Types of Literature

1. Types of
Literature
PRESENTED BY
RAHILA KHAN
LECTURER ENGLISH

2. Literature
The word derives from a Latin word “litera”
which means letter.
Literature means
“written artistic works, especially those with
a high and lasting artistic value”

3. TYPES OFTYPES OF
LITERATURELITERATURE

4. Prose
“prosa” which means straightforward. It consists
written works within the common flow of
conversation presented in a straightforward
manner.

5. Types of Prose
1. Novel
This is a long narrative divided into chapters.
The events may be taken from true-to-life stories and
spans for a long period of time. There are many characters
involved.

6. 2. Short Story
This is a narrative involving one or more
characters, one plot and one single
impression.

7. 3. Plays
This is presented on a stage, is divided
into acts and each act has many scenes.

8. 4.Legends
These are fictitious narratives, usually about origins.
It provides historical information regarding the
culture and views of particular group of people or
country.

9. 5. Folk tales
A traditional narrative, usually
anonymous, and handed down orally.

10. 6. Fables
These are also fictitious and they deal with
animals and inanimate things who speak and act
like people. Their purpose is to enlighten the minds
of children to events that can mold their ways and
attitudes.

11. 7. Myths
A traditional sacred story, typically
revolving around the activities of gods
and heroes, which aim to explain a
natural phenomenon or cultural practice.

12. 8. Anecdotes
These are merely products of the writer’s imagination and
the main aim is to bring out lessons to the reader.
For example :A mother tells her son a story about a family
vacation when she was growing up.

13. 9. Essay
This expresses the viewpoint or opinion
of the writer about a particular problem
or event. The best example of this is
the Editorial page of a newspaper.

14. 10. Biography
This deals with the life of a person which
may be about himself, his autobiography
or that of others.

15. 11. News
This is a report of everyday events in society,
government, science and industry,
accidents etc., happening nationally or not.

16. 12. Oration
This is a formal treatment of a subject and is intended
to be spoken in public. It appeals to the intellect, to
the will or to the emotions of the audience.

17. Poetry
It is an imaginative awareness of experience
expressed through meaning sound, and
rhythmic language choices
as to evoke emotional response.

18. Types of Poetry
1.Narrative poetry
2.Dramatic poetry
3.Lyric poetry

19. 1.Narrative Poetry
This form describes important events in life either real
or imaginary.
Types of Narrative Poetry
Epic: It is an extended narrative about heroic exploits under supernatural
control. It may deal with heroes and gods. The hero/heroine usually has the
following characteristics: idealism, courage, wisdom, beauty, endurance,
chivalry and justice. E.g. Beowulf
Metrical Tales: This is a narrative which is written in verse and
can be classified either as a ballad or metrical romance. E.g. The
Lady of Shallot by Lord Alfred Tennyson
Ballad: This is considered as the shortest and simplest of the narrative
poems. It has a simple structure and tells of a single incident. E.g. The Rime
of the Ancient Mariner by Samuel Taylor Coleridge

20. Epic
Metrical tale
Ballad

21. 2.Dramatic Poetry
An emotional piece of literature which includes a story which is recited / sung.
Soliloquy and dramatic monologues are the main instruments of this form.
Types of Dramatic Poetry
1. Comedy: This word comes from the Greek term “Komos” meaning festivity or
revelry. This form usually is light and written with a purpose of amusing, and usually
has a happy ending.
2. Melodrama: This is usually seen in musical play with the opera. Today, this is
related to tragedy just as the farce to comedy. It arouses immediate and intense
emotion and is usually sad but there is a happy ending for the principal character.
3. Tragedy: This involves the hero struggling mightily against dynamic forces; he
meets death or ruin without success and satisfaction obtained by the protagonist in a
comedy.
4. Farce: This is an exaggerated comedy. It seeks to arouse mirth by laughable lines;
situations are too ridiculous to be true; the characters seem to be caricatures and the
motives undignified and absurd.
5. Social Poems: This form is either purely comic or tragic and its pictures the life of
today. it may aim to bring about changes in the social conditions.
.

23. 3. Lyric Poetry
Originally, this refers to that kind of poetry meant to be sung to the
accompaniment of a lyre, but now, this applies to any type of poetry
that expresses emotions and feelings to the poet. They are usually short,
simple and easy to understand.
Types of Lyric Poetry
1.Folksongs: These are short poems intended to be sung. The common theme is love,
despair, grief, doubt, joy, hope, and sorrow.
2. Sonnets: This is a lyric of poem of 14 lines dealing with an emotion, a feeling or
an idea. There are two types: the Italian and the Shakespearean.
3. Elegy:This is a lyric poem which expresses feelings of grief and melancholy, and
whose theme is death.
4. Ode :This is a poem of a noble feeling, expressed with dignity, with no definite
number of syllables or definite number of lines in a stanza.
5. Psalms: This is a song praising God or the Virgin Mary and containing a
philosophy of life.
6. Awit :These have the measures of twelve syllables (dodecasyllabic) and slowly
sung to the accompaniment of a guitar or banduria.
7. Corridos:These have measures of eight syllables (octosyllabic)and recited to a
martial beat. The songs are often about oppressions, daily life of peasants,
and other socially important information.

25. THANKYOU!