Handout# 1

Course Overview

• Course Title: 21st Century Literature from the Philippines and the World

• Target Audience: Senior high school students

• Purpose:

  • Engage students in the appreciation of contemporary literary works.

  • Explore various literary dimensions, genres, elements, structure, contexts, and traditions.

  • Study literature from both the Philippines and the global landscape.

Understanding Literature

• Definition:

  • Literature refers to a body of written works across various forms and styles.

  • Serves as both a reflection of human experience and a means of communication.

  • Comes in both written and oral forms.

• Origin of the Term:

  • Derived from the Latin word littera, meaning "letters."

• Forms of Literature:

  • Oral Literature:

    • Passed down through storytelling, songs, and oral traditions.

  • Written Literature:

    • Recorded and preserved through writing, includes historical texts and contemporary works.

Perspectives in Literature

• Aristotle’s View:

  • Defines literature through tragedy, emphasizing imitation of life.

  • Literature aims to evoke emotions, primarily through catharsis—cleansing emotions like pity and fear.

  • Considered art that mirrors human experiences.

• T.S. Eliot’s View:

  • Sees literature as a living tradition with interaction between past and present.

  • Each work is shaped by predecessors, thus forming interconnected texts within a historical and cultural context.

Importance of Literature

1. Enhances Critical Thinking and Analytical Skills:

   • Deep engagement with texts develops evaluation and analytical abilities.

2. Fosters Empathy and Emotional Intelligence:

   • Exposure to diverse perspectives enhances understanding and emotional awareness.

3. Explores Complex Themes and Human Experience:

   • Addresses issues like identity, love, conflict, morality, and justice.

4. Broadens Cultural and Historical Understanding:

   • Provides insights into various cultures and histories, fostering global awareness.

5. Improves Communication and Language Skills:

   • Enhances vocabulary and writing skills essential for effective communication.

6. Stimulates Creativity and Imagination:

   • Encourages innovative thinking through new ideas and settings.

7. Encourages Ethical and Moral Reflection:

   • Literary works often explore ethical dilemmas, prompting personal value assessments.

8. Provides an Escape and a Source of Comfort:

   • Serves as a means of temporary escapism, offering solace and entertainment.

9. Preserves and Transmits Culture:

   • Acts as a vehicle for passing cultural stories, myths, and values across generations.

Genres of Literature

• Poetry:

  • Uses language creatively and symbolically to evoke emotions.

  • Key Elements:

    • Verse: Lines of poetry, often rhythmic.

    • Stanza: Group of verses in a poem.

    • Rhyme: Repetition of similar sounds.

    • Meter: Pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables.

• Prose:

  • Most common form, straightforward writing without structured meter or rhyme.

  • Types:

    • Fiction: Imaginative writing (novels, short stories).

    • Nonfiction: Factual writing (biographies, essays).

  • Key Elements:

    • Characters: Individuals in the story.

    • Setting: Time and place of the story.

    • Plot: Sequence of events.

    • Mood: Emotional atmosphere.

    • Point of View: Perspective of the narrator.

    • Theme: Central idea or message.

• Drama:

  • Intended for performance, combines prose and verse.

  • Key Elements:

    • Setting: Location of action.

    • Stage Directions: Instructions for actors and crew.

    • Dialogue: Spoken words between characters.

    • Characters: Figures inside the play's narrative.

Activities

• Activity 1: Personal Reflection

  • Write the last two lines of a book about your life, explaining your choice.

• Activity 2: Creativity Exercise

  • Continue the saying: "AANHIN PA ANG DAMO..." with a short introduction.