This book been designed to introduce readers to the essential aspects of literary study, with a particular emphasis on the principal genres and the language that shapes them. By examining literature through its forms, the book seeks to provide a structured approach to understanding how different modes of expression convey meaning, construct narratives, and evoke aesthetic appreciation.
The chapters that follow begin with a discussion of the definition and function of literature, laying the groundwork for why literature matters and how it operates within society. The exploration then moves to the epic, one of the oldest and most influential literary forms, which reflects the collective memory, ideals, and struggles of a people. The lyric, by contrast, brings us closer to the inner world of the individual, capturing personal emotions, reflections, and aesthetic subtleties. The study of theatre highlights the unique interplay between text and performance, where words are brought to life through action, dialogue, and spectacle. The novel and other prose genres represent a more modern evolution, embodying the complexity of human experience in diverse forms and perspectives.
Finally, attention is given to literary language, which underpins all genres and provides the means through which literature achieves its artistic and communicative power.
