MODULE 1

LEARNING MODULE
BLENDED FLEXIBLE LEARNING
GREAT BOOKS (CELit 1)

Overview
Literature is a representation of life. Many beautiful memories of the past and the present
can be gleaned through the study of literature. In support to the national and global collaboration,
human experience can be a vehicle to achieve the fullness of man by giving opportunities to learn,
develop skills, be culturally conscious, and possess moral integrity.
Learning Outcomes
At the end of this module, you should be able to:
 Define the meaning of literature;
 Understand the purpose / aims of literature;
 Know and familiarize the tools for literary comprehension;
Learning Resources

1. Rodil, R., Cuntapay, M., Nanquil, L. and Garay, G., (2014) Heritage of World Literature, Books Atbp.
Publishing Corp.
2. Misajon, M., Illenberger, A., and Haguisan, T., (2007) On Wings of Literature, Seguiban Printing
and Publishing Enterprises, Inc.
Learning Inputs

Lesson 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. Experts also agree that literature is instrumental in bridging the gap and
differences among nations of different culture.

Bautista (2007), defines literature as the linguistic evidence of the mental and emotional attempt of
people to shed light on human struggles and aspirations. Since it is made and written in a particular
time, it has cultural aspects that must be taken into consideration. These also refer to the
achievements of a particular time in areas like history, politics, education, religion, and most
importantly, in the arts.

Literature is derived from the Latin term "Litterae" which means “letters." It is the enduring
expression of significant human experiences in words well-arranged. These are referred to as
significant human stories that are passed from one generation to another by word of mouth. It is
also considered as the art of using the language. Some experts define it as the author's ultimate
expression of his thoughts and feelings. Words are considered to be the flesh and blood of literature.
History of Literature

Literature began as soon as the different forms of writing were invented by the early people who put
into writing everything that they have observed in their surroundings. Among the early forms of
handwriting are:

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

A person gets to appreciate a literary work if it would inspire him to become a better person. He is
able to realize certain values and virtues essential for living.

2. To read for pleasure

Reading is a very good pastime because people could learn a lot from it. This activity enhances
peoples' perspective and thereby enables them to think rationally and analyze things critically so
that one could come up with an informed opinion. Reading also develops ones vocabulary which
could be helpful in expressing ideas and thoughts.

3. Widens experiences
Experience, as it is said, is the best teacher. By reading these literary texts, readers get to experience
the things which they have not encountered before. This encounter is one of the priceless values
that literature could offer.

4. Broadens sympathies with other people

By reading certain literary works, we are, inspired to become better individuals and be more
compassionate towards other people We develop the attitude of becoming sensitive towards the
feelings of other person and thus, we become more humane.
 TOOLS FOR LITERARY COMPREHENSION
DISCOVERING MEANING
Reading comprehension begins with the ability to identify words and the meanings that they
represent. If the words in a reader's own personal word bank match with the ones in the reading
material then, basic comprehension transpires. If some of the words in the material are unknown,
then comprehension is incomplete, confused, or distorted. A writer is a wordsmith. He influences his
readers through the skillful use of meanings. There are many ways by which a reader can discover
his meaning.
A. USING THE DICTIONARY
The dictionary is the most helpful reference for a reader to find the meaning of unknown
words. The dictionary provides the following information:
Arshine
1. Pronunciation-[ä rshēn]
2. Stress - Ar’
3. Part of speech -noun
4. Language origin - Russian or Tatar
5. Variant- arshin or arsin
6. Meaning- A Russian measure of length = 2 ft. 4.246 inches
Ar'shine [är shen] Russian arshin; Tatar arSin n. 1. A Russian measure of length = 2 ft.
4.246 inches.

Pret-zel [pret-suhl] German Pretzel, variant of Bretzel.n. 1. dry biscuit, usually in the form
of a knot and salted on the outside.

Rab-bi [rab-ahy]. From Latin rabbi. Greek rhabbi, Hebrew rabbi.n.noun, plural rab·bis. 1.
a spiritual leader of Judaism and the Jewish community; 2. a Jewish scholar or teacher.

B. USING CONTEXT CLUES

In some cases, a reader does not have to consult the dictionary for the word's meaning. He only has
to search for 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. He only has to read carefully and relate-the clues properly to the
unknown word.
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.
Context clues tell that: unicorn means a mythological animal;
mythological means imaginary; and
protruding means sticking out.
Example 2: The job of the crown, or umbrella of leaves, of each canopy tree is to grab as much
sunlight as it possibly can.
Context clues tell that crown means umbrella of leaves
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.
Context clues tell that somnolent means always sleepy.
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.
Context clues tell that fallacious means misleading or 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.
Context clues tell that loquacious means talkative
C. DISTINGUISHING OBJECTIVE AND SUBJECTIVE MEANINGS
Words accompany people as they move through life. People generally connect meanings to certain
words, some good, some bad depending on specific experiences. Some develop strong attachment
to certain words; some are triggered into violent behavior after hearing a word.
Words can be classified into two categories depending on the emotion or association attached
to them:

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. But it could also mean that he is lead around by someone who gives him
constant orders, as in the word, lapdog. When he is called a puppy, he could be cute and cuddly, or
one easily influenced by others.

D. UNDERSTANDING ALLUSIONS
Meaning is sometimes hidden in people, places, and events. Referring to any of them is called
allusion. When an allusion is used, the meaning of the sentence is in the details surrounding those
that were referred to.
Four Kinds of Allusions
1. Literary allusion is a reference to famous storybook character.
Examples: Joseph and Sarah are the Romeo and Juliet of Iloilo City.
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: Robert, the Adonis of the College of Arts and Sciences, is also an excellent mathematician.
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: Mathematics is the Waterloo of all student artists. (Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte lost at
the Battle of Waterloo)
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: Kagawad Ramos will be the Moses who will lead the oppressed people out of Barrio
Walangilaw.
Only a Judas can make our organizational plan fail.
INTERPRETING FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE
Every field of human existence has its own set of words to clearly label its own special information.
The unique word system of every profession or field of knowledge is called jargon. Literature also
has its own language. or jargon. This language is the one used commonly by creative writers
generally seen in poetry and fiction.
This general creative word system in literature is called Figurative Language. More often that not,
the language of literature is figurative or non-literal. To insist in interpreting creative work from a
literal point of view will disable the reader from culling the best of the writer's hidden meaning and
therefore will make him miss a great literary experience.

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:
Suzette is like a rose in bloom Her feelings are fragile as glass Joseph is vicious like a snake.
You must be gentle as a dove and wise as a serpent.
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:
The sky is a pale blue blanket over dreamers.
Stars are great drops of golden dew.
You are the sunshine of my life.
Leila is a delicate blossom.
Mark is the black sheep of the family.
Mrs. Santos has chandeliers on both ears.

When the comparison is used fully and consistently throughout the selection, it is called an extended
metaphor.

3. Personification gives human qualities to non-human objects. It is the humanization of animals,

plants, objects, and things
Examples:
The vine coyly clings to the trellis.
During school breaks, empty classrooms silently weep.
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:
a. 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.
b. A bird in a cage can represent someone who is in prison
c. A bamboo can represent the flexible qualities of someone who knows how to
adjust when the storms of life come.
It also means giving non-human qualities to human beings
Examples:
a. Batman has bat characteristics
b. Arrowman 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:
I'm dying of thirst.
I'm so hungry, I can eat a horse.
John's neck was so long, a giraffe had to look up just to look him in the eye.
You are carrying the world on your shoulders.
The earth shook when Paul Bunyan walked.
Her voice broke my eardrums.
CAPTURING IMAGERY
Words can create pictures in the mind of the readers. With that clear mental picture, the reader
becomes better involved in the literature on hand. The clear mental pictures also known as imagery
allow the readers to participate in a variety of experiences.
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. Adjectives describe nouns while adverbs describe verbs, adjectives, and
other adverbs. Descriptive language helps the reader to picture an event, a scene or a character
more accurately.
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.
2. Rizper was the typical new boy in school, friendless and lost. One day, he came to school with a
hairstyle that nobody in the school liked. His teachers thought he looked filthy.The principal thought
he looked like a box of crayons with his multi-colored hair.
(From Rizper's Hair By Marie Melanie J. Misajon)
3. Ize always came to school with a sheepish arin. He was the brightest and most well.behaved
student in the honors class.
(From A Buddy For Ize Bv Marie Melanie J. Misajon)
B. Onomatopoeia is a technique that uses words to imitate sounds. Writers use onomatopoeia to
give double emphasis to their work. A reader gets meaning from the printed word and receives
supplementary clarification through the sound of that word. Ideas are also better remembered
through this technique.
Examples:
The thud of feet echoed through the halls
The series of bangs from a .45 magnum filled the air.
The rabid dog growled at us.
The screech of the night owl awakened the baby.
The hiss of the snake inside the cage frightened everyone.
 APPRECIATING THE LITERARY DEVICES
Literary devices are special tools that the writer employs to achieve a purpose for his work.
A. TO MANIPULATE EVENTS

1. Foreshadowing is a technique where the writer gives hints or clues to indicate action that
will occur later in the narrative. It allows the readers to guess the ending of the story.
Example:
The dusk suddenly fell chill upon them. The wind seemed to change its nature and blow
wildly and in an unfriendly way. The church bells were punctuating the air with warning.
(From This Aye Night By William Mayne)
2. Flashback is an interruption of the progress of the story. Normally, a plot progresses
chronologically. However, a flashback interrupts this order to tell readers something that
happens before the story began.
Example:
When Miss Emily Grierson died, our whole town went to her funeral: the men through a sort
of respectful affection for a fallen monument, the women mostly out of curiosity to see the
inside of her house, which no one save an old man servant- a combined gardener and
cook had seen in at least ten years................. Alive, Miss Emily had been a tradition, a
duty, and a care; a sort of hereditary obligation upon the town, dating from that day in 1894
when Colonel Sartoris, the mayor - he who fathered the edict that no Negro woman would
appear on the streets without an apron remitted her taxes, the dispensation dating from the
death of her father on into perpetuity.
(From A Rose For Emily By William Faulkner (1897-1962))
3. Suspense is the excitement the reader feels about the outcome or solution to the problem
of the story. It is the state or quality of being undecided, uncertain, or doubtful. Suspense is
a pleasurable experience in anticipation of an outcome, such as the ending of a mystery
novel. Writer's employ this technique to encourage the reader to finish the story. This
technique is also known as cliff hanging.
Example:
The level rose slowly but incessantly. There was no way to stop the water, and I had to face
the inevitability of what that meant.-I could feel the cold creeping up, ankles to calves; the
chill rising like a cold hand to reach and stop the beating of my heart.
(From the Chilling Clue By Patricia Harrington)
Robert Ludlum has written many suspenseful books. In The Bourne Identity series, the main
character has amnesia. He does not remember who he is, what he does, or how he got there - these
techniques are used to increase suspense and curiosity in the reader.
 4. Irony of situations entails events developing into the opposite outcome of what was
expected.
Grandpa is returning Uncle Daniel to the asylum but upon arrival, the employees assume
that Uncle Daniel is bringing Grandpa to the asylum (since Daniel is the better dressed of the
two) and take him away instead. Cornell mentions one of the sadder examples of situational
irony in the story -that is Uncle Daniel's intense love for people leads to his ultimate
loneliness and separation from them.
(From Humor and Irony in Eudora Welty's The Ponder Heart By Jill Melancon)

B. TO PROMOTE RECALL
1. Repetition of letters, words and sounds create a certain pattern in writing. Words that
are repeated are important and more easily remembered.
Example:
The Street Cleaner's Lament
By Patricia Hubbel

Dirt and
Clean them clean them clean them
Dirt and leave them
Leave them let them rot
Dirt and stench stench and
Clean them clean them
Bending at the waist and stabbing
Papers papers blowing sticking Never leave them
Clean them clean them
People put them
Now remove them
Clean street sidewalks
Quick
Remove them
Dirt and dirt and dirt forever.
2. Alliteration is the repetition of sounds at the start of words either sequentially or intermittently.
This gives the written work a musical quality, helps create a desired mood, and promotes
retention.
a. Assonance is the repetition of vowel sounds in the beginning of a series of words.
Examples:
Eleven elephants envied Elmo's elbow. Anna and Adam were asked to answer Art's articulate
questions. Easter eggs. Autumn's altar, old ogre.
b. Consonance is the repetition of consonant sounds in the beginning of a series of words.
Examples:
Betty Botta, Happy Hillary, liberated Liza, garlic gourmet, blushing bride
3. Humor generates laughter and amusement that leave one with a pleasurable experience. Humor
is manifested in the use of jokes, funny words, exaggerations, or situational incongruence.
Some writers use satirical humor where the laughter generated comes from hurts that the
writer and the reader share. The satire usually comments on the ills of society.
Example:
Occasionally, I've been known to be somewhat opinionated. Oops. My wife just caught that typo. I
am told I have been known to be VERY opinionated. I have at least two opinions on just about every
topic. I am sure there are times when people have felt like rearranging my face. Unfortunately, (for
them!) there is no legal method for them to do that.
(How to Grow a Beard by David Leonhardt)

IDENTIFYING THE THEME

Theme or main idea is the central unifying element of the story which ties together all of the
other elements of fiction used by the author to tell the story. It is a statement about the subject
expressed in a complete sentence — not merely an identification of subject.
Writers write stories to bring alive some parts of human life which is partly hidden from
most people. Being sensitive people, writers are able to sense these ideas where others may not In
having a theme, story writers interpret life for others. They give new insights or refresh and extend
old ones. They may exemplify a moral principle, cite a truth about human nature, or comment upon
a social problem.
Themes are usually implied rather than explicitly stated. It can usually be stated in one
complete sentence that may or may not be found in the text of the story. In some stories, the theme
is very obvious; in some, it is very elusive and may require, repeated reading and shared discussion
to arrive at it. Deep thematic content however, is not required in literature. It is the writer's option.
Prolific writers are usually known to write about a similar theme among their various works.

Short stories usually have a single theme but the novel may have more than one.
To identify the theme(s), one must look at the other elements of fiction (plot, characters, and
setting) to explain how the author has tied all of these together to bring out the main idea.
To uncover a story's theme ask questions like the following:
 What is the point of this story?
 Why do you think the author wanted to write this particular story?
 What is he/she trying to say to us?
 With all the details gone, what would remain as that single idea that dominates the story?
 What did you learn from the story?

Examples of themes from various stories:

(American literature) To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
Education is important.
(American literature) A Rose for Emily by William Faulkner
People must adapt to changes in life.
(Russian literature) A Cherry Orchard by Anton Chekhov
The family is important to man.
(British literature) Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare
The passion of young love will defy death.
Here are some common story themes:
 Honesty can triumph over dishonesty.
 Hard work and cleverness lead to success.
 Through wit and courage, the small and weak can overcome the big and bad.
 It is best to be yourself.
 Beauty is only skin-deep.
 Determination and persistence lead to success.
 Women must be valued not oppressed.
 Poverty is no hindrance to success.
 EXPLORING THE LITERARY GENRES

A. Legends, Myths, and Tales are stories that preceded written literature. They were handed
down from generation through generation through storytelling. Being so, storytelling is
considered the first form of entertainment. These genres reflect the unique aspects of a
people's culture.

Myths and legends are stories that aim to explain a natural event. For example, years ago thunder
existed but man had no way of explaining its occurrence .As a result, people made up stories about
it. Eventually, these stories were believed to be true. Since these are personal inventions, people
from different cultures developed different explanations for the same natural occurrence.

Tales are simple stories made in a straightforward manner. The characters are presented simply with
little or no conflict within themselves. Because tales are told orally, often times the passing on of the
stories cause the adding or subtracting of details. The constant retelling of the tale explains its
exaggerated quality.

B. Poetry
Poetry is language arranged in lines and stanzas. Each stanza may or may not have the same number
of lines. The lines may or may not rhyme but there is generally a feeling of rhythm among them.
Poets may follow definite rules and patterns or may ignore these completely and still produce work
accepted as poetry.
A poem is known to be a compact and shortened way of describing one's thoughts or feelings. It
heavily uses figurative language and imagery. A writer of a poem is called a poet. The poet creates a
speaker in the poem who is called the persona.

Characteristics of Poetry
1. Rhythm is the musical quality produced as words are stressed and unstressed in one poetic line.
Rhythm also produces cohesion in the text of the poem as it pulls both meaning and form together
as one finished product.
2. Meter is measured and patterned arrangement of syllables according to stress and length.Each
pattern has a particular name and one grouping is called a metric foot. A line of poetry is identified
according to the number of its metric feet.
Poets, however may not follow this pattern but instead move according to the natural rhythm
of this thoughts and feelings. This is known as free verse.
3. Rhyme is regular reoccurrence of similar sounds at the end of the line.
4. Imagery is the sum total of mental pictures created as words are used with special meanings.
5. Sense or meaning is the subject matter of the poem which may be implicitly or explicitly
expressed.

3 Major Classes of Poetry

1. Lyric Poetry is the form for the pure expression of emotions. It is an avenue by which the human
heart becomes transparent as it reveals its contents to others. The emotions expressed cover a wide
range from the serene to the passionate.
Kinds of Lyric Poems
a. Ode is an emotional tribute to a person place or thing. It is formal in structure and design,
b. Elegy is an emotional expression for one who died. It may be an expression of personal grief for a
loved one or a simple meditation on the subject of death.
c. Sonnet is an emotional expression about any subject matter and is distinguishable because of its
form 14 lines with alternating rhyme, ending in a couplet. (two lines that rhyme), or a
combination of an octave and a sestet.
d. Simple Lyric is poetry that expresses feelings but do not fall under the other categories.

2. Narrative Poetry is characterized by the story it tells in its compact poetic structure.
Kinds of Narrative Poems
a. Ballad is a song of simple people who are neither wealthy nor educated. These were once oral
traditions that were eventually recorded in print. As a result, versions varied from era to era and
place to place.
b. Metrical tale is a story in a straightforward manner in the structure of poetry.
c. Metrical romance is a long and continuous, maybe rambling love story and adventures of knights
and lords and their ladies at the height of chivalry. It is sprinkled with romance, fantastic events, and
magic mixed with ideals such as honor, courage, truth, and justice.
d. Epic is a story of a nation's or people's highest political, social, or religious development. It is made
up of parts known as episodes and is usually very lengthy. A country's history is usually revealed in
its epic.
3. Dramatic poetry is poetry combined with the dramatic structure. The story unfolds though
dialogue, which are all in poetic lines.