EEd 311 – SURVEY OF PHILIPPINE LITERATURE

Why do we need to study literature? inspire is part of the spiritual value of

- It helps us better understand our lives, ourselves, literature.
and the world around us
- Taking a deep dive into literature from different - Permanence (A great work of literature
cultures allows us to expand our ability to evaluate endures - it can be read again and again as
and discuss the work itself and also better each reading gives fresh delight and new
understand what it tells us about the world, our own insights and open new worlds of meaning
beliefs and values, and the beliefs and values of and experience.)
others.
- Universality (Great literature is timeless
LITERATURE (origin of term-litera which means and timely for yet relevant in terms of its
letter) deals with ideas thoughts and emotions of theme and conditions.)
man- thus it can be said the literature is the story of
man. (Kahayon 1998, p. 5-7). A literary text can be studied in several ways:
Literature comes from the French phrase - For its thematic value
"belles- letters" which means beautiful writing. - For entertainment value
(Baritugo, et al. 2004, p.1) - For the richness of its plot
- For comparison with other works
Literature in its broadest sense, is everything - For the ideas it contains
that has ever been written. - For its emotional power
- For character analysis
The best way to understand human nature fully and - As an appeal to move readers to action
to know a nation completely is to study literature - For the author’s unique use of language (style)
(Garcia, et al, 1993, p.3) - For its reflection of life itself

Through literature, we learn the innermost feelings All literature falls under two main divisions:
and thoughts of people - the most real part of
themselves, thus we gain an understanding not PROSE POETRY
only of others but more importantly, of ourselves
and of life itself (Garcia, et al, 1993, p.4) written in paragra Written in stanza or
FORM
ph form verse form
Literature is one of the seven arts (ie, music,
Expressed in metric
dance, painting, sculpture, theatre and architecture) Expressed in ordi
al,
and as such, literature is a creative product of a LANGU nary
rhythmical and figur
creative work, the result of which is form and AGE language
ative
beauty. Language

Why do people read literature? APPEA

To the intellect To the emotion
- For information, for amusement, for higher and L
keener pleasure, for cultural upliftment and for Stir the imagination
discovery of broader dimensions in life (__Nuggets, To convince, infor
and set an
2004, p.2) m, instruct
AIM ideal of how life sho
imitate and reflect
uld be
- The ability to judge of literature is based on
the application of certain recognizable
standards of good literature. Great literature PROSE
is distinguishable of the following qualities Prose Drama -a drama in prose form. It consists
(Garcia, 1993, p. 3) entirely of dialogues in prose, and is meant to be
acted on stage
- Artistry (quality which appeals to our
sense of beauty.) Essay - a short literary composition which is
expository in nature. The author shares some of his
- Intellectual Value (A literary work thoughts, feelings, experiences or observations on
stimulates thought enriches our mental life some aspects of life that have interested him.
by making us realize fundamental truths Example: Carmen Guerrero Nakpil's "Where is the
about life and human nature) Patis?

- Suggestiveness (This is the quality Prose Fiction (something invented, imagined or

associated with the emotional power of feigned to be true)
literature, such that it should move us a. Novel - a long fictitious narrative with a
deeply and stir our creative imagination, complicated plot. It may have a main plot and one
giving and evoking vision above and beyond or more sub-plots that develop with the main plot
the plane of ordinary life and experience. Characters and actions representative of the real
life of past or present times are portrayed in a plot.
- Spiritual Value (A good literature elevates It is made up of chapters.
the spirit by bringing out moral values which Example: Without Seeing The Dawn by Stevan
makes us better persons - this capacity to
 EEd 311 – SURVEY OF PHILIPPINE LITERATURE
Javellana Example: The Moth and the Lamp.

b. Short Story - A fictitious narrative compressed Character Sketch - a short description of the
into one unit of time, place and action. It deals with qualities and traits of a person.
a single character interest, a single emotion or Parable - a short tale that illustrates principle,
series of emotions called forth by a single situation. usually by setting forth the application of the
It is distinguished from the novel by its principle to something familiar to the hearer or
compression. reader.
Example: Dead Stars by Paz Marquez- Benitez Pamphlet - a small book of topic of current interest.

Biography and Autobiography Eulogy - writing in praise of a dead person, event

a. Biography - a story of a certain person's life or thing
written by another who knows him (the former) well. Speech - the general word for a discourse
delivered to an audience whether prepared or
Example: Cayetano Arellano by Socorro O. Alberto impromptu.
Address - implies a formal, carefully prepared
b. Autobiography - a written account of man's life speech and usually attributes importance to the
written by himself. speaker or the speech.
Example: A Woman with No Face by Ms. Pilar Oration - suggests an eloquent, rhetorical
Pilapil sometimes merely bombastic speech, especially
one delivered on some special occasion.
Letter - a written message which displays aspects Lecture - a carefully prepared speech intended to
of an author’s psychological make-up not inform or instruct the audience.
immediately apparent in his more public writings. It Talk - suggests informality and is applied either to
is a prose form which by the force of its style and an impromptu speech or to an address or lecture in
the importance of its statement becomes an object which the speaker deliberately uses a simple
of interest in its own right. conversational approach.
Sermon - a speech by a clergy man intended to
Diary - a daily written record or account of the give religious or moral instruction and usually
writer's own experience, thoughts, activities or based on Scriptural text.
observations.
LITERARY GENRES
Journal - a magazine or periodical especially of a - FICTION
serious or learned nature. - POETRY
- ESSAY
OTHER PROSE FORMS: - DRAMA
Historical Prose-a prose from dealing with
historical events FICTION
Scientific Prose - a prose form that deals with the is an imaginative recreation and re-creation of life.
subject science. includes short stories and novels.
Satirical Prose - a prose form that ridicules the
vices and follies of men Difference between Short story and Novel:
Current Publications - books, magazines or Short Story
newspapers that are commonly known or accepted - often referred to as a "slice of life" is a
or in general usage at the time specified or, if fictitious narrative compressed into one unit
unspecified, at the present time. of time, place and action, it deals with a
single character interest, single emotion
Literary Criticism - the analysis, interpretation and called forth by a single situation.
evaluation of literary works; it does not mean Example: Dead Stars" by Paz Marquez –
"finding fault with”. Benitez
Book Review - an article dealing with the contents,
literary worth, etc of a book especially a recently Novel
published book - a fictitious narrative with a complicated plot;
Philosophy - a prose form that deals with the it may have a main plot and one or more
processes governing thought and conduct. It also sub-plots that develop with the main plot;
deals with the theory of the investigation of the characters and actions representative of the
principles or laws that regulate the universe and real life of past or present times are
underlie all knowledge and principles or laws that portrayed in a plot; it is made up of
regulate the universe and underlie all knowledge chapters.
and reality. Example: “Dogeaters" by Jessica Hagedorn
Travel - A written account of trips, journeys, tours,
etc. taken by the writer. Venn Diagram of Short Story Vs. Novel
Parody - an imitation of another author's work,
where ridicule is the main objective
Anecdote
- a brief narrative concerning a particular individual
or incident.
 EEd 311 – SURVEY OF PHILIPPINE LITERATURE
- Interpersonal Conflict pits the protagonist - against
someone else person-against-person.
- External Conflict happens when the protagonist is
in conflict with the values of his or her society

4. PLOT
a causally related sequence of events; what happens
as a result of the main conflict is presented in a
structure format; the sequence of events which
involves the character in conflict. (Beginning, Middle,
ELEMENTS OF FICTION: Ending)

1. CHARACTER - are the representation of a Narrative Order - the sequence of events

human being persons involved in a conflict.
Five Ways of Revealing Literary Chronological the most common type of narrative
Characters: order in children's books. Flashback occurs when the
✓What the character do along with the author narrates an event that took place before the
circumstances in which current time of the story. Time lapse occurs when the
they do it? story skips a period of time that seems unusual
✓ How the characters are described? compared to the rest of the plot.
✓What the character do along with the
circumstances in which
they do it?
✓How the characters are described?
✓What the characters say and think? What
other characters say about
them?
✓What the author says about them?
ROUND CHARACTERS
- Is a dynamic character who recognize -
changes in the circumstances
- Is a fully develop character, with many traits
- bad and good - shown in the story
FLAT CHARACTERS
- Also known as the stock or the stereotype A. Exposition (beginning) – introduces the time, place,
character who does not setting and the main characters.
grow and develop B. Complication (rising action) - unfolds the problems
- A flat character is not fully developed and struggles that would be encountered by the main
characters leading to the crisis.
1. OTHER CHARACTERS C. Climax (result of the crisis) - part where the problem
Protagonist - hero/heroine or the conflict is the highest peak of interest; the
Antagonist - a foil to the protagonist highest point of the story for the reader, frequently, is
Deuteoganist - second in importance the highest moment of interest and greatest emotion;
Fringe - one who is destroyed by his inner conflict also known as the crisis or the point of no return.
Typical or minor characters D. Denouement - is the untying of the entangled knots,
or the part that shows a conflict or a problem is solved,
2. SETTING leading to its downwards movement or end.
the locale (place) or period (time) in which the action E. Resolution (end) - contains the last statements about
of a short story, play, novel or the motion picture takes the story.
place (also known as the background of the story);
local color described as local scenery, the writer uses Qualities of a Plot
words, mentions things in the native language, gives a. Exciting - It should be more exciting than the
names to character's lines to create a vivid picture of a everyday reality that surrounds us.
native place. b. Good Structure - The episodes must be arranged
effectively, but the most important element of plot
3. CONFLICT structure is tying all the incidents together, so that one
the struggle or complication involving the characters, leads naturally to another
the opposition of persons or forces upon which the
action depends in drama or fiction [There is conflict if Plot Devices
there is a struggle which grows out of the interplay of a. Flashback - something out of chronological order to
opposing forces (idea/interest)] reveal information, to understand a character's nature,
b. Foreshadowing - a device to give a sign of
TYPES OF CONFLICT something to come' its is to create suspense, to keep
- Internal Conflict occurs when the protagonist the readers guessing what will happen purpose when.
struggles within himself or herself the protagonist is c. Suspense - this is the feeling of excitement or
pulled by two courses of action or by differing tension in the reader’s experiences as the action of
emotions. the plot unfolds.
 EEd 311 – SURVEY OF PHILIPPINE LITERATURE
d. Surprise Ending - this is an ending that catches the literature to mean ‘art written in memorable
reader off guard with an unexpected turn of events. language on a memorable subject.”
e. In Media Res - the technique of beginning a story in
the middle of the action, with background information EA. Manuel defines Literature as “any artistic creative
given later in flashbacks. piece, whether written or oral, which we can enjoy
repeatedly.” (“Literature in Ethnic Oral Tradition,”
5. Point of View Literature and Society, p. 108}.
- the writer's feeling and attitude toward his subject:
determines who tells the story; it identifies the narrator Literature is one of the seven basic art disciplines that
of the story (the form of narration also affects the story make up the humanities, the others being painting,
itself). sculpture, architecture, music and dance, theatre
and the cinema. LV. Mallari (Fruit at the Top
of the Tree p.1) asserts that “all things around you
that have been fashioned by man, as distinguished
from the phenomenon of nature, are forms of art;
and since the Humanities is the study of art
6. Mood subjects literature included), everything artistically
the atmosphere or emotional effect generated by created by man, when contemplated for its
the words, images, situations in a literary work (the aesthetic and even its functional value, will
emotional ambience of the work), for example, automatically fall under the scope of the
melancholy, joyous, tense, oppressive and so on. Humanities, one of which is Literature.”

7. Tone A study of the creative outputs of man will surely give

a term used, sometimes broadly, to denote an as a broader, deeper insight into the humanity of
attitude of feeling of the speaker or author as Mankind irrespective of time and age; although
conveyed by the language in its artful arrangement TIME and AGE in which an artistic creation is
(for example, ironic, pensive, sly, acerbic, made, influence the content, medium, and form of
humorous); it describes the attitude of the narrator the art work to a great extent.
or persona of the work whereas MOOD refers to
the emotional impact felt by the reader of the work. LITERATURE: TYPES :
Although often similar, these feelings are
necessarily the same . Theré are many ways of classifying Literature. Here
are some of them:
8. Symbolisms
stand for something other than themselves, they A. Oral or Written ~
bring to mind not their own concrete qualities, but
the idea or obstruction that is associated with them. Literature maybe oral or written. Oral, when it is
unrecorded, in which case, transmission or rendition is
9. Images through the word of mouth (salimbibig); written, if it
are usually characterized by concrete qualities is recorded using the "" syllabary or writing system
rather than abstract meaning, these appeal to the of a language, and on any type of writing material
senses of taste, smell, feel, sound, or sight (paper, leaves, bark of trees, stone, etc.).

10. Theme B. Fiction or Non-Fiction -

Literature may also be classified as fiction or non-

the central or dominating idea in a literary work; it is
fiction. Fiction, when the characters, setting, events
the topic or subject of the selection, which is
and other elements are purely created by the writer
sometimes stated by a character or by the writer
with the power of his imagination; Non-fiction, when
himself, but oftentimes, it is merely implied or
the elements of a specific genre are real, presently
suggested. (Note: The theme is not some familiar
existing or had truly existed before.
saying or moral lesson)
C. Prose and Poetry
Literature may also be either in prose or poetic
Literature, as defined by the Oxford Advanced
form.
Learner's Dictionary is (1) the writing or the study of
when it is not in verse form, using the pattern of a
books, etc., valued as works of art (drama, fiction,
writer's /person’s stream of speech, and laid out in
essays, poetry, biography) contrasted with technical
sentences and paragraphs; Poetry, when the
books and journalism; (2) all the writings of a
writer follows a specific poetic format, meter or
country (French lit.) or a period (18th century
rhyming scheme. Poetry is also written or laid
English lit); (3) printed material describing or
out in lines of verse arranged in stanzaic
advertising e.g. pamphlets; (4) books dealing with
formats.
special subjects: travel, poultry farming. (p.495)
Examples of prose writing are essays, short stories,
Maximo Ramos, in his paper entitled “Literature as a
novels, biographies and autobiographies,
Maker of Myths" (Literature and Society Cross
anecdotes, tales and legends.
Cultural Perspectives. 1976, p. 50} considers
 EEd 311 – SURVEY OF PHILIPPINE LITERATURE
Poetry has three sub-types: (1 dramatic poetry (2)
narrative poetry, and (3) lyric poetry. Dramatic
poetry are intended to be acted out on the stage;
narrative poetry tell or narrate a story like epics
and
ballads; lyric poetry which are usually short’ and
express intense emotions and feelings of the
writer. Lyric poems include the odes, elegies,
songs, sonnets and psalms.

Literature, of course, may be classified according to

the country of origin e.g. English literature,
Philippine literature, American Literature, etc.