21st Century literature from the

Philippines and the world

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 Introduction to 21st Century
world literature

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 For Dr. Jose Rizal, being a Filipino is important;
but it is just as important to recognize that he is a
citizen of the world. As Filipinos, we read literature
from different countries to discover different cultures
and perspectives present in our world. In the end,
what we may discover in the world might be
something that can help improve our nation and
ourselves.

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 World Literature Today (2003)
A crucial feature of world literature is that it resolves always into a variety of
worlds. These different worlds vary by era, region, and cultural prestige, and the
works that come to us from varied worlds can in turn be read in a variety of
ways. Therefore the three possible features of World Literature are (1) they are
classic; (2) they are masterpiece; and (3) they are windows to the world.
The stories included deal with issues and perspectives that are important to
share with readers and might have some resonance with the Filipino reader.
Even though the settings and characters might be different and unfamiliar,
readers stumble upon the commonalities of the human experience and find out, in
the end, that we are all the same.

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 LESSON 7
THE FEMALE VOICE

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MOTIVATION:
1. Why do you think history is called “history” instead of herstory?
What does this reveal about the roots of history?

2. Do you think women’s voices and their perspectives, have been

heard and chronicled as faithfully as men’s perspective? Why do
you think so?

3. What is the importance of the female perspective?

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 Background Knowledge
About the Literature of Greece
literature, history and Narration
  Literary works from Greece mainly
focused on the epics or myths about
Gods and heroes. One of the Greek
authors that was known by the world is
Homer because of his work "The
Odyssey". This epic poem is all about
the fancy adventures of Odysseus.
✣ However, Homer's "The Odyssey" was criticized because of its
obvious gender stereotyping.
✣ The retelling of "The Odyssey" from Penelope's perspective
was written by Margaret Atwood titled “The Penelopiad"
proved how Homer focused8 on Odysseus' character only.
 Life in Ancient Greece
The Penelopiad provides us with a look into Penelope’s life
from her own perspective. This is rare, if not nonexistent, in
historical accounts of Ancient Greece, where the documenting and
writing was exclusively performed by men. As such, we only have
men’s accounts of women’s lives in Ancient Greek society; we do
not have access to historical accounts from a female perspective.
Unfortunately, this means that we don’t have much information
about what life would’ve looked like for Ancient Greek women
during the times they spent away from men.

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 However, below you will find some information that describes
how women were seen: by men, by the law, and by the society as a
whole.

Women’s lives in ancient Greece were strictly controlled—as a

child, a woman was under the guardianship of her father, and once
she married, that responsibility shifted to her husband.

In Athens, women did not have legal personhood—they were

not considered citizens, and therefore could not vote, and they
could not own property, other than clothing, jewelry, and a personal
slave. All other property was owned and managed by the male
guardian, and once married, a woman’s husband would have
complete control over the family’s finances.
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 As we see depicted in The Penelopiad, marriage was not
necessarily instigated through love. Instead, marriages would be
arranged by a young woman’s father, who would choose the partner
and receive the dowry.

Women typically married young—in her early teens—and was

expected to be a virgin when she married. While love was not taken into
consideration for the creation of the marriage, it was expected that at
least a friendly or familial love would develop between the partners.

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 THE AUTHOR BEHIND THE STORY
OF “the penelopiad”
MARGARET LEANOR
ATWOOD
A Canadian poet, novelist, literary critic, essayist,
and environmental activist. 
BORN: Born on November 18, 1939 (age 76), in Ottawa,
Canada
“In the end, we’ll all become
INFLUENCED BY: “William Shakespeare” stories.”
Margaret Atwood is one of today's leading - Margaret
fiction writers. She studied at the University of Atwood
Toronto and Radcliffe College, becoming a
lecturer in English literature. Her first
\ published
 “A LOW ART”
[ Excerpt from The Penelopiad ]
By Margaret Atwood

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 .
In the story, she is addressing imaginary women. She expresses her
regret for knowing what she knows now that she’s dead even though she
admits that she had been curious to learn the truths when she was alive.
Penelope speaks aloud about her previous suspicions which have been
confirmed only after she died. These are suspicions about her husband
Odysseus. She knows from the start that he is a liar but she could not
believe that he would lie to her, too. (The lie she’s referring to was when her
husband hid his identity from her and pretended to be a beggar).

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 Expressions and meanings
Expressions Meanings

Shows the central role that

“ Sacks are full of words “
stories, rumors, and myths play in
the book, and the importance they
have in determining and shaping
one’s identity; both as it’s
experienced and as it’s perceived
by others.

A representation or a model of a
“ A stick used to woman who becomes too faithful
beat other woman not to stand for her right and act
upon her husband and others
with “ 15
might follow that certain
passiveness.
 Expressions and meanings
Expressions Meanings

She felt that she is like an owl in

the woods that scares people
“I sound like an owl” every time it hoots. She was
being ignored by many, and no
one even trusted her side.

It could also have a double

meaning: One, because story-telling
“ it’s a low art, tale- were done by poor people and the
nobilities such as she do not
telling” engage in that sort of past time;
another
16 is that Penelope thinks
story-telling is low because most of
the stories told during her lifetime
were untrue or made up
 Expressions and meanings
Expressions Meanings

Keeping secrets as secret; or

“keeping the right doors just like the saying: “What you
locked…” don’t know won’t hurt you.”
.

“sleep during the It could be not to worry when

rampages” Odysseus is at war; or it could
also mean ignore her husband’s
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tirades when he’s angry
 Expressions and meanings
Expressions Meanings

The version of the story that will

“official version” be announced to people to be
the truth

“didn’t ask awkward Didn’t ask questions that would

put someone on the spot or
questions” embarrass one
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 According to Linda Hutcheon (1988) this text is an example of
Historiographic Metafiction, a strategy, tries to shift perspective that have
come from received ideologies that have been traditionally depicted by
history and literature. It tries to destabilize "received notions of both history and
fiction" and directly confront the past of literature and of historiography..
(Hutcheon 1988). This is done to make readers think about the validity of history.
It makes you wonder about the different voices in history that have not been
heard and how to allow these ghostly voices to speak through literature.

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ACTIVITY
Viewing
Search for video summaries of the epic poem, The Odyssey by
Homer. Video Sparknotes would be a good start, and you can watch
this at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BCXRxD85Xc0

Reading
Search and read the first chapter of the novel, entitled, A
Low Art. It is the first part of the retelling The Odyssey from
Penelope’s perspective, which gives us a different takes on the epic
and reveals gender stereotypes found in Homer’s epic poem.
Link: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.ca/books/6127/the-
penelopiad-by-margaret-atwood/9780676974256/excerpt
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GUIDE QUESTIONS ON THE NOVEL:

1. What do you think of the novel? Did you appreciate it? Why or why not?

2. How does the novel change the way you look at women in history?

3. How is the novel different from The Odyssey? Why was it re-written in
this manner?

4. What is the theme of the novel? Why do you say so?

5. Would you say that the novel is feminist? Why or why not?

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