Exploring Types of Literature

Introduction to Literature

• Literature is derived from the Latin word "litera," meaning letters or words
• Literature refers to preserved written or spoken words of a language or a group of people.
• Literature interprets meanings of life, emotions, and nature, shaped by an author's artistic style
• Literature expresses significant human experiences in an impactful and enduring way

Types of Literature: Prose

• Prose is written in paragraph form.
• Novels are long narrative fiction
• Short Stories are brief fictional works
• Plays are scripts written for performances
• Legends, Fables, Anecdotes are traditional or moral-based stories
• Essays, Biographies, News, Orations are non-fictional prose

Types of Literature: Poetry

• Poetry written in verse incorporates rhythm or rhyme.
• Narrative Poetry tells a story (e.g., Epics, Ballads, Metrical Tales)
• Lyric Poetry expresses emotions (e.g., Sonnets, Elegies, Odes, Psalms)
• Dramatic Poetry is written for performance

Types of Literature: Based on Content

• Fiction, or "Literature of Power," includes myths, poems, short stories, novels, and plays
• Non-fiction, or "Literature of Knowledge," includes biographies and news

Literary Standards

• Universality appeals to all, regardless of culture or time
• Permanence stands the test of time and remains relevant
• Artistry exhibits aesthetic appeal and beauty
• Intellectual Value stimulates critical thinking and deep understanding
• Suggestiveness evokes emotions and deeper meanings beyond the literal
• Spiritual Value inspires and elevates the human spirit
• Style represents unique expression of thoughts and ideas

Literary Elements

• Plot refers to the sequence of events in a story
• Setting refers to the time and place of the story
• Protagonist is the main character, often the "good guy"
• Antagonist opposes the protagonist, often the "bad guy"
• Point of View is the perspective from which the story is told
• Conflict is the central problem in a story (e.g., Man vs. Man, Man vs. Society)
• Mood is the general atmosphere of a literary piece
• Tone is the author's attitude toward the subject
• Theme is the central idea or message of a work

Literary Techniques

• Symbolism involves objects or actions that represent deeper meanings
• Flashback is a scene that takes the story back in time
• Flashforward is a scene that moves ahead to the future
• Cliffhanger is an abrupt ending that leaves uncertainty
• Foreshadowing uses hints or clues about future events
• Imagery is descriptive language that appeals to the senses
• Simile and Metaphor are comparisons; simile uses "like" or "as," while metaphor does not
• Personification involves giving human qualities to non-human things
• Hyperbole uses exaggeration for emphasis

Literary Approaches

• Feminism focuses on women's roles and gender issues.
• New Historicism examines literature within its historical and cultural context
• Formalism (New Criticism) analyzes the structure, form, and language of a work without considering external influences

Philippine Literary Works: Morning in Nagrebcan

• Manuel E. Arguilla authored Morning in Nagrebcan.
• Arguilla was an Ilokano writer, patriot, and martyr.
• Arguilla Born in Nagrebcan, Bauang, La Union on June 17, 1911, and died August 30, 1944.
• Title is set in the barrio of Nagrebcan where the author was born.
• The title captures the essence of rural life in the Philippines.
• The characters include Baldo, Ambo, Nana Elang, and Tang Ciaco.
• The type of conflict is Man vs. Man
• Baldo lovingly plays with the black-spotted puppy
• Ambo becomes jealous and fights Baldo for the puppy
• Their father sees the commotion and assumes the puppy is rabid

Morining in Nagrebcan Synopsis

• Tang Ciaco violently kills the puppy and beats Baldo
• Baldo and Ambo secretly bury the puppy, symbolizing their silent suffering
• The story tells of abusive family dynamics rooted in poverty
• The story tells of violence and its lasting effects left on children
• The story tells of loss of innocence in the face of cruelty and misunderstanding

Philippine Literary Works: Tata Selo

• Rogelio Sicat authored Tata Selo
• Sicat was a Filipino novelist, playwright, and short story writer.
• His story Tata Selo won second prize in the Carlos Palanca Award in 1963.
• The story follows Tata Selo, a farmer, and reflects real-life land reform issues and political injustices in the Philippines.
• The type of conflict is Man vs. Society, where Tata Selo struggles against an unfair system
• Tata Selo is an old farmer who lost his land because of his wife's illness.
• He pleaded with Kabesang Tano to let him keep farming, but he was refused.
• In desperation, Tata Selo accidentally kills Kabesang Tano and is imprisoned.

Tata Selo Characters

• Tata Selo is an old farmer who kills his landlord in a moment of desperation
• Kabesang Tano is the rich landowner who evicts Tata Selo
• Saling is Tata Selo's daughter, who works for Kabesang Tano
• The Mayor & Police Chief represent the corrupt system that favors the rich
• Tata Selo is imprisoned and beaten for killing his landlord
• It is revealed that his land was originally his but was taken away.
• The story's themes are the oppression of the poor by the rich, desperation of the powerless, and violence as a consequence of oppression

Brunei Literature

• The national language of Brunei is Brunei Malay (Bahasa Melayu Brunei) or Kedayan
• Standard Malay is the official language of Brunei
• Arabic is used for Islamic studies
• Chinese minorities in Brunei speak various dialects, including Hainanese, Hoisan, and Fuchow
• English is widely used in business and official settings and is spoken by most of the population

Brunei Culture

• Saya / Aku is I/me
• Awak / Kau is You
• Kami is We/us
• Si Awang is That Boy
• Si Dayang is That Girl
• Lelaki / Laki-laki is Men
• Perempuan / Bini-bini is Women
• Budiman is Gentleman
• Kebawah Duli is His Majesty
• Makan is Eat
• Cinta is Love
• Suka is Like
• Terima Kasih is Thank You

The Oilfield Labourers

• Yazid is a grieving laborer whose village is destroyed
• Adam is Yazid's friend who offers him shelter
• Jamal & Ghani are fellow oilfield workers
• The Old Man is a villager who dies in the fire
• After a massive fire destroys Kampong Umbi, Yazid walks through the ruins, grieving the loss of his home
• The fire killed an old man, and Yazid and his friends help dig his grave
• The story's theme is the uncertainty and fragility of life and constant threat of death

Myanmar Literature

• The mother tongue of the Bamar population and Myanmar's official language is Burmese.
• Its script, which consists of circular and semi-circular letters, is derived from the Mon script.
• The Mon script is a well-known indigenous language in both Myanmar and Thailand
• Palm-leaf and Folded Paper Manuscripts were historically used to record literature

Thailand Literature

• Thai is Thailand's official language
• English is common and considered the unofficial second language
• Thai has five tones: high, mid, low, rising, and falling
• Written Thai, which has an alphabet based on the Khmer script of Cambodia, was standardized during the Sukhothai era
• heavily influenced by Indian culture.
• The Ramayana is Thailand's national epic.
• This version of the Ramayana is called "Ramakien".
• Phra Ram is the hero, an incarnation of Vishnu
• Nang Sida is his wife, kidnapped by Thotsakan
• Thotsakan is the demon king (Ravana) and Hanuman is a monkey god, Phra Ram's ally