This lesson covers four important topics of Literature: Essay, Poetry, Prose, Drama, and Film. Essay is a form of writing that can be literary-based or scientific-based, serving different purposes. Like any other form of writing, it has distinct characteristics.
For example, when writing a letter to a friend, it could be considered a form of an essay. Even college entrance essays, newspaper columns, and literary essays share commonalities. An essay typically consists of three parts: an introduction, the body with several paragraphs, and a conclusion.
Essay
Definition
Essay is a form of writing, relatively short, and can be literary or non-literary. The term was first used by French writer Michel de Montaigne, originating from the French word "essayer," meaning "to try" or "to attempt" to write.
Essays are collections of ideas, often literary, or a single idea supported by facts. They have evolved from personal stories to detailed tools for expressing feelings, ideas, and opinions. Essays today have various types, such as descriptive, narrative, evaluation, and persuasive or argumentative.
Types and Characteristics of Essay
Based on individual skills, essays provide a form of writing for everyone. Types include descriptive, narrative, evaluation, and persuasive or argumentative essays. Each type caters to different skills, allowing individuals to express thoughts and opinions effectively.
The general format of an essay includes an introduction, body with multiple paragraphs, and a conclusion.
Poetry
Definition
The word "Poetry" comes from the Greek word "poiesis," meaning "a making." It is a unique literary art with no clear definition. Poetry often uses a fictional plot, specialized language, and a specific form (style) to express thoughts in a condensed space.
While difficult to define, poetry is recognizable, especially in the form of songs, making it one of the oldest forms of artistic expression. Poets like Paul Engle and Aristotle have offered their own perspectives on defining poetry.
Characteristics of Poetry
Key characteristics include lyrical poetry and narrative poetry. Lyrical poetry, short and non-narrative, includes subcategories like the sonnet. Narrative poetry tells stories and can include love stories, tragedies, and more. Stanza, composed of four lines, is commonly used in poetry.
Prose
Definition
Prose is epic literature written in lines, and sentences typically continue within those lines. It is considered one of the best forms of writing, emphasizing the proper order of words. The word "prose" comes from the Latin word "prosa," describing facts or thoughts.
Differences between Prose and Poetry
Prose is easier to understand, and unlike poetry, it does not require rhyme. Prose and poetry differ in the use of figurative expressions and facts. Prose also differs from drama, poem, and essay as it is written for various purposes and topics.
Characteristics of Prose
Prose can be categorized into elementary forms (legend, myth, fairy tales) and composed forms (novel, novelette, tale). Each form serves different purposes, reflecting reality or exploring imaginative elements.
Drama
Definition
Drama, derived from the Classical Greek term "dráma," meaning action, is a literary composition written for theatrical representation. It adheres to solid rules for successful stage performance, with dialogue and monologue conveying the entire text.
Characteristics of Drama
Tragedy and comedy were the main types in ancient times. Tragedy often focused on kings and demigods, with a language elevated for the court. Comedy, dealing with everyday people and events, aimed to make the audience laugh. Modern drama has fewer constraints, allowing for diverse themes and characters.
Film
Definition
Film is an art form of motion pictures, also known as movies. It is shown in cinemas, where people gather to watch. Films are a form of entertainment that has grown into a huge global business. The first motion picture, "The Horse In Motion," dates back to 1878.
Representatives
Film representatives include writers, screenwriters, actors, film crews, directors, and critics. Films have various genres, including action, adventure, comedy, crime, drama, historical, horror, musical, science fiction, and western.
Characteristics of Film
Films have distinct characteristics based on their genres. Action films showcase battles and explosions, adventure films involve expeditions, comedy films aim to make the audience laugh, and so on. The film industry has evolved, incorporating advanced technologies like 3D.
Conclusion
Essay, Poetry, Prose, Drama, and Film are interconnected forms of literature that have enriched human knowledge. Despite their differences, they share a common purpose: communication. These literary categories have played crucial roles in recording history, expressing ideas, and entertaining audiences.