What is Literature?
Literature is the art of written (and oral) expression. It uses language creatively to explore human experience, emotions, values, and the world around us.
Genres of Literature
1. Prose
Written in ordinary sentences and paragraphs (not verse). Major types:
- Novel: a long fictional narrative (e.g. "Things Fall Apart" by Chinua Achebe)
- Short story: a brief fictional narrative with one main plot
- Biography/Autobiography: real life stories
- Essay: non-fictional writing on a specific topic
2. Drama
Written to be performed on stage. Features:
- Written in acts and scenes
- Dialogue between characters
- Stage directions (instructions for actors)
- Types: Tragedy (sad ending), Comedy (happy/humorous), Tragicomedy
3. Poetry
Uses rhythm, imagery, and carefully chosen words. Features:
- Verse: poetry written in lines
- Stanza: a group of lines (like a paragraph)
- Rhyme: words with similar ending sounds
- Rhythm: the beat or pattern of stressed syllables
Literary Devices
| Device | Definition | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Simile | Comparison using "like" or "as" | He ran like the wind |
| Metaphor | Direct comparison without "like"/"as" | Life is a journey |
| Personification | Giving human qualities to non-human things | The sun smiled down on us |
| Alliteration | Repetition of initial consonant sounds | Peter Piper picked peppers |
| Irony | Saying the opposite of what is meant | "What great weather!" (in a storm) |