Kankanay Legend: Ricebird and Character Types

Lesson 1: The Origin of Ricebird

• A Kankanay Legend - This legend tells the story of how ricebirds came to be.
• Narrative Poetry - Storytelling in verse poem is known as Narrative Poetry.
• Character Types - Different characters are represented in a literary work, such as Protagonist, Antagonist, Minor Character, Confidante, Foil, Flat, Round, Static, Dynamic, and Stock.

Character Types Explained

• Protagonist - Known as the main character, usually in conflict with the antagonist.
• Antagonist - Opposes or is hostile to the protagonist, an adversary.
• Minor Character - Does not have a significant role, may appear briefly in the story.
• Confidante - A character who listens to the protagonist's thoughts and feelings.
• Foil - A character with contrasting traits to the main character, used to highlight their characteristics.
• Flat Character - Lacking depth and complexity, readers don't learn much about them.
• Round Character - Complex and well-developed, readers learn a lot about them.
• Static Character - Does not change throughout the story.
• Dynamic Character - Experiences significant changes in the plot.
• Stock Character - Archetypal figures with universal roles, like a hero, villain, damsel in distress, or wise old person.

Characterization

• Direct (Explicit) Characterization - The poet directly describes the character or another character does so to introduce them to the reader.
• Indirect/Implicit Characterization - The character's thoughts and actions are used to reveal their true nature to the reader.

Conflict

• Internal Conflict - A struggle within the character's own thoughts and feelings.
• External Conflict - A struggle between the character and another person, society, nature, or force.

Plot

• Sequence of Events- The plot is the series of events in a narrative.
• Cause and Effect - The plot unfolds through a chain of cause and effect, driving the story forward.

Lesson 2: First, A Poem Must be Magical

• Jose Garcia Villa - A Filipino writer and poet, he used the pen name "Doveglion."
• "Footnote to Youth" - One of his most prominent works is the short story "Footnote to Youth."
• First, A Poem Must Be Magical - In this poem, Villa describes the qualities of poetry.

Features of a Poem

• Rhyme - Correspondence of sounds, often at the end of words, creating a predictable and enjoyable sound effect.
• Foot - A single poetic foot contains a specific number of stressed and unstressed syllables - Examples include: Iambic, Trochaic, Anapestic, and Dactylic.
• Meter - Creates rhythmic structure.
  • Components:
    • Number of syllables
    • Emphasis on syllables

Figures of Speech

• Simile - Comparing things using "like" or "as."
• Metaphor - Direct comparison, without using "like" or "as."
• Personification - Giving non-living things human qualities.
• Hyperbole - Exaggeration for emphasis.
• Alliteration - Repetition of similar initial consonant sounds.
• Assonance - Repetition of similar vowel sounds, creating internal rhymes.
• Consonance - Repetition of consonant sounds.

Lesson 3: Speak of Life

• Rafael Zulueta da Costa - Filipino poet who used the pen name R. Zulueta da Costa.
• Awards - Won the Commonwealth Literary Award for Poetry in 1940 for his works "Like the Molave" and "Collected Poems."

The Poem "Speak of Life"

• The poem emphasizes living in the present moment and focusing on the things that are, rather than dwelling on the past or future.
• It presents a philosophy of life, advocating for a present-oriented approach.

Poetic Techniques

• Poetic Diction - Choice of words and phrases, including vocabulary, phrasing, and grammatical usage.
• Tone - Attitude or feeling expressed through words.
• Mood - Overall feeling conveyed by the poem to the reader.
• Structure - Form and arrangement of the poem. Examples: Free Verse, Acrostic, Ode, Ballad.

Lesson 4: Words

• Angela Manalang Gloria - Filipina poet known for her works exploring themes of love, loss, and identity.
• The Poem "Words" - This poem explores the power of unspoken words and the depth of emotions that remain unsaid.
• Word Choice - The poet uses powerful imagery and symbolic language to convey the weight of unspoken emotions.

Explore the Kankanay legend of the origin of ricebirds and learn about various character types in literature. This quiz covers narrative poetry, character definitions, and their roles within a story. Test your knowledge on these fascinating storytelling elements!