Philippine Literature Survey

Pre-Colonial Period

• Tigisik is a traditional Bicolano quatrain with seven syllables per line, celebrating themes of nature and daily life.
• Oral literature includes riddles (bugtong) for entertainment, proverbs (salawikain) highlighting wisdom from experience, and folk songs depicting daily life.
• Folk tales encompass stories about nature, deities, morals, and heroes with subcategories like myths, legends, fables, and epics.

Spanish Period

• The Doctrina Christiana is the first printed book in the Philippines, foundational for religious practice.
• Urbana at Felisa by Modesto de Castro featured letters promoting societal good behavior.
• Cenaculo, Salubong, and Panunuluyan represent dramatic plays, re-enacting key religious stories.
• Literary forms like Zarzuela blend comedy and melodrama, reflecting human emotions and social issues.

Period of Enlightenment and the Propaganda Movement

• The Propaganda Movement (1872-1896) highlighted abuses during Spanish colonization, driven by educated Filipinos (Ilustrados).
• Key figures include Jose Rizal and Marcelo H. del Pilar, known for works such as Noli Me Tangere and Pag-ibig sa Tinubuang Lupa.

The New Filipino Literature

• Literature in English saw a decline, while Tagalog literature regained prominence.
• Common themes included Japanese brutality, poverty, and guerrilla exploits during the Japanese occupation.
• Significant writers included Jose Garcia Villa, recognized for his innovative poetry techniques.

American Period

• English became the dominant literary language under American influence, with themes often emulating American literature.
• Key literary movements included highlighting social issues and convictions about patriotism.
• Notable personalities like Jose Garcia Villa emerged as influential poets of this era.

Japanese Period and Post-EDSA 1 Revolution

• Poetry forms like haiku and tanaga became prominent in the Japanese era, with workshops focusing on structure and rhyme.
• Post-EDSA 1 Revolution, literature reflected cultural shifts, with increased media independence.

21st Century Period

• Focus on ICT literacy and competition in writing styles defines 21st-century literature.
• Literary analysis has shifted towards formalism, analyzing structure, tone, imagery, and narrative elements.

New Criticism and Formalist Analysis

• Both frameworks prioritize the text itself over external contexts such as author biography or history.
• Connotation analysis involves identifying significant details within a text for deeper understanding.

Key Features of Formalism

• Emphasizes independence of literary works, engaging with textual elements like language and structure rather than authorial intent.
• Analyzed poems reflect everyday language and humor, revealing a multicultural and multilingual Filipino experience.

Explore the rich tapestry of Philippine literature from the Pre-Colonial period to the Propaganda Movement. This quiz covers traditional forms like Tigisik and bugtong, the influence of the Spanish period, and important literary works that emerged during the period of Enlightenment. Test your knowledge of these key themes and authors that shaped Filipino culture.