21st Century Literature Lecture Notes

Vocabulary flashcards covering fundamental terms, genres, periods, devices, and elements discussed in the lecture on 21st Century Literature.

Literature

A body of written (or oral) works noted for imaginative or creative prose and poetry; from Latin “littera,” meaning letter.

Literary Text

A product of written literature employing literary devices.

Literary Structure

The organizational method of a literary work, most commonly narrative form.

Literary Period

A span of time sharing common intellectual, linguistic, religious, and artistic influences.

Pre-colonial Period

Philippine era (BCE–1564) marked by orally transmitted myths, legends, epics, folk songs, and riddles.

Spanish-colonial Period

1565–1898 era introducing Christianity, European literary forms, nationalist writings by Rizal, Bonifacio, etc.

American Colonial Period

1900–1941 era characterized by English dominance and new genres such as free verse.

World War II & Post-war Period

Literature focused on themes of suffering, displacement, and survival.

Contemporary Period

Current era reflecting globalization, social issues, identity, and realism.

Genre (Literary Genre)

A category of literature sharing common features or style.

Prose

Writing that follows ordinary spoken language and conversational flow.

Poetry

Literary art using rhythm, rhyme, and figurative language to evoke emotion and meaning.

Fiction

Prose narrative created from imagination rather than fact.

Nonfiction

Prose writing based on factual information or real events.

Drama

Literary composition intended for performance before an audience.

Folklore

Traditional beliefs, stories, and customs passed through generations.

Fantasy

Fiction set in magical or supernatural worlds.

Historical Fiction

Narrative featuring invented characters/events within a real historical setting.

Science Fiction

Stories based on real or imagined scientific advances or inventions.

Horror and Mystery

Fiction designed to evoke fear, suspense, or puzzlement.

Realistic Fiction

Stories that could plausibly occur in real life.

Fable

Short tale with animal characters conveying a moral.

Folktale

Traditional story orally passed from generation to generation.

Myth

Ancient narrative explaining natural or cosmic phenomena.

Legend

Story handed down as true, often about historical figures or events.

Fairy Tale

Fanciful story often opening with “Once upon a time,” involving magic.

Biography

True story of a person’s life written by another.

Autobiography

Life story written by the subject themselves.

Textbook

Book used as a standard reference for study in a subject.

Instructional Book

Work providing directions and guidance on how to do something.

Informational Book

Nonfiction presenting factual data on a topic.

Narrative Poetry

Poem that tells a story.

Dramatic Poetry

Poetry in which one or more characters enact a story.

Lyric Poetry

Poem expressing the poet’s personal thoughts and feelings.

Illustrated Novel

Story told with text and images; about 50 % of narrative conveyed visually.

Digi-fiction

“Triple-media” literature requiring navigation, reading, and viewing across digital formats.

Graphic Novel

Extended narrative conveyed in comic-book style layouts.

Manga

Japanese comic art form; shonen for boys, shojo for girls.

Doodle Fiction

Story combining handwritten graphics and doodles (e.g., Diary of a Wimpy Kid).

Text-talk Novel

Narrative presented through dialogue simulating social media or text messaging.

Chick Literature

Fiction focusing on modern womanhood, often humorous and lighthearted.

Flash Fiction

Extremely brief narrative, usually under 1,000 words.

Creative Nonfiction

Factually accurate writing that employs literary techniques.

Hyper Poetry

Digital poetry incorporating hypertext links.

Literary Composition

Art and practice of writing in various forms and styles.

Bible

Collection of sacred books of Judaism and Christianity originating in Palestine.

Quran

Islamic sacred book believed revealed to Muhammad by Gabriel in Saudi Arabia.

The Iliad and The Odyssey

Homeric epics about the Trojan War and Odysseus’s journey home.

Mahabharata

Ancient Indian epic recounting the conflict between the Pandavas and Kauravas.

Canterbury Tales

Geoffrey Chaucer’s 14th-century frame narrative of pilgrims’ stories.

Uncle Tom’s Cabin

Harriet Beecher Stowe’s novel condemning the injustices of slavery.

One Thousand and One Nights

Collection of Middle Eastern and South Asian tales compiled during the Islamic Golden Age.

The Book of the Days

Confucian text outlining an ideal moral society; key source for Confucianism.

Literary Device

Technique used by writers to add depth, meaning, and impact.

Figurative Language

Non-literal language employing figures of speech to convey meaning.

Metaphor

Direct comparison of two unlike things without using “like” or “as.”

Simile

Comparison of two unlike things using “like” or “as.”

Personification

Attributing human qualities to non-human entities.

Hyperbole

Deliberate and obvious exaggeration for effect.

Sound Device

Technique using the sound of words to achieve specific effects.

Alliteration

Repetition of initial consonant sounds in nearby words.

Assonance

Repetition of vowel sounds within nearby words.

Consonance

Repetition of consonant sounds within or at the end of nearby words.

Onomatopoeia

Word that imitates or suggests its sound (e.g., “buzz”).

Repetition

Deliberate reuse of words or phrases for emphasis.

Narrative Technique

Method a writer uses to shape and present a story.

Stream of Consciousness

Technique portraying continuous flow of a character’s thoughts.

Flashback

Scene that interrupts the present action to depict past events.

Foreshadowing

Hints or clues suggesting future events in a story.

Multiple Perspectives

Use of several narrators or viewpoints to enrich understanding.

Metafiction

Fiction that self-consciously draws attention to its status as a created work.

Juxtaposition

Placement of contrasting elements side by side for effect.

Nonlinear Narrative

Story structure that does not follow chronological order.

Intertextuality

Referencing or incorporating elements of other literary works.

Element (Literary Element)

Essential component or principle of a literary work.

Character

Person, animal, or figure participating in a story’s action.

Protagonist

Main character driving the story’s action.

Antagonist

Character or force opposing the protagonist.

Setting

Time and place in which a story occurs.

Plot

Series of events comprising a story.

Exposition

Introductory part of plot presenting characters and situation.

Rising Action

Plot phase where conflict develops and tension builds.

Climax

Highest point of tension or turning point in a story.

Falling Action

Events following the climax leading toward resolution.

Resolution

Final part of plot where conflicts are resolved.

Conflict

Struggle between opposing forces (e.g., Man vs. Man, Self, Nature, Society, Supernatural).

Theme

Central idea, insight, or universal truth of a literary work.

Point of View

Perspective from which a story is narrated (first-person, omniscient third-person, limited third-person).