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