Kinds Of Literature And Their Meaning

Literature, the art of writing, makes up a big chunk of one’s culture and tradition; wherever you come from, literature bears significant information about your nation’s history, gives you insight on traditions you have been accustomed to, and serves as a channel of entertainment and enlightenment. There are several kinds of literature and their meanings and significance all differ from one another.

Generally, literature is meant to be shared and passed on from one individual to another; however some kinds of literature actually stem from very personal experiences or insights. Also, some kinds of literature may be fictional and inspired heavily by a writer’s imagination. Whatever or however a piece of literature is created, its discovery leads to one goal: to impart learning.

Here’s a list of different kinds of literature and their meanings.

– Autobiography – An autobiography is a detailed account of one’s life, written by the person itself. Autobiographies often include stories, memories and anecdotes that help the reader gain insight about that particular individual, and the challenges and triumphs he or she went through.

– Biography – Similarly, biographies are factual kinds of literature and their meanings are basically seen in the several anecdotes and accounts of their life experiences. What makes biographies different from autobiographies is the writer: a biography is written by another person, whereas an autobiography is written by the person whose life is featured in it. Like autobiographies, biographies are mainly written about people who have majorly contributed to society, through their political, entertainment, religious or scientific achievements.

– Fables – Fables are non-factual kinds of literature and their meanings are often intended to teach a lesson or impart a moral story. This genre of literature is often introduced to children during their formative years; due to its young and impressionable target audience, fables are written in a highly imaginative manner, using mythical creatures, inanimate objects, and plants or animals as their main characters. They are often written in lighthearted, simple language, but always end with an important message for the reader.

– Folklore (or folktales) – Folktales belong to a literary genre that gives emphasis to one’s culture, heritage and national identity. These stories are also fictional and are generally written in imaginative prose. While they are written and recorded in books, folktales are also often passed on through word of mouth from one generation to another. In certain parts of the world, folktales are possible origins of certain superstitious beliefs.

– Legend – Legends, like folklore, are stories that are passed on from one generation to another through actual, verbal storytelling or in written form. They are often combinations of factual and fictional kinds of literature and their meanings can be found to inspire courage, heroism and valor in both young and old audiences. Some legends are based on the lives of real, actual people who have achieved something despite great hardship, or people who have shown an exceptional amount of courage during times of fear. While many legends may contain supernatural elements that are too fantastical, the protagonists in most legends are usually historical figures who actually existed in real life.