21st Century Literature from the Philippines and the World

History of Philippine Literature

 Pre-Colonial
 Spanish Period
 American Period
 Japanese and Post War Period
 20th Century
 21st Century

LESSON 1: MAPPING OUR LITERARY PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE

Philippine Pre-Colonial Literature

 Before the Philippines was colonized, it was already brimming with a rich tradition of oral
literature.
 Stories like why there is a sun in the morning and the moon at night, how a mountain was
formed, etc.

Pre-Colonial Period

 It pertains to the historical period of time before the colonization of the Philippines.

Oral Transmission

 The act or process by which something is spread or passed from one person to another.

Philippine Oral Literature

PROVERBS (Kasabihan)

 are practical observations and philosophy of everyday life that are written usually in a
rhyming scheme.
 It is a brief popular saying that gives advice and were rather more serious because they were
intended to teach values

EXAMPLES

o If you preserve, you will reap the fruits of your labor (kapag may tiyaga, may nilaga)
o Nothing destroys iron but its own corrosion (walang maninira sa bakal kundi sariling
kalawang)
o Even though the procession is long, it will still end up in church (pagkahaba-haba
man daw ng prusisyon, sa simbahan din ang tuloy)
o There is no need to cry over spilt milk (magsisi ka man at huli wala nang mangyayari)
o Opportunity only knocks one: Grab it or you’ll lose it (ang pagkakataon sa buhay ay
madalang dumating. Kapag narito na, ating samatalahin)
RIDDLES (Bugtong)

 are like proverbs with one main difference: Riddles demand an answer to test the wit of the
listeners.
 It is a puzzle or mystery questions posed as a problem to be solved or guessed.

EXAMPLES

o Mouth- Balong malalim, puno ng patalim (a deep well full of knives)

o Calendar- Araw araw namamatay, taon-taon nabubuhay (it dies everyday,then lives
every year)
o Sky- Abot na abot ng tingin, hindi mo naman marating (just within range sight, yet
unreachable)
o Turtle- Narito na si Katoto, may dala-dalang kubo (here is Katoto, carrying a nipa-hut
on his back)
o Ladder- Dlawang katawan, tagusan and tadyang (two bodies with ribs, exposed)

FOLKSONGS

 Are beautiful songs that are informal expression of our ancestors’ life experiences.
 These are songs that originate in traditional popular culture or that is written in such a style

EXAMPLES

Magtanim ay di biro

“Magtanim ay di biro,

Mag nakayuko.

Di man lang makaupo,

Di man lang makatayo."

MYTHOLOGY

 A story that was told in an ancient culture to explain a practice, belief or natural occurrence.
Characters are usually gods and goddesses

TALES

 Are stories of origin for certain places, their names, and their creation.

EXAMPLES

o The Legend of Pineapple - this story is about Pina who remained dependent to her
mother and was punished to become a fruit.
o

LEGENDS (Alamat)

 These are traditional stories sometimes popularly regarded as historical but

unauthenticated. These stories appeared to have basis in real life because it explains the
origin of the things in the universe.
FABLES (Pabula)

 These are stories wherein characters are usually animals and that is intended to teach
lessons.

LULLABIES (Oyayi)

 This existed for the sake of putting infants at ease.

EPICS

 Are long-winded poems about a hero and his adventures.

 These are stories narrates the deeds and adventures of heroic or legendary figures or the
history of a nation.

EXAMPLES

o Ibalon – Epics from Bikol

o Darangan – Epics from Muslim
o Hinilawod – Epics of Tanay
o Bantugan – Epics of Maranao
o Biag ni lam-ang – Epics of Ilocos

Petroglyphs

 These are rock or stone carvings especially a prehistoric one.

Spanish Colonial Literature

Spanish Period

 It signaled the transition from oral literature to written literature and the rise of the
Christian faith in the Philippines

Doctrina Christiana

 It was the first book printed in the Philippines which was published in the year 1593. This
prayer book had both Spanish and Tagalog texts.

CORRIDO (Korido)

 Is a legendary religious narrative form that usually details the lives of saints or the history of
a tradition.
 It is a type of metrical romance which is written in octosyllabic four line stanza.

NOVENA

 It is a Roman Catholic period of prayer lasting nine consecutive days.

CATERISM

 It is a collection of questions and answers that are used to teach people about the Christian
world.

AWIT

 Is a chivalric poem about a hero, usually about a saint.

PASYON

 Is a narrative poem about the life of jesus christ

 It is a Philippines epic narrative of the life of Jesus Christ, focused on his Passion, Death, and
Resurrection.
 This is recited by the Catholics during the Lenten Season.
 It is an example of a narrative poetry

CENACULO

 Is the dramatization of the passion of the christ

MORO MORO (Comedia de Capa y Espada)

 Is a blood-and-thunder melodrama depicting the conflict of christ of Christians and Muslims.

CARILLO

 Is a play that uses shadows as its main spectacle.

Secular Literature - This is not spiritual, and it relates to the physical world. It is controlled by the
government rather than by the church.

Metrical Romance - This is a highly precise and structured poem.

Korido - Octosyllabic four-line stanza.

Awit - Dodecasyllabic four-line stanza.

Lesson 2: PHILIPPINE POETRY: ITS FORM, LANGUAGE AND SPEECH

Poetry from Archipelago

Poetry

 is probably the most sophisticated of all literary genres.

 Something that is very beautiful or graceful
 In the early 1900s, Filipino poetry celebrated romanticism, and several poems about love
flourished.
 Then- the emphasis of poetry is more on the form and language rather than theme.
 Now- writers are more adventurous in their craft.

ELEMENTS OF POETRY

Senses & Images

 The writer uses words and phrases to create an imagery that the reader can see through his
or her senses.
 Kinds of Senses Impressions

o Visual Imagery – see

o Olfactory Imagery – smell
o Gustatory Imagery – taste
o Tactile Imagery – feel
o Auditory Imagery – hear

Diction

 Is the denotative and connotative meaning of words in a sentences.

Denotative

o The explicit or direct meaning of a word; dictionary meaning

Connotative

o The meaning and positive/negative associations connected to a word.

Rhyme Scheme

 The way author arranges the words, meters, lines, and stanzas to create a coherent sound.

Gabu by Carlos Angeles

 Said to be one of the most well-loved Filipino poems written in English

 It utilizes the three kinds of sense impressions.
 Theme: Life can be restless like sea

Carlos Angeles

 Born on May 25, 1921

LESSON 3: THE LANDSCAPE OF PHILIPPINE FICTION

Objective

Appreciate the contributions of the canonical Filipino writers to the development of national
literature

If there is one thing Filipinos love, it is a good dramatic story.

 A rich girl who is not satisfied and poor girl who is happy
 A little girl who is tormented by her relatives
 Even the antagonist that delivers the best lines in the history
 Revenge of the protagonist

FICTION

 Describes something imaginary or invented; the term is generally used regarding creative
works written in prose or ordinary language which does not follow a meter
Techniques of Fiction

SYMBOLISH

 A living or nonliving object representing something else

 The fiction writers can use a word, object, action, or character in the story to suggest or
mean something other than its dictionary or literal meaning.

Temptation – Adam and Eve

Dark Intentions – Snow White

Discovery – Isaac Newton

IMAGERY

 The writers use language that appeals to the sense to create “word pictures” in the mind of
the reader.
 The use of language appealing to one or more of the five senses
o Smell – Spring roses filled the kitchen with a subtle floral perfume
o Sight – Tiny emerald leaves drifted in the afternoon sunshine.
o Touch – She gently stroked her silk scarft
o Sound – Waves crashed upon the shore
o Taste – When I bite into the lemon, its citrus flavor shocked my tongue

IRONY

 Can be defined as “when the actual meaning is the complete opposite from the literal
meaning”

Three Major Types of Irony

 Dramatic Irony
 Situational Irony
 Verbal Irony
Contradicting Actual and Literal Meanings

Verbal Irony:

 "I'm fine"
 Actually, He is not.

Situational Irony:

 Difference between expectations and reality.

 Finally figures out that his Psychologist's one of those dead people.

The operation was successful, but the patient expired"

 Here, the speaker wants to say that the operation was unsuccessful since it caused the death
of the patient.

What a fine friend you were to leave me in my trouble.

 It is like saying one thing while meaning another

 Here, the words "fine friend" actually mean insincere friend.
 Really speaking, a friend who leaves his friend in a difficult situation cannot be a good/true
friend.
ALLEGORY

o The writer creates a story in which the character and events form a system of
symbolic meaning
o Mostly about moral or political views; an extended metaphor
o A story that points to a deeper meaning, idea, or concept
o The deeper meaning can be thought of as a “moral of the story”

The Purpose of an Allegory

o Helps the reader understand a deeper concept

o Helps make your writing more interesting

ALLEGORY VS METAPHOR

o Allegory = a story that points to a deeper meaning

o Metaphor = a comparison that points to a deeper meaning
o An allegory is sometimes referred to as an “extended metaphor”

Fables are Simple Allegory

 Type of ALLEGORY, usually has animals

 Used to teach moral lesson to children
 Teach lessons about life
 Animals/character represent
o Virtues = good human qualities
o Vices = bad human qualities

EXAMPLE: The tortoise and the hare

o Turtle (tortoise)- represents perseverance

o Rabbit (hare)– represents arrogance

Animal Farm by George Orwell

 Animal farm is an allegory for the Russian revolution and Stalinist Era of the Soviet Union
 An allegory that points to deeper political message through the use of farm animals.

The God Stealer by Francisco Sionil Jose

Francisco Sionil Jose

 December 3, 1924 – January 6, 2022

 Rosales, Pangasinan
 “F. Sionil Jose”
LESSON 4: ELEMENTS OF FICTION

I. PLOT
II. CONFLICT
III. CHARACTER
IV. POINT OF VIEW
V. SETTING
VI. THEME

PLOT

 The main events of a play, novel, movie, or similar work, devised and presented by the
writer as an interrelated sequence

Exposition

 The first stage of a fictional or dramatic plot in which necessary background information is
provided
 Character
 Setting
 Conflicts Introduced

Rising Action

 This is where the character faces complications or difficulties with the conflict. Tension
builds and the reader often experience excitement or suspense.

Climax

 This is the turning point of the story where the plot changes direction, turning from conflict
to resolution. Often, the reader begins to infer (make an educated guess) how the story will
end.

Falling Action

 Here, the lives of the character are on track to going to “normal”

Denouement/Resolution

 The end of the story where the conflict is resolved and the protagonist is changed for the
better. Remember, the resolution may not always be what you want, but conflict is still
resolved.

CHARACTERS

 An imaginary person that inhabits a literary work. They may be defined as round or flat,
dynamic or static, and protagonist or an antagonist.
Major/Round

 Major characters in a story are also known as the round characters because they have
depth. We know a lot about round characters, like their wants, fears, and dreams.
Protagonist are typically round.

Minor / Flat

 In contrast to round characters, flat characters are typically minor to the story and face little
challenges or none at all. These characters may not advance plot or have a lot of depth to
them. We generally know little about who they really are or what they stand for.

Dynamic

 A literay or dramatic character who undergoes an important inner change, as a change in

personality or attitude as a result of experiencing struggle with the conflict. It is often
through analyzing the change of a dynamic character where we find a theme.

Static

 A literary or dramatic character who undergoes little or no inner change; a character who
does not grow or develop. Typically, the antagonist and minor characters fall under a static
label.

Protagonist

 The main character who is in conflict with the antagonist. We often consider the protagonist
the "good guy" and is intended to be the character that the reader relates to.

Antagonist

 The antagonist is the character who is responsible for the conflict that the protagonist faces.
The antagonist may not always be a person; for example, it could be a snake, the
government, or even a character's dream that they struggle to achieve.

Conflict

 A struggle between opposing forces in a story resolved by the end of the work. The plot
revolves around the conflict and the characters are changed by having dealt with the
conflict.

Internal Conflict

 Internal conflict refers to the psychological struggle a character may face. This could be as
simple as a fear of snakes or as complex as mental illness. Key to remember is the struggle
takes place within a character.

External Conflict

 Rather than taking place within the mind, this type of conflict occurs externally. Where as
the fear of snakes may be the internal conflict, having to physically fight the snake would be
an external conflict.
Man Vs. Man

 This type of conflict is when characters conflict with one another.

 Harry Potter vs Voldemort, Katniss Everdeen vs President Snow

Man Vs. Nature

 This type of conflict is when characters struggle with some form of nature, whether it be an
animal, weather, etc.
 Tributes vs the arena in Hunger Games, Harry Potter vs the Enchanted Forest

Man Vs. Society

 When a character struggles with the norms, beliefs, and/or policies of society. Commonly,
characters struggle with government.
 Jonas from The Giver struggles with the rules placed on him from society

Man Vs. Himself

 This type of conflict is when the main character struggles with something within him/herself
 Katniss' struggle to choose between Peta and Gale, Twilight when Edward struggles with the
need to feed his thirst for blood.

Point of View

 The perspective in which a story is told. The POV is important because it affects how we see
or even interpret a story.

First Person

 A story told in a first person is when a main character from the story is telling it from their
perspective. Look for pronouns like “I” and “We” when identifying point of view.
o ex. I looked up at the terrace and saw Juliet, my love, as beautiful as the sun, looking
down on me.
o The narrator is a character in the story.
o I looked..., my love..., down on me

Second Person

 This form of narration uses the “You” as the primary pronoun. Often implies that the
narrator is an “I” and/or is used to connect reader to the narrator.
 Very uncommon.
 Is a form of writing that addresses the onlooker or reader directly. For instance, the text
would read, "You went to school that morning."

Third Person Omniscient

 The method of telling a story where the narrator knows the thought and feelings of several
characters in the story.
o ex. When Romeo saw Juliet on the terrace above him, he thought she looked as
beautiful as the sun.
o The narrator shows what happens and what characters are thinking.
 o Narrator's POV - Romeo was in Juliet's garden. He was on the ground, and she was in
the balcony. They looked at each other for a long time.

Significance of POV

 “The choice of the point of view from which to narrate a story greatly affects both the
reader’s experience of the story and the type of information the author is able to impart.
First person creates greater intimacy between the reader and the story, while third person
allows the author to add much more complexity to the plot and development of different
characters that one character wouldn’t be able to perceive on his or her own. Therefore,
point of view has a great amount of significance in every piece of literature. The relative
popularities of different types of point of view have changed over the centuries of novel
writing. For example, epistolary novels were once quite common but have largely fallen out
of favor. First person point is view, meanwhile, is quite common now whereas it was hardly
used at all before the 20th century.”

Setting

 The time, place, physical details and circumstances in which a situation occurs. Settings
include the background, atmosphere or environment in which characters live and move, and
usually include physical characteristics of the surroundings
o Can establish tone and effect the read3rs mood
o Create a mental picture
o Can contribute to the conflict in some areas.

Theme/Central Idea

 The theme is an idea that is weaved through a story. A story may have more than one
theme, some themes may stick out more than others, and the theme can vary from person
to person.

Identifying Themes

 The theme must be drawn out the story. Meaning, the readers need to think deeply about
the literary elements to find a bigger meaning behind what takes place on the surface.
o What are some of the topics or concepts and what do we learn about them?
o What conflict does the protagonist face and what can we learn from it?

Analyzing Themes

 When analyzing the theme, readers need to dissect the text just like they would a frog in
science. Good readers look for details that help to contribute to the message of the story.
o What details does the author use to carry out the theme?
o What do you think the author’s opinion is about the theme?
o What is my opinion?
o Does this theme apply to our world today?
Lesson 5: In an Ocean of Emotions: Philippine Drama

The History of Philippine Theater

Philippine Theater in Pre-Colonial Era

 Started with Pre-Colonial indigenous drama that involves rituals, games, songs, and dances.

PHILIPPINE THEATER IN SPANISH ERA

ZARZUELAS

 When the Spaniards reached our shores, they used dramas such as zarzuelas as a
pedagogical tool to influence the pagan tribes and teach them about Christianity and
religion.

Example of zarzuela - O Walang sugat: Severino Reyes https://www.youtube.com/watch?

v=EfsiRLGhOno

 Zarzuela is lyric dramatic genre that alternates between spoken and sung scenes.

COMEDIA

1. Another important form of theater popularized during the Spanish colonization is the
comedia also known as moro-moro, linambay(cebu), or arakyo.
2. It’s a play in verse that portrays the lives, loves, and wars of moors and Christians.

Example of Comedia - Moro moro

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C2dimuHbzbE

Comedias

 were normally performed in the pueblos or village centers to attract more people to the
foundation of
 its regime.
 The comedia can last anywhere from 3 to 15 hours through a series of performances.
 The first Filipino comedia was performed in Latin and Spanish by Fr. Vicente Puche in Cebu in
a 1598.
 Komedya is a colorful theatrical tradition that revolves around Muslim and Christian heroes.

PHILIPPINE THEATER AMERICAN ERA

When American colonial rule was established, the United States introduce American way of life
through education, media, and language. Their influence on Philippine theatre is most apparent
through the bodabil (vaudeville) and the plays and dramas staged or translated into English.

BODABIL

 The bodabil is not a straight-up play. The theatrical performance is, in fact, a mix of songs,
dances, comedy skits, and even magical performances.

PHILIPPINE THEATER IN JAPANESE ERA

 By the 1940s, when the Japanese took over the Philippines from the Americans, movie
actors and actresses could no longer appear in films, as the Japanese confiscated all film
equipment. However, the comedia, zarzuela, and bodabil remained in the country as a form
of entertainment and expression.
 After the war, movies returned to popularity, and the bodabil era slowly lost its luster. Stage
show became small, cheap performances held in open-air stages in the provinces. Sadly, the
bodabil deteriorated decades later to become burlesque and strip shows held in cheap
theatres around American military bases.

PHILIPPINE THEATER AS WE KNOW TODAY

 After the Japanese occupation, the Philippine theatre has evolved to become an
amalgamation of the various influences such that of the zarzueLa, comedia, bodabil, and
western classics. Theatre was largely performed in English during the time, as it became a
large part of classroom education. Meanwhile, zarzuelas such as “Ang Kiri,” “Dalagang
Bukid,” and “Paglipis ng Dilim” became well-known beyond their regions.
 By the 1950s, Theatre had moved out of classrooms and the concept of paying for a ticket to
see a theatrical performance emerged. This “Legitimate” theatre was held in closed theatres
– these became events in themselves, not just mere parts of a celebration or religious ritual.
Philippine Theater is as varied as the cultural traditions and historical influences that was
shaped in centuries.

LESSON 6: The Future of Philippine Literature

KOMIKS

 one of the most beloved forms of published work.

Children’s Literature

 discuss controversial and sensitive issues in the context of

 the child experience.

SPECULATIVE FICTION
  An umbrella term for horror, fantasy, sci-fi, magical realism, and, non-realist genres.

AVANTE-GARDE (advance guard) POETRY

 kind of poems experiments with form, phrasing, ideas, imagery, and the like.

CONTEMPORARY ESSAY

 explores diverse topics such as dysfunctional families, LGBT issues, terrorism, religion,
and/or faith.

How do you perceive World Literature?

 Literature is meant to be universal. It has been proven that literature has the capacity to
reach and touch people from all walks of life.

Lesson 7 : Literature of the world

Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe

 German writer who used the term “world literature” to refer to the literature from across
the globe.
 August 28, 1749-March 22, 1832
 German Poet, Playwright, Novelist, Scientist, Statesman, Theater Director and Critic
 The last man during renaissance period

WELTLITERATUR

 a term coined by Goethe which literally means “world literature.”

“Characters think, feel and act”

Give-Take

UNIVERSALITY DIVERSITY
Diaspora = Africa & Asia Magic Realism = Europe & North America
Written works produced by the writer outside Originally came from Latin America
their native land

Literature

 is anybody of written works and is meant to be universal.

 Reflection of the society and culture
 Meant to be universal. It has been proven that literature has the capacity to reach and touch
people from all walks of life

World Literature

 was first used by the German writer and statesman Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, referring
to the dissemination of literature from and to countries across the globe.
3 Features of World Literature

Literature can be divided into three major types: prose ("ordinary language"), poetry
(aesthetically structured language), and drama (literature intended for performance; drama may be
composed in either prose or poetry).

1. Poetry - Spoken Word Poetry

 It refers to an oral poetic performance art that is based mainly on the poem as well as the
performer’s aesthetic qualities.
 Juan Miguel Severo is a writer, actor, singer, and spoken word artist. His most recent works
include the screenplay of the film Hintayan ng Langit, his appearance in the movie The Hows
of Us, and a spoken word/music album called Calypso on Spotify.

2. Drama - It is a play for theater, radio, or television

NEW HISTORICISM - DEATH OF THE AUTHOR

NEW HISTORICISM

 “Understand who the author is”

 Requires the understanding of the author’s biography, social, and cultural influences.

DEATH OF THE AUTHOR

 It holds that an author’s intentions and biographical facts (the author’s politics, religion, etc.)
should hold no special weight in determining an interpretation of their writing.
 Learning about the literatures of other nations allows you to also open yourself to other
cultures that you may not be familiar with. In doing so, you are also opening yourself to
understanding how the world outside of your own works.