Filipino Literature Figures Quiz

Literature Overview

• Literature is understood as the body of written works that come in the form of prose and poetry.
• Derived from the Latin word "littera," meaning "writing formed with letters."

Periods of Philippine Literature

• Prehistoric Period:
  • Oral literature was used because writing was not yet invented.
  • Works included riddles, proverbs, sayings, maxims, and folksongs.
  • Epic, one of the forms of oral literature, is a long poem derived from ancient oral tradition.
  • Prose works also flourished, including legends, myths, folktales, and fables.
  • Celebrated during Lenten by way of pabasa (cantada/hablada).
• Spanish Period:
  • Spaniards burned writings to eliminate traces of Philippine literacy.
  • Written in Filipino, Spanish, English, and regional languages.
  • Idea of national and regional literatures emerged.

Filipino Classics and National Artists

• Canon: Filipino classics with universal themes that withstood the test of time.
• Bienvenido Lumbera argues that regional literature is a subgenre of national literature.
• Important Info:
  • Executive Order No. 236 in 2003: Award of Order of National Artist.
  • Proclamation No. 1001 in 1972: aimed to give distinction to Filipinos who made an impact in arts and letters.
  • Republic Act No. 7356 in 1992: jointly administered by CCP and NCCA.
• Qualifications for National Artist Award:
  • Filipino artists with significant contributions to cultural heritage.
  • Filipino artist accomplishment at its highest level.
  • Promotion of creative expression significant to national cultural identity.
  • Filipino citizens who have dedicated their lives to their work.
  • Artists who have created a substantial and significant body of works.

Notable Filipino Literary Figures

• Francisco Arcellana: writer, poet, essayist, critic, journalist, and teacher.
• N.V.M. Gonzales: Filipino novelist, short story writer, essayist, and poet.
• Levi Celerio: prolific lyricist and composer who translated and rewrote traditional melodies.
• Edith L. Tiempo: widely acknowledged as the Mother of Philippine Literature, poet, fictionist, teacher, and literary critic.
• Alejandro R. Roces: scrutinized then-President GMA's administration through his works.
• A.A. Yuson & G.H. Abad: anthology of protests from Marcos-Duterte administrations.

Literary Criticism

• Analysis, critique, comparison, scrutiny, and evaluation of literary work.
• Can be done with literary theories or schools of thought.
• Formalism: looks at the text itself without considering external factors.
• Biographical Approach: argues that the life of the author provides insights into the literary work.

Literary Devices and Techniques

• Stream of Consciousness: allows characters' thoughts to flow freely.
• Flashbacks: slip into the past.
• Cliffhangers: evoke readers' curiosity about the ending.
• Historical Approach: based on historical and cultural events during the time the piece was written.

Elements of Drama

• Six elements: plot, character, thought, diction, music, and spectacle.
• Originated from the Greek word "dran," meaning to act or to do.

Other Literary Concepts

• Gender and Queer Theory: aim to critique the same thing while putting spotlight on gays, lesbians, and queer people.
• Queer Theory: originally an offshoot of feminism, argues that sex and gender are fluid.
• Transcreation: describes copywriting content in a source text that needs to be coherent, relevant, etc. in a new language.