LIT100: Great Books

REVIEWER
MODULE 1 Kinds of Literature

LITERATURE a.) FICTION- imaginary composed

writing or work of art that is meant to
“Words are, in my not-so-humble provide information, education and
opinion, our most inexhaustible source entertainment to the reader. In other
of magic.” words, fictional literature is based on
- Albus Dumbledore the writer’s imagination rather than
reality. Examples include plays, poems,
Introduction short stories, novels, oral literature, and
songs.
According to Oxford Advanced
Learner's English Dictionary, "Literature b.) NON-FICTION- factual writing or
can be defined as pieces of writing that written work that is gives facts that can
are valued as works of art, especially be proved as it provides real places,
novels, plays, and poems. events, characters, times or reality
rather than imaginary things. Examples
Importance of Literature include autobiographies, biographies,
essays, diaries and journals, magazines,
a.) Improves your command of
newspapers, subject textbooks such as
language;
in Geography, History and Civic
b.) Teaches you about the life, cultures, Education.
and experiences of people in other parts
Literary Genres
of the world;
The 14 Main Literary Genres
c.) Gives you information about other
parts of the world which you may never a.) Literary Fiction- Literary fiction
be able to visit in your lifetime; novels are considered works with
artistic value and literary merit. They
d.) Entertains you and provides useful
often include political criticism, social
occupation of your free time;
commentary, and reflections on
e.) Makes you a wiser and more humanity. Literary fiction novels are
experienced person by forcing you to typically character-driven, as opposed
judge, sympathize with, or criticize the to being plot-driven, and follow a
characters you read about; character’s inner story.

f.) Helps you compare your own b.) Mystery- Mystery novels, also called
experiences with the experiences of detective fiction, follow a detective
other people; and solving a case from start to finish. They
drop clues and slowly reveal
g.) Gives information which may information, turning the reader into a
be useful in other subjects. For example, detective trying to solve the case, too.
Geography, Science, History, Social Mystery novels start with an exciting
Studies, and so on. hook, keep readers interested with
suspenseful pacing, and end with a
LIT100: Great Books
REVIEWER
satisfying conclusion that answers all of exploring the western frontier and
the reader’s outstanding questions. taming the American Old West. They’re
shaped specifically by their genre-
c.) Thriller- Thriller novels are dark, specific elements and rely on them in
mysterious, and suspenseful plot-driven ways that novels in other fiction genres
stories. They very seldom include don’t. Westerns aren’t as popular as
comedic elements, but what they lack in they once were; the golden age of the
humor, they make up for in suspense. genre coincided with the popularity of
Thrillers keep readers on their toes and western films in the 1940s, ‘50s, and
use plot twists, red herrings, and ‘60s.
cliffhangers to keep them guessing until
the end. h.) Bildungsroman- Bildungsroman is a
literary genre of stories about a
d.) Horror- Horror novels are meant to character growing psychologically and
scare, startle, shock, and even repulse morally from their youth into adulthood.
readers. Generally focusing on themes Generally, they experience a profound
of death, demons, evil spirits, and the emotional loss, set out on a journey,
afterlife, they prey on fears with scary encounter conflict, and grow into a
beings like ghosts, vampires, mature person by the end of the story.
werewolves, witches, and monsters. In Literally translated, a bildungsroman is
horror fiction, plot and characters are “a novel of education” or “a novel of
tools used to elicit a terrifying sense of formation.”
dread.
i.) Speculative Fiction- Speculative
e.) Historical- Historical fiction novels fiction is a super genre that
take place in the past. Written with a encompasses a number of different
careful balance of research and types of fiction, from science fiction to
creativity, they transport readers to fantasy to dystopian. The stories take
another time and place—which can be place in a world different from our own.
real, imagined, or a combination of both. Speculative fiction knows no
Many historical novels tell stories that boundaries; there are no limits to what
involve actual historical figures or exists beyond the real world.
historical events within historical
settings. j.) Science Fiction- Sci-fi novels are
speculative stories with imagined
f.) Romance- Romantic fiction centers elements that don’t exist in the real
around love stories between two people. world. Some are inspired by “hard”
They’re lighthearted, optimistic, and natural sciences like physics, chemistry,
have an emotionally satisfying ending. and astronomy; others are inspired by
Romance novels do contain conflict, but “soft” social sciences like psychology,
it doesn’t overshadow the romantic anthropology, and sociology. Common
relationship, which always prevails in elements of sci-fi novels include time
the end. travel, space exploration, and futuristic
g.) Western- Western novels tell the societies.
stories of cowboys, settlers, and outlaws
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REVIEWER
k.) Fantasy- Fantasy novels are background. This will help you the
speculative fiction stories with reader to understand what, how and
imaginary characters set in imaginary why the author writes any story or
universes. They’re inspired by novel.
mythology and folklore and often
include elements of magic. The genre b.) Setting- The place and time in which
attracts both children and adults; well- the story unfolds or takes place.
known titles include Alice’s Adventures c.) Plot- Series or chain of related events
in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll and the that tells us ‘what happens’ in a story.
Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling. When a plot is well mapped out, it
l.) Dystopian- Dystopian novels are a ‘hooks’ us, that is, it catches our
genre of science fiction. They’re set in curiosity (interest) about what will
societies viewed as worse than the one happen next. A good plot draws us along
in which we live. Dystopian fiction after the narrator, just as a fish is hooked
exists in contrast to utopian fiction, and played and reeled in by an expert
which is set in societies viewed as better fisherman.
than the one in which we live. d.) Conflict- A conflict can be external,
m.) Magical Realism- Magical realism such as when a person struggles with
novels depict the world truthfully, plus another person, with an angry warthog,
add magical elements. The fantastical or with a hurricane. On the other hand,
elements aren’t viewed as odd or a conflict can be internal, that is, it can
unique; they’re considered normal in the take place inside a person’s mind or
world in which the story takes place. heart.
The genre was born out of the realist art e.) Theme- Refers to the controlling,
movement and is closely associated main idea, or central insight in the novel
with Latin American authors. or short story.
n.) Realist Literature- Realist fiction f.) Characters- Persons or animals
novels are set in a time and place that involved in a story in order to show
could actually happen in the real world. entertain and show us some truth about
They depict real people, places, and human experience and ourselves. A
stories in order to be as truthful as good character should be ‘alive’ to help
possible. Realist works of fiction remain us appreciate the story well.
true to everyday life and abide by the
laws of nature as we currently g.) Style- refers to the way the novel or
understand them. short story is written in order to have a
desired effect on the reader or audience.
Elements It also refers to the techniques used by
a.) Author- The writer of any written the writer of a literary work such as
work of art or fiction. It is very point of view, humor, fantasy,
important to not only know the name of flashbacks, tone, and so on.
the author, but you should also h.) Language- the most important
understand and appreciate his or her element of writing. Literary language is
LIT100: Great Books
REVIEWER
often used in fiction writing to ‘relish’ however, extends beyond ancient
the story so that it is more clear, literary works. Many works and authors
educative, informative, and indeed from all historical periods received a
interesting or entertaining. major international attention and are
regularly listed among the greatest
masterpieces of all times such as the
MODULE 2 One Thousand and One Nights and the
Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank for
EASTERN LITERATURE instance.

“Let all that you do be done with love.” As a result of limited contacts,
Japanese, Chinese and Indian
- 1 Corinthians 16:14 literatures caught the attention of the
Western world relatively late. Despite
Eastern literature is marked by the
that, many works and authors received
unique Eastern culture, traditions and
a huge success on the international
philosophy which has also profoundly
literary scene, while their popularity
influenced the Western literature. One
tends to be on the rise because they offer
of the best examples are the Jewish and
a unique insight into the Far Eastern
Arabic literary works, the influence of
philosophy, culture and mentality which
which can be found all over the world,
is strikingly different from that in the
not only in the Western literary art. But
West. The greatest attention are
as a result of the world becoming more
receiving philosophical literary works
closely connected, other Eastern literary
by prominent philosophers and thinkers
forms and styles have found their way
although Japanese, Chinese and Indian
into the Western market as well and
prose and poetry are increasingly being
opened a whole new world to the
translated into many languages as well.
Western readers.

Of Eastern literatures, the Jewish

literature has influenced the The Bible
development of literary art in the West
the most. The Hebrew Bible which was The sacred scriptures of Judaism
written sometime between the 10th and and Christianity. One of the most
6th centuries BCE became the basis for influential books on mankind. Its
the Christian Bible which has changed influence spanned thousands of years
the Western culture and literature (up to this day) due to its collection of
forever. Similar affect achieved the literary works (stories, epics,
Qur’an, the most important and the mythology, poetry, etc.) focusing mainly
finest example of Arabic literary art on people's purpose in life; providing
which has profoundly influenced the answers to the biggest questions
literary development in the Muslim mankind faced (morals, faith, death,
world as well as in countries that used etc.).
to be under Muslim control. The
influence of the Jewish and Arabic
literatures on the world’s literary art,
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REVIEWER
The Hebrew Bible includes only and from there the Lord dispersed them
the books known to Christians as the over all the earth.
Old Testament. The arrangements of
the Jewish and Christian canons differ
considerably. The Protestant and MODULE 3
Roman Catholic arrangements more
nearly match one another. OMAR KHAYYAM’S RUBAIYAT
The Christian Bible consists of “Be happy for this moment. This
the Old Testament and the New moment is your life.”
Testament, with the Roman Catholic
and Eastern Orthodox versions of the - Omar Khayyam
Old Testament being slightly larger
Author: Omar Khayyam
because of their acceptance of certain
books and parts of books considered Omar Khayyam (full Arabic name
apocryphal by Protestants. Ghiyāth al-Dīn Abū al-Fatḥ ʿUmar ibn
Ibrāhīm al-Nīsābūrī al-Khayyāmī; 1048-
The Origin of Language: Genesis 11
1131 AD). Omar Khayyam became a
11 All people on the earth had man of two reputations: (1) In his own
one language and the same words. 2 time and in his own country today he
When they traveled east, they found a has been acknowledged as a brilliant
valley in the land of Shinar and settled scholar who had mastered mathematics,
there. 3 They said to each other, “Come, philosophy, astronomy, law, medicine,
let’s make bricks and bake them hard.” and history. (2) To the English-speaking
They used bricks for stones and asphalt world he is known mainly as the author
for mortar. 4 They said, “Come, let’s of a small volume of remarkably
build for ourselves a city and a tower beautiful poetry.
with its top in the sky, and let’s make a
Prodigiously intelligent and reserved in
name for ourselves so that we won’t be
temperament, Khayyam was an
dispersed over all the earth.” 5 Then the
agnostic who chafed under the orthodox
Lord came down to see the city and the
religious state the Seljuk Turks were
tower that the humans built. 6 And the
beginning to impose in Persia. Among
Lord said, “There is now one people and
his other scientific achievements,
they all have one language. This is what
Khayyam discovered a geometrical
they have begun to do, and now all that
method of solving cubic equations by
they plan to do will be possible for them.
intersecting a parabola with a circle, and
7 Come, let’s go down and mix up their
helped design the Jalali calendar, a very
language there so they won’t
advanced solar calendar, a modified
understand each other’s language.” 8
version of which is still in use in Iran.
Then the Lord dispersed them from
there over all of the earth, and they
stopped building the city. 9 Therefore, it
is named Babel, because there the Lord
mixed up[c] the language of all the earth;
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REVIEWER
Overview • Importance of sensuous pleasure
in this life
The Rubaiyat
Summary:
Definition of “rubai”- Persian word for
Quatrain or four-line verse; ancient Human Impermanence and the Search
literary form for Wisdom (Quatrains 1-67)

Rubaiyat: plural form of “rubai” As the sun rises, worshipers crowd to get
into a tavern. They know their time is
Poem format: Quatrain short. The speaker names many
Rhyme scheme: a-a-b-a powerful mythological leaders who have
died. He emphasizes how life disappears
Iambic pentameter: Each line is 5 as quickly as a bird in flight, drops from
clusters of 2 syllables= 10 syllables per a wineglass, or leaves from a tree. Roses
line; the stress is on the second syllable fade from gardens as spring and summer
vanish.
Example:
The speaker finds his own paradise in
“Come, fill the Cup, and in the fire of material pleasures like wine, song, and
spring the company of his companion and
lover. He encourages his companion to
You Winter-garment of Repentance
"fill the Cup" and drink wine with him.
fling;
They will turn to dust soon as their
The Bird of time has but a little way friends have before them. Even wise
men and prophets are eventually
To flutter – and the Bird is on the Wing. silenced by dust. Humans who plan and
hope for a reward in the future will find
The primary message of a rubai: “LIVE
no certainty.
FOR THE DAY”
As the speaker seeks wisdom about his
According to the Encyclopedia
purpose on earth, he finds only one
Britannica, the poems “reveal a man of
answer: he came into the world "like
deep thought, troubled by the questions
Water" and will leave "like Wind." He
of the nature of reality and the eternal,
goes further into the heavens to seek
the impermanence and uncertainty of
truth. But he finds darkness, a locked
life, and man’s relationship to God.”
door, and a veil he can't see beyond. If
Themes: he could determine truth from falsehood
and learn the secret of life, he might find
• Pursuit of eternal reward is the Master, an unseen creator who
fiction controls all existence.
• Our existence is a ripple on the A wine vessel tells him to drink since he
pond can't return to life once he's dead. The
speaker in turn urges the person he is
• Beauty’s evanescence addressing—either the reader or his
LIT100: Great Books
REVIEWER
companion—to drink and forget their failings. Then the pots hear a porter
regrets and worries. The human body is arriving with wine, signaling the end of
a temporary tent for a traveler, he adds, the Ramadan fast.
just as life is a brief stop between long
periods of darkness. Each human life is Divine and Celebration of Life
small compared to the vastness of the (Quatrains 91-96)
universe. Dismissing logic, reason, and The speaker expresses his hopes to be
religious argument, the speaker indulges buried in the garden he enjoys in life and
in wine. to have his dead body washed with
He dismisses "threats of Hell and Hopes wine. He laments the vanishing of spring
of Paradise" since no one knows if and the nightingale. He longs to change
heaven and hell are real. Instead, he fate and shape the world he and his
believes he contains both heaven and lover desire.
hell within himself. As the speaker reclines in the garden,
Divine Power, Religion, and Fate the moon looks for him and his beloved.
(Quatrains 68-90) But only one of them is there. He asks
the wine pourer to "turn down an empty
An all-powerful Master treats glass" on his grave.
human lives like shadows in a magic
lantern or pieces on a game board. From
the beginning of the world, the speaker ARABIAN NIGHTS – THE TALE OF
imagines, creators have known how the SCHEHERAZADE
world will end. Humans, however, still
don't know where they came from or “People need stories more than bread
where they're going. itself. They tell us how to live, and why.”
The speaker now prefers to find his - Arabian Nights
wisdom drinking in the tavern rather in
the temple. He rebels against the Overview
religious concept of facing punishment
Also called The Thousand and One
for sin and refuses to deny himself
Nights, (Arabic: Alf laylah wa laylah),
pleasure.
collection of largely Middle Eastern and
As he thinks about the relationship Indian stories of uncertain date and
between humans and a divine creator, authorship. Its tales of Aladdin, Ali
he tells a story about pots or clay vessels Baba, and Sindbad the Sailor have
discussing their absent potter. The pots almost become part of Western folklore,
speak to one another during the last though these were added to the
month of Ramadan, a monthlong collection only in the 18th century in
Islamic religious observance of fasting European adaptations.
and prayer. The pots worry that the
As in much medieval European
Potter has created them only to destroy
literature, the stories—fairy tales,
them. One flawed pot wonders if he'll be
romances, legends, fables, parables,
destroyed because of the Potter's own
anecdotes, and exotic or realistic
LIT100: Great Books
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adventures—are set within a frame Author
story. Its scene is Central Asia or “the
islands or peninsulae of India and Khalil Gibran, Gibran also spelled
China,” where King Shahryar, after Jibran, Khalil also spelled Kahlil, Arabic
discovering that during his absences his name in full Jubrān Khalīl Jubrān, (born
wife has been regularly unfaithful, kills January 6, 1883, Bsharrī, Lebanon—
her and those with whom she has died April 10, 193 1, New York, New
betrayed him. Then, loathing all York, U.S.), Lebanese-American
womankind, he marries and kills a new philosophical essayist, novelist, poet,
wife each day until no more candidates and artist.
can be found. Gibran’s literary and artistic output is
His vizier, however, has two daughters, highly romantic in outlook and was
Shahrazad (Scheherazade) and influenced by the Bible, Friedrich
Dunyazad; and the elder, Shahrazad, Nietzsche, and William Blake. His
having devised a scheme to save herself writings in both languages, which deal
and others, insists that her father give with such themes as love, death, nature,
her in marriage to the king. Each and a longing for the homeland, are full
evening she tells a story, leaving it of lyrical outpourings and are expressive
incomplete and promising to finish it the of Gibran’s deeply religious and mystic
following night. The stories are so nature.
entertaining, and the king so eager to Overview
hear the end, that he puts off her
execution from day to day and finally The Prophet, book of 26 poetic essays
abandons his cruel plan. by Khalil Gibran, published in 1923. A
best-selling book of popular mysticism,
Nights is a composite work consisting of The Prophet was translated into more
popular stories originally transmitted than a dozen languages. Although many
orally and developed during several critics thought Gibran’s poetry
centuries, with material added mediocre, The Prophet achieved cult
somewhat haphazardly at different status among American youth for
periods and places. The tales’ variety several generations.
and geographical range of origin—India,
Iran, Iraq, Egypt, Turkey, and possibly Gibran’s narrative frame relates that the
Greece—make single authorship Prophet, about to board a ship that will
unlikely. take him home after 12 years in a foreign
city, is stopped by a group of the city’s
KHALIL GIBRAN’S THE PROPHET inhabitants, who ask him to speak to
“The smallest act of kindness is worth them about the mysteries of life. He does
more than the greatest intention.” so, discussing love, marriage, beauty,
reason and passion, and death, among
- Khalil Gibran other topics.