Philippine Literature Overview

Definition of Literature

• Literature is a creative art that shares significant human experiences through writing
• Literature serves as a foundation of life by:
  • Cultivating wonder
  • Inspiring generations
  • Providing information
  • Connecting human relationships
  • Defining right and wrong
• Literature mirrors society and its mannerisms
• Literature is an instrument for revolution

Pre-Colonial Period

• Literary pieces were transmitted through word of mouth, sung, recited, or chanted
• Folk narratives were prominent including myths, legends, and fables
• Folk speeches such as proverbs, sayings, and riddles
• Folk songs were also popular, including kundiman (love song) and lullaby
• Some epics existed

Spanish Period

• The Dominican’s introduction of printing was an important contribution to the development of Philippine literature
• Christiana Doctrina (1593) was the first book printed in the Philippines
• Metrical tales, Pasyon and Cenaculo, Comedia/Moro-moro were popular literary forms
• Florante at Laura by Francisco Baltazar is a significant work from this period

American Period

• President William McKinley directed the Philippine Commission to make English the medium of instruction in public schools
• English immersion allowed Filipinos to establish Philippine literature in English
• The Sedition law of 1901 affected Filipino writers in advocating Philippine independence against the American colonial rule
• This period focused on love, life, and playwriting

Japanese Period

• World War II interrupted literary development
• N.V.M.Gonzalez's Lunsod, Nayon, at Dagat-Dagatan was considered one of the best short stories of this period
• Haiku and Tanaga were introduced
• Humor became prevalent, possibly as a coping mechanism against the horrors faced during this period
• The clamor for social change was present after the war, as revealed in the novels of Amado V. Hernandez
• Comics were introduced, featuring Tagalog romances in serials

Contemporary Period

• Revolutionized the form of literature produced
• The 21st century is considered the period of the technological migrants, Generation Z, and the millennials
• Filipinos have confronted a different way of life due to technology
• OFW literature, gender-sensitive stories, and cultural awareness are key themes in 21st-century literature

National Artists for Literature

• Amado V. Hernandez: Poet, playwright, novelist, focused on the struggles of Filipino laborers, known as the “Manunulat ng Manggagawa”
  • Works: Isang Dipang Langit, Luha ng Buwara, Mga Ibong Mandaragit
• Jose Garcia Villa: Known as DOVEGLION and COMMA POET, first contemporary poet
  • Works: Footnote to Youth, The Anchored Angel, The Emperor's New Sonnet, etc.
• Nick Joaquin: Known as Quijano de Manila, exploration of the Philippine colonial past under Spain
  • Works: The Woman who had Two Navels, Tatarin (Summer Solstice), May Day Eve
• N.V.M.Gonzalez: Distinctively wrote of the Filipino life and of the Filipino in the world
  • Works: The Bread of Salt, The Winds of April, The Bamboo dancers
• F. Sionil Jose: His writings reflect the consistent aspirations of Filipinos: NATIONAL SOVEREIGNTY and SOCIAL INJUSTICE
  • Works: My Brother, My Executioner, The Pretenders, The God Stealer, Waywaya
• Edith L. Tiempo: Widely known as the Mother of Philippine Literature, her works are characterized by a remarkable fusion of style and substance
  • Works: The Little Marmoset, The Black Monkey, Bonsai
• Virgilio Almario: Also known as Rio Alma, published 12 books of poetry, his works reflected his often severe examination of the self and the society
  • Founded LIRA (Linangan sa Imahen, Retorika at Anyo) and Gat (Galian sa Arte at Tula)
• Alejandro R. Roces: Nation’s Best Writer of Comic Short Stories, he brought to attention the aesthetics of the country’s fiestas
  • Works: Fiesta, Of Cocks and Kites, Something to Crow About
• Dr. Bienvenido Lumbera: Poet, librettist and scholar, introduced Bagay Poetry to Tagalog literature
  • Works: Likhang Dakila, Sa sariling bayan, Apat na dulang may musika, Agunyas sa Hacienda Luisita

Types of Literary Genres

• Literature
  • Poetry
    • Narrative Poetry
      • Ballad: A poem that tells a story through music
      • Epic: Narrates the deeds and adventures of a heroic character
      • Metrical Tales: Adventures of questing knights, courtly love and romance
    • Lyric Poetry
      • Elegy: Written to mourn a specific person’s loss
      • Sonnet: 14 line lyric poem (Italian or Shakespearean)
      • Ode: These are adventures of questing knights, courtly love and romance
      • Folk songs: Talks about love, despair, or grief
      • Psalms: A song praising God
      • Awit: A song with 12 syllables accompanied by a bandura
      • Corrido: 8 syllables recited to a martial beat
  • Prose
    • Fiction
      • Short Story
      • Fables
      • Novels
      • Legends
      • Plays
    • Non-Fiction
      • Essay
      • News
      • Autobiography/Biography
      • Oration
      • Anecdotes
  • Drama
    • Comedy: Happy ending
    • Farce: Exaggerated comedy with ridiculed lines
    • Melodrama: Sad introduction with a happy ending
    • Tragedy: The ending meets death or ruins without success
    • Social Poems: Purely comic or tragic, depicting life as it is today

Types of 21st-Century Literature Genres

• Chick-Lit: Fictional stories focusing on the lives, relationships, and personal growth of female protagonists, often with a humorous or lighthearted tone. Themes include romance, career challenges, and self-discovery, aimed primarily at a female audience.
• Digi-Fiction: Literature that combines three formats – book, movie/video, and the Internet. It utilizes multimedia elements, requiring students to engage in navigation, reading, and viewing in all formats.
  • Also known as Electronic Literature.
  • Different from E-Books.
• Manga: A comic book style originating in Japan, characterized by a distinct artistic style, diverse genres, and a serialized format. It’s read from right to left and covers a broad range of themes and audiences.
• Graphic Novels: Extended works of fiction and non-fiction, utilizing a comic book format but are longer and more complex. They combine sequential visual art with text to tell a comprehensive story, often exploring mature themes and detailed plots.
• Doodle Fiction: A children’s or young adult literature genre featuring text interspersed with whimsical, doodle-like illustrations, which contribute to the story. These illustrations are informal and playful, adding visual humor or commentary.
• Flash Fiction: Extremely short stories, usually under 1,000 words, that aim to deliver a complete narrative or a significant moment in a compact form. Emphasizes brevity and impact, using concise language to convey a powerful story or emotional punch

Literary Criticism of 21st-Century Literature

• Literary criticism is the study, analysis, evaluation, and interpretation of literature. It applies literary theories and methods to specific works of literature to better understand their meaning.
• Literary theory refers to the underlying principles and ideas that reveal what literature can mean, rather than the meaning of a specific work.

Key Literary Theories and Approaches

• Moralism/Christian Humanism: This approach examines literature against civil and ethical criteria, judging works based on their moral teachings or ethical principles. It looks at whether the text presents virtuous ideas like honesty, courage, and sensitivity, and how the characters, plot, and setting represent ethical principles.
• Feminism: This theory focuses on the dynamics between genders in literary texts, analyzing the representation, roles, and power relationships of women. It considers how the text reflects the economic, social, psychological, and political workings of patriarchy.
• Formalism: Formalist criticism focuses on the structural and technical elements of a literary work, such as its grammar, plot structure, character roles, and syntax. It defines a piece as literature based on these intrinsic characteristics.
• Marxism: Marxist criticism examines the relationship between economic production, class struggles, and cultural production in literary texts. It seeks to understand how dominant groups exploit subordinate groups and the role of power, politics, and money.
• Historical Criticism: This approach considers how a work is influenced by the culture, era, and intellectual environment that produced the author and text. It looks at how current events and social/political factors are reflected and interpreted.
• Reader-Response: Reader-response criticism puts the reader at the center, using personal experiences, values, and beliefs to determine what a text means. It considers how the text relates to the reader and challenges or reinforces their worldview.

An Exploration of Philippine Short Stories in the 21st Century

• This informational text delves into the world of Philippine short stories, examining the literary elements, themes, and approaches that characterize 21st-century works from the Philippines and beyond.
• The focus is on two short stories:
  • “Dead Stars” by Paz Marquez Benitez
  • “Turban Legend” by R. Zamora Linmark
• Learning objectives:
  • Distinguish the elements of a short story
  • Analyze the short stories "Dead Stars" and "Turban Legend" through various literary contexts
  • Reflect the short stories into real-life situations
  • Interpret the short stories through literary approaches

Terms to Know

• Hypothermia: A condition where the body temperature drops below 95 degrees Fahrenheit (35 degrees Celsius)
• Loopholes: An ambiguity or inadequacy in the law or a set of rules; a means of escape
• Queues: A line or sequence of people or things awaiting their turn to be attended to or to proceed

Explore the evolution of Philippine literature from its pre-colonial roots to the influences of the Spanish period. This quiz will cover important literary forms, significant historical developments, and cultural impacts on writing. Test your knowledge of how literature reflects society and inspires change.