Introduction to Literature Lecture II
Forms of Literature
Imaginative and creative writing which is called
literature exist in two forms:
Verse&
Prose
Both verse and prose use words as their tool.
So what is the difference between prose and verse?
Verse is that special beautiful language that we see in poems like:
“If all the world and love were young,And truth in every shepherd's tongue,These pretty pleasures might me move
To live with thee and be thy love.”
Prose is like this extract from Holst’s The Zebra Storyteller:
“Once up on a time there was a Siamese cat who pretended to be a
lion and spoke inappropriate Zebraic. That language is whinnied by the race
of striped horses in Africa.”
Verse Vs. Prose• Verse calls for an
organization of words according to regular patterns in order that they produce a harmonious rhythm.
• Prose is the regular normal language.
Verse and Poetry• Verse refers to form.• Poetry is a statement charged with
deep emotions is called poetical (beautiful), but it would not be called poetry unless its language is found to conform to a regular rhythmical pattern.
Poetical
• Example: “There are moments in life, when the heart is so full of emotion That if by chance it be shaken, or into its depths like a pebble Drops some careless word, it overflows, and its secret, Spilt on the ground like water, can never be gathered together.”
Poetry \ Verse
• Example:• The weight of hate is very heavy to bear
While it seems like love is lighter than airAccounts of hate make a big news headlineWhile actions of love you must look hard to find
So what is Verse?
What is written in metrical language is called
verse.
And what is called prose?
• Any text that is written in regular (normal) language
Note the following: 1- Verse and poetry are used
interchangeably.2- writers use prose to express
feelings but they resort to verse when they have something very
profound to say.
Types of Literature
Literature is found in 3 types:Poetry
Drama
Fiction
See you next week
Lec. Maha