
Drama as a form of Dramatic Art - bears some emotional force or effect and
vitality.
Drama as a form of Visual Art - involves the depiction of scenes and action
on stage.
- make the depiction forceful and engaging.
- used like lights, set design, images, and
media experimentations.
Drama as an Auditory Art - lines and silences delivered by the characters.
Drama is physically Produced Art - an intimate and very close connection to
their audience.
- touch and tap all the major senses.
Drama is a Spectator Art - necessary changes during rehearsals and after the
performance as may be revealed by reviews.
Drama is a Continuous Art - audience must receive the story at any pace as
the playwright may decide as to whatever pace
the play may be set.
History of Drama
 - ancient religious ceremonies had been the viewed as the cradle of the
earliest forms of drama. In ancient Greece, Greek drama originated from
rituals to venerate Dionysus, the god of wine and fertility. Aeschylus and
Sophocles added the second and third character respectively.
- English drama also started from religious rites and activities which mainly
involved mystery plays taken from the bible.
Genres of Drama
Tragedy - a very serious dramatic atmosphere.
Comedy - literary composition intended to amuse the viewing crowd.
Tragicomedy - combines the conventions of tragic and comic elements and
despite tragic circumstances; the story still ends happily.
Closet Drama - intended to be read, not performed on stage.
Farce - a comic drama in form and is primarily amusing and entertaining.
Melodrama - usually accompanied with music and with a song set at a
different pace.
Morality/Mystery Play - a medieval play which is mainly allegorical;
represents good and evil forces highlights the conflicts of the human soul.
Miracle Plays - usually about stories taken from the Bible or the lives of
saints.
Elements of Drama
Setting - time and place of the action.
Characters - ones involved in the actions and situations in a story.
Plot - action of a drama.
Dialogue - conversation and exchanges between or among characters.
Movements - involves the pacing and transition of acts.
Music - serves as a background used during performances.
Theme - about the message the play attempts to reveal.
READING ESSAYS
What is an Essay?
- “essay” is taken from the word “essais” literally means attempts mainly attributed
to Michael de Montaigne.
- prose form, of enough length and is intended to explain an idea, theory, or
impression.
- variety of texts like diaries, journals, letters, newspaper editorials, reports, and
reviews.
- share an opinion, insight, experience, or observation.
Building Blocks of the Essay
Form and Structure - includes the arrangement or order of ideas, unity,
coherence, expository device used, and patterns of development.
Content and Theme - focus of composition, quality of topic, as well as the
writer’s purpose and intentions.
Language and Style - tone, mood, diction, and literary devices used.
General Types of Essay
Formal Essay - “highbrow” or entirely intellectual topics; there is seriousness
in tone and language is formal. It is straightforward, objective, and clear.
Informal Essay - familiar essay. Deals with commonplace and light topics.
Classifications of Essays
 Reflective Essay - heavily philosophical in nature.
Critical Essay - highlights the positive and negative aspects of certain work
being judged.
Editorial Essay - highlights the writer’s opinions about an important issue of
the day.
Nature Essay - showcases the beauty of nature and of outdoor life.
Scientific Essay - deals with the discussion of the explorations and findings
taken from scientific experimentations.
Narrative Essay - written in the form of a story as it utilizes events.
Speculative Essay - highlights contemplations which are difficult to prove by
means of posing inquiries about an interesting topic.
Biographical or Character Sketch Essay - shows a description of a particular
aspect of the life a certain person.
Didactic Essay - resembles a stone similar to a teacher.
Descriptive Essay - highlights qualities of something which provides
animation, clarity, and reality to a narrative essay.