Colonial History and Philippine Literature (Vocabulary Flashcards)

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms from the notes on colonial history and Philippine literature.

Awit

A traditional Filipino narrative poem, often about love; typically sung, not primarily religious.

Corrido

A narrative poem, often with religious or ballad-like themes; used to tell stories of people, faith, or heroism.

Pasyon

A devotional narrative of the Passion, Death, and Resurrection of Jesus Christ, commonly chanted during Holy Week.

Doctrina Christiana

A Spanish-language catechism and religious texts used to propagate Catholic faith in the Philippines.

Legend

A traditional story featuring human actions or beliefs, often explaining a phenomenon, told by teller and listener.

Folktales

Traditional, orally transmitted stories about life, adventures, love, horror, or humor that teach lessons.

Bugtong

Filipino riddle or puzzle used to test wit or entertain.

Chant

A rhythmic vocalization used in religious rites or rituals, especially in Visayas communities.

Spanish Period

The colonial era (approximately 1565–1898) when Spain ruled the Philippines and propagated Christianity; had lasting cultural and linguistic impact.

Noli Me Tangere

Jose Rizal’s 1887 novel exposing social injustices under Spanish rule; helped spark Filipino nationalism.

El Filibusterismo

Rizal’s 1891 novel, a sequel to Noli Me Tangere, critiquing colonial society and fueling nationalist sentiment.

American Period

The era (1898–1946) of American rule in the Philippines, introducing English as a medium of instruction and new literary forms.

Manuel Arguilla

Filipino writer known for short stories and essays, contributing to nationalist literary themes.

Amado Hernandez

Filipino writer who addressed social injustice; author of works like Mga Ibong Mandaragit.

Mga Ibong Mandaragit

Amado Hernandez’s novel addressing social injustice and exploitation in Philippine society.

Short Story

A brief fictional prose narrative focusing on a compact set of characters and events.

Plot

The sequence of events in a story, including conflicts and actions leading to resolution.

Setting

The time and place in which a story occurs and how it shapes events.

Characterization

How characters are portrayed, shown through direct description or indirect clues.

Protagonist

The main character who drives the action and faces the central conflict.

Antagonist

The character or force opposing the protagonist.

Point of View

The narrator’s perspective from which the story is told (e.g., first person, third person).

Theme

The central idea or message of a literary work.

Exposition

The opening portion of a story that introduces setting, characters, and situation.

Conflict

The central struggle driving the plot.

Rising Action

The series of events that build tension toward the climax.

Climax

The turning point or moment of greatest tension in a story.

Falling Action

The events following the climax that lead toward resolution.

Resolution

The ending where the conflicts are resolved and the story concludes.

Direct Characterization

When the author directly states a character’s traits.

Indirect Characterization

When a character’s traits are revealed through actions, dialogue, or effects on others.

Simile

A figure of speech that compares two things using like or as.

Metaphor

A figure of speech that describes one thing as though it were another.

Extended Metaphor

A metaphor developed at length across multiple lines or passages.

Personification

Giving human characteristics to nonhuman things.

Alliteration

The repetition of initial consonant sounds in nearby words.

Onomatopoeia

A word that imitates a natural sound (e.g., bam, splash).

Imagery

Vivid sensory details that create mental pictures for the reader.

Stanza

A grouped set of lines within a poem.

Rhythm

The pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables in poetry; the beat of a poem.

Meter

The formal arrangement of stressed/unstressed syllables forming feet in a line of verse.

Rhyme

The repetition of similar sounds at the ends of lines or within lines.

Mood

The overall atmosphere or feeling created by the text.

Tone

The author’s attitude toward the subject or audience.

Foreshadowing

Hints or clues about what will happen later in the story.

Flashback

A scene that interrupts the chronological sequence to depict past events.

Narrative

A spoken or written account of connected events; a story.