LITERATURE – came from the Latin word “LITERATURA”
CHARACTERS
meaning writing and from “LITERATUS” which means
learning. It covers both oral and written forms of works
which manifest expressive or imaginative quality,
nobility of thoughts, timelessness and universality.
KEY FEATURES OF LITERATURE
 LITERATURE IS A FORM OF COMMUNICATION
Man’s inner thoughts, feelings, and conditions can be
disclosed and revealed through the power of literature.
 LITERATURE IS AN ART
Its beauty is a deliberate manifestation to create and
imagine.
Highlight ideas of great importance and significance.
 TIMELESSNESS
The significant truth about life that a literary work
reveals should not waive and dissipate as time passes
by.
 UNIVERSALITY
A work must have global applicability in which a work
transcends across space.
 UTILITY
We can obtain relevant information to better
understand people, society and culture.
PROSE – form of literature that focuses on free flowing.
NONFICTION PROSE – is literature that is written in
ordinary, non – metrical language and communicates
facts or opinions about reality
FICTION PROSE – is also written in ordinary, non-
metrical language, out of it is the product of the writer’s
imagination.
POETRY – on the other hand, uses metrical language
with lots of rhythm and rhyme to create word picture.
DRAMA – combines elements of prose and poetry into
plays that are usually intended to be performed on
stage.
SHORT STORY
 500 – 15,00 words length
 Single event
 Beginning, middle and end
 Fictional (unreal)
 Contains values
ELEMENTS OF A SHORT STORY
1. SETTING
 Mood, social context, when and where
 Environment
 Can be past, present, future
 Social norms
2.
 Person or any entity presented in a
narrative/dramatic work.
TYPES:
 PROTAGONIST – principal or lead character
 ANTAGONIST – opposing the protagonist. Also
called as villain.
 STATIC/FLAT – does not change the
role/attitude
 DYNAMIC – undergoes changes
 FOIL – use to stand in contrast
3. PLOT
 Flow and sequence of events
TYPES:
 EXPOSITION – introductory material
 FORESHADOWING – use of hints/clues what will
happen next
 INCITING FORCE – event/character that triggers
conflict
 CONFLICT – opposition of forces that may set
forth the problems, issues
*EXTERNAL – outside forces (man vs. nature,
man vs. society, man vs. supernatural)
*INTERNAL – one’s self (man vs. self)
 RISING ACTION - Series of events that builds
from the conflict.
 CRISIS - Occurs before or at the same time as
climax.
 CLIMAX - Highest point of the story. Result of
the crisis.
 FALLING ACTION - Events after climax which
close the story.
 DENOUMENT – Rounds out and concludes the
action.
4. POINT OF VIEW
 Relates as the way how the story is
told/narrated.
TYPES:
 PARTICIPANT NARRATOT/FIRST PERSON –
usually marked by the use of “I”.
 SECOND PERSON/NON-PARTICIPANT –
emphasize “you”.
 OBSERVANT – the narrator sees only
the physical appearance
 OMNISCIENT – the narrator is an
outsider who knows/sees into the mind
of one of the character.
5. SYMBOLS
 Object which is used to represent ideas aside
from its literal meaning.
6. THEME
 Mainly the idea, realization.
ORAL TRADITIONS
- Also called as ORAL LORE.
CRUDE ON IDEOLOGY AND PHRASEOLOGY
- This lends credence to the belief.
- Self-culture before the influence of the
colonies.
*Philippine Literature is the most precious literature in
the world.
ANIMAZIM – structure of supernatural being
FORMS OF LITERATURE
RIDDLES
o Statement, question or phrase having a double
or veiled meaning
o Put forth as a puzzle to be solved.
o A puzzling question; problem or matter.
*ROBERT PETSCH in 1899, first major modern attempt
to define the riddle.
*ROBERT A. GEORGES and ALAN DUNDES (1963) –
suggested that “a riddle is a traditional verbal
expression which contains one or more descriptive
elements; the referent of the elements is to be
guessed”.
- There are many possible sub – sets of the riddle
including charades, doodles and some jokes.
- Requires in genuity and actual twirling for their
solution.
- A puzzle or joke in which you ask a question
that seems to be nonsense but which has a
clever or amusing answer.
PROVERBS
o Salawikain
o A short expressions of popular words of wisdom
or a piece of advice.
o A simple and concrete saying, popularly known
and repeated that expresses a truth based on
common sense or experience.
TANAGA
o 7777 syllable
o Rhymes:
DUAL RYHME: AABB, ABAB, ABBA
FREESTYLE: AAAB, BAAA, ABCD
o An indigenous type of Filipino poem
o Written in Tagalog language
o A quatrain with seven syllables each with the
same rhyme at the end of each line
o No title
KASABIHAN
o Sayings
o Used in teasing or to comment on a person’s
actuations
AMBAHAN
o Traditional poetry of the Hannunoo Mangyans
of Oriental Mindoro which is normally inscribed
on bamboo
o Seven syllable metric lines
o Usually chanted
o Can be composed of more than four lines
MYTHS
o Which is the traditional oral literature of the
Filipino people. This refers to a wide range of
material due to the ethnic mix at the Philippines
SPANISH PERIOD
SPANISH COLONIZATION
- Christianity was introduced
- Spanish language was taught as well as the
Roman alphabet for writing
- Serves as medium of communication
- Christian doctrine was introduced to early
Filipinos: prayers, novenas, stories about the
lives of saints
- It was didactic in nature
TWO DISTINCT CLASSIFICATIONS OF LITERATURE
1. RELIGIOUS LITERATURE
 Doctrina Christian (1593) written by Fray Juan
de Plasencia
- It contains prayers such as Pater Noster (Our
Father), Ave Maria (Hail Mary), Ten
Commandments, etc.
 PASYON – high;oights the life, death, and
resurrection of Christ
 Lines are recited accompanied by music during
Lenten Season.
 The most popular was “ANG MAHAL NA
PASSION NI JESU CHRISTONG PANGINOON
NATIN” by Gaspar Aquino de Belen.
 SENAKULO – dramatization of the pasyon, it
shows the passion and death of Christ.
2. SECULAR LITERATURE (non-religious literature)
 AWIT – colorful tales of chivalry made for
singing and chanting
 KORIDO – metrical tale written in octosyllabic
quatrains
 PROSE NARRATIVES – written to prescribe
proper decorum
OTHER FORM OF SECULAR LITERATURE
1. Comedia de Capa y Espada or Moro Moro
 2. Karagatan
3. Duplo
4. Sarswela
NATIONALISTC/PROPAGANDA AND
REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD (1864-1896)
CHARACTERISTICS:
 Planted seeds of nationalism in Filipinos
 Language shifted from Spanish to Tagalog
 Addressed the masses instead of
“intelligentsia”
LITERARY FORMS:
1. PROPAGANDA LITERATURE
 Reformatory in objective
A. POLITICAL ESSAYS
 Satires, editorials and news articles
were written to attack and expose the
evils of Spanish rules
 DIARIONG TAGALOG – founded by
Marcelo H. Del Pilar
 LA SOLIDARIDA – editor in chief is
Graciano Lopez Jaena
B. POLITICAL NOVELS

NOLI ME TANGERE and EL
FILIBUSTERISMO – Jose Rizal’s
masterpieces that paved the way to
revolution.
2. REVOLUTIONARY LITERATURE
 More propagandastic than literary as it
is more violent in nature and demanded
complete independence for the country
(diretsang hinihingi ang kalayaan)
A. POLITICAL ESSAYS
 KALAYAAN – newspaper to the society,
edited by Emilio Jacinto
 TRUE DECALOGUE – Apolinario Mabini
 KATAPUSANG HIBIK NG PILIPINAS –
Andres Bonificio
 LIWANAG AT DILIM – Emilio Jacinto
AMERICAN COLONIZATION (1900-1942)
 Introduction of free public instruction for all
children of school age
 Use of English as medium of instruction in all
levels of education in public schools
JAPANESE OCCUPATION (1941-1945)
 The Japanese banned English newspapers.
(Except for the TRIBUNE and the PHILIPPINE
REVIEW)
 There was minimal freedom of speech and all of
the press
 The Japanese censored Filipino writers works
strictly
 Theaters were used to show English play
translated into Filipino
 The weekly LIWAYWAY was placed under strict
surveillance until it was managed by Japanese
named ISHIWARA
 Filipino literature was given break during this period
FILIPINO POETRY
The common theme of most poems during
Japanese occupation was nationalism, country, love and
life in the barrios, faith, religion and the arts. Three
types of poems emerged during this period. THEY
WERE:
1. HAIKU – a poem of three verse that the Japanese like.
It was made up of 17 syllables divided into three lines.
The first line had 5 syllables, the second, 7 syllables, and
the third, 5. The Haiku is allegorical in meaning, is short
and covers a wide scope in meaning.
2. KARANIWANG ANYO (usual form) – the usual
common form of poetry
3. TANAGA – like the Haiku, it’s short but has a measure
and a rhyme. Each consists of 17 syllables and it is also
has allegorical meaning
FILIPINO DRAMA
The drama experienced a lull during the
Japanese period because movie houses showing
American films were closed. The big movie houses were
just made to show stage shows. A few of play writers
were:
1. Jose Ma. Hernandez – wrote PANDAY PIRA
2. Francisco Soc Rodrigo – wrote SA PULA, SA PUTI
3. Clodualdo del Mundo – wrote BULAGA (an expression
in the game Hide and Seek)
4. Julian Cruz Balmaceda – wrote SINO BA KAYO?, DAHIL
SA ANAK, and HIGANTE NG PATAY
FILIPINO SHORT STORIES
The field of the short story widened during the
Japanese occupation. Many wrote short stories.
The best writings in 1945 were selected by a
group of judges composed of Francisco Icasiano, Jose
Esperanza Cruz, Antonio Rosales, Clodualdo del Mundo
and Teodoro Santos. As a result of this selection, the
following got the first three prizes:
FIRST PRIZE: Narciso Reyes with his LUPANG TINUBUAN
SECOND PRIZE: Liwayway Arceo’s UHAW ANG TIGANG
NA LUPA
THIRD PRIZE: NVM Gonzales’ LUNSOD NAYON AT
DAGAT – DAGATAN
 PHILIPPINE LITERATURE IN ENGLISH (1941-1945) MAGAZINES RE-OPENED

Because of the strict prohibitions imposed by *Bulaklak

the Japanese in the writing and publishing of works in
*Ilang-Ilang
English, Philippine Literature in English experienced a
dark period. The few who dared to write did so for their *Sinagtala
bread and butter or for propaganda.
PALANCA AWARDS
CARLOS P. ROMULO won the PULITZER PRIZE
for his best sellers: I SAW THE FALL OF THE PHILIPPINES, *Award giving body in literature – Don Carlos Palanca
I SEE THE PHILIPPINES RISE and his MOTHER AMERICA Memorial Awards for Literature
AND MY BROTHER AMERICANS. PERIOD OF ACTIVISM
The Commonwealth Literary Awards gave prizes  Martial Law (the seed of activism)
to meritorious writers. Those who won were:  The Bloody Placards (Makibaka)
1. LIKE THE MOLAVE – by Rafael Zulueta da Costa  Literary Revolution
(poetry)  Bomba Films
 The First Quarter Storm
2. HOW MY BROTHER LEON BROUGHT HOME A WIFE –
by Manuel E. Arguilla (short story) THE NEW SOCIETY

3. LITERATURE AND SOCIETY – by Salvador P. Lopez THEME: DEVELOPMENT OF THE COUNTRY

(essay)
 Green Revolution’
4. HIS NATIVE SOIL – by Juan Laya (novel)  Family Planning
 Proper Nutrition
POSTWAR AND CONTEMPORARY LITERATURE
 Environment
Include all literary works written and published  Drug Addiction
in the Philippines from 1946.  Pollution

After the World War II, the Philippines had to POETRY

deal with the economy and the need for rehabilitation
 Themes: patience, culture, nature and
and reconstruction of infrastructure.
surroundings
Writers wrote fiction that focused on
PLAY
courageous deeds as well as the sacrifices and suffering
in the lives of Filipinos. It was also common for writers  Metropolitan Theater, Teatro Filipino, CCP,
to write about the experiences of the Filipino people UP Repertory
under the Spanish and American rule and the Japanese
occupation. Other subjects and themes include:

*religious faith

*superstitious

*fantasy

*social problems

*poverty

*politics

*nationalism

NEWSPAPERS FLOURISHED

*Free Press

*Morning Sun

*Daily Mirror

*Evening News

*Bulletin