Literature and Drama Overview

Study Notes

Literature functions to entertain, teach, and inspire.
It allows readers to understand the world, connect with others, and learn from the past.
Literature reflects society by capturing the essence of different cultures, societies, and historical periods.
It evokes emotions and fosters empathy.
Serves as a repository of knowledge and wisdom.

Drama is the portrayal of fictional or non-fictional events through the performance of written dialog.
Dramas can be performed on stage, on film, or radio.
Dramas are typically called plays.
Playwrights and dramatists are the creators of plays.

Comedy: Uses humor to entertain and often depicts lighthearted situations and characters.
Tragedy: Explores serious themes, often with a tragic ending for the protagonist.
Farce: A comedic genre that uses highly exaggerated and absurd situations for entertainment.
Melodrama: An exaggerated form of drama featuring sensational, romantic, and perilous situations.
Opera: Combines theater, dialogue, music, and dance to tell grand stories.

Prose is written or spoken language in its ordinary form, without metrical structure.
Poetry is a type of literature that uses distinctive style and rhythm to express feelings and ideas.

Lyrical poetry: Expresses ideas, feelings, and sensations through imagery and metaphors.
Narrative poetry: Tells a story with characters and a plot.

Edith Tiempo: Known for her complex and intricate poems, such as "Halaman" and "Bonsai."
Amado V. Hernandez: A prominent poet, playwright, and novelist. He practiced "committed art," which uses art to address social and political issues. Known for works such as "Doktrinang Anakpawis," "Mga Retrato at Rekwerdo," "Muli," and "Sa Kandungan ng Lupa."
Severino Reyes: Highly acclaimed Tagalog writer of the early 20th century. Known as the "Ama ng Sarsuwelang Tagalog" for his contributions to Tagalog zarzuela and plays like "Walang Sugat" (unwritten) and "Mga Kuwento ni Lola Basyang."
Bienvenido Lumbera: A significant figure in Tagalog literature known for introducing colloquial language and developing "committed art" in his writing.