1 Chapter 1 Introduction to the Study of Literature Definition of Literature: The word literature is derived from the Latin term

litera which means letter . It has been defined differently by various writers. 1. Some loosely interpret literature as any printed matter written within a book, a magazine or a pamphlet. 2. Others define literature as a faithful reproduction of mans manifold experiences blended into one harmonious expression. 3. Because literature deals with ideas, thoughts and emotions of man, literature can be said to be the story of man. 4. Mans loves, griefs, thoughts, dreams and aspirations coached in beautiful language is literature . 5. In order to know the history of a nations spirit, one must read its literature. Hence it is, that to understand the real spirit of a nation, one must trace the little rills as they course along down the ages, broadening and deepening into the great ocean of thought which me n of the present source are presently exploring. 6. Brother Azurin, said that literature expresses the feelings of people to society, to the government, to his surroundings, to his fellowmen and to his Divine Creator. The expression of ones feelings, according to him, may be through love, sorrow, happiness, hatred, ange r, pity, contempt, or revenge. 7. For Webster, literature is 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 ones imagination. 8. In PANITIKING PILIPINO written by Atienza, Ramos, Salazar and Nazal, it 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. We can enumerate many reasons for the importance of studying literature. Here are some: 1. We study literature so that we can better appreciate our literary heritage. We cannot appreciate something that we do not understand. 2. Through a study of our literature, we can trace the rich heritage of ideas handed down to us from our forefathers. 3. Then we can understand ourselves better and take pride in being a Filipino. 4. Like other races of the world, we need to understand that we have a great and noble tradition which can serve as the means to assimilate other cultures. 5. Through such a study, we will realize our literary limitations conditioned by certain historical factors and we can take steps to overcome them. 6. Above all, as Filipinos, who truly love and take pride in our own culture, we have to manifest our deep concern for our own literature and this we can do by studying the literature of our country. 2 Philippine Literature in English and Time Frames It can be said that Philippine literature in English has achieved a stature that is, in a way, phenomenal since the inception of English in our culture. Our written literature, which is about four hundred years old, has evolved slowly and gradually. This is because of the struggle of the Filipino writers who tried to express their sentiments in a foreign medium which was still difficult to grasp that time. The great mass of literature in English that we have today is, indeed, a tribute to what our writers have achieved in the short span of time. What they have written can compare with some of the best works in the world. Time frames may not be necessary in a study of literature, but since literature and history are inescapably related it has become facilitative to map up a system which will aid us in delineating certain time boundaries. These time boundaries are not exactly well-defined; very often, time frames blend into another in a seeming continuum. For a systematic discussion of the traditions, customs, and feelings of our people that can be traced in our literature, we shall adopt certain delimitations. These time frames are: Time Frames of Philippine Literature in English Different opinions prevail regarding the stages that mark the development of Philippine literature in English. Let us take the following time frames for purpose of discussion: 1. The Period of Re-orientation: 1898-1910 Period of Imitation: 1910-1925 Period of Self-Discovery: 1925-1941 Japanese Period: 1941-1945 The Rebirth of Freedom: 1946-1970 Period of Activism: 1970-1972

Period of the New Society: 1972-1981 Period of the Third Republic: 1981-1985 Contemporary Period: 1986

2 Philippine Literature in English and Time Frames 2.1 Literature and History Literature and history are closely related. In discovering the history of a race, the feelings, aspirations, customs and traditions of a people are sure to be included. These mans feelings, aspirations, customs and traditions that are written is literature . History that records mans life- his experiences, feelings, thoughts. It is also literature. Then, we can say that literature is history and history is literature. However, literature and history have differences, too. Literature may be figments of the imagination or events devoid of truth that have been written down, while history is made up of events that really happened. Literary Compositions that Have Influenced the World. Among them are: 1. The Bible or the Sacred Writings 2. Koran 3. The Iliad and the Odyssey 4. The Mahab-harata 5. Canterbury Tales 6. Uncle Toms Cabin 7. The Divine Comedy 8. El Cid Compeador 9. The Song of Roland 10. The Book of the Dead 11. The Book of the Days 12. One Thousand and One Nights or The Arabian Nights

2 Philippine Literature in English and Time Frames 2.2 General Types of Literature Literature can generally be divided into two types; prose and poetry . 1. Prose consists of those written within the common flow of conversation in sentences and paragraphs 2. Poetry refers to those expressions in verse, with measure and rhyme, line and stanza and has a more melodious tone. I. PROSE There are many types of prose. These include the following: a. Novels. A long narrative divided into chapters and events are taken from true-to-life stories. a. Example: WITHOUT SEEING THE DAWN by Stevan Javellana b. b. Short story. This is a narrative involving one or more characters, one plot and one single impression. c. Example: THE LAUGHTER OF MY FATHER by Carlos Bulosan d. Plays. This is presented on a stage, is divided into acts and each act has many scenes. Example: THIRTEEN PLAYS by Wilfredo M. Guerrero e. Legends. These are fictitious narratives, usually about origins. Example: THE BIKOL LEGEND by Pio Duran f. Fables. These are also fictitious and they deal with animals and inanimate things who speak and act like people and their purpose is to enlighten the minds of children to events that can mold their ways and attitudes. Example: THE MONKEY AND THE TURTLE g. Anecdotes. These are merely products of the writers imagination and the main aim is to bring out lessons to the reader. h. Example: THE MOTH AND THE LAMP i. Essay. This expresses the viewpoint or opinion of the writer about a particular problem or event. The best example of this is the Editorial page of a newspaper. j. Biography. This deals with the life of a person which may be about himself, his autobiography or that of others. Example: CAYETANO ARELLANO by Socorro O. Albert k. News. This is a report of everyday events in society, government, science and industry, and accidents, happening nationally or not.

l. Oration. 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. II. POETRY There are three types of poetry and these are the following: A. Narrative Poetry. This form describes important events in life either real or imaginary. The different varieties are: 1. Epic. This is an extended narrative about heroic exploits often under supernatural control. Example: THE HARVEST SONG OF ALIGUYON translated in English by Amador T. Daguio 2. Metrical Tale. This is a narrative which is written in verse and can be classified either as a ballad or a metrical romance. Examples: BAYANI NG BUKID by Al Perez HERO OF THE FIELDS by Al Perez 3. Ballads. Of the narrative poems, this is considered the shortest and simplest. It has a simple structure and tells of a single incident. There are also variations of these: love ballads, war ballads, and sea ballads, humorous, moral, and historical or mythical ballads. In the early time, this referred to a song accompanying a dance. B. Lyric Poetry. Originally, this refers to that kind of poetry meant to be sung to the accompaniment of a lyre, but now, this applies to any type of poetry that expresses emotions and feelings of the poet. They are usually short, simple and easy to understand. 1. Folksongs (Awiting Bayan). These are short poems intended to be sung. The common theme is love, despair, grief, doubt, joy, hope and sorrow. Example: CHIT-CHIRIT-CHIT 2. Sonnets. This is a lyric poem of 14 lines dealing with an emotion, a feeling, or an idea. These are two types: the Italian and the Shakespearean. Example: SANTANG BUDS by Alfonso P. Santos 3. Elegy. This is a lyric poem which expresses feelings of grief and melancholy, and whose theme is death. Example: THE LOVER S DEATH by Ricaredo Demetillo 4. Ode. This is a poem of a noble feeling, expressed with dignity, with no definite number of syllables or definite number of lines in a stanza. 5. Psalms (Dalit). This is a song praising God or the Virgin Mary and containing a philosophy of life. 6. Awit (Song). These have measures of twelve syllables (dodecasyllabic) and slowly sung to the accompaniment of a guitar or banduria. Example: FLORANTE AT LAURA by Franciso Balagtas 7. Corridos (Kuridos). These have measures of eight syllables (octosyllabic) and recited to a martial beat. Example: IBONG ADARNA C. Dramatic Poetry 1. Comedy. The word comedy comes from the Greek term komos meaning festivity or revelry. This form usually is light and written with the purpose of amusing, and usually has a happy ending. 2. Melodrama. 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. 3. Tragedy. This involves the hero struggling mightily against dynamic forces; he meets death or ruin without success and satisfaction obtained by the protagonist in a comedy. 4. Farce. 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. 5. Social Poems. 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. 2 Philippine Literature in English and Time Frames 2.3 Exercises 1. Deals with ideas, thoughts, and emotions of man. It is said to be the story of man. 2. Literature as a faithful reproduction of mans manifold _______ blended into one harmonious expression. 3-5. Three reasons why do we need to study Philippine Literature. 6. Written by Harriet Beecher Stowe of the US. This depicted the sad fate of slaves; this became the basis of democracy later on.

7. This was written by Confucius of China. This became the basis of Roman Calendar. 8. This deals with the life of a person which may be about himself, his autobiography or that of others. 9.These have been the source of myths and legends of Greece. They were written by Homer. 10.This is a lyric poem of 14 lines dealing with an emotions, a feeling, or idea. 3 References Alcantara, R. (2000). World literature: An adventure in human experience.(QuezonCity: Katha Publishing Co. Inc. Bascara, L. R. (2003). World Literature: A tertiary textbook for literature under the new curriculum. Manila: Rex Bookstore. Castillo, T.T and Medina B.S. (1974). Philippine literature from ancient to present. Quezon City : Philippine Graphic Arts Inc. CCP Encyclopedia of Philippine Arts. Panitikan Series. Chin, B. (2002). Glencoe Literature: the readers choice. New York:Glencoe/MacGrawhill. Ecrivain-Public Arts literature writing professionals(2008). Retrieved June 10, 2010 from http://www.ecrivain-public.viz. Guiyab, R.G.(2005). Philippine literature: beyond forgetting. Makati City: Grandwater Publication. Kahayon, A.H. (2000). Philippine literature: Through the years. Mandaluyong City: National Bookstore.

1 Elements of Literature Elements of Literature Many literature students are expected to be familiar with the basic terms listed below (and discussed in more depth in your text). Keep this study guide with your text. At the beginning of each reading assignment, write the elements of literature pertaining to the particular type of literature at the beginning of the short story or poem. After reading, define them in your text for class discussion, quizzes, and test preparation. To understand literature, it is necessary that you ask yourself certain questions, such as "what is the theme of this story?" or "why does the author use this particular type of imagery?" You are not necessarily reading for pleasure--although it is sincerely hoped you will derive pleasure from your assignments--but for the development of critical analysis skills, so observe the author's style and intent carefully. We generally refer to the things that make up a work of literature, its component parts, as elements. To be a critic of literature, that is to be one who talks about what literature does and means, we need a common vocabulary. For this reason, we study a list of literary terms. 1 Elements of Literature 1.1 Literary Genre Literary Genre A genre is a type. The basic types of literature are fiction, non fiction, poetry and drama. But within those there are sub-types: Fiction: novel, short story Non fiction: essay, editorial, news story, feature story, Poetry: verse, narrative poetry, epic poetry, free verse, and many more Drama: classical, tragedy, comedy In addition to the genre above, we will consider anything written and published to be literature. So a web page is literature. A VCR manual is literature. An ad in a magazine is a type of literature. Writing has various purposes. Four main purposes of writing are to inform persuade entertain describe These purposes are generally integrated. In other words, a short story can achieve all four purposes. In fact, it may be a poor short story if it doesn't. A VCR manual is not as extensive in its purpose. A VCR manual is there to inform, to tell the VCR user how to operate the machine. It may also describe some aspects of the machine or operation, but probably doesn't persuade, and most likely doesn't entertain. But fiction, drama, and poetry can do much more than what's listed above. When it's really good, literature can teach us what it means to be human, to show us where we belong in our time and in all time. It can show us how to live rightly and love well, and it can show us how to be the best we can be. We learn from stories. Early religions used stories to teach their truths and laws. Think of the parables in the Bible. These are stories that teach people about Christianity. Ancient peoples used stories or myths to try to explain the mysteries of nature and even to define their own origin and afterlife. Today, our parents read us stories when we are children. These stories are primarily used to teach us about life and the world around us, to help us understand our emotions and to know about human relationships.

When we begin to choose our own stories, we often choose types of stories that appeal to our preferences and interests. Some of us like mystery stories or horror stories, while others like sports or animal stories, and still others like stories about people and families. There are many choices for us. In school, teachers want us to read books that are important to our understanding of culture and history. Stories that are common to a group of people help unite them. For example, most people will have read Romeo and Juliet by the time they are adults. When references are made to that play, people who have read it are connected in the group who "get it," while those who haven't are on the outside. Common stories are one way that people in a society are bonded together. There are certain books that are considered historically, socially or culturally important. Teachers also want us to read books that stretch our minds and get us to think about important or interesting ideas. Teachers also want us to read because they know that reading helps in many ways:

we learn new words when we read we become better writers we learn more about the world we learn more about ourselves

Whatever genre of literature we choose to enjoy on our own, it's important to choose something and to continue to read long after we've left school. It's one of the best ways there is to continue to expand our minds. 1 Elements of Literature 1.2 PROSE Short Stories/Novel 1. Theme - The idea or point of a story formulated as a generalization. It is evident as it reflects and defines our society. The dominant ones might be innocence/experience, life/death, appearance/reality, free will/fate, madness/sanity, love/hate, society/individual, known/unknown. Themes may have a single, instead of a dual nature as well. The theme of a story may be a mid-life crisis, or imagination, or the duality of humankind (contradictions). The theme is what the author wants us to know about the general truth of the story. For example, if the story is about "love," the author probably knows something about love that he/she conveys through the story and the characters. Theme is an idea that is true for most people over time and across cultures.

Character - Imaginary people created by the writer. Perhaps the most important element of literature.

Protagonist - Major character at the center of the story. Antagonist - A character or force that opposes the protagonist. Minor character - 0ften provides support and illuminates the protagonist. Static character - A character who remains the same. Dynamic character - A character who changes in some important way. Characterization - The means by which writers reveal character. Explicit Judgment - Narrator gives facts and interpretive comment. Implied Judgment - Narrator gives description; reader make the judgment. Foil - a foil character is either one who is in most ways opposite to the main character or nearly the same as the main character. The purpose of the foil character is to emphasize the traits of the main character by comparison or contrast.

Look for: Connections, links, and clues between and about characters. Ask yourself what the function and significance of each character is. Make this determination based upon the character's history, what the reader is told (and not told), and what other characters say about themselves and others. Plot - The arrangement of ideas and/or incidents that make up a story.

Causality - One event occurs because of another event. Foreshadowing - A suggestion of what is going to happen. Suspense - A sense of worry established by the author. Conflict - Struggle between opposing forces. Exposition - Background information regarding the setting, characters, plot. Complication or Rising Action - Intensification of conflict. Crisis - Turning point; moment of great tension that fixes the action. Resolution/Denouement - The way the story turns out.

Flashback: a strategy of plot sequencing where the author takes the reader back to events that occurred before the present time in the story.

Structure - The design or form of the completed action. Often provides clues to character and action. Can even philosophically mirror the author's intentions, especially if it is unusual. Look for: Repeated elements in action, gesture, dialogue, description, as well as shifts in direction, focus, time, place, etc. Setting - The place or location of the action, the setting provides the historical and cultural context for characters. It often can symbolize the emotional state of characters. Point of View - Again, the point of view can sometimes indirectly establish the author's intentions. Point of view pertains to who tells the story and how it is told.

Narrator - The person telling the story. First-person - Narrator participates in action but sometimes has limited knowledge/vision. The narrator, usually the protagonist, tells the story from his/her perspective using I, me, we, etc. Second person point of view: a story told using "you," which places the reader immediately and personally into the story Objective - Narrator is unnamed/unidentified (a detached observer). Does not assume character's perspective and is not a character in the story. The narrator reports on events and lets the reader supply the meaning. The narrator does not judge or interpret in any way; he/she simply presents the story as if recording it on film as it happens Third person - Omniscient - All-knowing narrator (multiple perspectives). The narrator uses third person pronouns (he/she/they etc.) and is God-like: all knowing (omniscient). This type of narrator is not limited by time or space. The narrator takes us into the character and can evaluate a character for the reader (editorial omniscience). When a narrator allows the reader to make his or her own judgments from the action of the characters themselves, it is called neutral omniscience. Limited omniscient - All-knowing narrator about one or two characters, but not all. The narrator tells the story using third person pronouns but limits herself to what one character can sense; the limitations are the same as in first person.

Language and Style - Style is the verbal identity of a writer, oftentimes based on the author's use of diction (word choice) and syntax (the order of words in a sentence). A writer's use of language reveals his or her tone, or the attitude toward the subject matter. Irony - A contrast or discrepancy between one thing and another.

Verbal irony - We understand the opposite of what the speaker says. Irony of Circumstance or Situational Irony - When one event is expected to occur but the opposite happens. A discrepancy between what seems to be and what is. Dramatic Irony - Discrepancy between what characters know and what readers know. Ironic Vision - An overall tone of irony that pervades a work, suggesting how the writer views the characters.

1 Elements of Literature 1.3 POETRY POETRY Allegory - A form of narrative in which people, places, and events seem to have hidden meanings. Often a retelling of an older story. Connotation - The implied meaning of a word. Denotation - The dictionary definition of a word. Diction - Word choice and usage (for example, formal vs. informal), as determined by considerations of audience and purpose. Figurative Language - The use of words to suggest meanings beyond the literal. There are a number of figures of speech. Some of the more common ones are:

Metaphor - Making a comparison between unlike things without the use of a verbal clue (such as "like" or "as"). Simile - Making a comparison between unlike things, using "like" or "as". Hyperbole - Exaggeration Personification - Endowing inanimate objects with human characteristics

Imagery - A concrete representation of a sense impression, a feeling, or an idea which appeals to one or more of our senses. Look for a pattern of imagery.

Tactile imagery - sense of touch. Aural imagery - sense of hearing. Olfactory imagery - sense of smell. Visual imagery - sense of sight. Gustatory imagery - sense of taste.

Rhythm and Meter - Rhythm is the pulse or beat in a line of poetry, the regular recurrence of an accent or stress. Meter is the measure or patterned count of a poetry line (a count of the stresses we feel in a poem's rhythm). The unit of poetic meter in English is called a "foot," a unit of measure consisting of stressed and unstressed syllables. Ask yourself how the rhythm and meter affects the tone and meaning. Tone: The author or poet's attitude or feeling toward a person, a thing, a place, event or situation. It is also the emotional feeling in the poem/story. Sound - Do the words rhyme? Is there alliteration (repetition of consonants) or assonance (repetition of vowels)? How does this affect the tone? Structure - The pattern of organization of a poem. For example, a sonnet is a 14-line poem usually written in iambic pentameter. Because the sonnet is strictly constrained, it is considered a closed or fixed form. An open or free form is a poem in which the author uses a looser form, or perhaps one of his or her own invention. It is not necessarily formless. 1. Symbolism - When objects or actions mean more than themselves. A symbol is a person, place, thing or idea that stands for something else. Water can symbolize purity. Light (as in sun light) often is used to symbolize knowledge or truth.

Syntax - Sentence structure and word order. Voice: Speaker and Tone - The voice that conveys the poem's tone; its implied attitude toward its subject.