Philippine Literature - Study Notes

Definition of Literature

  • ETYMOLOGY: From a Latin word ‘litera’, which means LETTER.
  • DEFINITION: An Art; Imaginative or creative writing; Distinguished writing with deep, sublime & noble feelings; It includes oral tradition passed on from generation to generation by word of mouth; Body of written works valued for excellence of form and expression; Creative and universal means of communication; Deals with the ideas, thoughts, and emotions.

Nature of Literature

  • Expression of Human Experience
  • Artistic Form
  • Cultural Transmission
  • Diverse Forms
  • Hi (Note: stray text in the transcript; content relevant concepts retained under the bullets above)

Background of Literature

  • Oral Tradition
  • Emergence of Writing
  • Historical Periods
  • Influence of Social and Cultural Context
  • Evolution of Genres

Relevance of Literature and Language

  • Literature significantly enhances communication skills by expanding vocabulary, improving writing and verbal communication, and fostering critical thinking.
  • It provides exposure to diverse writing styles, storytelling techniques, and character development, which are crucial for effective communication in various contexts.

Significance of Studying Philippine Literature

Studying Philippine literature is significant because it fosters:

  • 1) cultural understanding
  • 2) enhances communication skills
  • 3) contributes to national identity
  • 4) allows Filipinos to explore their rich literary heritage, understand their collective experiences
  • 5) appreciate the diverse voices and perspectives within their culture.

Philippine Literature Time Frames

  • Time Frames referenced via a Prezi timeline: https://prezi.com/p/x1uaci6ku0xs/history-timeline-of-philippine-literary/

Types of Literature

  • PROSE: Those written within the common flow of conversation in sentences and paragraphs.
  • POETRY: Those expressions in verse, with measures and rhymes, lines and stanzas, have a more melodious tone.

Types of Prose

  • a. Novel
    • A long narrative divided into chapters and events are taken from true-to-life stories.
  • b. Short Story
    • A narrative involving one or more characters, one plot and one single impression.
  • c. Play
    • Presented on a stage, divided into acts and each act has many scenes.
  • d. Legend
    • A fictitious narrative, usually about origins.
  • e. Fable
    • Fictitious and deals with animals and inanimate things who speak and act like people; purpose is to enlighten the minds of children to events that can mold their ways and attitudes.
  • f. Anecdotes
    • Self-contained and brief stories; can be factual or made up; tone ranges from serious warnings to lighthearted jokes.
  • g. Essay
    • Expresses the viewpoint or opinion of the writer about a particular problem or event; the best example is the Editorial page of a newspaper.
  • h. Biography
    • Deals with the life of a person; may be about himself (autobiography) or that of others.
  • i. News
    • A report of everyday events in society, government, science and industry, and accidents, happening nationally or not.
  • j. Oration
    • Intended to be spoken in public; appeals to the intellect, the will or the emotions of the audience.

Types of Poetry

  • A. NARRATIVE POETRY: This form describes important events in life, real or imaginary. The different varieties are:
    • 1. Epic: An extended narrative about heroic exploits often under supernatural control.
    • 2. Metrical Tale: A narrative written in verse and can be classified as a ballad or a metrical romance.
    • 3. Ballads: Shortest and simplest; has a simple structure and tells of a single incident. Variations include love ballads, war ballads, sea ballads, humorous, moral, and historical or mythical ballads.
  • B. LYRIC POETRY: A kind of poetry meant to be sung or expressed; expresses emotions and feelings of the poet. Usually short, simple and easy to understand.
    • 1. Folksongs (Awiting Bayan): Short poems intended to be sung; common themes include love, despair, grief, doubt, joy, hope and sorrow.
    • 2. Sonnet: A lyric poem of 1414 lines dealing with an emotion, a feeling, or an idea. Two types: Italian and Shakespearean.
    • 3. Elegy: Lyric poem which expresses feelings of grief and melancholy; theme is death.
    • 4. Ode: A poem of a noble feeling, expressed with dignity; no definite number of syllables or lines in a stanza.
    • 5. Psalms (Dalit): A song praising God or the Virgin Mary and contains a philosophy of life.
    • 6. Awit (Song): It has a measure of 1212 syllables (dodecasyllabic) and slowly sung to the accompaniment of a guitar or banduria.
    • 7. Corrido (Kurido): This has a measure of 88 syllables (octosyllabic) and recited to a martial beat.
  • C. DRAMATIC POETRY
    • 1. Comedy: Comes from the Greek term “komos” meaning festivity or revelry; light and written to amuse; usually has a happy ending.
    • 2. Melodrama: Used in musical plays with the opera; today related to tragedy as farce is to comedy; arouses immediate and intense emotions; usually sad but ends with a happy ending for the principal character.
    • 3. Tragedy: The hero struggles against dynamic forces; meets death or ruin without success and satisfaction.
    • 4. Farce: Exaggerated comedy; seeks to arouse mirth by laughable lines; situations are ridiculous; characters caricatures; motives undignified and absurd.
    • 5. Social Poems: Purely comic or tragic; pictures life of today; may aim to bring about changes in social conditions.

Divisions of Literature

  • Fiction: A form of any narrative or informative work that deals with information/events that are imaginary.
  • Non-fiction: A form of any narrative, account or other communicative work based on facts.