LEARNING MODULE
CONTEMPORARY AND
POPULAR LITERATURE
BSEDE
Y3
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
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CONTEMPORARY AND POPULAR LITERATURE
COLI-MC: Contemporary and Popular Literature
Course Introduction
Literature is the foundation of life and product of individuals’ imaginations. People
read literature and they can see through the lenses of others and sometimes even
inanimate objects. Literature gives hope, joy, and sadness to the readers but most of all
it has moral lessons. In today’s generation 21st century, literature started to grow and
different genres emerged. Contemporary and popular literature will open up your minds
not just about the changes that happened in literature but also to what still remains even
thousand years ago.
Course Description
This course deals with critical issues in contemporary and popular emerging literature and
genres in the world. It is the study of patters of literature of the areas in point of content
(historical contexts) and form (formal features/developments) to inform understanding of
literary works. Further, it studies the lives of anthologized writers who have significantly
influenced contemporary literature.
Course Objectives
At the end of the course, students are expected to:
Knowledge
1. Define the meaning of literature and popular literature; popular literature in relation to
pop culture, various genre in popular literature classification
2. Differentiate literary genres from contemporary and popular emerging literature with
those from previous ones.
3. Identify authors based on their typical writing styles.
Skills
1. Analyze the historical, social, political, and literary dynamics which foster the
development of a specific genre of popular literature or of a specific theme manifest
in popular culture.
2. Write a close analysis and critical interpretation of literary text.
3. Produce/Create a creative representation of literary text by applying multimedia skills.
Values
1. Recognize literary techniques, devices, and writing styles.
2. Reflect on how these different literary texts affect the lives of people.
3. Exhibit appreciation of literary aesthetics.
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CONTEMPORARY AND POPULAR LITERATURE
Pre-Assessment
Let’s begin by assessing how much knowledge you have about the “Historical
Backgrounds of Contemporary and Popular Literature and the Literary Standards” and
for you to find out your own strengths and weaknesses
I. Multiple Choice. From the given choices below, encircle the letter of the correct
answer that best describes the given statements or questions.
1. This refers to a literature dating from the late nineteenth century to the nineteen
sixties.
a. Contemporary literature
b. Modern literature
c. Emerging literature
d. Popular literature
2. This refers to a literature dating from the Second World War to the present.
a. Emerging literature
b. Popular literature
c. Modern literature
d. Contemporary literature
3. What is the most important genre in popular literature?
a. Horror
b. Action
c. Comedy
d. Romance
4. What genre of popular literature is widely read?
a. Fantasy
b. Detective story
c. Comic
d. Fiction
5. The following are not qualities of contemporary literature, except one:
a. Focuses more on the plot of the story
b. Reality-based stories with strong characters and a believable story
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CONTEMPORARY AND POPULAR LITERATURE
c. Arguments are not that applicable
d. Based on the non-fictional stories only
6. The following are not descriptions of popular literature, except one:
a. It includes a variety of topics such as African-American literature, postcolonial literature and Latin literature.
b. The stories are considered to be more character driven than plot driven.
c. It includes those writing intended for the masses and those that find favor with
large audience.
d. It is mainly including believable stories with a base in reality.
7. The following are some of the literary standards, except one:
a. Changes
b. Artistry
c. Intellectual value
d. Permanence
8. This literary standard describes literature that is aesthetically appealing and
reveals or conveys hidden truth and beauty.
a. Artistry
b. Permanence
c. Spiritual value
d. Intellectual value
9. What is the difference between modern and contemporary literature?
a. Modern literature refers to the literature dating from late nineteenth century to
nineteen sixties; contemporary literature refers to the literature dating from the
Second World War to the present.
b. Modern literature refers to the literature dating from the Second World War to
the present; contemporary literature refers to the literature dating from late
nineteenth century to nineteen sixties.
c. Modern literature refers to the literature dating from Second World War to late
nineteenth century; contemporary literature refers to literature dating from late
nineteen sixties to the present.
d. Modern literature refers to literature dating from late nineteen sixties to the
present; contemporary literature refers to the literature dating from Second
World War to late nineteenth century.
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CONTEMPORARY AND POPULAR LITERATURE
10. A writer that uses elements of magical realism and vivid female characters.
a. Isabel Allende
b. David Mitchell
c. Margaret Atwood
d. JK Rowling
11. The writer who is best known for his poetry and short stories particularly his tales
about mystery and crime.
a. C.S Lewis
b. Joseph Heller
c. Yann Martel
d. Edgar Allan Poe
12. She is best known for her feminist and dystopian political themes.
a. Margaret Atwood
b. Isabel Allende
c. Zadie Smith
d. JK Rowling
13. His work often focuses on closely observed personal lives in a politically fraught
world.
a. Jonathan Franzen
b. David Mitchell
c. Ian McEwan
d. John Updike
14. An English novelist and known for his frequent use of intricate and complex
experimental structure in his work.
a. Ian McEwan
b. Jonathan Franzen
c. David Mitchell
d. John Updike
15. Which of the following are the elements of contemporary literature?
I.
Thematic Characteristics
II. Setting
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CONTEMPORARY AND POPULAR LITERATURE
III. Genre, Form and Composition
IV. Language
V. Characters
VI. Moral Lesson
a. I, II, III, VI
b. I, II, III, IV
c. I, II, III, V, VI
d. I, II, IV, VI
16. Flash fiction is a style of writing which involves producing very short pieces of
fictional literature. What is the other lexical variant for flash fiction?
a. Fast fiction
b. Little fiction
c. Postcard fiction
d. Sadden fiction
17. Memoir is from the French word “mémoire”. What is the meaning of mémoire?
a. Foreshadow
b. Remember
c. Reminisce
d. Flashback
18. Which of the following are the themes of contemporary literature?
I.
Identity
II. Globalism
III. Technology
IV. Intertextuality
V. Advancement
a. I, II, IV, V
b. I, III, IV, V
c. I, III, V
d. I, III, IV
19. He taught at Oxford University and became a renowned Christian apologist writer,
using logic and philosophy to support the tenets of his faith.
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CONTEMPORARY AND POPULAR LITERATURE
a. C.S Lewis
b. Yann Martel
c. JRR Tolkien
d. Stephen King
20. She is best known for detective novels, short story collections, plays and famous
detective sleuths, Hercule Poinet and Miss Marple.
a. Agatha Christie
b. Anne Rice
c. Margaret Mitchelle
d. Marie Belloc Lowndes
II. True or False. Write True before each number if the statement is correct and False if
the statement is incorrect.
________1. Popular literature deals with abstract problems and takes moral principles.
________2. The word popular is meant as a synonym for successful.
________3. Literature is traditionally used to identify and strengthen a nation, a
community and a “we”.
________4. Writers of non-fiction do not make historical figures come alive.
________5. Contemporary literature includes such as African-American literature, postcolonial literature, and Latin literature.
________6. An important feature of great literature is that it endures.
________7. The literature should appeal to our creative sides without using any beautiful
phrases and sentences.
________8. Literature should carry many associations that read beyond the surface
meaning.
________9. Moral values are often found at the beginning of literary works.
________10. Literacy work usually inform us about our past only.
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CONTEMPORARY AND POPULAR LITERATURE
Lesson 1− Contemporary Literature
1.1 HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
THE CONTEMPORARY PERIOD (1945-PRESENT)
The Contemporary Period of literature occurred directly after the Modernist period.
In fact, it is often referred to as the “Postmodern” period. The events that brought to this
era were the realization of the holocaust and the power of the atomic bomb, that wars
America had with Korea, Vietnam, and the Civil Rights multiple qualities. Contemporary
works often featured ordinary places and dealt with an awareness of itself from meaning,
an interest in process, a desire to revise the past, and a desire to have fun.
With the end of World War II and the discovery of the holocaust and the atomic
bomb, the American society became more abstract towards reality. Art displayed this new
mindset as much as the literature of the time period did. There was also a desire to revise
the past and the atrocities that occurred during both of the identity and wondering if there
was any good left in humanity.
As technology continuously advanced, American society could better define who
they were. With the dropping of the atom bombs, Americans now saw themselves as a
major world power.
THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN MODERN AND CONTEMPORARY
LITERATURE
The key difference between modern and contemporary literature is their time
period. Modern literature refers to the literature dating from late nineteenth
century to nineteen sixties while the contemporary literature refers to the
literature dating from the Second World War to the present.
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CONTEMPORARY AND POPULAR LITERATURE
What is Modern Literature?
As a literary period, modern literature basically refers to the modernist period of
literature that has its origins in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. The most
significant feature of this period is the deliberate break from traditional writing, in both
prose and verse. Furthermore, inner self and consciousness were predominant concerns
in modernist literature. The stream of consciousness was one of the main literary
techniques modernist writers used to convey their ideas.
What is Contemporary Literature?
The term contemporary literature is a very broad one. In general sense,
contemporary literature refers to literary work published in the modern world. However,
contemporary literature refers to literature dating from the Second World War to the
present. Furthermore, most scholars consider contemporary literature as the literary
period that follows modernist period.
Moreover, studies in contemporary literature typically also include a variety of
topics such as African-American literature, post-colonial literature, and Latin literature. In
other words, one can study contemporary works written by many literary figures in Asia,
Middle East, and Africa when learning contemporary literature.
1.2 SIGNIFICANT WRITERS AND WRITINGS OF THE PERIOD
SOME SIGNIFICANT CONTEMPORARY WRITERS
1. Isabel Allende: Chilean-American author Isabel Allende
wrote her debut novel, "House of Spirits," to great acclaim in
1982. Allende began writing "House of Spirits" on Jan. 8, and
subsequently has begun writing all of her books on that day. Most
of her works usually contain elements of magical realism and vivid
female characters. "City of Beasts" (2002) has been another large
commercial success.
2. Margaret Atwood: Some of her best-selling titles are "Oryx
and Crake" (2003), "The Handmaid's Tale" (1986), and "The
Blind Assassin" (2000). She is best known for her feminist and
dystopian political themes, and her prolific output of work
spans multiple genres, including poetry, short stories, and
essays.
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CONTEMPORARY AND POPULAR LITERATURE
3. Jonathan Franzen: Winner of the National Book Award for his 2001
novel, "The Corrections," and a frequent contributor of essays to The
New Yorker, Jonathan Franzen's works include a 2002 book of essays
titled "How to Be Alone," a 2006 memoir, "The Discomfort Zone," and
the acclaimed "Freedom" (2010). His work often touches on social
criticism and family troubles.
4. Ian McEwan: He is a British writer and started winning literary
awards with his first book, a collection of short stories, "First
Love, Last Rites" (1976) and never stopped. His work often
focuses on closely observed personal lives in a politically
fraught world. He wields a paintbrush.
5. David Mitchell: He is an English novelist and known for his frequent
use of intricate and complex experimental structure in his work. In his
first novel, "Ghostwritten" (1999), he uses nine narrators to tell the
story, and 2004's "Cloud Atlas" is a novel comprising six interconnected
stories.
6. Haruki Murakami: Son of a Buddhist priest and a Japanese
author. Murakami's works are melancholic, sometimes fantastic,
and often in the first person. He has said that "his early
books...originated in an individual darkness, while his later works
tap into the darkness found in society and history."
7.
Zadie Smith: Literary critic James Wood coined the term
"hysterical realism" in 2000 to describe Zadie Smith's hugely
successful debut novel, "White Teeth," which Smith agreed was a
"painfully accurate term for the sort of overblown, manic prose to be
found in novels like my own 'White Teeth.'" Her works often deal with
race and the immigrant's postcolonial experience.
8. John Updike: During his long career that spanned decades
and reached into the 21st century, He was one of only three
writers to win the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction more than once. He
famously described his subject as "the American small town,
Protestant middle class."
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CONTEMPORARY AND POPULAR LITERATURE
SOME WRITINGS OF THE CONTEMPORARY PERIOD
•
The Death of the Ball Turret Gunner by Randall Jarrell
(Poem)
•
A Noiseless Flash from Hiroshima by John Hersey
(Novel)
•
Speaking of Courage by Tim O’Brien (Novel)
•
The Lunatic, the Lover, and the Poet by Dana Gioia
(Poem)
•
The Lottery by Shirley Jackson (Short Story)
•
A Good Man is Hard to Find by Flannery O’ Connor
(Short Story)
•
Paper Menagerie by Ken Lui (Short Story)
•
All Summer in One day by Ray Bradbury (Short Story)
•
A Lost Sonnet by Eavan Boland (Poem)
•
To those Who Have Lost Everything by Francis X.
Alarcon (Poem)
1.3 FEATURES AND CHARACTERISTICS OF CONTEMPORARY
WRITINGS
ELEMENTS OF CONTEMPORARY LITERATURE
A. THEMATIC CHARACTERISTICS: The worlds of now abound with pressing
issues. Most of these appear as themes in contemporary literature, too, and you
might say that writing about actual social or political themes is in itself a
characteristic of contemporary literature. Whereas Post Modern literature seemed
to be rather more interested in itself, contemporary texts address reality head-on.
B. GENRE, FORM AND COMPOSITION: When talking about a text, we would
usually begin by establishing whether it is fiction or non-fiction. Does it explore the
given theme through fact or fiction? Contemporary texts sometimes do both at the
same time. In contemporary literature, the distinction between fiction and
nonfiction can be blurred; this is referred to as crossovers. Writers of fiction base
stories on real life events and may even include authentic material. Writers of nonfiction, on the other hand, make historical figures come alive by incorporating
imagined dialogue and scenes.
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CONTEMPORARY AND POPULAR LITERATURE
C. SETTING: Time. A lot of contemporary literature is set in the past. The writers may
be more or less specific and precise about the time they want to signify but it is
characteristic that the contemporary setting in time is emphasized or
made explicit in order to give the readers a sense of immediacy and relevance.
Place. Literature is traditionally used to identify and strengthen a nation,
a community, a "we". However, modern writing has become increasingly global; it
crosses and mixes national traditions and cultures, and is translated into multiple
languages to be read in multiple countries. Talking about a specifically English or
American or Kenyan novel is no longer relevant. Like the human species, writing
is going global, and an American writer may easily write a text that is set in the
Middle East and written in a genre that used to be identified with 19th-century
Britain on a global topic.
D. NARRATOR AND POINT OF VIEW: Contemporary writers seem to integrate this
idea in their writing to a larger extent than writers have previously done. Thus, the
traditional omniscient narrator is challenged and not used as often as before.
Instead, we see quite a few first-person narratives with narrators whose reliability
is doubtful. Alternatively, a text may have more than one narrator telling the same
story, or the same story may be told from shifting points of view. Additionally, the
writer may stress the narrator's peculiarity in order to play with the reader’s
perception of reality.
E. LANGUAGE: In linguistics, we look at language itself, but in literature, writers use
language to bring to life the kind of lives, people and (social) environments they
want to portray. And when we analyze texts, we have to study how this is
done. Unlike films, which can establish a setting in time and place and introduce
characters and relationships with just one shot, literature uses words, punctuation,
dialects etc. to set a scene.
F. CONCLUSION: A perfect example of a contemporary text would reflect the
experience of the individual of a fluid, transient and precarious existence.
Therefore, it would have a global setting, open in medias res, close with an open
ending, have a fragmented structure, two narrators (or more) in a complicated
relationship which is partly hampered by the difficulties of understanding each
other because they use language completely differently or in a strange way.
CHARACTERISTICS
•
•
•
•
•
•
Reality-based stories with strong characters and a believable story;
Well-defined, realistic, highly developed characters in realistic, sometimes harsh
environments;
Often the stories are character driven;
The literature is ironic and reflects current political, social and personal issues;
May reflect a personal cynicism, disillusionment and frustration;
Facts are questioned as are historical perspectives;
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CONTEMPORARY AND POPULAR LITERATURE
•
•
Often presents two contradictory arguments;
The literature may reflect a growing skepticism in the existence of God as well as
distrust or lack of faith in traditional institutions
GENRES OF CONTEMPORARY LITERATURE
•
Poetry and Prose
PROSE includes works of FICTION such as novels and novellas, essays and
dramatic works.
•
Flash Fiction: A style of writing which involves producing very short pieces of
fictional literature. The term flash fiction has a number of lexical variants,
including micro-fiction, sudden fiction, postcard fiction, short short and short short
story.
•
Short Stories: A brief fictional prose narrative that is shorter than a novel and that
usually deals with only a few characters.
•
Slam Poetry: A type of poetry competition where people read their poems without
props, costumes, or music.
•
Plays: A literary form of writing for theatre, which narrates a story with elements
of conflicts, tensions, and actions through dialogues of characters.
•
Memoirs: A factual stories about someone's life. 'Memoir' is from the French word
mémoire, which means 'reminiscence' or 'memory’. They are a part of the
nonfiction literary genre and are usually told in the first person.
•
Autobiographies: A self-written account of the life of oneself.
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CONTEMPORARY AND POPULAR LITERATURE
1.4 THEMES AND MOTIFS OF CONTEMPORARY LITERATURE
Contemporary writers often consciously draw
inspiration and ideas from the writers who have come
before them. As a result, many works of 21st literature
grapple with the events, movements and literature of
the past in order to make sense of the present.
Additionally, the technological advancements of the
21st century have led other writers to hypothetically
write about the future, usually to comment on the
present and evoke introspection.
A. IDENTITY: With increasing globalization, intersections of cultures and more vocal
discussions of women’s rights and LGBT rights, identity has become a common
theme in 21st century literature. In a world that is now able to exchange ideas more
quickly than ever before via the Internet and other technological advancements,
people have relatively more freedom to draw from multiple cultures and philosophies
and question the concept of the self and its relation to the body, brain and “soul.”
B. HISTORY AND MEMORY: As contemporary readers are able to look back on history
and see how history has been depicted differently for different audiences, history and
memory have become themes in 21st century literature. Often contemporary
literature explores the notion of multiplicities of truth and acknowledges that history is
filtered through human perspective and experience.
C. TECHNOLOGY: Today, technology is more integrated into people’s lives than ever
before. Dreams of what technology could potentially help people become and
anxieties regarding the demise of humanity as a result of technology can be seen in
21st century literature.
D. INTERTEXTUALITY: In postmodern style, many contemporary writers recognize a
piece of work as being one among many throughout history. As such, many writers
purposely include acknowledgements, references or parallels to other works of fiction,
recognizing their place in a larger, broader conversation, context and body of work.
Some intertextual themes go as far as to poke fun at a work’s own lack of originality
or the clichés that it seemingly cannot escape.
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Lesson 2− Popular Literature
Popular literature is fiction that does not deal with abstract problems; it takes moral
principles as the given, accepting certain generalized, common-sense ideas and values
as its base. (Common-sense values and conventional values are not the same thing; the
first can be justified rationally, the second cannot. Even though the second may include
some of the first, they are justified, not on the ground of reason, but on the ground of
social conformity.)
Popular fiction does not raise or answer abstract questions; it assumes that man
knows what he needs to know in order to live, and it proceeds to show his adventures in
living (which is one of the reasons for its popularity among all types of readers, including
the problem-laden intellectuals). The distinctive characteristic of popular fiction is the
absence of an explicitly ideational element, of the intent to convey intellectual information
(or misinformation). Popular literature includes those writings intended for the masses
and those that find favor with large audiences. It can be distinguished from artistic
literature in that it is designed primarily to entertain. Popular literature, unlike high
literature, generally does not seek a high degree of formal beauty or subtlety and is not
intended to endure. Popular literature in English is writing which has shown wide and
continued acceptance, measured by sales, frequent imitation, adaptation to other cultural
forms and general commercial success. The word "popular" is meant as a synonym for
"successful," not as an antonym for "serious”.
GENRES OF POPULAR LITERATURE
The most important genre in popular literature is and always has been the romance,
extending as it does from the Middle Ages to the present. The most common type of
romance describes the obstacles encountered by two people (usually young) engaged in
a forbidden love. Another common genre is that of fantasy, or science fiction. Novels set
in the western frontier of the United States in the 19th century, and called westerns, are
also popular. Finally, the detective story or murder mystery is a widely read form of
popular literature. Popular literature has also come to include such genres as comic
books and cartoon strips.
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2.1 SOME WRITERS OF POPULAR LITERATURE
1. Edgar Allan Poe: He was an American writer, poet, critic and editor
best known for evocative short stories and poems that captured the
imagination and interest of readers around the world. His imaginative
storytelling and tales of mystery and horror gave birth to the modern
detective story.
2. C.S Lewis: He taught at Oxford University and became a renowned
Christian apologist writer, using logic and philosophy to support the
tenets of his faith. He is also known throughout the world as the author
of The Chronicles of Narnia fantasy series, which have been adapted
into various films for the big and small screens.
3. Stephen King: He is a 'New York Times'-bestselling novelist who
made his name in the horror and fantasy genres with books like 'Carrie,'
'The Shining' and 'IT.' Much of his work has been adapted for film and
TV.
4. Yann Martel: He is an International bestselling author who uses the
power of fiction to explore the larger truths of the universe. He
achieved worldwide acclaim with the publication of his novel Life of Pi,
which won the 2002 Man Booker Prize. It was published in 44 countries
and became an international bestseller, with over 7 million copies sold.
5. JK Rowling: She is a British author and screenwriter best known for
her seven-book Harry Potter children's book series. The series has sold
more than 500 million copies and was adapted into a blockbuster film
franchise.
6. JRR Tolkien: His full name is John Ronald Reuel Tolkien, was an
English fantasy author and academic. Tolkien settled in England as
a child, going on to study at Exeter College. While teaching at Oxford
University, he published the popular fantasy novels The
Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings trilogy. The works have had a
devoted international fan base and been adapted into award-winning
blockbuster films.
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CONTEMPORARY AND POPULAR LITERATURE
7. Joseph Heller:
An American writer whose novel Catch22 (1961) was one of the most significant works of
protest literature to appear after World War II. The satirical
novel was a popular success, and a film version appeared in
1970.
8.
Arthur Conan Doyle: Scottish writer best known for his
creation of the detective Sherlock Holmes—one of the most vivid and
enduring characters in English fiction.
9. Marie Belloc Lowndes: English novelist and playwright best
known for murder mysteries that were often based on actual
murder cases.
10.Margaret Mitchelle: She was an American novelist. After a broken
ankle immobilized her in 1926, Mitchell started writing a novel that would
become Gone with the Wind. Published in 1936, Gone with the Wind
made Mitchell an instant celebrity and earned her the Pulitzer Prize.
11. Agatha Christie: She is best known for her detective novels,
short story collections, plays and famous detective sleuths
Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple.
12. Anne Rice: She is a best-selling American author of gothic and
religious-themed books. She is best known for her prevailing thematic focus
on love, death, immortality, existentialism, and the human condition.
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CONTEMPORARY AND POPULAR LITERATURE
2.2 SAMPLE LITERARY WORKS
1. Anne Rice – Interview with the Vampire: A gothic horror
and vampire novel by American author Anne Rice, published in 1976.
It was her debut novel. Based on a short story Rice wrote around 1968,
the novel centers on vampire Louis de Pointe du Lac, who tells the
story of his life to a reporter.
2. Margaret Mitchelle – Gone with the Wind: It is a story about
civil war, starvation, rape, murder, heartbreak and slavery. It is
not necessarily a book one would associate with hope. And yet,
at the novel's heart lies Scarlett O'Hara, one of the most
ruthlessly optimistic characters in literature.
3. Marie Belloc Lowndes – The Lodger: It was the first novelization
of the infamous and still-unsolved “Jack the Ripper” murders of 1888.
The novel transformed a sordid story of the London streets into a taut
domestic tale of conflicted motivations, uncertain loyalty, and slowburning terror.
4. JK Rowling – Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone: It is
about a young boy, Harry Potter, and his adventures in Hogwarts
(a wizarding school) after discovering he is a wizard by a very
diverse, funny, warm and very big, Hagrid, the groundskeeper at
Hogwarts. We're introduced to the rest of the trio, Hermione and
Ron in Hogwarts.
5. JRR Tolkien – The Lord of the Rings: The novel, set in the Third
Age of Middle Earth, formed a sequel to Tolkien's The Hobbit (1937) and
was succeeded by his posthumous The Silmarillion (1977). The Lord of
the Rings is the saga of a group of sometimes reluctant heroes who set
forth to save their world from consummate evil.
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CONTEMPORARY AND POPULAR LITERATURE
6. Agatha Christie – Murder on the Orient Express: It is about
an American tycoon lies dead in his compartment, stabbed a
dozen times, his door locked from the inside. Isolated and with a
killer in their midst, detective Hercule Poirot must identify the
murder.
7. Arthur Conan Doyle – Sherlock Holmes: It is a fictional detective
of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, who first appeared in publication
in 1887. He was devised by British author and physician Sir Arthur Conan
Doyle. A brilliant London-based detective, Holmes is famous for his
prowess at using logic and astute observation to solve cases.
Lesson 3− Literary Standards
SEVEN STANDARDS THAT LITERATURE USUALLY CONTAINS
1. Permanence: An important feature of great literature is that it endures. Classic
literature such as Dickens is still enjoyed by readers today, generations after it was
originally written and in a completely different world to the one it was intended for.
This is extremely important because if a work of literature is not enjoyed 20
years after publication, it will simply be forgotten.
2. Universal Appeal: This is similar to endurance in the fact that literature must
appeal to a range of people across different age groups, nationalities, cultures
and beliefs.
3. Artistry: The literature should be well written and appeal to our creative sides with
beautifully crafted phrases and sentences. Sentence such as these are often
memorized and can become famous phrases.
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CONTEMPORARY AND POPULAR LITERATURE
4. Style: The writer of literature will usually have a unique view of the world and will
put thoughts to us in a way we have never considered. It may be thoughts about
the world or it may simply be thoughts about the actual words used. Words may
be used in a creative and unusual way that is entertaining and interested.
5. Intellectually valuable: Literary work will usually inform us about our past, our
present or the world around us. It may not be in the form of facts and figures but it
will help us understand our lives and realize truths about humanity and life
in general. Literature should mentally stimulate us and enriches our thoughts.
6. Suggestiveness: Literature should carry many associations that lead beyond the
surface meaning. Underlying suggestions usually carry an enormous amount of
emotional power, often because it is not directly mentioned but hinted at
through associations that can often be more powerful. The reader is left to
establish what the author is suggesting and this captures the reader's imagination
by making think about what they are reading and engaging them into the story.
7. Spiritual Value: Great works of literature are often thought to have an underlying
moral message that can potentially make us better people. Moral values are often
written between the lines and can help us become better people.
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CONTEMPORARY AND POPULAR LITERATURE
TASK # 1
Compare and contrast “Contemporary Literature and Popular Literature” using this
“TRIANGLE GRAPHIC ORGANIZER”.
TOPIC 2
TOPIC 1
DIFFERENT
SAME
DIFFERENT
DIFFERENT
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CONTEMPORARY AND POPULAR LITERATURE
TASK # 2
What are the interesting facts that you gained after studying contemporary period of
literature?
INTERESTING
FACTS
CONTEMPORARY
PERIOD
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CONTEMPORARY AND POPULAR LITERATURE
ASSIGNMENT # 1
Briefly answer the following questions:
1. In your own words, how would you know if a literature is contemporary or popular?
Explain your answer.
2. Why is it important to know the literary standards? How do these literary standards
can help you in evaluating a literary piece?
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CONTEMPORARY AND POPULAR LITERATURE
ASSIGNMENT # 2
Briefly answer the following questions:
1. If you will be given a chance to become a writer, what genre of literature would you
choose? Explain your answer.
2. After choosing a genre, what will be the title of your literary piece? Explain your answer.
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CONTEMPORARY AND POPULAR LITERATURE
Reinforcement
Using any creative presentation (MS WORD, MS PUBLISHER, etc.)
Choose one famous literary piece then identify the literary standard/s used and explain
why it is considered as contemporary or popular literature. Write a short reflection about
the importance of the chosen selection on this generation.
Use the following format: font 12, Times New Roman, and 1.5 spacing.
E-LINK
Hone your knowledge more about literature by watching the video clips on the websites
below.
An introduction to the discipline of Literature
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xz9rfDm1Wr4
Mining literature for deeper meanings – Amy E. Harter (TED-Ed)
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eREopphW5Bw
Let’s Reflect
Reflect on what you have learned after taking up this module by completing the chart
below.
What were your
thoughts or ideas
about the
contemporary and
popular literature
prior to the
discussion of this
module?
I thought…
I learned that…
What new or
additional ideas did
you learn after
taking up this
module?
24
CONTEMPORARY AND POPULAR LITERATURE
QUIZ
Let’s end by assessing how much knowledge you gained about “Historical Backgrounds
of Contemporary and Popular literature and the literary standards” and for you to find out
if you really understand this module.
I.
Multiple Choice. From the given choices below, encircle the letter of the correct
answer that best describes the given statements or questions.
1. What is the key difference between modern and contemporary literature?
a. Presence of new genres
b. The use of abstract ideas
c. Time period
d. The writers
2. What is the most significant feature of modern literature period?
a. The inner self and consciousness
b. The use of different writing techniques
c. The way on how they convey ideas
d. The deliberate break from traditional writing, both prose and poetry
3. A contemporary writer which work often touches social criticism and family troubles.
a. David Mitchell
b. Haruki Murakami
c. Jonathan Franzen
d. Ian McEwan
4. A writer who is famous for using darkness found in society and history.
a. John Updike
b. Haruki Murakami
c. Ian McEwan
d. Jonathan Franzen
5. Who is a contemporary writer which described his subject as “the American small
town, Protestant middle class”?
a. John Updike
b. Zadie Smith
c. Ian McEwan
d. Jonathan Franzen
6. Which of the following are examples of writings of the Contemporary Period?
I. A Noiseless Flash from Hiroshima
II. Gone with the Wind
III. Paper Menagerie
IV. Interview with the Vampire
V. To Those Who Have Lost Everything
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CONTEMPORARY AND POPULAR LITERATURE
a.
b.
c.
d.
III, IV, VI
I, III, IV, VI
II, III, V, VI
IV, V, VI
7. This book is about civil war, starvation, rape, murder, heartbreak and slavery.
a. The Lodger
b. To Those Who Have Lost Everything
c. Gone with the Wind
d. A Lost Sonnet
8. This book is about an American Tycoon lies dead in his compartment.
a. Gone with the Wind
b. The Lodger
c. Sherlock Holmes
d. Murder on the Orient Express
9. A literary standard which is about how literature is well written and appealing to our
creative sides.
a. Universal appeal
b. Style
c. Artistry
d. Suggestiveness
10. A novelist who is best known for murder mysteries.
a. Margaret Mitchelle
b. Agatha Christie
c. Anne Rice
d. Marie Belloc Lowndes
I.
Modified True or False. Write TRUE if the statement is correct but if it is false,
change the underlined word or group of words to make the whole statement true.
_____________1. Contemporary Period of literature occurred directly after PostModernist Period.
_____________2. Modern literature refers to literary work published in the modern world,
_____________3. Social or political themes is a characteristic of contemporary literature.
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CONTEMPORARY AND POPULAR LITERATURE
_____________4. Literature is used to identify and strengthen a nation, and community
and a “me”.
_____________5. In linguistics, we look at language itself, but in literature, writers use
language to bring beauty the kind of lives, people and social environments they want to
portray.
_____________6. Memoirs are factual stories about someone’s life. It is from the French
word mémoire which means remember.
_____________7. The word popular is meant as a synonym for captivating.
_____________8. An important feature of great literature is it endures.
_____________9. Great works of literature are often thought to have an underlying
inspirational lesson that can potentially make us better people.
_____________10. The reader is left establish what the author is suggesting this
captures reader’s imagination.
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CONTEMPORARY AND POPULAR LITERATURE
Answer Key
Answer key for the Pre-Assessment
I.
Multiple Choice
1. The answer is letter A. Modern literature refers to a literature dating from late
19th century to the 1960s.
2. The answer is letter D. Contemporary literature refers to a literature dating from
the Second World War to the present.
3. The answer is letter D. Romance is the most important genre in popular
literature.
4. The answer is letter B. Detective story is widely read form of genre of popular
literature.
5. The answer is letter B. Reality-based stories with strong characters and a
believable story is a quality of contemporary literature.
6. The answer is letter C. It includes those writing intended for the masses and
those that find favor with large audience is a description of popular literature.
7. The answer is letter A. Changes is not a literary standard.
8. The answer is letter A. Artistry describes literature that is aesthetically appealing
and reveals or conveys hidden truth and beauty.
9. The answer is letter A. The difference between modern and contemporary
literature is that modern literature refers to the literature dating from late
nineteenth century to nineteen sixties while contemporary literature refers
to the literature dating from the Second World War to the present.
10. The answer is letter A. Isabel Allende is a writer uses elements of magical
realism and vivid female characters
11. The answer is letter D. Edgar Allan Poe is best known for his poetry and short
stories particularly tales about mystery and crime.
12. The answer is letter A. Margaret Atwood is best known for her feminist and
dystopian political themes.
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CONTEMPORARY AND POPULAR LITERATURE
13. The answer is letter C. Ian McEwan is a writer that often focuses on closely
observed personal lives in a politically fraught world.
14. The answer is letter C. David Mitchell is an English novelist and known for his
frequent use of intricate and complex experiment structure in his work.
15. The answer is letter A. Thematic characteristics, setting, genre, form and
composition and language are elements of contemporary literature.
16. The answer is letter C. The other lexical variant for flash fiction is postcard
fiction.
17. The answer is letter C. The meaning of mémoire is reminisce.
18. The answer is letter D. Identity, technology, and intertextuality are the themes
of contemporary literature.
19. The answer is letter A. C.S Lewis is a writer who taught at Oxford University and
became renowned Christian apologist writer, using logic and philosophy to support
the tenets of his faith.
20. The answer is letter A. Agatha Christie is best known for his detective novels,
short story collections, plays and famous detective sleuths, Hercule Poinet and
Miss Marple.
II. True or False
1. False. Popular literature does not deal with abstract problems and takes
moral principles.
2. True
3. True
4. False. Writers of non-fiction make use of historical figures come alive.
5. True
6. True
7. False. The literature should appeal to our creative sides with beautifully
crafted phrases and sentences.
8. True
9. False. Moral values are often found between the lines.
10. False. Literary work usually informs us about past, our present or the world
around us.
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CONTEMPORARY AND POPULAR LITERATURE
Answer key for the Quiz
I. Multiple Choice
1. The answer is letter C. Time period is the key difference between modern and
contemporary literature.
2. The answer is letter D. Th deliberate break from traditional writing, both
prose and poetry are the most significant feature of modern literature period.
3. The answer is letter C. Jonathan Franzen is a writer which work often touches
social criticism and family troubles.
4. The answer is letter B. Haruki Murakami is a writer who is famous for using
darkness found in society and history.
5. The answer is letter A. John Updike is a writer which described his subject as
“the American small town, Protestant middle class”.
6. The answer is letter B. A Noiseless Flash from Hiroshima, Paper Menagerie,
A Lost Sonnet and To Those Who Have Lost Everything are examples of
contemporary writings.
7. The answer is letter C. Gone with the Wind is a book about civil war, starvation,
rape, murder, heartbreak and slavery.
8. The answer is letter D. Murder on the Orient Express is a book about an
American tycoon lies dead in his compartment.
9. The answer is letter C. Artistry is a literary standard which is about how literature
is well written and appealing to our creative sides.
10. The answer is letter D. Marie Belloc Lowndes is a novelist best known for
murder mysteries.
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CONTEMPORARY AND POPULAR LITERATURE
II. Modified True of False
1. Modernist Period. Contemporary Period of literature occurred directly after PostModernist Period.
2. Contemporary. Modern Literature refers to literary work published in the modern
world.
3. True
4. We. Literature is used to identify and strengthen a nation, a community and a
“me”.
5. Life. In linguistics, we look at language itself, but in literature, writers use language
to bring beauty the kind of lives, people and social environments they want to
portray.
6. Reminisce. Memoirs are factual stories about someone’s life. It is from the French
word mémoire which means remember.
7. Successful. The word popular is meant as a synonym for captivating.
8. True.
9. Moral. Great works of literature are often thought to have an underlying
inspirational lesson that can potentially make us better people.
10. True
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CONTEMPORARY AND POPULAR LITERATURE
References
Bedore, P. (2020, March 25). Understanding Popular Literature-What Does "Genre" Mean?
The Great Courses Daily. https://www.thegreatcoursesdaily.com/understanding-popularliterature-what-does-genre-mean/.
Conjecture Corporation. (2020, June 27). wiseGEEK. https://www.wisegeek.com/what-iscontemporary-literature.htm.
Davies, D. (2017). Contemporary Writers - Introduction. Great Writers Inspire.
https://www.writersinspire.org/content/contemporary-writers-introduction.
The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. (2015, September 23). Popular art. Encyclopædia
Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/art/popular-art.
English Literature: Literary Periods & Genres. LibGuides. (2019, September 30).
https://mc.libguides.com/eng/literaryperiods.
Flanagan, M. (2018, November 19). 10 Contemporary Authors to Put on Your Reading List.
ThoughtCo. https://www.thoughtco.com/important-contemporary-authors-852801.
Prepared by:
Reviewed by:
Recommended by:
Approved by:
HEIDI M.
LADIGNON
Subject Instructor
AGNES M.
AQUINO, PhD
Program Chair,
Education Department
KEN GIE ANTHONY
M. CRUEL
Chair, Curriculum and
Instruction
ALMARIO B.
GARCIA. PhD
Dean, College
Department
Date:
Date:
Date:
Date:
32