Philippine Literary Forms, Genres, Elements, and Traditions

📘 Lesson 1: Introduction to Literature

Importance of Literature

• Cultural Preservation – keeps traditions, values.

• Intellectual Development – critical thinking, language skills.

• Emotional Connection – empathy, understanding emotions.

• Entertainment & Inspiration – joy, creativity.

• Reflection of Society – mirrors issues, challenges.

• Education – lessons, ethics, knowledge.

• Creativity – inspires imagination.

• Social Awareness – promotes justice, equality.

7 Standards of Literature

1. Universality – relevant across time/cultures.

2. Permanence – lasting influence.

3. Style – unique author expression.

4. Intellectual Value – provokes deep thought.

5. Spiritual Value – uplifts morals, faith.

6. Suggestiveness – evokes imagination.

7. Artistry – beauty and creativity.

Forms of Literature

• Poetry (narrative, dramatic, lyric) → rhythm, imagery, emotions.

• Prose

• Fiction – short story, novel, novella.

• Non-fiction – essays, journals, diaries, articles.

Elements of Literature

• Setting, characters, conflict, theme, POV, plot (exposition → climax → resolution).

• Poetry elements: form, imagery, rhythm, sound.

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📘 Lesson 2: Pre-colonial Period

Features

• Based on oral tradition: riddles, proverbs, songs, chants.

• Language tied to daily life.

• Animism (belief in spirits), rituals, mimetic dances.

• Writing system: Baybayin.

Types of Pre-colonial Literature

• Folk tales – anonymous, timeless.

• Legends – origins of places/things.

• Myths – supernatural explanations.

• Epics – heroic long poems (100+ discovered, mostly Palawan).

• Folk songs – kundiman, kumintang, oyayi, drinking songs.

• Other forms – proverbs (salawikain), riddles (bugtong), chants, sayings, tanaga(4 lines, 7 syllables).

Example: Proverbs (Salawikain)

• Express values, truths, or advice.

• Damiana L. Eugenio classified into six (life, ethics, values, truths, humor, misc.).

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📘 Lesson 3: Colonial Period

1. Spanish Period (1565–1898)

• Early focus: religious texts (doctrines, novenas).

• Later: revolutionary works (newspapers, reformist writings).

• Genres:

• Books (Doctrina Cristiana, Urbana at Felisa).

• Folk songs, awit/corrido.

• Recreational plays (cenaculo, zarzuela, moro-moro, duplo).

• Novels (Ninay by Pedro Paterno – first Filipino novel).

• Newspapers (La Solidaridad, Diaryong Tagalog).

• Notable Writers: Francisco Baltazar (Florante at Laura), Rizal (Noli, El Fili), Bonifacio (Pag-ibig sa Tinubuang Lupa), Leona Florentino.

2. American Period (1901–1945)

• English language & public education introduced.

• Apprenticeship phase – imitative works.

• Emergence – own style, national themes.

• Forms: short stories (most popular), plays, novels.

• First English short story: Dead Stars (Paz Marquez Benitez).

• Notable: Zoilo Galang (A Child of Sorrow), Juan C. Laya (His Native Soil).

3. Japanese Period (1942–1945)

• Suppression of press, English banned.

• Tagalog literature thrived (stories, plays).

• New poetry forms: haiku, tanaga.

• Themes: struggle, nationalism, patriotism.

• Writers: Narciso Reyes (Lupang Tinubuan), Carlos P. Romulo (Pulitzer Prize).

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📘 Lesson 4: Canonical Authors

Canonical Authors

• “Canonical” = highly respected, influential works.

• Their writings preserve heritage, culture, identity.

Regional Literature

• Luzon – mostly Tagalog works; many National Artists (Rizal, Amado Hernandez, Nick Joaquin, Jose Garcia Villa).

• Visayas – hybrid forms (romance + social realities); languages: Cebuano, Waray, Hiligaynon. Famous epic: Hinilawod. Writers: Ramon Muzones, Resil Mojares, Peter Solis Nery, Merlie Alunan.

• Mindanao – tri-people culture (Christians, Moros, Lumads). Mostly oral tradition (epics, folk stories). Often underrepresented due to bias. Writers: Anthony Tan, Myrna Peña-Reyes.

Examples of Canonical Writers

• Lualhati Bautista – Dekada ’70, Bata, Bata, Pa’no Ka Ginawa?

• Bob Ong – humorous, contemporary works (ABNKKBSNPLAko?!).

• Edith Tiempo – National Artist, first female to earn the title.

• F. Sionil Jose – Rosales Saga.