Philippine Literature - Literature of the Philippines and the World PDF

Literature of the Philippines and the World Philippine Literature I. Pre-Colonial Period (-1565) Literature was oral, funny and entertaining Early Filipinos wrote on clay, barks of tress, leaves, and bamboo tubes, using knives and othe...

Literature of the Philippines and the World Philippine Literature I. Pre-Colonial Period (-1565) Literature was oral, funny and entertaining Early Filipinos wrote on clay, barks of tress, leaves, and bamboo tubes, using knives and other pointed instrument for pens, and the saps of certain tress and sooth for ink. Alibata (baybayin) – consisted of 17 symbols: 3 for vowels and 14 for consonants Literate genres: A. Folk Narratives 1. Myth – a traditional story about heroes or supernatural beings, often attempting to explain the origins of natural phenomena or aspects of human behavior Example: Visayan Creation Myth 2. Legend – traditional narrative the common them of which is about the origin of a thing, place, location or name Example: The legend of mayon volcano 3. Fables – a shorth allegorical tale with a moral, especially one which the characters are animals Example: The monkey and the crocodile B. Early Poetry 1. Riddles (Bugtong o Palaisipan) Example: Bungbong kung iiwanag Kung gabi ay dagat. (mat(banig)) 2. Proverbs – terse statements of practical wisdom based on long experience and observations about life Example: Nahangad ng kagitna isang salop ang Nawala 3. Chants (Bulong) – used in witchcraft or enchantment. 4. Sayings (kasabihan) – often used in teasing or to comment on a person’s actuations. 5. Sawikain - saying with no hidden meanings 6. Folk Songs Examples: Kundiman Kuntang Ang dalit o imno 7. Epics – long narrative poems in which a series of heroic achievements or events, usually a hero, are dealt with at length