Definition of LITERARY text: characteristics and EXAMPLES

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What is the difference between a newspaper article or a report from a novel or a poem? that is, a non-literary text from other literary. If we pay attention to these types of texts the difference can be evident since the purpose and style in which they are written are totally different. However, it is not always easy to clarify the boundaries between one and the other. That is why in a PROFESSOR we are going to learn the definition and characteristics of the literary text so that you know better this textual typology.

If we take as a reference, for example, a newspaper article taken from the pages of any newspaper, the reader quickly, after a brief reading, you will realize that it is an objective and pragmatic text whose style is quite limited and lacking in Colour. In contrast, if we observe the structure and style of a novel we will conclude that it is a freer and less restricted text in which the author expresses in a creative and expressive way the story or idea that he wants tell.

The literary texts are characterized by developing a expressive function and purely esthetic in front of the non-literary ones who are in charge of informing, exposing or instructing the reader about certain information. In this way, the purpose of a literary text is artistic, the inventiveness of the writer is used to create a text of sexy style with a refined language Y rich in order to attract the reader's attention.

In general, works such as novels, poetry, short stories, legend, drama and essays, among others, can be framed within literary texts. Likewise, all these literary subgenres serve us, in some way, as a means of expressing the concerns of the human being and their problems, that is why the poetic function of language, if we speak in linguistic terms, it is exploited by the author, endowing subjectivity Y beauty to the texts of him.

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We continue with this lesson with the definition and characteristics of the literary text to talk, now, about the points that make a text really literary. As we have mentioned previously, there are various manifestations of literary texts that exist. Each of them has particular characteristics, however, we present below the characteristics they share all of them:

• Poetic function: refers to the term coined by Roman Jakobson in 1959 by which it is established that the purpose of the text must be the dominance of the way it is written. In this way, creativity and expressive ability play an important part when expressing a message in an elaborate and careful way.
• Subjectivism: all literary text must stand out due to the author's own personal expression. It cannot be based on objective principles, neither on the way of expressing them nor on the message itself. The personal perspective with which the author sees the world, how the subject relates to his surroundings, how he feels, how he thinks... must always be captured.
• Language and style: the language and style must serve an aesthetic purpose. The text is intended to be beautiful and ornate through an elegant and elaborate use of words or through the use of literary resources such as metaphor
• Fictionality: every literary text plays with the limits between what is fiction and what is not. In general, most of these texts are fictional despite the fact that many of them are actually based to give free rein to what they tell
• Representation of reality: Another of the main functions of literary texts is to imitate the reality in which they are. It is not by chance that a literary text shares characteristics with another from the same period or location since their authors are moved by the same problems or concerns to write and thus capture their emotions.

Throughout history, literature has based its principles on expressing an idea, story or feelings of an individual or a group according to the cultural and historical context in which they are they find. In this way, three types of texts or genres have been created in which to encompass the literary works. They are as follows:

• Narrative texts: written in prose in which normally a storyteller tells the facts and is divided into three parts (introduction, middle, end)
• Dramatic texts: they are developed through the interaction or dialogues between different characters, it can be read, but its purpose is the representation. There is no narrator, but annotations to put the reader in context and is mainly divided into acts
• Lyrical texts: written in verse and are characterized by the expression of feelings Y emotions personal

In this other lesson we offer you a guide for a commentary on literary texts that can help you in your homework or exam.

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Now that you know what a literary text is and its characteristics, it is important that we also understand what is the difference between literary and non-literary text. In this way, we will be able to better understand the different textual typologies that we can find and correctly identify them.

The main differences are as follows:

• A literary text fulfills the poetic function of language; instead, a non-literary text is used for the purpose of teaching or instructing the reader.
• Literary texts take great care of the style and language that is used, because the text is a work of art; the non-literary text is committed to a simple and clear style because its main objective is to inform.
• Another element of a literary text is that they are usually subjective, the author shows his own perspective of the world and reality; On the other hand, a non-literary text is more objective and seeks to provide specific information on a topic.
• Literary texts are part of the world of fiction, They are texts that do not have to be true and that have fictional and unreal elements; The non-literary text is based on real events and does not incorporate fictional elements because it is a realistic and informative text.

There are many examples of literary texts, in fact, any novel you read, any short story or any poetry is part of the literary genre. However, here are some examples of literary texts so that you can better understand what they are:

• Romeo and Juliet, is a literary work of William Shakespeare.
• The Lazarillo de Tormes it is also a highly acclaimed literary text from the 15th century.
• La Celestina is another example of a literary text that is well known and popular in Spanish literature.
• Sourceovejuna Lope de Vega is also another great example.
• Exemplary novelsby Miguel de Cervantes are another great sample.