Literature
 Is a form of human expression. But not everything
expressed in words- even when organized and
written down is considered as literature.
 Derived from Latin word…(etymology of the word
literature).
o Litteratura- writing
o Litteratus- learning
 Both oral and written forms of work.
 Discusses dimension of life also miseries and
glories.
 Take significant human experiences as its main
subject.
Why we study literature? (Dela Cruz, 2015)
 To be entertained.
 It teaches morals.
 To know about the past.
 Helps us to our world in a new way.
 It transmits culture.
 Teaches us about how powerful language is.
Interpreting Literature
 not impression on text but to ensure fullness of one’s
experience.
REMEMBER THIS!
• ALLUSION- Reference to something that is outside
the text. It can be literary, religious, societal, and the
like. Some allusions are apparent and some are not.
• Author/writer- Person who wrote the text
• TEXT- a text becomes meaningful because of the
context which is embedded. It is more often than not
a reflection of the author’s beliefs, values, and style.
• LITERARY TRADITION- Body of work done in
the past
• READER- “YOU” Who read the text
• INTERTEXTUALITY- Text Gives Life To Each
Other
Nature of Literature
 Literature is a form of communication
 Literature is an art
o Dulce- beauty and magnificence
o An artistic expression of man’s desires,
aspirations and conditions.
 Nobility of thoughts- To achieve great discoveries of
the dimensions of human life.
Key feature of literature
 Timelessnes
o it should not vain and dissipate.
o Must have an enduring quality that can
withstand the change of time.
 Universality
o It must have a global applicability in which
a work transcends across space.
 Literature has utility (purpose or the use)
o Utile- refers to the intellectual, emotional,
and social function of any literary work.
o Has the power to influence perspective
about the self and the world.
o 4 T’s- To inspire, to inform, to entertain, to
persuade.
 Sociological Criticism: This approach “examines
literature in the cultural, economic and political
context in which it is written or received,” exploring
the relationships between the artist and society.
 Reader-Response Criticism: This approach takes
as a fundamental tenet that “literature” exists not as
an artifact upon a printed page but as a transaction
between the physical text and the mind of a reader. It
attempts “to describe what happens in the reader’s
mind while interpreting a text
Jose Garcia Villa (Aug. 5, 1908 – Feb. 7, 1997)
 Comma Poet
 Poet, literary critic, fiction writer, and painter
 National Artist for Literature in the Philippines in
1973
 Villa believed that no one was educated enough in
poetry in the PH
Dr. Bienvenido Lumbera
• Hailed as an exemplary literary figure of
contemporary Philippine literature, cultural studies,
and film
• His works were considered by literature teachers as a
starting point for the study of post-colonialism in the
PH
• His works clearly depict how the Philippines was
conditioned into embracing the colonizing cultures
 • “It is knowing one’s history and own literature that ENCULTURATION- Is the process of passing one’s
the Philippines can regain its own sense of identity.” culture to another, thus making the receiver a part
• Palanca and Ramon Magsaysay award for of the community.
Journalism, Creative Communication POETIC STATEMENT- Is the statement made by a
Dr. Cirilo Bautista poem, be it about specific matter or a fact of life.
• Asserted that Poetry is the crown of all art forms
• Regarded as a Filipino poet-philosopher
Amelia Lapeña – Bonifacio
• “Once a poem is written, it is no longer of the
poet; it detaches itself and its survival will - A playwright, writer, and set designer
depend on how well the poet has prepared for it - “The Grand Dame of Southeast Asian Children’s
for the testing of the real world.” Theater.”
• Carlos Palanca Hall of Fame Award (1995) - Founder Teatrong Mulat
RIDDLES AND PROVERBS - Official UP children’s theater and puppetry
alienated- a feeling of not belonging
troupe
defamiliarizing- finding a new way of seeing something
- Earned a Lifetime Achievement Award for her
wrath- anger
outstanding contributions to theater.
complex- not simple, composed of many parts
succinct- compact precise expression, concise

Roman Jakobson (1960)

• Literature is a message that “draws attention to

itself.”
• “One’s experience with the literary is special
because of HOW the message was said, not only
because of WHAT was said.”
Gemino Abad (2009)

. . . a succinct line can suddenly defamiliarize one

• “I just wanted to write you a love poem; but I can
only live one for you. . .”
• Love is often associated with expressions of one’s
feelings such as words of affirmation, gifts, and acts
of service
• “I can on only live one for you” means to live one’s
life with a person is a form of poetry in itself – rich,
complex, beautiful.
REMEMBER THIS!
Riddles- Are succinct poetic speeches that work on
objects that are usually from nature known to the
community. They utilize images to create new experience
of the object being described.
Proverbs (Salawikain)
- Are wise sayings that aim to teach moral precepts as
guide for people to live by.
- Are concise statements that pertain to specific values
held by a specific community. They usually describe
human condition.
- The modern counterpart of these proverbs are the well-
known ‘hugot’ lines.
- Presents the truth based on common sense or
experience