Introduction To Philippine Literature 1s55o

  The  word  literature  is  derived  from  the  Latin  

term  Litera  which  means  letter.  It  has  been   defined  by  various  writers.     Because  literature  deals  with  ideas,  thoughts   and  emotions  of  man,  literature  can  be  said   to  be  the  story  of  man.  Man’s  loves,  griefs,   thoughts,  dreams,  and  aspirations  coached  in   a  beautiful  language  is  Literature.  

In  order  to  know  the  history  of  a  nation’s  spirit,  one   must  read  its  literature.       Brother  Azurin  defines  Literature  that  it    expresses  the   feelings  of  people  to  society,  to  the  government,  to   his  surroundings,  to  his  Fellowmen  and  to  his  Divine   Creator.     Webster  defines  literature  as  anything  that  is  printed,   as  long  as  it  is  related  to  the  ideas  and  feelings  of   people,  whether  it  is  true,  or  just  a  product  of  one’s   imagination.     Salazar  and  Nazal  says  that  true  literature  is  a  piece  of   written  work  which  is  undying.  It  expresses  the   feelings  and  emotions  of  people    

In  response  to  his  everyday  efforts  to  live,  to  be   happy  in  his  environment  and,  after   struggles,  to  reach  his  Creator.  

  Universality     Artistry  

  Intellectual  Value     Suggestiveness     Spiritual  Value     Permanence     Style  

  Great  literature  is  timeless  and  timely.       Forever  relevant,  it  appeals  to  one  and  all,  

anytime,  anywhere,  because  it  deals  with   elemental  feelings,  fundamental  truths  and     universal  conditions.    

  This  is  the  quality  that  appeals  to  our  

sense  of    beauty.  

  A  literary  works  stimulates  thought.  It  

enriches  our  mental  life  by  making  us  realize   fundamental  truths  about  life  and  human   nature.  

  This  is  the  quality  associated  with  the  

emotional  power  of  literature.     Great  literature  moves  us  deeply  and  stirs  our   feeling  and  imagination,  giving  and  evoking   visions  above  and  beyond  the  plane  of   ordinary  life  and  experience.  

  Literature  elevates  the  spirit  by  bringing  out  

moral  values  which  makes  a  better  persons.     The  capacity  to  inspire  is  part  of  the  spiritual   value  of  literature.  

  A  great  work  of  literature  endures.       It  can  be  read  again  and  again  as  each  

reading  gives  fresh  delight  and  new   insights  and  opens  a  new  world  of   meaning  and  experience.     Its  appeal  is  lasting.  

  This  is  the  peculiar  way  in  which  writers  

sees  life,  forms  his  ideas  and  expresses   them.  

We  study  Philippine  Literature  so  that  we  can  better   appreciate  our  literary  heritage.     Through  the  study  of  Philippine  Literature,  we  can   trace  our  rich  heritage  of  ideas  and  handed  down  to  us   from  our  forefathers.     Understand  that  we  have  a  noble  traditions  which  can   serve  as  the  means  to  assimilate  other  cultures.     Realize  literary  limitations  conditioned  by  certain   historical  factors  and  we  can  take  steps  to  overcome   them.     Manifest  our  deep  concern  for  our  own  literature.    

  Literature  and  history  are  closely  interrelated.  In  

discovering  history  of  a  race,  a  country,  we   basically  understand  their  own  culture  and   traditions,  hence  the  written  customs  and   traditions  of  a  country,  the  dreams  and   aspirations  of  its  people  is  called  Literature.     History  can  also  be  written  down  and  this  too,  is   literature.     History  therefore  is  an  integral  part  of  literature.  

  Literature  and  history  however  also  have  

their  differences.  Literature  may  not   necessarily  be  based  on  true  events  but   history  is.  

  The  Bible  or  the  Sacred  Writings  –  This  has  

become  the  basis  of  Christianity  originating   from  Palestine  and  Greece.     Koran-­‐  The  Muslim  Bible  originating  from   Arabia.     The  Iliad  and  Odyssey  –  These  have  been  the   source  of  myths  and  legends  of  Greece.  They   were  written  by  Homer.  

  The  Mahabharata-­‐  The  longest  epic  of  the  world.  It  

contains  the  history  of  religion  of  India.     Canterbury  Tales-­‐  It  depicts  the  religion  and   customs  of  the  English  in  the  early  days.  This   originated  from  England  and  written  by  Chaucer.     Uncle  Tom’s  Cabin-­‐  by  Harriet  Beecher  Stowe  of  the   US.  This  depicted  the  sad  fate  of  slaves;  this   became  the  basis  of  democracy  later  on.     The  Divine  Comedy  –  by  Dante  Alighieri     This  shows  the  religion  and  customs  of  the  Early   Italians.    

  El  Cid  Compeador  –  This  shows  the  cultural  

characteristics  of  the  Spaniards  and  their   national  history.     The  Song  of  Roland  –  This  includes  Doce  Pares   and  Ronscesvalles  of  .  It  tells  about  the   Golden  age  of  Christianity  in  .     The  Book  of  the  Dead  –  This  includes  the  cult   of  Osiris  and  the  mythology  and  theology  of   Egypt.     One  Thousand  and  One  Nights  or  the  Arabian   Nights  –  From  Arabia  and  Persia  (Iran)  It  shows   the  ways  of  government,  of  industries  and  of   the  society  of  the  Arabs  and  the  Persians.  

Literature  

Prose  

Poetry  

PROSE  

POETRY  

FORM  

Written  in   paragraph  form  

Written  in  stanza  or   verse  form  

LANGUAGE  

Expressed  in   ordinary  form  

Expressed  in   metrical,  rhythmical   and  figurative   language  

APPEAL  

To  the  intellect  

To  the  emotion  

AIM  

To  convince,   Stir  the  imagination   instruct,  imitate  and   and  set  an  idea  of   reflect   how  life  should  be  

  This  is  a  long  narrative  divided  into  chapters     The  events  are  taken  from  true-­‐to-­‐life  stories  

and  spans  a  long  period  of  time.     There  are  many  characters  involved.     Examples:       Without  Seeing  the  Dawn  by  Stevan  Javellana     Dekada  70  by  Lualhati  Bautista  

  This  is  a  narrative  involving  one  or  more  

characters  ,  one  plot  and  one  single   impression.     Examples:     The  Laughter  of  My  Father  by  Carlos  Bulosan     Dead  Stars  by  Paz  Marquez-­‐Benitez     How  My  Brother  Leon  Brought  Home  a  Wife   by  Manuel  E.  Arguilla  

  This  is  presented  on  stage,  is  divided  into  acts  

and  each  act  has  many  scenes.     Examples:     Three  Rats  by  Wilfredo  Ma.  Guerrero     Cadaver  by  Alberto  S.  Florentino     Sa  Pula,  Sa  Puti  by  Rodrigo  Francisco  

  These  are  fictitious  narratives,  usually  about  

origins.     Examples:     Legend  of  the  Mermaid     Legend  of  Tagaytay  

  These  are  fictitious  narratives  which  deal  with  

animals  and  inanimate  things  who  speak  and   act  like  people.     Have  morals  or  lessons     Examples:     The  Monkey  and  the  Turtle      The  Two  Cats  and  the  Monkey  

  This  is  a  short  entertaining    about  an  

amusing  or  interesting  event  or  person.     Its  main  aim  is  to  bring  out  lessons  to  the   reader.     Example:     The  Moth  and  the  Lamp  

  A  

short   literary   composition   which   is   expository  in  nature.     The   author   shares   some   of   his   thoughts,   feelings,   experiences   or   observations   on   some  aspects  of  life  that  has  interested  him.  

  This  is  an    of  a  certain  person’s  life  

written  by  another.  

  AUTOBIOGRAPHY  –  a  written    of  

man’s  life  written  by  himself  

  This  is  a  report  of  everyday  events  in  society,  

government,  science  and  industry  (local,   national,  international).  

  This  is  a  formal  treatment  of  a  subject  and  is  

intended  to  be  spoken  in  public.       It  appeals  to  the  intellect,  to  the  will  or  to  the   emotions  of  the  audience.  

    A   form   of   poetry   which   describes     important   events   in   life,   either   real   or       imaginary.     A  poem  that  tells  a  story.  

  This   is   an   extended   narrative   poem  

  about   heroic   exploits   often   under   supernatural   control.     It  may  deal  with  heroes  and  gods.     Two  Kinds:   1.   ANCIENT/POPULAR   EPIC   –   often   without   a   definite   author   and   is   of   slow   growth   2.  LITERARY/MODERN   EPIC   –   with   a   definite  author  

  A  

narrative   poem   consisting   usually   of   a   single   series   of   connective   events   that   are   simple,  and  generally  do  not  form  a  plot.     Examples   of   these   are   simple   idylls   or   home   tales,   love   tales,   tales   of   the   supernatural   or   tales   written   for   a   strong   moral   purpose   in   verse  form.  

  A  

narrative   poem   that   tells   a   story   of   adventure,  love  and  chivalry.     The  typical  hero  is  knight  on  a  quest.  

  Considered  the  shortest  and  simplest  type  of  

narrative  poetry.     It   has   a   simple   structure   and   tells   of   a   single   incident.     It  is  intended  to  be  sung.     Variations:   love   ballads,   humorous,   moral,   historical  or  mythical  ballads.  

    Originally   refers   to   that   kind   of   poetry     m e a n t   t o   b e   s u n g   t o   t h e   accompaniment     of  a  lyre.     Now,  it  applies  to  any  type  of  poetry  that     expresses   emotions   and   feelings   of   the     poet.     It   is   usually   short,   simple   and   easy   to     understand.    

  A  

lyric   poem   of   some   length   (no   definite   number   of   syllables   or   of   lines   in   a   stanza),   serious  in  subject  and  dignified  in  style.     It  is  most  majestic  of  the  lyric  poems.     It   is   written   in   a   spirit   of   praise   of   some   persons  or  things.  

  A   lyric   poem   which   expresses   feelings   of   grief  

and  melancholy,  and  whose  theme  is  death.  

  A  lyric  poem  of  14  lines  dealing  with  an  

emotion,  a  feeling,  or  an  idea.  

  These  are  short  poems  intended  to  be  sung.     The  common  theme  is  love,  despair,  grief,  

doubt,  joy,  hope  and  sorrow.  

  H a v e  

m e a s u r e s   o f   t w e l v e   s y l l a b l e s   (dodecasyllabic)   and   slowly   sung   to   the   accompaniment  o  a  guitar  or  banduria.       Example:  Florante  at  Laura  

  H a v e  

m e a s u r e s   o f   e i g h t   s y l l a b l e s   (octosyllabic)  and  recited  to  a  martial  beat.     Example:  Ibong  Adarna    

  A   song   praising   God   or   the  Virgin   Mary   and  

containing  a  philosophy  of  life.  

  Comes  from  the  Greek    term  Komos  meaning  

festivity  or  revelry.     This   form   is   usually   light   and   written   with   the   purpose  of  amusing,  and  usually  has  a  happy   ending.    

  This  is  usually  used  in  musical  plays  with  the  

opera.     Today,   this   is   related   to   tragedy   just   as   the   farce  is  to  comedy.     It   arouses   immediate   and   intense   emotion   and  is  usually  sad,  but  there  is  a  happy  ending   for  the  principal  character.    

  This  

involves   the   hero   struggling   mightily   against   dynamic   forces;   he   meets   death   or   ruin  without  success  and  satisfaction.  

  This  is  an  exaggerated  comedy.     It   seeks   to   arouse   mirth   by   laughable   lines;  

situations   are   too   ridiculous   to   be   true;   the   characters   seem   to   be   caricatures   and   the   motives  undignified  and  absurd.  

  This  form  is  either  purely  comic  or  tragic  and  

it  pictures  the  life  of  today.     It   may   aim   to   bring   about   changes   in   the   social  conditions.