21st Century Literature
AY 2025-2026 FIRST SEMESTER
LITERATURE ● Literature orients the reader to the
beauty of order and arrangement.
● A literary work must meet certain
Literature - “It’s humanity itself.” The standards to be considered true
etymology of the word literature was literature.
derived from the Latin words:
● A literary work must be aesthetically
Littera – letters satisfying, intellectually stimulating,
and spiritually uplifting.
Litteratura – writing
● A reader should refer to these
Litteratus – learning standards.
“Letters put into writing; there is learning.”
Features of literature
Proponents I. Literature is a form of communication – It
allows us to share parts of ourselves that may
I. Matthew Arnold (1822–1888) – English poet interest or benefit others.
and cultural critic. “Literature is a criticism of
life.” II. Literature is an art – It takes an excellent
form and showcases the mind’s ability to
II. American Heritage Dictionary of the create and imagine.
English Language – “Literature must be an
analysis of experience and a synthesis of the III. Literature has the nobility of thoughts – It
finding into a unity.” highlights ideas of importance and
significance.
III. Oscar Wilde (1854–1900) – Irish author,
playwright, and poet. “Literature always IV. Literature is timeless – The truths revealed
anticipates life. It does not copy it, but molds in a literary work should remain relevant over
it to its purpose.” time.
IV. Henry Van Dyke – American author, V. Literature is universal – It must have global
educator, and clergyman. “Literature consists applicability and transcend space.
of writings which interpret the meanings of
nature and life, in words of charm and power, VI. Literature serves a purpose – It helps us
in artistic forms of permanent interest.” learn more about individuals, society, and
culture, and it can also refresh and change us.
A IMPORTANCE OF LITERATURE
How literature is
● It is not enough to write about life; a
I. Expands horizons – Helps us realize how vast
writer must render it imaginatively.
the world is and pushes us to ask questions.
PAGE 1
, 21st Century Literature
AY 2025-2026 FIRST SEMESTER
II. Builds critical thinking skills – Helps us
a. Dramatic monologue – Speaker talks to a
analyze deeper meanings and encourages
silent listener.
critical thought.
b. Soliloquy – Speaker expresses thoughts
III. Brings us to the past – Shows how our
to the audience.
ancestors lived and what they experienced.
IV. Prose poetry – Has characteristics of
IV. Appreciates other cultures and beliefs –
poetry except written in sentences.
Helps us respect differences and understand
cultural practices.
Drama – A composition meant to portray
life through actions and dialogue; designed
V. Improves writing skills – Enhances
for performance.
vocabulary and strengthens writing ability.
Elements of Drama:
FORMS OF LITERATURE I. Dialogue – Lines spoken by characters.
I. Prose – Uses natural language without II. Plot and action – Interaction of
rhyme, rhythm, or meter. characters.
Major Types of Prose: a. Tragedy – Deals with serious subjects
and significant persons.
a. Fiction – Narrative with imaginative
characters and events. (short story, novel, b. Comedy – Treats themes humorously and
legends, fables) usually ends happily.
b. Non-fiction – Based on facts and real Types of Poetry
events. (biography, autobiography, news,
anecdotes, history) Sonnet, Haiku, Folksong, Elegy, Ode, Psalm,
Blank verse, Epics, Metrical tale, Ballad,
II. Poetry – Literature that evokes Free verse, Alphabet poem.
imaginative awareness or emotional
response through arranged language,
sound, and rhythm.
A1 GENRE OF FICTION
Four major types of poetry:
I. Lyric – “Spontaneous flow of emotion.”
Genre – Type of art, music, or literature; it
Deals with feelings. Includes sonnet, song,
dictates how you write and provides narrative
elegy, ode, simple lyric.
framework.
II. Narrative – Storytelling verse. Includes
Genres of fiction:
ballads, metrical tales, metrical romance,
epic.
I. Literary fiction – Highly valued for form and
creative language.
III. Dramatic – Poems conveyed through a
single speaker.
II. Urban fiction – “Street lit” about hardships of
street life.
PAGE
2
, 21st Century Literature
AY 2025-2026 FIRST SEMESTER
III. Women’s fiction – “Chick lit” for female IV. Protagonist – Lead character; complex.
readers.
V. Antagonist/Foil – Contrasts the hero; creates
IV. Historical romance – Events set in the past. tension.
V. Mystery – Involves solving a crime or VI. Static/flat – Does not change; minimal traits.
mysterious event.
VII. Round – Complex and realistic; usually
VI. Horror – Intended to frighten. protagonists.
VII. Fantasy – Happens in fictitious realms; based VIII. Dynamic – Changes significantly
on myth and folklore. throughout the story.
VIII. Science fiction – Features scientific or Characterization
futuristic concepts.
A. Direct – Reader is told directly about a
IX. Myth – Religious principles or historical character.
events; demigods, shamans, deities.
B. Indirect – Reader learns through actions and
X. Fairy tale – Magical creatures; written for behavior.
young audiences.
III. Point of View
XI. Legend – Stories passed down through
generations; may include mythical themes. A. First person – I, we
Elements of Fiction B. Second person – you
I. Setting – Place, time, and situation of the story. C. Third person – he, she, they
Types of setting: IV. Plot – Sequence of events.
A. Realistic – Reproduces ordinary life accurately. Parts: Exposition, Rising action, Climax, Falling
action, Resolution.
B. Non-realistic – Symbolic or allegorical settings
like forests, underworld, fictional places. V. Theme – Central idea.
II. Characters – Imagined persons who inhabit VI. Style – Writer’s unique expression.
the story.
Forms of Literary Nonfiction
Types of Characters:
Autobiography, Biography, Letter, Essay, Review,
I. Stock/stereotyped – Commonly seen in Report.
commercial fiction.
II. Hero/Heroine – Leading characters who
A2 LITERATURE PERIODS
oppose villains.
III. Antihero – Flawed character not admired like Philippine literature is expressed either in verbal
traditional heroes. or written form. It depicts the people’s lives,
PAGE
3
AY 2025-2026 FIRST SEMESTER
LITERATURE ● Literature orients the reader to the
beauty of order and arrangement.
● A literary work must meet certain
Literature - “It’s humanity itself.” The standards to be considered true
etymology of the word literature was literature.
derived from the Latin words:
● A literary work must be aesthetically
Littera – letters satisfying, intellectually stimulating,
and spiritually uplifting.
Litteratura – writing
● A reader should refer to these
Litteratus – learning standards.
“Letters put into writing; there is learning.”
Features of literature
Proponents I. Literature is a form of communication – It
allows us to share parts of ourselves that may
I. Matthew Arnold (1822–1888) – English poet interest or benefit others.
and cultural critic. “Literature is a criticism of
life.” II. Literature is an art – It takes an excellent
form and showcases the mind’s ability to
II. American Heritage Dictionary of the create and imagine.
English Language – “Literature must be an
analysis of experience and a synthesis of the III. Literature has the nobility of thoughts – It
finding into a unity.” highlights ideas of importance and
significance.
III. Oscar Wilde (1854–1900) – Irish author,
playwright, and poet. “Literature always IV. Literature is timeless – The truths revealed
anticipates life. It does not copy it, but molds in a literary work should remain relevant over
it to its purpose.” time.
IV. Henry Van Dyke – American author, V. Literature is universal – It must have global
educator, and clergyman. “Literature consists applicability and transcend space.
of writings which interpret the meanings of
nature and life, in words of charm and power, VI. Literature serves a purpose – It helps us
in artistic forms of permanent interest.” learn more about individuals, society, and
culture, and it can also refresh and change us.
A IMPORTANCE OF LITERATURE
How literature is
● It is not enough to write about life; a
I. Expands horizons – Helps us realize how vast
writer must render it imaginatively.
the world is and pushes us to ask questions.
PAGE 1
, 21st Century Literature
AY 2025-2026 FIRST SEMESTER
II. Builds critical thinking skills – Helps us
a. Dramatic monologue – Speaker talks to a
analyze deeper meanings and encourages
silent listener.
critical thought.
b. Soliloquy – Speaker expresses thoughts
III. Brings us to the past – Shows how our
to the audience.
ancestors lived and what they experienced.
IV. Prose poetry – Has characteristics of
IV. Appreciates other cultures and beliefs –
poetry except written in sentences.
Helps us respect differences and understand
cultural practices.
Drama – A composition meant to portray
life through actions and dialogue; designed
V. Improves writing skills – Enhances
for performance.
vocabulary and strengthens writing ability.
Elements of Drama:
FORMS OF LITERATURE I. Dialogue – Lines spoken by characters.
I. Prose – Uses natural language without II. Plot and action – Interaction of
rhyme, rhythm, or meter. characters.
Major Types of Prose: a. Tragedy – Deals with serious subjects
and significant persons.
a. Fiction – Narrative with imaginative
characters and events. (short story, novel, b. Comedy – Treats themes humorously and
legends, fables) usually ends happily.
b. Non-fiction – Based on facts and real Types of Poetry
events. (biography, autobiography, news,
anecdotes, history) Sonnet, Haiku, Folksong, Elegy, Ode, Psalm,
Blank verse, Epics, Metrical tale, Ballad,
II. Poetry – Literature that evokes Free verse, Alphabet poem.
imaginative awareness or emotional
response through arranged language,
sound, and rhythm.
A1 GENRE OF FICTION
Four major types of poetry:
I. Lyric – “Spontaneous flow of emotion.”
Genre – Type of art, music, or literature; it
Deals with feelings. Includes sonnet, song,
dictates how you write and provides narrative
elegy, ode, simple lyric.
framework.
II. Narrative – Storytelling verse. Includes
Genres of fiction:
ballads, metrical tales, metrical romance,
epic.
I. Literary fiction – Highly valued for form and
creative language.
III. Dramatic – Poems conveyed through a
single speaker.
II. Urban fiction – “Street lit” about hardships of
street life.
PAGE
2
, 21st Century Literature
AY 2025-2026 FIRST SEMESTER
III. Women’s fiction – “Chick lit” for female IV. Protagonist – Lead character; complex.
readers.
V. Antagonist/Foil – Contrasts the hero; creates
IV. Historical romance – Events set in the past. tension.
V. Mystery – Involves solving a crime or VI. Static/flat – Does not change; minimal traits.
mysterious event.
VII. Round – Complex and realistic; usually
VI. Horror – Intended to frighten. protagonists.
VII. Fantasy – Happens in fictitious realms; based VIII. Dynamic – Changes significantly
on myth and folklore. throughout the story.
VIII. Science fiction – Features scientific or Characterization
futuristic concepts.
A. Direct – Reader is told directly about a
IX. Myth – Religious principles or historical character.
events; demigods, shamans, deities.
B. Indirect – Reader learns through actions and
X. Fairy tale – Magical creatures; written for behavior.
young audiences.
III. Point of View
XI. Legend – Stories passed down through
generations; may include mythical themes. A. First person – I, we
Elements of Fiction B. Second person – you
I. Setting – Place, time, and situation of the story. C. Third person – he, she, they
Types of setting: IV. Plot – Sequence of events.
A. Realistic – Reproduces ordinary life accurately. Parts: Exposition, Rising action, Climax, Falling
action, Resolution.
B. Non-realistic – Symbolic or allegorical settings
like forests, underworld, fictional places. V. Theme – Central idea.
II. Characters – Imagined persons who inhabit VI. Style – Writer’s unique expression.
the story.
Forms of Literary Nonfiction
Types of Characters:
Autobiography, Biography, Letter, Essay, Review,
I. Stock/stereotyped – Commonly seen in Report.
commercial fiction.
II. Hero/Heroine – Leading characters who
A2 LITERATURE PERIODS
oppose villains.
III. Antihero – Flawed character not admired like Philippine literature is expressed either in verbal
traditional heroes. or written form. It depicts the people’s lives,
PAGE
3
