Lesson 1-The Creative Dimensions of Literature

CELit 1
The Creative Dimensions

of Literature
What is Literature ?
Literature is considered as one of the most
important forms of art that has ever been invented.
It has helped a lot in the development of early
civilizations and the modernization of the world as
a whole.
Bautista (2007), defines literature as the linguistic evidence
of the mental and emotional attempt of people to shed light
on human struggles and aspirations.
Literature is derived from the Latin term "Litterae" which

means “letters“. It is the enduring expression of significant
human experiences in words well-arranged.
History of Literature
Cuneiform -a form of writing made up of wedge-shaped characters.
Hieroglyphics - picture writing which were seen in some pyramids

found in Egypt and in other ancient countries. These pictures depict
the events that took place and are regarded as
significant for they have divine and religious symbolisms.
Further development took place when the Greeks and the people from
Phoenicia invented the alphabet.
It made up of:
Phoenician Consonantal Scripts + Greek
Vowels = Real Alphabet
Gilgamesh/Epic of Gilgamesh
-oldest existing literary work (2700-2000 B. C.)
It is an ancient text from Summeria that is considered to be older than
Greek and Roman literatures.
Aims of Literature
1. Inspire and uplift the taste
2. To read for pleasure
3. Widens experiences
4. Broadens sympathies with other people
TOOLS FOR LITERARY
COMPREHENSION
Discovering
meaning…
A. USING THE DICTIONARY
B. USING CONTEXT CLUES
Context clues are words surrounding the unknown

word in the sentence that explains, rephrases or
illustrates it. Because of context clues, the reader
is provided with the meaning right before his eyes.
Types of Context clues
1. Definition - through the use of is, are, was,

were, or, such as, or means, the meaning is
clearly given to the reader.
Example 1: A unicorn is a mythological animal. Mythological
means made-up, or imaginary. A unicorn is always white and
looks like a small horse with a horn protruding, or sticking out of
the center of its forehead.
2. Explanation - The unknown word is clarified within
the sentence or in a sentence immediately preceding
or following it.
Example:
The patient is so somnolent that she requires medication
to help her stay awake for more than a short time.
3. Synonym -This is a different word with the same
meaning used in the same sentence.
Example: My opponent's argument is fallacious,

misleading- plain wrong.
4. Antonym - This is another word or group of words in
the same sentence that has the opposite meaning yet
reveals the meaning of an unknown term.
Example:
Although some men are loquacious, others hardly talk at
all.
Distinguishing
Objective And Subjective
Meanings
1. Denotation is the direct and explicit meaning as
defined in the dictionary. The denotative meaning is
the objective meaning that does not go beyond the
requirement of exact scientific definition. A dog for
example is defined as a four footed animal coated with
fur.
2. Connotation is the meaning of a word that arouses
particular emotional attitudes from the hearer. It
suggests meaning that goes beyond its standard
scientific or dictionary definition, The special
emotional meanings vary according to the individual.
When a man is called a dog, it could mean that he is

rough and crude.
UNDERSTANDING
ALLUSIONS
Four Kinds of Allusions
1.Literary allusion is a reference to famous storybook character.
Examples:
1. Joseph and Sarah are the Romeo and Juliet of Iloilo City.
2. We need a Frodo to carry this money collection to the bank.

2. Mythical allusion is a reference to a character, place or
event from a myth of any country. The most popular ones
are the characters from Greek mythology.
Examples:
1. Robert, the Adonis of the College of Arts and Sciences, is

also an excellent mathematician.
2. Jun ran swiftly as Hermes in breaking the news that the

final exam was postponed.
3. Historical allusion is a reference to a person, place,
or event in local, national, or world history.
Examples:
1. Mathematics is the Waterloo of all student artists.
(Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte lost at the Battle of
Waterloo)
2. Mr. Miro's neighbor threw garbage in his yard and that

signaled World War II between them.
4. Biblical allusion is a reference to a character,
place or event from the Holy Bible.
Examples:
1.Kagawad Ramos will be the Moses who will lead the oppressed
people out of Barrio Walangilaw
2. Only a Judas can make our organizational plan fail.

INTERPRETING
FIGURATIVE
LANGUAGE
Most Common Figurative Languages
1. Simile is a stated comparison between two

things that are actually unlike, but have something
in common. They are easy to recognize as they are
introduced by the words "like“ or “as". Similes
give readers a new way of looking at familiar
things.
Examples:
1. Suzette is like a rose in bloom Her feelings are
fragile as glass Joseph is vicious like a snake.
2. You must be gentle as a dove and wise as a serpent.
3. The little boy is stinking like garbage.

2. Metaphor is an implied comparison between two unlike
things that have something in common. Unlike the simile it does
not make use of "like" or “as" to show the comparison.
Examples:
1. The sky is a pale blue blanket over dreamers.
2. Stars are great drops of golden dew.
3. You are the sunshine of my life.
4. Leila is a delicate blossom.
3. Personification gives human qualities to non-human objects. It is
the humanization of animals, plants, objects, and things
Examples:
1. The vine coyly clings to the trellis.
2. During school breaks, empty classrooms silently weep.
3. Your soft whisper in the morning, oh gentle breeze is all I wait for.
4. Symbolism is a way of explaining something unfamiliar by using another
object that is commonly understandable. It uses objects to represent another
person, place, or idea. A symbol is an object or idea that has its own meaning.
The meaning of the symbol is carried over to another object, idea, group or
company.
Examples:
1. The eagle is used by some countries in their presidential seals to suggest
that its strong and undefeatable qualities are also possessed by the nation
it represents.
2. A bird in a cage can represent someone who is in prison

It also means giving non-human qualities to human
beings
Examples:
a. Batman has bat characteristics
b. Arrow man has qualities of an arrow.
c. Octogirl has qualities of an octopus
5. Hyperbole exaggerates an idea so vividly that the reader
develops an instant mental picture of it. Hyperbole is used to
emphasize an idea. The hyperbole usually generates laughter.
Examples:
1. I'm dying of thirst.
2. I'm so hungry, I can eat a horse.
3. John's neck was so long, a giraffe had to look up just to look
him in the eye.
CAPTURING IMAGERY
Two Ways of Creating Imagery
A. Description is a technique that tells about people, places, things or

actions through the use of adjectives and adverbs.
Examples: (The italicized words are adjectives and the underlined ones are adverbs)
1. Out of the trees, a figure appeared, a huge, brown and scrawny bear
with long and sharp fangs glistening against the noonday sun. It
stealthily and cautiously moved across the wide and circular clearing
and decisively pounced on its sleeping prey.
B. Onomatopoeia is a technique that uses words to imitate sounds.
Writers use onomatopoeia to give double emphasis to their work.
Examples:
1. The thud of feet echoed through the halls
2. The series of bangs from a .45 magnum filled the air.
3. The rabid dog growled at us.
4. The screech of the night owl awakened the baby.
5. The hiss of the snake inside the cage frightened everyone.
*END*

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CELit 1

The Creative Dimensions

Literature is derived from the Latin term "Litterae" which

Cuneiform -a form of writing made up of wedge-shaped characters.

Hieroglyphics - picture writing which were seen in some pyramids

Context clues are words surrounding the unknown

1. Definition - through the use of is, are, was,

Example: My opponent's argument is fallacious,

When a man is called a dog, it could mean that he is

1.Literary allusion is a reference to famous storybook character.

2. We need a Frodo to carry this money collection to the bank.

1. Robert, the Adonis of the College of Arts and Sciences, is

2. Jun ran swiftly as Hermes in breaking the news that the

2. Mr. Miro's neighbor threw garbage in his yard and that

2. Only a Judas can make our organizational plan fail.

1. Simile is a stated comparison between two

2. You must be gentle as a dove and wise as a serpent.

3. The little boy is stinking like garbage.

2. A bird in a cage can represent someone who is in prison

A. Description is a technique that tells about people, places, things or

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