Eng 4: Philippine Literature

Preliminary Term

LITERATURE
The word literature is derived from the Latin term littera (singular) and/or litterae (plural) which
means letter. It has been defined differently by various writers. Most literary scholars believed that
Literature is the art of written work and can, in some circumstances, refer exclusively to published
sources. The word literature literally means "things made from letters."
Some loosely interpret literature as any printed matter written within a book, a magazine or a
pamphlet. Others define literature as a faithful reproduction of man's manifold experiences blended
into one harmonious expression.
Because literature deals with ideas, thoughts and emotions of man, literature can be said to be the
story of man. Man’s loves, grieves, thoughts, dreams and aspirations coached in beautiful language
is literature.
In order to know the history of a nation's spirit, one must read its literature. Hence it is, that to
understand the real spirit of a nation, one must “trace the little rills as they course along down the
ages, broadening and deepening into the great ocean of thought which men of the present source
are presently exploring."
Brother Azurin, said that "literature expresses the feelings of people to society, to the government,
to his surroundings, to his fellowmen and to his Divine Creator." The expression of one's feelings,
according to him, may be through love, sorrow, happiness, hatred, anger, pity, contempt, or
revenge:
For Webster, literature is anything that is printed, as long as it is related to the ideas and feelings
of people, whether it is true, or just a product of one's imagination.
In PANITIKANG PILIPINO written by Atienza, Ramos, Salazar and Nazal, it says that "true
literature is a piece of written work which is undying. It expresses the feelings and emotions of
people in response to his everyday efforts to live, to be happy in his environment and, after
struggles, to reach his Creator."

CLASSIFICATION OF LITERATURE
1. According to FORM
a. Oral or verbal literature pertains to a literature such as stories, beliefs, and ideas handed
down from generation and transferred through words of mouth. Folklore, chanting and
singing are good examples of oral literature.

b. Written literature are immortal treasures of man's creativity through writing. These are
written works in a papyrus or stone with the use of alphabet, symbols and images.

2. According to GENRE
a. Prose is written in sentence and paragraph form expressing ideas, feelings, and actions.
b. Poetry is a writing that formulates a concentrated imaginative awareness of experience in
language chosen and arranged to create a specific emotional response through meaning,
sound, and rhythm.
LITERARY TECHNIQUES
A literary technique or literary device can be used by authors in order to enhance the written
framework of a piece of literature, and produce specific effects. Literary techniques encompass a
wide range of approaches to crafting a work: whether a work is narrated in first-person or from
another perspective, whether to use a traditional linear narrative or a nonlinear narrative, or the
choice of literary genre, are all examples of literary technique. They may indicate to a reader that
there is a familiar structure and presentation to a work, such as a conventional murder-mystery
novel; or, the author may choose to experiment with their technique to surprise the reader.

LITERARY CRITICISM
Literary criticism implies a critique and evaluation of a piece of literature and, in some cases, it is
used to imp rove a work in progress or a classical piece, as with an on-going theatre production.
Literary editors can serve a similar purpose for the authors with whom they work. Literary criticism
is the evaluation, analysis, description, or interpretation of literary works. It is usually in the form
of a critical essay, but in-depth book reviews can sometimes be considered literary criticism.
Criticism may examine a particular literary work, or may look at an author's writings as a whole.
There are many types of literary criticism and each can be used to critique a piece in a different
way or critique a different aspect of a piece. The most common literary criticism is through
deconstruction where by developing sympathy to the characters and putting it in the contemporary
times can make a good and understandable analysis.

ROLES OF LITERATURE
1. Reflection of Society
Literature reflects the events and the social environment of the society be it in positive or in
negative aspects. The society as a nucleus of man serves as a basket of real scenarios that
transpired in a certain place. A good example is a newspaper and journals published every day
or quarterly.

2. Medium of Cultural Traits and Values

Any written work which survived through the years discussed the behaviour and character of
the people who has lived before. As for the present readers, through pages of real stories create
a bridge that connects the world long time ago and now. Traits and Values such as the love for
freedom, respect for elders, aspiring for a comfortable life and sincere romance were all
discussed and observed today through comics and books that survived through the years.

3. Keeper of Cultural Traditions

The stories and practices that were observed long ago are also being done today with the
existence of historical texts and manuscripts. Who would have thought that traditions such as
town fiesta, Lenten procession, games and folklores created an impact to what a society is
colored and played by its citizen. The works of Jose Rizal discusses the timeless Filipino
cultural traditions which are all being practiced today.

4. Ignites Action and Creates Reaction

By exposing the real event in society, one is informed about his duties as a citizen. Through
knowledge of being one with others is a method of change. One does not only live by himself
but for others. La Solidaridad, Noli and El Fili are not only stories of fraylocracy but also the
story of a nation.

5. Entertainment Purposes
 Through literature, one is satisfied by reading and browsing it. This creates an escapist
imagination that dreams do come true, thus a reader is enjoying a story or a text which is being
presented on many pages. One can laugh, feel the romance, cry at the same time and learn on
new things that caters the need and wants of its target readers. These include magazines, novels
and short stories.

REASONS TO STUDY PHILIPPINE LITERATURE

1. We study literature so that we can better appreciate our literary heritage. We cannot appreciate
something that we do not understand. Through a study of our literature, we can trace the rich
heritage of ideas handed down to us from our forefathers. Then we can understand ourselves
better and take pride in being a Filipino.

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 other cultures.

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 in 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.

LITERARY GENRES
Literature conveys meaning in some form of structure. To fully appreciate it, students must
understand how it was artistically shaped by the writer. The particular manner by which literature
has been presented is what is more commonly known as literary genre.
Literature may be categorized under two main divisions: poetry and prose.

Poetry
According to Webster, "Poetry is a writing that formulates a concentrated imaginative awareness
of experience in language chosen and arranged to create a specific emotional response through
meaning, sound and rhythm."
The two major classes of poetry are lyric and narrative
1. Lyric
It is an expression of a poet's personal feelings and beliefs. It was originally intended to be sung
to the accompaniment of a lyre or any string instrument.
Sub-types:
a. Song. It is a poem meant to be sung, thus written particularly in a melodious manner.
b. Sonnet. It is a poem of fourteen lines devised in Italy in popular forms of the sonnet are the
Petrarchan (composed of an octave expressing the theme and a sestet summarizing the idea),
and the Shakespearean (consisting of 3 quatrains developing the theme and a couplet
reinforcing the idea).
c. Elegy. It is a lament or a mourning for the dead, written in a solemn and sorrowful mood.
d. Ode. It is a poem of praise for someone or something.
e. Simple lyric. It includes all other lyric poems not belonging to any of above.
2. Narrative
This is a poem that tells a story or narrates an incident usually following chronological order.
Sub-types:
a. Ballad. It is a short, simple narrative poem composed to be sung. Ballads of anonymous
origin are called popular ballads while those written skill- fully in imitation of the popular
ballads are known as literary ballads.
b. Metrical tale. It is a poem that relates real or imaginative events about ordinary folks.
c. Metrical romance. It is a love story in verse dealing with the adventures of knights and lords
and their highborn ladies during the age of chivalry.
d. Epic. It is a long, narrative poem which tells of the exploits of a hero possessing supernatural
powers associated with the development of origin of a nation or place.

Prose
Broadly speaking, prose embraces all other forms of writing not classified as poems. It is written
in sentence and paragraph form expressing ideas, feelings and actions. Prose may be fiction which
is a series of imagined facts which illustrate truths about human life or non-fiction which deals
with actual events and happenings.
1. Fiction
Sub-types:
a. Short story. It is a brief form of prose fiction dealing with a single plot.
b. Novel. It is an extensive prose narrative with a complicated plot, an elaborate setting, and a
considerable number of characters.
c. Essay. It is an expository prose composition which explains an idea, a theory, or a point of
view.
d. Oration. It is a prose composition intended to convince and persuade. It is meant to be recited,
not merely read.
e. Drama. It is a story presented on stage involving the author and his play, a theater,
performer/s, and an audience. Aside from the traditional classification of comedy and
tragedy, a drama may also be grouped into:
1) Melodrama. This is characterized by exaggerated characters and situations to produce
sensational effects, violent emotional appeals, and a happy ending.
2) Farce. This is an exaggerated form of comedy depicting ridiculous and impossible
situations intended to produce boisterous laughter.
3) Burlesque. This is a grand treatment of a trivial subject to expose its ridiculous aspects.
4) Dramatic Monologue. This combines drama and poetry in presenting the speech of a
single character addressed to one or more listeners who are silent.

2. Non-Fiction
Sub-types:
The common forms of non-fiction writing used by authors as vehicles for telling stories or writing
essays are the following:
a. Biography. It is a record of a person's whole life or just portions of his life highlighting his
accomplishments.
 b. Diary. It is a personal account of important events in the writer's life usually accomplished
daily.
c. Letter. It refers to actual written communications between two persons used by some writers
as a vehicle for expressing personal feelings about a subject.

MBC

References:
Cabasaan, Jr. W. J., Caranto, A. P. and Magtibay, P. K. (2014). Appreciating Philippine
Contemporary Literature. Malabon City: Jimczyville Publications.

Go, M. B., et. al. (2004). Philippine Literature in English: With Literary and Historical
Background. Manila: Centro Escolar University.

Kahayon, A. H. and Zulueta, C. A. (2005). Philippine Literature Through the Years.

Mandaluyong City: National Bookstore.