Literature, in its broadest sense, is any written work; etymologically the term derives from Latin
literatura/litteratura "writing formed with letters", although some definitions include spoken or sung
texts. More restrictively, it is writing that possesses literary merit, and language that foregrounds
literariness, as opposed to ordinary language. Literature can be classified according to whether it is
fiction or non-fiction and whether it is poetry or prose; it can be further distinguished according to major
forms such as the novel, short story or drama; and works are often categorised according to historical
periods or their adherence to certain aesthetic features or expectations (genre).
Prose
1. Prose Drama – a drama in prose form. It consists entirely dialogues in prose, and is meant
to be act on stage.
2. Essay – a short literary composition which is expository in nature. The author shares his
thoughts feelings, experiences, or observations on some aspects of life that has interested
him.
3. Prose Fiction – something invented, imagined, or feigned to be true)
1. Novel – a long fiction narrative with a complicated plot. It may have one main
plot and one or more sub plots that develop with the main plot. It is made up of
chapters.
2. Short Story – a fictitious narrative compressed into one unit of time, place and
action. It deals with single character interest, a single emotion or series of
emotions called forth by a single. It is distinguished from the novel by its
compression.
4. Biography and Autobiography
1. Biography – a story of a certain person’s life written by another who knows the
subject well.
2. Autobiography – a written account of man’s life written by himself.
5. Letter – a written message which displays aspects of an author’s physiological make-up
not immediately apparent in his more public writings. It is a prose form which by the
force of its style and the importance of its statements becomes an object of interest in its
own right.
6. Diary – a daily written record of account of the writer’s own experiences, thoughts,
activities or observations.
7. Journal – a magazine or periodical especially of serious or learned nature. It is the
reflection, opinion of a read material.
Types of Poetry
Narrative Poetry – a poem that tells a story.
1. Epic – a long narrative poem of the largest proportions. Epic is a tale mainly
about a hero concerning the beginning, continuance, and the end of events of
great significance on tribal or national significance.
2. Metrical Poem – a narrative poem that tells a story of adventure, love and
chivalry. The Typical hero is a knight on a quest.
3. Metrical Tale – a narrative poem consisting usually a single series connective
events that are simple, and generally do not form a plot. Examples of these are
simple idylls or home tales, love tales, tales of the supernatural or tales written for
a strong moral purpose in verse form.
4. Ballad – the simplest type of narrative poetry. It is s short narrative poem telling a
single incident in simple meter and stanzas. It is meant to be sung.
5. Popular ballad – a ballad of wide workman ship telling some simple incidents of
adventure, cruelty, passion, or superstition, an incident that shows the primary
instincts of man influenced by the restraint of modern civilization.
6. Modern or artistic – created by poet in imitation of the folk ballad, makes use of
many of its devices and conventions.
7. Metrical Allegory – an extended narrative that carries a second meaning along
worth the surface story.
Lyric Poetry – a poem that is very personal in nature. It expresses the author’s own
thoughts, feelings, moods and reflections in musical language. It derived its name from
the musical instrument, the lyre.
1. Ode – a lyric poem of some length, serious in subject and dignified in style. It is
most majestic of the lyric poems. It is written in a spirit of praise of some persons
or things.
2. Elegy – a poem written on the death of a friend of the poet. The ostensible
purpose is to praise the friend. But in the end of the poem, however, we can
expect that poet will have come to terms with his grief.
3. Song – a lyric poem in a regular metrical pattern set to music. These have twelve
syllables and slowly sung to the accompaniment of a guitar or banduria.
4. Sonnet – a lyric poem containing four iambic pentameter lines, and a complicated
rhyme.
