Literature Flashcards
The word “literature” can be used to refer to anything written
(Barnet, S. et.al)
Written works, especially those regarded as having artistic merit.
(Oxford)
Literature is a term used to describe written and sometimes spoken material.
(Lombardi, E)
Literature can be defined as ‘pieces of writing that are valued as works of art, especially
novels, plays and poems’.
(Oxford Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary)
“the body of written works produced in a particular language, country, or age, or the body of
writings on a particular subject (scientific, art, etc.)”
(Merriam- Webster’s Dictionary and
Thesaurus).
Literary works involve written and oral accounts of humanity’s existence.
Divisions of Literature
Itis a division of literature which covers a literary work that is spoken or written within the common flow of language in sentences and in paragraphs which gives information, relate events, express ideas, or present opinions.
Prose
Prose have two sub-divisions:
Fiction and Non-Fiction
Itis a sub-division of prose which covers a literary work of imaginative narration, either oral
or written, fashioned to entertain and to make readers think and more so, to feel.
Fiction
It is a prose fiction which attempts to explain the origin of things, places, objects that we see around us.Example:The
Legend
Itis a short prose fiction narrative depicting a simple characterization and plot conveying a moral which can be read in one sitting.
Short Story
It is a very long prose narrative depicting complex characterization and plot which is usually divided into chapters.
Novel
Itis a long prose narrative similar to but shorter than a novel but longer than a short story. It is also known as____.
Novella and novelette
Itis a short prose fiction narrative depicting animal characters which espouses a lesson in life.
Fable
It is a short prose allegorical narrative which presents a philosophical outlook in life.
Parable
Itis a sub-division of prose which covers a literary work of “real life” narration or exposition based on history and facts whose main thrust is intellectual appeal to convey facts, theories, generalizations, or concepts about a particular topic.
Non-Fiction
Itis a prose non-fiction detailing the life of a person written by another
person.
Biography
Itis a prose non-fiction record of events that transpired in the past.
History
Itis a prose non-fiction narrative of events that happen everyday. The newspapers are written for this purpose.
News
Itis a personal account of significant events that happen in the life of a person.
Diary
Itis a prose non-fiction narrative that depicts a single incident in a person’s
life.
Anecdote
Itis prose non-fiction which is a formal treatment of an issue written from the writer’s personal point of view.
Essay
Itis a division of literature works which covers a literary work expressed in verse, measure, rhythm, sound, and imaginative language and creates an emotional response to an experience, feeling or fact. Traditionally, it has three sub-divisions namely: ____ , ____ , and ____
Poetry and Narrative poetry, Lyric poetry, and Dramatic poetry.
Itis a division of literature works which covers a literary work expressed in verse, measure, rhythm, sound, and imaginative language and creates an emotional response to an experience, feeling or fact. Traditionally, it has three sub-divisions namely: ____ , ____ , and ____
Poetry and Narrative poetry, Lyric poetry, and Dramatic poetry.
Itis a sub-division of poetry which tells or narrates a story. It may be lengthy as
an epic, or short as a ballad and typically measured as a metrical tale.
Narrative Poetry
Itis a narrative poem which accounts the heroic exploits of a community’s hero, usually involving superhuman abilities.
Epic
Itis a narrative poem which depicts a single incident that transpired in a person’s life. It is usually recited during gatherings in the past but it may be sung in the present
days.
Ballad
Itis a narrative poem which narrates a story in a “metered” or “measured” number of syllables hence it was called metrical. There are two popular variations in Philippine Literature, the___and____.
Metrical Tale and Awit and Corrido
Itis a romance metrical tale of dodecasyllabic measure which is recited during formal performances or informal gatherings.
Awit
Itis a martial or adventure metrical tale of octosyllabic measure which is recited for recreational purposes.
Corrido
It is a sub-division of poetry which features poems intended to be sung with the
accompaniment of the musical instrument called“lyre”hence, lyric poetry. The following are the types of lyric poems.
Lyric Poetry
Itis a lyric poem of various theme which is meant to be sung in its
entirety.
Song
Itis a lyric poem of noble and exalted emotion which has dignified
countenance.
Ode
Itis a lyric poem of sad theme such lamentation for the dead, longing for a missing love, and a grief for things beyond one’s control.
Elegy
Itis a lyric poem of 14 iambic pentameter lines usually about love and beautiful themes.
Sonnet
Itis a lyric poem celebrating the tranquil and beautiful landscapes of rural and country settings.
Idyll
It is a sub-division of poetry which features poems meant to be performed on stage. Theater plays and dramatic presentations belong to this type.
Dramatic Poetry
Itis a dramatic poetry which features a hero whose hubris or shortcoming eventually causes his downfall or defeat often ending in a very sad conclusion.
Tragedy
Itis a dramatic poetry which is similar with tragedy except that the hero triumphs and overcomes the odds towards the end and emerges victoriously.
Comedy
Itis a dramatic poetry which is a combination of the elements of tragedy and comedy yet ends in a happy note.
Melodrama
Itis a dramatic poetry which is an exaggerated comedy that aims to elicit laughter hence, relaxation.
Farce
Itis a dramatic poetry which tackles social issues and problems such as poverty, corruption, discrimination, racism, sexism, among others, with an aim to bring awareness and bring about positive change.
Social Play
It is a phrase that has an implied meaning and should not be taken at face
value. This means that the real meaning of such a phrase differs from its literal meaning.
Figure of Speech
This type of figure of speech is constructed by attributing certain human characteristics to otherwise inanimate objects.
Personification
This type of figure of speech is generally used by talking about two very different kinds of things that have a common link.
Metaphor
These phrases are somewhat similar to metaphors but are more direct than implied in their meaning. In this, the indirectly implied meaning is replaced with the words “as” or “like.” These words are used to make the connection between the two different words being used.
Simile
These types of phrases are figures of speech that have a similar sounding consonant (non-vowel
letters) at the beginning of each word.
Alliteration
These are rather simple yet unique figures of speech. This are words or phrases that
are similar to the sounds they produce.
Onomatopoeia
These are one of the most common figures of speech in English, and you must have used them at
least once, even if you are not a native English language speaker. These phrases are meant to
emphasize the importance of something by using overexaggerated phrases.
Hyperbole
This are figures of speech that are used to replace stronger and harsher phrases. These are generally milder or more acceptable terms that you can use in your conversations to sound more polite and sometimes, politically correct.
Euphemism
Figures of speech sometimes also express sarcasm. You can use these phrases to convey a
certain meaning by stating the opposite of it. In common English parlance, such ironic statements or phrases are easily understood.
Irony
This type of figure of speech is characterized by words, phrases, or clauses that repeat in
consecutive sentences. They are generally used contrastingly in either children’s rhymes or
powerful and dramatic speeches.
Anaphora
Are also one of the most common figures of speech that you can use in everyday life. They
make you sound witty and even comical in some cases, and can surely be a conversation starter.
Pun
Figures of speech are situations (usually in literary worlds), when a character, author,
or speaker addresses an inanimate object or even a person that does not really exist in the given scenario.
Apostrophe
Similar to ironies, these figures of speech highlight something by talking about exactly the opposite of it. However, a paradox is different because it does not point out the dissimilarity as obviously as an irony.
Paradox
It s also a type of figure of speech. It is aimed at inciting a less reactive
response to a particular statement. These can really come in handy during your day-to-day English
Understatement
Much like synonyms, these figures of speech refer to words that are used in place of other words (nouns, to be specific). These replacement words are different from the word replaced but share a common connection
Metonymy
Not to be confused with ironies and paradoxes, this figure of speech is used to connect two
opposite ideas simultaneously. This means that, in an oxymoron figure of speech, two contrasting ideas are used within a single sentence to have a jocular effect.
Oxymoron
