Literary Themes and Periods in the Philippines PDF

**Literary Theme** A literary theme is the **central idea** or **underlying meaning** a writer explores in a novel, short story, or other literary work. Literary themes are the **fundamental** and often **universal ideas** explored in a literary work. The theme of a story can be conveyed us...

**Literary Theme** A literary theme is the **central idea** or **underlying meaning** a writer explores in a novel, short story, or other literary work. Literary themes are the **fundamental** and often **universal ideas** explored in a literary work. The theme of a story can be conveyed using **characters**, **setting**, **dialogue**, **plot**, or a combination of all of these elements. By examining these themes in a literary work, readers can [gain a better understanding] of the characters and their motivations, as well as the society in which the story takes place. **Common Literary Themes** **Good vs Evil** \- The struggle between what is right and what is wrong **Love** \- Between family members, friends. or romantic partners. **Hubris** \- Excessive self-confidence that often leads to terrible decisions. **Coming of Age** \- This theme is all about growing up and becoming an adult. **Circle of life** \- The inevitability of death and the meaning of life **Identity** \- Deals with the question of who we are and how we define ourselves. \-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-- **Pre-Spanish Period** ** Chant** (Bulong) - used in witchcraft or enchantment especially in remote places in the Visayas. ** Legends** - a genre of folklore that consists of a narrative featuring human actions percieved or believed both by teller and listeners to have taken place within human history. ** Folk Tales** - made up stories about life, adventure, love, horror, and humor where one can derive lessons. (Example: The Moon and the Sun) ** Epics** - long narrative poems in which series of heroic achievements or events, usually of a hero, are dealt at with length. ** Folk Songs** 1\. The oldest form of Philippine literature that emerged in the pre-Spanish period. 2\. Mirrored the early forms of culture. 3\. Many of these have 12 syllables. 4\. Examples: Kundiman, Ang Oyayi o Hele, etc.\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-- **Spanish Period** **1521 - 1871** **Baybayin** \-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-- **Roman Alphabet** **Survival** \-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-- **Christian Doctrine** **Corido** - a famous narrative metrical tale and poetry that forms a ballad. The songs are often about oppression, history, daily life for criminals. **Moro-moro** - or comedia, a folk drama based on the battles between Christians and the Muslim Moros in the Philippines.; The earliest known form of organized theatre in the Philippines; it was created by Spanish priests. **Cenaculo** - a stage play that depicts the life of Jesus Christ from when he was born up to the time leading to his death. **Panunuluyan** - a re-enactment by present-day faithful of the difficult search of Joseph and Mary for lodging/shelter in Bethlehem. **Zarzuela** - form of Spanish or Spanish-derived musical theatre in which the dramatic action is carried through an alternating combination of song and speech. \-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-- **The Propaganda Movement** **(1872 - 1896)** A reform and national consciusness movement Triumvirate 1\. The first editor (Jose Rizal) 2\. The second editor (Marcelo H. Del Pilar) 3\. The most cultured (Graciano Lopez Jaune) Some of Rizal's Writings (The First Editor) 1\. Noli Me Tangere 2\. El Filibusterismo 3\. Mi Ultimo Adios 4\. Ala Juventud Filipina 5\. La Indolencia de los Filipinos Colonial Oppression Social Injustice Struggle for Independence Some of Del Pilar's Writings 1\. Pag-ibig sa Tinubuang Lupa (Love of Country) 2\. Kaiingat Kayo (Be Careful) 3\. Dasalan at Tocsohan (Prayers and Jokes) "**Anti-Friar**" **Revolution** against the hypocrisy of Spanish Friars Some of Jaena's Writings 1\. Fray Botod - a satirical character sketch of priests during the Spanish colonization 2\. La Hija del Fraile (The Child of the Friar) 3\. Everything is Hambug (Everything is Mere Show) Societal and Political Injustices Superficialities of Societal Norms \-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-- **The American Period** **1898 - 1944** Free public education (during the war) English language was used as medium of instruction. First English Teachers Professional Teachers - USS Thomas Americans influenced Filipino writers to write using the English language. Characteristics of Literature: Spanish, Tagalog, Dialects Spanish: nationalism Tagalog: Lamentations on the Conditions of the country and their attempts to arouse love for one's native tongue. English: writers imitated the themes and methods of the Americans. \-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-- **Japanese Period** **1941 - 1945** ** ** Philippine literature was interrupted in its development when another foreign country conquered the Philippines. Philippine literature in English came to a halt. No circulation of newspapers except for Tribune and Philippine Review. Nationalism, country, love, and life in the barrios, faith, religion, and the arts. \-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-- **POST COLONIAL** \- martial law (human rights abuses) \- a lot of activism \- Lit. Themes by Filo Writers: social injustices, fight for freedom (people power revolution), etc. \-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-- **Literary Elements** ** ** essential, foundation of the story **CHARACTERS** Characters are the population of the story. Every story will have at least one character (the main character). The main character is often known as the [protagonist]. Those acting against the protagonist are called [antagonists], and the interactions between them create conflict or tension in a story's plot. There are lots of ways characters can join in a story, and they don't all have to be working with or against a main character. Characters can provide [dialogue], create geographic or cultural context, or add a different perspective. **SETTING** Setting is the [time], [place], and [environment] in which a story takes place. A story can have as many settings as the writer chooses. For instance, one novel may cover hundreds of years across multiple continents, while another may take place inside a person's head or a single room. **POINT OF VIEW** Point of view is the angle through which a story is told. **First Person** The story is told through the eyes of a main character. You will notice pronouns like I, me, my, and our in writing done in the first-person point of view. **Second Person** Second-person point of view uses the pronoun you and makes the reader the main character. You will find second-person point of view in many educational resources as well as in self-help books and articles. **Third Person** Third-person point of view is narrated from a position [outside] of the characters in the story. ○ **Objective** \- The facts of a narrative are reported by a seemingly neutral, impersonal observer or recorder. ○ **Omniscient** \- An all-knowing narrator not only reports the facts but may also interpret events and relate the thoughts and feelings of any character. ○ **Limited** \- A narrator reports the facts and interprets events from the perspective of a single character. **THEME** A theme is a central idea, concept, or message that is explored throughout a story. Themes are often a bigger, broader, or deeper message than an author can write about coherently, so they use the other literary elements---like plot, character, and conflict---to guide the reader along. For example, some of the most common themes in literature are love, loss, coming of age, freedom, and power. These are huge concepts that can underpin a story. **PLOT** The plot is what happens in the story. Plot drives the narrative forward. It is what your characters do, what events transpire, and in what order. A plot does not have to be a complicated weave of actions, although that's an option. As long as a story has a beginning, middle, and end, it has a plot. **FREYTAG'S PYRAMID** Freytag's Pyramid is a narrative structure that breaks the story arc of a drama into five distinct sections. Also known as Freytag's triangle, it is a variation on the **[five-act structure]** that storytellers have used for centuries. The five acts in Freytag's Pyramid are **exposition, rising action, climax, conclusion, and denouement**. Screenwriters, novelists, and dramatists today still use Freytag's Pyramid as a blueprint for crafting a compelling and emotionally satisfying story. **EPISODIC PLOT** Episodic plot also employs a [chronological structure]. However, unlike dramatic plot which concentrates on a single event, an episodic consists of a series of loosely related incidents, which are tied together by a common theme and/or characters. An episodic plot is used when the author wishes to show an event, place, time, or idea from many different angles, or when he wants to explore one or more character's **PARALLEL PLOT** A Parallel Plot is a structure that enables an author to combine or weave two or more dramatic plots in a story. In the beginning, these multiple dramatic plots run on their own up to their rising events but then crash together at the climax. Although they seem independent in the beginning, all of them are linked by a similar theme **FLASHBACK PLOT** A flashback plot presents action or occurrences inconsequentially so that the author is able to deliver information about events that occurred earlier. It allows the author to begin the story in the middle of a high-action point, and flash backward to provide back up to it. Such a backstory helps the readers get a full understanding of the present events before going to the upcoming events. \-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-- **Literary Devices** ** ** Literary devices are tools/techniques used by writers to enhance their writing, convey meaning, and create impact. Philippine literature is rich in literary devices, reflecting the diverse cultural influences and history of the country. **SIMILE** A simile is a figure of speech that compares two unlike things using the words \"like\" or \"as.\" It helps readers visualize and understand concepts more clearly. **METAPHOR** a figure of speech that implicitly compares two unrelated things, typically by stating that one thing is another. Metaphors can be used to create vivid imagery, exaggerate a characteristic or action, or express a complex idea. **PERSONIFICATION** Personification is a type of figurative language that gives human characteristics to nonhuman things or inanimate objects. The nonhuman things can be animals, objects, or even a concept. The human characteristics given to these things can be emotion, behavior, or actions that bring nonhuman things to life. **HYPERBOLE** Hyperbole is the use of [exaggeration] as a rhetorical device or figure of speech. In rhetoric, it is also sometimes known as auxesis. In poetry and oratory, it emphasizes, evokes strong feelings, and creates strong impressions. As a figure of speech, it is usually not meant to be taken literally. **ONOMATOPOEIA** Onomatopoeia is a type of word, or the process of [creating a word], that phonetically [imitates], [resembles], or suggests the sound that it describes. Common onomatopoeias in English include animal noises such as oink, meow, roar, and chirp. **SYMBOLISM** Symbolism is the idea that things represent other things. What we mean by that is that we can look at something --- let\'s say, the color red --- and conclude that it represents not the color red itself but something beyond it: for example, passion, or love, or devotion. Or maybe the opposite: infidelity. **IMAGERY** Imagery is visual symbolism, or figurative language that evokes a mental image or other kinds of sense impressions, especially in a literary work. Imagery is language that appeals to the senses. **IRONY** irony applies to a [manner of expression] in which the intended meaning is the [opposite] of what is seemingly expressed. A figure of speech in which the intended meaning is the opposite of that expressed by the words used; usually taking the form of sarcasm or ridicule in which laudatory expressions are used to imply condemnation or contempt. For example, if it were a cold, rainy gray day, you might say, "What a beautiful day!" Or, alternatively, if you were suffering from a bad bout of food poisoning, you might say, "Wow, I feel great today." **FORESHADOWING** Foreshadowing is a narrative device in which a storyteller gives an advance hint of what is to come later in the story. Foreshadowing often appears at the beginning of a story, and it helps develop or subvert the audience\'s expectations about upcoming events. **ALLUSION** An allusion is a reference to a well-known person, place, event, or work of literature that is meant to enrich the reader's understanding through the implied connection. For example, you might hear someone say they went "down a rabbit hole" when researching a topic. This doesn\'t mean they literally found a burrow. Most allusions are based on the assumption that there is a body of knowledge that is shared by the author and the reader and that therefore the reader will understand the author\'s referent. \-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-- **21st Century Literature Genre** \- It began on January 1, 2001 and will last to December 31, 2100, though common usage mistakenly believes January 1, 2000 to December 31, 2099 to hold this distinction. **Chick Lit** \- Written by women for women; uses strong female character who is trying to live in the modern world. The plot is lighthearted, smart and funny. **Digital Poetry** \- Digital poetry uses [digital technology] as an essential part of its form or content. This includes interactive poetry, hypertext, or poems that use multimedia elements such as sound and visuals. **Hyper-poetry** \- Also called cyber poetry; could not be presented without the aid of computers and the internet and includes verse with links to sub poems or footnotes, poetry generators or poetry with movements or images. **Hypertext Fiction** \- Hypertext fiction is a genre of electronic literature that uses hyperlinks to provide a non-linear narrative, allowing readers to choose their own path through the story. **Blogs** \- Shortened the term web blog; a regularly updated journal on the Internet. Blogger is the term used for a person who has a blog. It gives the opportunity to articulate thoughts and opinions. **Vlogs** \- Vlogs (video) are digital platforms where individuals document personal experiences, thoughts, or fictional stories. Over time, they have evolved into narrative forms used to tell serialized stories or document lives in creative ways. **Speculative Fiction** \- The setting is futuristic and involves supernatural elements. It encompasses horror and science fiction. **Dystopian Fiction** \- Dystopian fiction is a genre of speculative fiction that explores societies characterized by oppression, suffering, or extreme government control. It often serves as a critique of current political or social systems. **Texttula** \- Text tula is a mobile phone poetry, short traditional formal verses are used in this genre form. It is composed of a 7777 syllable count with rhyme scheme aabb, abab, abba. It has its origin in tanaga. Tanaga is a traditional Filipino poem that has four lines and seven syllables each. **Flash Fiction** \- Notable for its brevity; also called as short story; it is micro-fiction, micro narrative and sudden fiction. **Graphic Novel** \- Utilizes pictures in narrating a long story; it has growing popularity i.e. manga **Spoken Word Poetry** \- Spoken word poetry is a performance-based literary genre where poems are written to be performed aloud, often emphasizing rhythm, wordplay, and social or personal themes.