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Ifeoma Odinye 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



First published in Nigeria in 2021  

 

ISBN: 979-978-8454-90-6 

 

 

Copyright © Ifeoma Odinye 2021 

 

Telephone: 08032617858 

 

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a 

retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, 

photocopying, recording, or otherwise without the prior permission of the copyright 

owner. 

 

Printed by: 

Thinkers Publishers 

P.O. Box 306 Agulu 

Anambra State, Nigeria 

E-mail: thinkerspublishers@yahoo.com 

Website: https://thinkerspublishers.business.site 

Phone: 07031048438, 08038393389 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

mailto:thinkerspublishers@yahoo.com
https://thinkerspublishers.business.site/


Dedication 

                                       

To 

Lovers of literature, 

People who drink knowledge like water. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

Preface 

This book has been written for students, teachers and all lovers of imaginative 

literature. It can be used by students at different levels of higher education. 

 

I have written this book to add value to academic readership. The book explores the 

dynamics of literature with coherent exploration of the basic genres. The book also 

takes into account the perspectives of others with apt interpretation laced with simple 

expressions and clarity. The cited works are literary proofs chosen to deepen clarity 

in the interpretation given about literature, its genres, features and important 

elements. 

 

Notably, this book has been carved out of my years of teaching and mentoring in the 

university. I wouldn’t have written it without the good academic background made 

available by my teachers at different levels of my academic journey. 

 

 

                                        Ifeoma Ezinne Odinye (PhD) 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



Contents 

 

Dedication …………………………………………………………. III     

Preface ……………………………………………………………... IV 

Table of contents …………………………………………………… V                                                       

 

Chapter one: The Rubrics of Literature ………………………….. 1 

Literature ……..……………………………………………………… 2 

Introduction: Understanding Literature and its Basic Concepts …….. 2 

Basic Functions of Literature ………………………………………... 6 

Basic Forms of Literature …………………………………………… 10 

Oral Literature ……………………………………………….. 10 

Written Literature ……………………………………………. 11 

Three Main Genres of Literature ……………………………………. 12 

         Poetry …………………………………………………........... 13 

         Drama …………………………………………………….….. 13 

         Prose ……………………………………………………….… 13 

Literary Appreciation …………………………………………….….. 14 

Criteria for Literary Appreciation ………………………………….... 16 

Context-Based Appreciation ………………………………… 16 

Structure-Based Appreciation ……………………………….. 16 

Theme-Based Appreciation …………………………………. 16 

Style-Based Appreciation …………………………………… 17 

Theories for Literary Criticism/Appreciation ……………………….. 17 

             Feminist Theory ……………………………………………... 17 

 Postcolonial Theory …………………………………………. 18 

             Marxist Theory …………………………………………….…19 

             Psychoanalytic Theory ……………………………………… 20 

             Ecocriticism ……………………………………….………... 21 

             Structuralist Theory ………………………………….……... 22 

Elements Useful for Literary Appreciation …………………………. 23 

Subject Matter/ Theme ……………………………………… 23 

Plot ………………………………………………………….. 24 

Setting ……………………………………………………….. 24 

Diction/Style ………………………………………………… 24 

Character/Characterization ………………………………….. 24 

Point of view ………………………………………………… 25 

Tone/ Mood ………………………………………………….. 25 

 

Chapter Two: The Essentials of Poetry …………………………… 27 

Poetry as a Literary Genre .....................................................................28 

What is Poetry? ………………………...…………………………….. 29 

Who is a poet? ……………………………………………………….. 32 

Poetic Diction ………………………………………………………... 33 

Poetic License ……………………………………………………….. 35 

Essential Characteristics of Poetry …………………………………... 37 



Essential Elements of Poetry ………………………………………… 41 

 Title ………………………………………………………... 41 

 Subject Matter/Theme …………………………………….. 41 

                Diction …………………………………………………….. 42 

                Style ……………………………………………………….. 42 

                Rhythm/Rhyme ……………………………………………. 43 

                Figures of Speech ………………………………………….. 45 

                Mood/Tone ………………………………………………… 49 

 Stanza ……………………………………………………… 49 

                Point of View ……………………………………………… 50 

Types of Poetry ……………………………………………………….. 51 

                Sonnet ……………………………………………………… 51 

                Epic ………………………………………………………… 53 

                Ballad ………………………………………………………. 81 

                Elegy ……………………………………………………….. 91 

                Dirge ……………………………………………………….. 95 

                Ode ………………………………………………………… 97 

    Narrative Poem ……………………………………………..101 

                Pastoral Poem ……………………………………………… 110 

                Lyric Poems ……………………………………………….. 117  

                Parody ……………………………………………………... 118 

Poetry and Literary Appreciation …………………………………….. 120 

 

Chapter Three: Basics of Drama …………………………………... 125 

Drama as a Literary Genre …………………………………………… 126 

Definition of Drama ………………………………………………….. 126 

Basic Distinguishing Features of Drama ……………………………. 132 

Basic Genres of Drama ……………………………………………… 136 

Tragedy ……………………………………………………… 137 

         Tragedy and Intrisic Measures ……………………………… 139 

          Comedy ……………………………………………………... 140 

         Characteristics of Comedy ………………………………….. 142 

         Types of Comedy …………………………………………… 142 

              Comedy of Manners ………………………………… 144 

       Comedy of Humours ………………………………... 145 

       Comedy of Errors …………………………………… 145 

       Comedy of Intrigues ………………………………… 145 

        Farce ………………………………………………… 145 

        Masque ……………………………………………… 146 

       Sentimental Comedy ………………………………... 146 

       Burlesque …………………………………………… 146 

       Parody ………………………………………………. 146 

       Dark comedy ………………………………………..  147 

   Tragicomedy ……………………………………………………...  147 

   Melodrama ………………………………………………………..  148 

   Basic Elements of Drama ………………………………………...  148 



    Plot …………………………………………………………. 148 

            Character/Imitation…………………………………………. 150 

            Theme ……………………………………………………… 150 

            Diction / Dialogue …………………………………………. 151 

   Music ………………………………………………………. 152 

            Spectacle ………………………………………………….... 152 

            Action ……………………………………………………… 152 

            Audience …………………………………………………... 152 

             Mood …………………………………………………….... 153 

             Setting …………………………………………………….. 153 

             Conflict …………………………………………………… 153 

             Climax ……………………………………………………. 153 

 

Chapter Four: Rudiments of Prose Fiction ……………………. 155 

Prose as a Literary Genre …………………………………………. 156 

Kinds of Prose …………………………………………………….. 157 

The Descriptive Prose ……………………………………. 157 

         Expository Prose …………………………………………. 158 

         The Narrative Prose ……………………………………… 159 

         Argumentative Prose …………………………………….. 159 

         Dramatic Prose ……………………………………………159 

         Contemplative Prose ……………………………………... 160 

         Informative Prose ……………………………………........ 160 

         Emotional Prose ………………………………………….. 160 

Significant Aspects of Prose ………………………………………160 

Prose Poetry ……………………………………………… 160 

Non-Fiction ………………………………………………. 160 

             Categories of Non-Fiction ………………………... 161 

                        Autobiography ……………………………………. 161 

                        Biography ………………………………………… 161 

                        Essay ……………………………………………… 161 

                        Pamphlet ………………………………………….. 162 

                        Travelogue ………………………………………... 162                                  

  Fiction ……………….……………………………………. 162 

            Aspects of Fiction ………………………………………… 164 

               Short story ………………………………………. 164 

               Novella or Novelette ……………………………. 164 

               Novel ……………………………………………. 165 

                           Romance ………………………………………… 166 

           Elements of Prose Fiction ………………………………….. 167 

                            Plot …………………………………………….... 167 

                            Characterization/Character ……………………… 172 

                            Setting …………………………………………… 175 

                            Subject Matter/Themes ………………………...... 176 

                            Style ……………………………………………... 177 

                            Diction/Language ……………………………….. 177 



                            Point of View ……………………………………. 178 

                            Title ……………………………………………… 179 

Distinctive Features of Prose ………………………………………. 180 

 

Works Cited ……………………………………………………….. 181 

 
 


