Philippine Literature Overview

Philippine Literature

• Derived from the Greek word litera, meaning "letter."
• Timeless imaginative writings dealing with life and human experiences in language.
• Functions to engage with experience through imagination, broadening and sharpening contact with existence.

Types of Literature

• Prose: Discourse using sentences and paragraphs to express ideas, feelings, and actions.
• Poetry: Writings in verse, with rhythm and rhyme, characterized by a melodious tone.

Prose

• Fiction: Imaginary people in imaginary situations, often read for pleasure, intended to expand and refine life, and quicken senses.
  • Short Story: Focuses on a single main incident, usually read in one sitting.
  • Novel: Long narrative prose divided into chapters.
  • Legend: Narratives discussing origins.
  • Myth: Stories about gods and goddesses.
  • Chronicle: A historical account of facts or events in chronological order, detailed but without analysis or interpretation.
  • Biography: Records the facts and events of a person's life written by another person.
  • Autobiography: Deals with facts and events of a person's life written by themselves.
  • Essay: A critical literary composition about a topic or subject from a limited, often personal viewpoint.
  • News: An account of everyday events in society, government, science, or industry.
  • Oration: A formal treatment of a subject intended for public delivery.
  • Play: Also called drama, written to be performed on stage.
  • Diary: A daily record of events and experiences in the author's life.

Poetry

• Narrative: Poetry that tells a story.
• Dramatic: Poetry meant to be performed on stage.
• Lyric: Poetry intended to be sung with a lyre.

### Pre-Colonial Philippine Literature

Religion

• Belief in numerous spiritual beings involved in human affairs, capable of helping or harming.
• Spirits could be associated with objects, such as stones or posts, set up in specific locations.
• A few venerated spirits (or gods) were connected with thunder, sun, moon, hunting, childbirth, and winds.
• Evil spirits might be embodied in animal or monstrous forms, causing disease or misfortune.

Established Form of Government

• Barangay: Small communities forming alliances with neighboring communities to maintain power.

Baybayin

• Writing system of ancient Filipinos.
• An alphabet belonging to the Brahmic script family.
• Widely used in Luzon and other parts of the Philippines during the 16th and 17th centuries before being replaced by the Latin alphabet.

Barter System

• Filipinos had established trade relations with China, Java, Borneo, Thailand, and other settlements.
• The Philippines was rich in gold, leading to the use of local gold coinage called piloncitos.
• The original silver currency unit was the rupee or rupiah (known locally as salapi), introduced through trade with India and Indonesia.

Gender Roles

• Pre-colonial societies defined gender roles based on social functions.
• "Male" powers of differentiation and stability, and "female" powers of integration and transformation were considered equal.
• No superior gender existed.

Babaylan

• Shamans of various ethnic groups specialized in communication, appeasement, or harnessing the spirits of the dead and nature.
• Believed to have spirit guides allowing them to contact and interact with spirits and deities (anito or diwata).
• Their primary role was as mediums during pag-anito séance rituals.
• Specialized subtypes of babaylan existed, focusing on healing and herbalism, divination, and sorcery.

Babaylanes

• Fray Domingo Perez, OP, noted in 1609-1616 in Zambales a "priest called the bayoc" dressing like a woman.
• The Boxer Codex (written in 1595) mentioned a similar occurrence in the Tagalog region: "They are so effeminate that one who did not know them would believe that they were women."

Forms of Literature during the Pre-Colonial Period

• Epics: Long narrative poems detailing heroic achievements or events, often chanted or sung during various occasions.
• Legends: Prose narratives typically exploring the origin of things, places, or names. Imaginary events, devoid of truth and unbelievable.
• Myths: Stories featuring gods, goddesses, and fantastical creatures. Used to explain supernatural events, cultural traditions, and mysteries.
• Bathala: The creator of the world and the guardian of humanity. Strict in his laws but generous to those who follow him. -"Bahala na!": Commonly said by people hoping for Bathala's blessings.
• Folktales: Stories about life, adventure, love, horror, and humor, containing life lessons and cultural understanding.
• Folksongs: One of the oldest forms of Philippine literature from the pre-Spanish period. Types: courtship songs or serenades (harana), unrequited love lyrics (kundiman), and lullabies (Oyayi).
• Proverbs: Practical observations and philosophy of everyday life, usually written in rhyming patterns.
• Riddles: Questions or statements intentionally phrased to require ingenuity in finding the answer. Used in a battle of wits, providing entertainment.

Commonalities of Pre-Colonial Literature Forms

• Common experiences of the community as a subject matter.
• Communal authorship.
• Formulaic repetitions.
• Stereotyping of characters.
• Regular rhythmic and musical patterns.

Examples of Pre-Colonial Literature

• "Biag ni Lam-ang"
• "Ang Kwento ni Juan Tamad"
• "May pakpak ang balita, may tainga ang lupa."
• "Heto na si Kaka, bubuka-bukaka"
• "Hinilawod"
• "Sa Ugoy ng Duyan"
• "Ang sakit sa kalingkinan ay ramdan ng buong katawan."
• "Hudhod at Alim"
• "Si Pagong at Matsing"
• "Sitsiritsit Alibangbang"

Introduction to the Study of Literature

• Definition of Literature: Derived from the Latin term litera, meaning "letter."
• Interpretations of literature vary. Some consider any printed matter as literature, while others define it as a harmonious blend of human experiences.
• Literature, as a story of man, deals with ideas, thoughts, and emotions.
• Contemporary Period (Philippines): 1986

Literature and History

• Literature and history are intertwined.
• Literature reveals the feelings, aspirations, customs, and traditions of a people within a historical context.
• History can be written as literature.
• Literature may be imagined, while history comprises events that actually occurred.

Literary Compositions Influencing the World

• The Bible or Sacred Writings
• Koran
• The Iliad and the Odyssey
• The Mahabharata
• Canterbury Tales
• Uncle Tom's Cabin

General Types of Literature

• Prose: Written in the common flow of conversations, sentences, and paragraphs.
• Poetry: Expressions in verse, with measure, rhyme, line, and stanza, characterized by a melodious tone.

Types of Prose

• Novels: Long narratives divided into chapters, based on true-to-life stories.
• Short Story: Narratives involving one or more characters, one plot, and a single impression.
• Play: Presented on a stage, divided into acts, each act having many scenes.
• Legends: Fictitious narratives about origins.
• Fables: Fictitious narratives featuring animals and inanimate things that speak and act like humans, intended to teach children lessons.
• Anecdotes: Products of the writer's imagination, aiming to convey lessons to the reader.
• Essay: Expresses the writer's viewpoint or opinion on a particular problem or event.
• Biography: Deals with the life of a person, either written by themselves (autobiography) or by others.
• News: Reports on everyday events in society, government, science, industry, and accidents.
• Oration: A formal treatment of a subject intended for public delivery, appealing to the intellect, will, or emotions of the audience.

Types of Poetry

• Narrative Poetry: Poetry that tells a story.
• Dramatic Poetry: Poetry meant to be performed on stage.
• Lyric Poetry: Poetry intended to be sung with a lyre.

Explore the rich landscape of Philippine literature, its definitions, and key types such as prose and poetry. This quiz delves into various prose forms including fiction, short stories, and novels, enriching your understanding of narrative forms. Join us to expand your knowledge of literary expressions and their significance.