Characteristics of Literary Texts:
* Aesthetic Value: Literary texts are crafted with attention to language, style, imagery, and form. They aim to evoke emotions, provoke thought, and create a sense of beauty or wonder.
* Imagination and Creativity: Literary texts often explore fictional worlds, characters, and situations, inviting the reader to engage with imaginative concepts.
* Purposeful Language: Authors use language strategically, employing figurative language, symbolism, and other literary devices to enhance meaning and create impact.
* Structure and Form: Literary texts often follow specific structures, like poems with stanzas, plays with acts and scenes, or novels with chapters. These structures contribute to the overall meaning and impact of the work.
* Themes and Ideas: Literary texts explore universal themes like love, loss, identity, morality, and the human condition. They often offer insights and perspectives on these themes.
Types of Literary Texts:
* Fiction: Invented stories that include novels, short stories, novellas, and fables.
* Poetry: Written in verse, often employing rhythm, rhyme, and figurative language.
* Drama: Written to be performed, including plays, screenplays, and musicals.
* Nonfiction: Factual writing that can still be considered literary due to its style, structure, and impact. This includes essays, biographies, memoirs, and historical accounts.
Examples of Literary Texts:
* Novels: "Pride and Prejudice" by Jane Austen, "To Kill a Mockingbird" by Harper Lee, "The Great Gatsby" by F. Scott Fitzgerald
* Poetry: "The Road Not Taken" by Robert Frost, "Sonnet 18" by William Shakespeare, "Ode to a Nightingale" by John Keats
* Plays: "Hamlet" by William Shakespeare, "A Streetcar Named Desire" by Tennessee Williams, "Death of a Salesman" by Arthur Miller
* Essays: "Self-Reliance" by Ralph Waldo Emerson, "Civil Disobedience" by Henry David Thoreau, "The Importance of Being Earnest" by Oscar Wilde
Important Note: What constitutes a "literary text" is subjective and can vary based on cultural context, personal preferences, and critical perspectives. However, the defining features mentioned above provide a general framework for understanding what makes a work "literary."