INTRODUCTION:

"Philippine Literature"
Philippine Literature is a diverse and rich
group of works that has evolved side-by-side with
the country’s history. Literature had started with
fables and legends made by the ancient Filipinos
long before the arrival of Spanish influence. The
main themes of Philippine literature focus on the
country’s pre-colonial cultural traditions and the
socio-political histories of its colonial and
contemporary traditions.
It is not a secret that many Filipinos are unfamiliar with
much of the country's literary heritage, especially those
that were written long before the Spaniards arrived in our
country. This is due to the fact that the stories of ancient
time were not written, but rather passed on from
generation to generation through word of mouth. Only
during 1521 did the early Filipinos became acquainted
with literature due to the influence of the Spaniards on
us. But the literature that the Filipinos became acquainted
with are not Philippine-made, rather, they were works of
Spanish authors.
So successful were the efforts of colonists to
blot out the memory of the country's largely
oral past that present-day Filipino writers,
artists and journalists are trying to correct this
inequity by recognizing the country's wealth of
ethnic traditions and disseminating them in
schools through mass media.
• The rise of nationalistic pride in the 1960s
and 1970s also helped bring about this change
of attitude among a new breed of Filipinos
concerned about the "Filipino identity."
• Philippine literature is written
in Spanish, English, Tagalog, and/or other
native Philippine Languages.
Why do we need to study
Philippine Literature?
• Whatever nationality you are it is always very
important to study the literature of
your country. In doing so you are not
only learning about the historical aspects of
your land, but you are also keeping alive the
thoughts, beliefs and cultural variations of
your ancestors that differentiate
your country from the rest of the world.
• A country's literature also tells us about its civilization
in a form other than straight fact. Literature is usually
one person's description of a situation told through
their own personal feelings; eyewitness testimony
to historical events that we were
not present at. Writers have a talent for bringing the
past back to life with emotive language and metaphor,
helping us to imagine scenarios that may have
happened decades, or even centuries, ago.
• LITERATURE BY LANGUAGES
• § Cebuano literature
• § Hiligaynon literature
• § Ilokano literature
• § Tagalog literature
• § Waray literature
• § Philippine Poetry
• § Philippine Literature in English
• § Philippine Literature in Filipino
• § Philippine Literature in Spanish
• NOTABLE PEOPLE
• § Jose Rizal
• § Marcelo H. Del Pilar
• § Carlos P. Romulo
• § Francisco Balagtas
• § Amado V. Hernandez
• § Carlos Bulosan
• § Teodoro M. Locsin
• § Claro M. Recto
• NOTABLE WORKS
• § Noli Me Tangere
• § El Filibusterismo
• § Biag ni Lam-ang
• § Ibong Adarna
• § Florante at Laura
• § Doctrina Christiana
LITERARY GENRES
Genres of literature are important to learn
about. The two main categories separating the
different genres of literature are fiction and
nonfiction. There are several genres of
literature that fall under the nonfiction
category. Nonfiction sits in direct opposition to
fiction. Examples from both the fiction and
nonfiction genres of literature are explained in
detail below.
Types of Nonfiction:
• Narrative Nonfiction is information based on fact that is presented in a format
which tells a story.
• Essays are a short literary composition that reflects the author’s outlook or point. A
short literary composition on a particular theme or subject, usually in prose and
generally analytic, speculative, or interpretative.
• A Biography is a written account of another person’s life.
• An Autobiography gives the history of a person’s life, written or told by that
person. Often written in Narrative form of their person’s life.
• Speech is the faculty or power of speaking; oral communication; ability to express
one’s thoughts and emotions by speech, sounds, and gesture. Generally delivered in
the form of an address or discourse.
Genres of Fiction:
• Drama is the genre of literature that’s subject for compositions is dramatic art in the
way it is represented. This genre is stories composed in verse or prose, usually for
theatrical performance, where conflicts and emotion are expressed through dialogue
and action.
• Poetry is verse and rhythmic writing with imagery that evokes an emotional
response from the reader. The art of poetry is rhythmical in composition, written or
spoken. This genre of literature is for exciting pleasure by beautiful, imaginative, or
elevated thoughts.
• Fantasy is the forming of mental images with strange or other worldly settings or
characters; fiction which invites suspension of reality.
• Humor is the faculty of perceiving what is amusing or comical. Fiction full of fun,
fancy, and excitement which meant to entertain. This genre of literature can actually
be seen and contained within all genres.
• A Fable is a story about supernatural or extraordinary people Usually in the form of
narration that demonstrates a useful truth. In Fables, animals often speak as humans
that are legendary and supernatural tales.
• Fairy Tales or wonder tales are a kind of folktale or fable. Sometimes the stories are
about fairies or other magical creatures, usually for children
• Science Fiction is a story based on impact of potential science, either actual or
imagined. Science fiction is one of the genres of literature that is set in the future or
on other planets.
• Short Story is fiction of such briefness that is not able to support any subplots.
• Realistic Fiction is a story that can actually happen and is true to real life.
• Folklore are songs, stories, myths, and proverbs of a person of “folk” that was
handed down by word of mouth. Folklore is a genre of literature that is widely held,
but false and based on unsubstantiated beliefs.
• Historical Fiction is a story with fictional characters and events in a historical
setting.
• Horror is an overwhelming and painful feeling caused by literature that is frightfully
shocking, terrifying, or revolting. Fiction in which events evoke a feeling of dread in
both the characters and the reader.
• A Tall Tale is a humorous story with blatant exaggerations, swaggering heroes who do the
impossible with an here of nonchalance.
• Legend is a story that sometimes of a national or folk hero. Legend is based on fact but
also includes imaginative material.
• Mystery is a genre of fiction that deals with the solution of a crime or the unraveling of
secrets. Anything that is kept secret or remains unexplained or unknown.
• Mythology is a type of legend or traditional narrative. This is often based in part on
historical events, that reveals human behavior and natural phenomena by its symbolism;
often pertaining to the actions of the gods. A body of myths, as that of a particular people
or that relating to a particular person.
• Fiction in Verse is full-length novels with plot, subplots, themes, with major and minor
characters. Fiction of verse is one of the genres of literature in which the narrative is usually
presented in blank verse form.
•
• Letter – a written message which displays aspects of an author’s
psychological make-up not immediately apparent in his more public writings.
It is a prose form which by the force of its style and the importance of its
statement becomes an object of interest in its own right.
• Diary – a daily written record or account of the writer’s own experience,
thoughts activities or observations.
• Journal – a magazine or periodical especially of a serious or learned nature.
Other Prose Forms:
• Historical Prose – a prose dealing with historical events.
• Scientific Prose – a prose form that deals with the subject
science
• Satirical Prose – a prose form that ridicules the vices and follies
of men.
• Current Publications – books, magazines, or newspapers that
are commonly known or accepted or in general usage at the time
specified or, if unspecified, at the present time.
• Literary Criticism – the analysis, interpretation and evaluation
of literary works; it does not mean “finding fault with”
• Book Review – an article dealing with the contents, literary worth,
etc. of a book especially a recently published book.
• Philosophy – a prose form that deals with the processes governing
thought and conduct. It also deals with the theory of the investigation
of the principles or laws that regulate the universe and underlie all
knowledge and principles or laws that regulate the universe and
underlie all knowledge and reality.
• Travel – a written account of trips, journeys, tours, etc. taken by the
writer.
• Parody – an imitation of another author’s work, where ridicule is the
main objective.
• Anecdote – a brief narrative concerning a particular individual or incident.
• Example: The Moth and The Lamp
• Character Sketch – a short description of the qualities and traits of a person.
• Parable – a short tale that illustrate principle to something familiar to the hearer
or reader.
• Pamphlet – a small book of topic of current interest.
• Eulogy – writing in praise of a dead person, event or thing.
• Speech – the general word for a discourse delivered to an audience whether
prepared or impromptu.
a. Address – implies a formal, carefully prepared speech and usually attributes
importance to the speaker or the speech.
b. Oration – suggests an eloquent, rhetorical sometimes merely bombastic speech,
especially one delivered on some special occasion.
c. Lecture – a carefully prepared speech intended to inform or instruct the
audience.
d. Talk – suggests informality and is applied either to an impromptu speech or to
address or lecture in which the speaker deliberately uses a simple conversational
approach.
e. Sermon – a speech by a clergy man intended to give religious or moral
instruction and usually based on scriptural text.