Philippine Literature.docx

Philippine Literature Trace the development of Philippine Literature in English from the early American Period to the contemporary times. Highlight the historical influences that inform Philippine literary productions. Analyze the recurrent themes, pervading thought and styles in English literary p...

Philippine Literature Trace the development of Philippine Literature in English from the early American Period to the contemporary times. Highlight the historical influences that inform Philippine literary productions. Analyze the recurrent themes, pervading thought and styles in English literary productions of Filipino writers. Interpret and analyze some literary texts or representative writers. Early literary historians divided Philippine literature in English into five periods Period of Orientation (1898-1909) Period of Imitation (1910-1924) Period of Growth and Experimentation (1925-1941) Post-Liberation Period (1945-onwards) The Period of Orientation (1898-1909) It began with the Occupation of Manila by the American forces on August 13, 1898. It extended to the publication of the College Folio in 1910 when Filipino writers made their first attempts at expression in the new language. The nationalistic and rebellious spirit against the American occupation also found expression in the Filipino literature in English of this period. It consisted mostly of articles dealing with patriotism and nationalism. However, only El Renacimiento and the Free Press published writings in English. 52 The Period of Imitation (1910-1924) Began in 1910 when the College Folio made its appearance in the University of the Philippines This period was characterized by a strict adherence to the conventional forms of literature exemplified in the works of Longfellow, Hawthome, Emerson, Tennyson, Thackeray, and Macaulay; and by careful observance of the rules of grammar and rhetoric. The publication of magazines and newspapers in English gave budding writers a chance to see their compositions in print. Ex. Philippine Review, Independent, Rising Philippines, and Citizens, in addition to the Philippine Collegian, the UP student organ. Philippines Herald became the pioneer Filipino newspaper in English in 1920. Paz Marquez Benitez gained some measure of mastery far ahead of the period as exemplified in her short story, “Dead Stars.” This story was, for a long time, considered a model of perfection in character delineation, local color, plot, and message. The first book of poems and the first novel in English written by a Filipino were published during this period: Procopio Solidum’s Never Mind and Other Poems and Zoilo M. Galang’s A child of Sorrow. Period of Expansion and Experimentation (1925-1941) Filipino writers mastered, not only the fundamentals, but also the nuances of the English language sufficiently to be able to write it with more confidence. They tried all forms of writing including the novel and the drama. A deep attachment to the soil and a strong spirit of liberalism took possession of the writers Some critics considered this period from 1930 until 1940 as the Golden Era of Filipino writing in English. Jose Garcia Villa (aka Doveglion) excelled as a critic, short story writer, and poet and tremendously influenced Filipino writing. A number of short story wri Art “Let me hold the bucket while you drink,” she offered. ras, “No, no, you must not do that.” She hurried to his side and held one of his arms. “I couldn’t let you, a stranger…” “Why not?” He smiled down at her, and noticed a experienced a sudden desire to wipe it away with his forefinger. He continued to lower the bucket while she had to stand by. Downloaded by Rizjoe villacru“zM(rizidjoeszu10m@mgmeairl.”com–M) anuel Filipino writers were influenced by Sherwood Anderson, Ernest Hemingway, William Saroyan, and Dorothy Parker. Marcelo de Gracia Concepcion’s Azucena became the first book of Filipino verse to be printed in America. Other poets were Amador T. Daguio, Angela Manalang Gloria, and Luis Dato. In 1940, through the initiative and efforts of the Philippine Writers’ League, the Commonwealth Government started a yearly literary contest. The first Filipino biographer to write in English is Carlos Quirino with his The Great Malayan. I.V. Mallari’s The Birth and Discontent showed his mastery of the art of irony as well as of the English language. In the essay, the notable writings included Salvador P. Lopez’ prize-winning collection Literature and Society and Francisco P. Icasiano’s Horizons from My Nipa Hut. Filipino playwrights flourished during this period: Augusto C. Catanjal (The Oil Lamp), Vidal A. Tan (The Husband of Mrs. Cruz), Severino Montano (The Land of Our Fathers), and Wilfrido Ma. Guerrero (13 Plays), who became the most prolific dramatist. Period of Propaganda (1942-1944) The war dampened the literary enthusiasm of the preceding period. The writing of this period was largely journalistic, and the literary output was negligible for two reasons: (1) it was, in the main, insincere, and (2) there was very little opportunity for publication. 54 This period saw the rise of Carlos P. Romulo, the first Filipino writer and journalist to win international recognition. He won the Pulitzer Prize; and his I Saw the Fall of the Philippines, I See the Philippines Rise, and Mother America became best sellers. Post-Liberation Period (1945--) The militancy which might be expected as a result of the war was very evident among journalists and editors. The most significant achievement of this period was the recognition afforded to Filipino writers abroad. Carlos Bulosan put out an book of poems called Voice of Bataan immediately after the outbreak of World War II. This volume was followed by The Laughter of My Father, a collection of humorous short stories and America Is In the Heart, an autobiography. Stevan Javellana published his novel Without Seeing the Dawn, a war novel comparable to Rizal’s masterpieces Jose Garcia Villa’s collection of poems Have Come, Am Here revealed great power both in thought and expression and elicited the warmest praises from American and English critics. Philippine Contemporary Literature in English: Tradition and Change by Ophelia A. Dimalanta and Virginia M. Mata (1985) outlined Philippine literary history into three periods: The Pre-War Years from the 20’s to 1941 55 Philippine literature in English began with the coming of the Americans in 1898. Spanish continued to dominate the circle of the elite, but in the 30’s it began to give way to English. Vernacular languages continued to be used in homes. UP was established in 1908, a landmark in the literary development of the country along the lines of Western traditions. It triggered the development and flowering of Philippine literature in English. With American textbooks, American instructors, American writers as models, the Filipinos started to learn not only a new language and a new way of life alien to their traditions: the start of Western education or mis-education, the start of colonial orientation or dis-orientation. Pre-War Poetry S.P. Lopez, a prophet of socially committed literature, influenced as he was by the social protest movement sweeping the USA at about that time in the wake of the great economic collapse and the depression wrote: The real artist has a deep compassion for the suffering of the oppressed and anger at the oppressors. The highest form of art is that which springs from the wells of man’s deepest urges and longings… his love for his own kind and his longing to be free…of all the ends to which he (the artist) may dedicate his talents, none is more worthy than the improvement of the condition of man and the defense of freedom. (Literature and Society, 1939) Jose Garcia Villa, on the other hand, believed in “art for art’s sake;” that in art, craft comes before meaning, that poetry should never be useful and propagandistic, that it must only arouse pleasure in the beautiful, must lead to contemplation, not action. Prior to the 20’s the poems that were written were nothing more than mere versifications, exercises in rhetoric, using specific classical moulds or patterns and poetic forms more for discipline than for art. Literary models were mostly Romantic and Victorian 19th century Anglo- American poets. The 20’s and on to the 30’s saw the profusion of romantic poems, effusive personal expression of all kinds of emotions, specifically love, love lost, love betrayed, love unrequited, or love triumphant. Summarizing, pre-war poetry underwent three important phases: Poetry used as vehicle for mere rhetorical exercises in the service of language-learning rather than literature Poetry used as vehicle for mere self-expression, personal and uncontrolled outpourings. Poetry as vehicle for a dawning nationalistic fervor in the wake of the great S.P Lopez versus Villa debate and the establishment of the Commonwealth in 1935. 56 Pre-War Fiction Prior to the 20’s, Leopoldo Yabes said, “the short stories are better classified as tales rather than stories.” The Philippine Free Press encouraged writers through its short story contest involving a cash award of one hundred pesos for the winning piece, aside from the regular twenty-peso publication royalty. By the end of the 30’s, Filipino short stories written in English already showed more carefully crafted pieces: The unified single impression or effect through atmosphere, tone, and style Plausible characterization A well-defined plot structure Control of language as medium Interesting situation an d a significant theme The Post-War Years from the Late 40’s to the 70’s On July 4, 1946, the US granted the Philippines its political independence. Yet many features of colonialism remained. Petronilo Daroy noted that “indeed, the national sensibility after World War II is characterized by indignant perceptions which often manifest themselves in stories which base their claim to realism on the mere fact of their brutal treatment of evil. At any rate, this attention to the unsmiling aspects of Philippine life liberated our literature from maudlin emotionalizing and excessive sentimentalism.” In 1949, the National Teachers College offered a 3-unit course in Contemporary Philippine Literature in English to stimulate interest in our own literature. The Bureau of Civil Service included Philippine literature as a subject to be covered in the Civil Service Examination for Teachers in 1951. The Carlos Palanca Sr. Memorial Awards for Literature started the most prestigious annual literary contest sponsored by a liquor manufacturer, a magnate, and patron of the arts. The Philippine Free Press revived its annual award of P1,000 for the best short story. Writer’s guilds were organized among them being the Philippine Writers Union (later the Philippine Writers Association) and the Philippine International PEN (poets, essayists, and novelists) In 1960, the Republic Cultural Heritage Awards for literature was created the purpose of which was “to initiate a movement for greater and more dedicated efforts in cultural advancement, to complement the country’s program of economic development.” Post-War Poetry Modernism in poetry started in the 1950’s. the modern poet experimented in techniques of versification, rhythm, music, and imagery. 57 Modern poets were influenced by modern or western schools: (1) imagism, (2) metaphysical school, (3) impressionistic-symbolistic school and (4) new criticism. Post-War Fiction Carlos Bulosan’s America Is In the Heart pursued literature’s commitment to social problems in the choice of subject matter, the peasants, the labourers, the interface of economic conditions and politics. NVM Gonzales published Seven Hills Away in 1947. Francisco Arcellana joined the ranks of the finest writers with his Divide By Two by showing his artistic ingenuity in point of structure, emotional impact, subtle manipulation of symbols, and the powerful rhythm of his language. Bienvenido Santos wrote You Lovely People, his first book of short stories about Filipino exiles in America. Nick Joaquin stood above his contemporaries which included Kerima Polotan Tuvera, Gilda Cordero Fernando, Aida Rivera Ford, Estrella Alfon, Rony Diaz, Lilia Pabloc Amansec, and Gregorio Brillantes. The short story achieved a degree of mastery and became preoccupied with form: (1) emphasis on key moment or illumination usually at the end of the story, (2) use of consistent point of view, (3) use of symbols, the story existing in more than one level, (4) evocative use of language and tone, and (5) overall structural unity, blending of form and content. In the normal form, Nick Joaquin’s The Woman Who Had Two Navels showed a new way of presenting the subject matter, employing rich multi-layered meanings, and incorporating a sense of history and tradition. Francisco Sionil Jose started his Rosales saga with The Pretenders, an indictment against the modern illustrados and social injustice. Kerima Polotan, writer-turned-publisher, showcased her artistic sensibility and social conscience and portrayed the yearnings and frustrations of a Flaubertian heroine in The Hand of the Enemy, a novel that is naturalistic in its The Essay The political essay became popular and most suited for the discussion of ideas and timely issues. Nationalist writers included Renato Constantino, Petronilo Daroy, Luis Teodoro, Jose Lacaba, Bienvenido Lumbera, Epifanio San Juan, and Dolores Feria. Nick Joaquin as Quijano de Manila (his pen name) wrote many essays. Travel essay became popular with Cristina Pantoja Hidalgo leading the pack. Literary critics wrote reviews and became members of the Manila Critics Circle, among them Isagani Cruz, Alfred Yuzon, Alfredo Salanga, Alice Guillermo, Doreen Fernandez, Rio Alma, and Ophelia Dimalanta. The More Recent Times from the 70’s up to Present The immediate post-war years were years of conformism, it was not until the early 1960’s that the students began to unite and hold mass protests and demonstrations against the evils that gnawed the government. Most of these rallies ended in violent dispersals of the police and the military. Using the pretext of saving the country from the threat of subversion and communist takeover, Ferdinand Marcos declared Martial Law in September 1972. During the 1960s some writers exhibited the western trends of naturalism and surrealism the use of stream-of-consciousness) to depict states of the subconscious). Language had also become more dense, more elaborate. Writer’s personal commitment was questioned in terms of their choice of medium. Cirilo Bautista completed his trilogy of poetry books: The Cave, The Archipel perspec Compute the square of guilt against an integral his age built when he was young axiomatic; the sum stands thus: Along the curve x (none noticed the leap; what they saw was the red imprint) by which we know the nothing particular, the momentum carried him to the point beyond the dictum— Downloaded by Rizjoe villacruz ([email protected]) storical in The Development of Philippine Literature in English (Since 1900) by Richard Croghan, S.J. (1975) divided Philippine literature in English into the three periods. The Early Period (1900-1930) The Middle Period (1930-1960) The Modern Period (1960-1975) Josephine Serrano and Trinidad Ames in A Survey of Literature in English had the following divisions: The Apprenticeship Period (1910-1935) The Emergence Period (1935-1945) Contemporary Period (1945-present) Silverio Baltazar et.al. in Literature Past and Present (1981) described Philippine Literature in English as Period of Transition and Learning (1900-1935) Period of Emergence and Recognition (1935-1960) Period of Diversity and Re-examination (1960-present) Bienvenido Lumbera and Cynthia Nograles Lumbera in Philippine Literature: A History and Anthology (1982, revised 1997) chronicled Philippine Literature in English into: Literature during Pre-colonial Times ( -1564) Literature Under Spanish Colonialism (1565-1898) Literature Under American Colonialism (1898-1945) Literature Under the Republic (1946-1985) Literature After EDSA (1986-1995)