Elements of Literature

What are the elements of literature?

Hudson discusses the two major groups of elements: (a) elements furnished by life, and, (b) elements furnished by the author. As literature is the product of life, the raw material for any piece of literature – poetry, novel, essay, drama – is always furnished by the life. There are certain elements contributed by the author himself. These elements turn such into form of literary art. These elements may roughly be tabulated under the four heads:

1.      Intellectual Element:

This is a noteworthy element which gives logicality to the writer’s work. The intellectual aspect of the work makes it more appealing to the readers. The intellectual element consists of the thought which the writer brings to bear upon his subject and which he expresses in his work. 

2.      Emotional Element:

Emotional element is the capacity of arousing the feeling (of whatever kind) which subject arouses in him, and which in turn the writer desires to stimulate in the readers. The emotional element deals with feeling, sentiments, passion, and, excitement of human life. The most of literary works are the result of the emotional aspects of the writers.

3.      Element of Imagination:

Element of imagination also includes the lighter form of it to which we call fancy. Imagination is the faculty of strong and intense vision and by using this element the writer also quickens the similar power of vision in the readers.

 

4.      Technical Element:   

The above mentioned three elements together furnish the substance and life of literature. However fresh and strong the intellectual, emotional and imaginative faculty of writer may be, but without the technical element his work remains incomplete. The substance of literature has to be moulded and fashioned in accordance with the principles of order, symmetry, beauty and effectiveness. And this element does this work to make a piece of literature superbly aesthetic in quality.    

Thus, there are four types of elements that a writer furnishes to written work to make it a piece of literature in real sense.