General de Jesus College

San Isidro, Nueva Ecija

LITERATURE 1 (Philippine Literature)

Definitions of Literature
The word literature is derived from the Latin term litera which means letter.
Literature refers to the practice and profession of writing. It comes from human interest
in telling a story, in arranging words in artistic forms, in describing in words some
aspects of human experiences.
Literature is characterized by beauty of expression and form and by university of
intellectual and emotional appeal.
Literature shows us only what a society is like in a certain age, but also what individual
feel about it, what they hope from it, and how they can change it or escape from it.
Literature is a faithful reproduction of mans manifold experiences blended into one
harmonious expression.
Literature, according to Woodsworth, is the expression of life in words of truth and
beauty. It is the written record of mans spirit, his emotions, thoughts and aspirations. It is
the history and only history of the human soul.

Why do we read literature?

1. read for pleasure
2. reading for relaxation
3. reading to acquire knowledge

Importance of Studying Literature

1. We study literature so that we can better appreciate our literary heritage.
2. Like other races of the world, we need to understand that we have a great and noble
tradition which can serve as the means to assimilate our culture.
3. Through such a study, we will realize our literary limitations conditioned by certain
historical factors and we can take steps to overcome them.
4. Above all, as Filipinos, who truly love and take pride of our own culture, we have to
manifest our deep concern for our own literature and this we can do by studying the
literature of our country.

Approaches in Studying Literature

1. Analytical approach- the elements of fiction include plot, character, setting, point of view,
theme, symbol, allegory, style and tone.
2. Thematic approach- What is the story, the poem, the play, or the essay about?
3. Historical approach- it aims at illustrating the historical development of literature. All the
literature exists in time and as such bears the unmistakable imprint of the period and
culture in which it is written.

Kinds of Literature
1. Oral/Unrecorded Literature- a kind of literature that is handed down from generation
to generation by word of mouth.
2. Written/Recorded Literature- a kind of literature that is handed down from generation
to generation by means of writing.

Literature has two basic divisions:

1. Prose is a form of literature written in an ordinary everyday language. It is a common
form of discourse without metrical structures.
2. Poetry is a form of literature written in verses in which metrical structure is usually
observed. It draws its striking lines from the formation of rhyme and rhythm.
The similarities and differences between prose and poetry are:
Prose Poetry
1. Ideas are expressed in forms of sentences. 1. Ideas are expressed in forms of verses
2. Its structure is divided in paragraph. 2. Its structure is divided into stanzas.
3. Expressions are usually commonplace. 3. Expressions are usually figurative.
4. Rhyme, rhythm, not used. 4. Rhyme and rhythm, essential.
5. It is usually long. 5. It is usually short.

Prose and poetry are similar in the following aspects:

1. Both are considered as records of mans thoughts and ideas drawn from the actualities of
life.
2. Both are classified as pieces of literature.
3. Both are considered as vehicles of thoughts aimed to inform, to educate, to entertain, to
persuade, and to criticize for the enhancement of mans wisdom.
4. Both serve as mans outlets for suppressed emotions.

Kinds of Poetry
1. Narrative Poetry- is a poetry whose principal aim is to tell or narrate a story. It is
considered as one of the oldest form of literature.
2. Lyric Poetry- is the form of poetry in which the primary and direct object is to express the
personal emotion or emotional conception of the writer.
3. Dramatic poetry- is designed to be spoken and acted on stage.

Kinds of Narrative Poetry

1. Epic Poetry- is a long narrative poem elevated in style and dignified in tone telling of the
adventured and achievements of a hero important to the history of his race or nation.
a. Hinilawod- an ancient epic in Panay. It tells the story of the origin of the three
divisions of Panay- Iloilo, Antique and Aklan. It is about Alunsina, mistress of the
eastern seas and paubari, a mortal, and the adventures of their giant triplets.
b. Ibalon- an ancient epic in bicol which tells the story of three Bicol heroes, Baltog,
Handiong and Bantog.
c. The Darangans of Mindanao- the darnagans consists of 25 epic tales revolving
around the great god-like hero named Bantugan.
d. Hudhud and Alim- these two epics were produced by Ifugaos.
Hudhud- deals with the story of the great Ifugao culture and of a hero known as
Aliguyon.
Alim -deals with the lives of the gods and the happenings in the sky world.

2. Ballad- is a simple narrative poem often meant for singing characterized by simplicity of
language and usually dealing with basic subjects such as love, honor or death.
3. Romance- is a long, imaginative poetical narrative about the adventures of fair ladies and
brave knights.
4. Metrical Tale- has varied themes or subject matter. It deals mostly about homely joys and
sorrows, events of everyday living not of the aristocracy but of the folks, moral, religious,
and political issues of the day.

Types of Lyric Poetry

1. Elygy- is a poem of mourning or reflection on the death of an individual.
2. Ode- is a serious or thoughtful poem, usually with a formal structure. It is about a subject
written when the poet is at the height of his emotion.
3. Sonnet- is a lyric poem of 14 iambic pentameter lines.
a. Shakespearean or English- consists of three quatrains of abab cdcd efef followed
by a couplet, g.g. Shakespearean sonnets generally use iambic pentameter.
b. Petrarchean or Italian- consists of fourteen iambic pentameter lines divided into
octave rhyming abbaabba and sestet rhyming cdecde or cdccdc.
 4. Song- is a lyric poem set to mucic.
5. Idyll- is a descriptive poem of rural or pastoral character which expresses the poets
feelings for his immediate landscape.

Types of Dramatic Poetry

1. Tragedy- is a form of drama in which the leading characters are drawn into a dilemma by
social and psychological forces that finally drag the story to a sad ending, just like the
death of the leading characters.
2. Comedy- is a form of drama in which the leading characters draw up with human follies
in the light of entertaining situations and eventualities that finally lead the story to a
happy ending. It seeks to amuse/entertain. Its purpose is to make the audience laugh.
3. Dramatic Monologue- it is a one-sided conversation, the speech is given by one character
and the thought, emotions of the speaker is revealed through his actions. E.g. My Last
Duchess
4. Dramatic History- is a dramatic play dealing with a past historical event.
5. Masque- was a form of festive courtly entertainment which flourished in sixteenth and
early 17th century Europe, though it was developed earlier in Italy, in forms including the
intermedio (a public version of the masque was the pageant)
Masque involved music and dancing, singing and acting, within an elaborate stage
design, in which the architectural framing and costumes might be designed by a
renowned architect, to present a deferential allegory flattering to the patron. Professional
actors and musicians were hired for the speaking and singing parts.

General Types of Prose

1. Essay- is a prose composition which discusses a particular subject. It may deal with any
subject and may be descriptive, expository argumentative, narrative or any combination
of these; it may be humorous or serious. An essay is usually unified by a central idea with
all parts in the essay contributing to that idea.
2. Prose Drama- has the same types as the poetic plays except that these are in prose form.
3. Prose Fiction- is a prose composition in which character, setting or events are
imaginatively created.

Types of Prose Fiction

a. Prose Allegory- is a prose form in which there is a long implied comparison between
unlike things. It is therefore a metaphor expanded to a considerable length. The greatest
prose allegory in the literature of the world is Bunyans Pilgrims Progress published in
1678. The characters in this work are depicted vividly and the experiences seem very
real.
b. Prose Romance- a prose narrative treating imaginary characters involved in events
remote in time and place and usually heroic, adventurous or mysterious.
c. Short Story- is a prose narrative of limited length. In one sense, the short story is as old
as any literary form and must have existed for thousands of years before the art of writing
was known. It presents a central theme with a simple plot characterized by a pattern of
events which are true to life usually intended to entertain or educate.
d. Novel- is a fictional narrative in prose of considerable length, relating a series of events
drawn from the actualities of life incorporating a pattern or plot and displaying the
thoughts, the sensations and acts of the characters.
e. Fable- is a short allegorical tale conveying a moral or a principle of behavior. The
characters are usually animals talking and acting like human beings, but keeping their
animal traits.
f. Parable- is a brief narrative (especially in the Bible) designed to illustrate a religious
truth or teach a lesson.
g. Tale- is a story sets forth strange and wonderful events in more or less bare summary,
without detailed character drawing. The goal is revelation of the marvelous rather than
revelation of character (e.g. Jack and the Beanstalk an English folktale in which the
marvelous beanstalk and giant is more important than Jacks personality).
 h. Fairy Tale- is a short story in which there are some supernatural or magical events. The
characters, that are neither individualized nor localized, are often not even given names,
being called merely a king, a queen, or a princess, or a poor farmer.
i. Myth- is a sacred story from the past. It may explain the origin of the universe and of life,
or it may express its cultures moral values in human terms. Myths concern the powers
who control the human world and the relationship between those powers and the human
beings.
j. Folktale- is a story that, in its plot, is pure fiction and that has no particular location in
either time or space.
k. Legend- is a story from the past about a subject that was, or is believed to have been
historical. Legends concern people, places and events. Usually, the subject is a saint, a
king, a hero, a famous person, or a war. A legend is always associated with a particular
place and a particular time in history.
4. Biography- is an account of a persons life written by another.
5. Autobiography- is an account of a persons life written by himself.
6. Letter- is a direct or personally written or printed message addressed to a person or
organization.
7. Journal- is a prose composition published periodically for an exclusive readership.
8. Diary- is a daily record of personal activities, reflections or feelings written by a person
for prosperity.

Point of View

Literature provides a lens through which readers look at the world. Point of view is the way
the author allows you to see and hear whats going on. Skillful authors can fix their readers
attention on exactly the detail, opinion, or emotion the author wants to emphasize by
manipulating the point of view of the story.

Point of view comes in three varieties, which the English scholars have handily numbered for
your convenience.
1. First-person point of view is in use when a character narrates the story with I-me-my-
mine in his or her speech. The advantage of this point of view is that you get to hear the
thoughts of the narrator and see the world depicted in the story through his or her eyes.
However, remember that no narrator, like no human being has complete self-knowledge
or, for that matter, complete knowledge of everything. Therefore, the readers role is to go
beyond what the narrator says.
2. Third-person point of view, in which the author uses you and your, is rare; authors
seldom speak directly to the reader. When you encounter this point of view, pay attention.
Why? The author has made a daring choice, probably with a specific purpose in mind.
Most times, third-person point of view draws the reader into the story, almost making the
reader a participant in the action.
3. Omniscient-person point of view is that of an outsider looking at the action. The writer
may choose third- person omniscient, in which the thoughts of every character are open
to the reader, or third- person limited, in which the reader enters only one characters
mind either throughout the entire work or in a specific section. Third person limited
differs from first-person because the authors voice, not the characters voice, is what you
hear in the descriptive passages.

Tone and Mood

These are literary elements integrated in literary works. Identifying the tone and mood in
literatures is an important clue to discover the literarys theme. Considering how the author
creates a tone and mood helps the reader understand and appreciate the authors style.

Tone- is a manner, a feeling or atmosphere the author has meant to set in the story, or towards a
subject. It can also be considered as the attitude or feeling of the writer towards a subject. The
tone can be revealed by the authors choice of words and details. The author may use a negative
or positive tone for his work. Some possible adjectives to describe a tone, are seriousness,
bitterness, joyful, humorous, amusing, angry, ironic, suspicious, and many more.
Mood- is the feeling or atmosphere perceived by the reader. It is the emotions you feel while
reading. The mood indicates a prevailing feeling, or frame of mind, especially at the start of the
story. It creates a sense of expectation to readers of what is to follow. All the choices for setting,
images, objects and details contribute in creating a mood.

Tone simple refers to how the author feels towards the subject, or towards something.
You will know what the authors tone is implying by the words he uses.
While mood refers to the feeling of the atmosphere the author is describing. It is what
the author makes you feel when you read his writings. You can read a sentence, and feel sad,
happy or angry.

Short Story
A short story is a work of fiction that can be read in one sitting with the plot, setting and
characters contributing to a single impression, a oneness of effect.

Elements of Short Story

1. Setting- time and place of the story

-puts the reader in the story by giving the reader the feeling of being in the
situation
-creates atmosphere by the positive or negative feelings associated with the place
2. Characterization- involves understanding that a persons character is inseparable from
his actions.
3. Plot- is the pattern of events that is developed from the interactions between characters.
A plot is a pattern of events in a cause and effect relationship.
a. Cause- things that make something happen
b. Effect- what happens because something was done
Conflicts- the problem the characters encounter. Their conflicts can be:
a. External- conflict with others and nature
b. Internal- conflict within themselves
4. Voice/Tone- refers to the attitude a writer takes toward his subject and reader.
5. Theme- is a perception about life or human nature that the writer wants to share with the
reader.
In most cases, the theme is not stated directly but must be inferred.
Themes can be revealed by:
-a storys title
-key phrases and statements about big ideas
-the ways the characters change and the lessons they learn about life

Plot Outline
1. Exposition- the background or introductory information that the reader must have in
order to understand the story.
2. Rising Action- all of the events that take place leading up to the climax.
3. Climax- it is the turning point in the story, here the story is turned in a different direction,
toward the conclusion, which is the wrapping up of the story.
4. Falling Action- the immediate reaction to the climax.
5. Denouement- the conclusion of the plot, loose ends are tied up.

Types of Characters

1. Main or minor
2. Protagonist or antagonist
3. Round or Flat
4. Dynamic or Static
5. Stereotypes- Stock Characters
Symbolism
A symbol is a person, a place, an activity, or an object that stands for something beyond
itself.
Mood-is a way of thinking or a state of mind. It is the feeling that the reader gets when reading
something.
Tone- is the writers stand toward his subject or topic.

A writer chooses words, settings, events, characters and language to create a tone or
mood. Poems and stories can have sad, angry, gloomy, happy or exciting mood. They can also be
light, serious, mocking, philosophic, sarcastic or bantering in tone. Or they may express a tone of
disgust, of condemnation, of admiration, or of detachment, all these are achieved through the
writers choice of words.

For example, if a writer wants his readers to be fearful, he may use adjectives like
gloomy, hideous, afraid and tearful. He may choose a graveyard setting, sinister character,
stormy weather, violent events and a moonless night to help create the mood of fear.

In Philippine literature we find literary works which reveal to us that the Filipino has a
passion for the good, the true and the beautiful. In Philippine poetry about nature, love and virtue
we gain insight into the essence of beauty as Gods gifts. The prose works about the joys in life
sharpen our sense of what is worth living for.