REVIEWER IN LIT1 DIFFERENT DEFINITIONS OF LITERATURE

Mendoza, Mariela D.
Del Castillo and Medina
 Literature is a faithful reproduction of life,
INTRODUCTION TO LITERATURE
executed in an artistic pattern. It is the
orchestration of the manifold but elemental
Literature
experiences of man, blended into harmonious and
 The word literature is derived from the Latin term
desired patterns of expression . (“Phil. Literature
litera which means "letter", but it has been
from ancient Times to the Present)
defined differently by various writers.
 Literature is the conservatory of language and
JOHNSON
culture. It is the treasure of every society, a
 Literature is an imitation which has been judges to
testament to its rich history. In the same way,
have value in a period of centuries as true but
literature creates for people a national identity.
general reflection of human nature in a variety of
 Literature is also a ‘builder of leaders’ - leaders
real or imaginary circumstances. (“Preface to
emboldened by pen and conviction of words.
Shakespeare”)
 Literature is said to be ‘the story of man.’ Man’s
loves, griefs, thoughts, dreams and aspirations
MUKAROVSY
coached in beautiful language is literature.
 Literature is language that draws attention to the
 In order to know the history of a nation’s spirit,
mode of expression itself and thereby goes beyond
one must read its literature. Hence it is, that to
merely describing or communicating ideas.
understand the real spirit of a nation, one must
“trace the little rills as they course along down the
PLATO
ages, broadening and deepening into the great
 Literature is an imitation (in words) of an imitation
ocean of thought which men of the present source
(In matter or material existence) of an idea that
are presently exploring.”
exist originally in the mind of God. As an imitation
twice removed from the true reality , it is inferior,
Brother Azurin
deceptive and dangerous, largely because
said that “literature expresses the feelings of
audiences imitate what they see and read.
people to society, to the government, to his
surroundings, to his fellowmen and to his Divine
ARISTOTLE
Creator.” The expression of one’s feelings, according to
 Literature is an imitation of a sequence of events.
him, may be through love, sorrow, happiness, hatred,
Literature can be categorized and, thereby,
anger, pity, contempt, or revenge.
understood according to the method of operation
and execution of each category. Viewing or reading
For Webster, literature is anything that is printed, as
literature facilities the expression (pushing out) of
long as it is related to the ideas and feelings of people,
undesirable emotions. (“Poetics”)
whether it is true, or just a product of one’s imagination.
CORNEILLE
Why do we need to study literature?
 Literature is the execution in language of a number
 We learn about history we didn't experience,
of rules that govern how to render a imitation of
customs we are not familiar with or that lead to
events gracefully and according to form and
what we do and perform now, hear voices of men,
verisimilitude. (“Three Discourses on Dramatic
women, children, dragons, elves, slaves, aliens, and
Poetry”)
other characters in order to spark imagination.
 We study literature so that we can better
HORACE
appreciate our literary heritage. We cannot
 Literature is an imitation of events or objects in
appreciate something that we do not understand.
such a manner as to render a “golden” world,
 Through a study of our literature, we can trace the
improved over the real object in nature (which
rich heritage of ideas handed down to us from our
Sidney calls”brazen”).
forefathers. Then we can understand ourselves
 Literature ought to delight, instruct and inspire the
better and take pride in being a Filipino.
reader. (An Apology for Poesy”)
 Like other races of the world, we need to
understand that we have a great and noble
LONGINUS
tradition that can serve as the means to assimilate
 Literature is written work that causes or fails to
other cultures.
cause the experience of the sublime-awe attached
to terror. (“On the Sublime”)
ESSENCE AND SIGNIFICANCE OF LITERATURE people before the arrival of a huge cultural
 Through literature, we learn the innermost feelings influence – literature as a cultural tradition, rather
and thoughts of people the most real part of than a form of art that had a particular set of
themselves, thus we gain an understanding not decorum.
only of others but more importantly of ourselves
and of life itself.  Ancient literature was written in perishable
materials like dried leaves,
 Literature is a faithful reproduction of life … in a bamboo cylinders, and the bark of trees.
sense it is a product and a commentary on life
process.  Consisted of early Filipino literature passed down
 Literature illuminates life orally; oral pieces have communal authorship – it
 Literature is our life’s story including it’s struggles, was difficult to trace the original author of the
ideals, failures, sacrifice and happiness. piece since oral literature did not focus on
 Literature appeals to man’s higher nature and it’s ownership or copyright, but rather on the act of
needs-emotional, spiritual, intellectual and storytelling itself.
creative. Like all other form or arts, literature
entertains and gives pleasure; it fires the Literary Forms
imagination and arouses noble emotions, and it
enriches man by enabling him to reflect on life and Oral Literature
by filling him new ideas.
A. Riddles (bugtong) - battle of wits
among participants.
The Historical Background of Philippine Literature i. Tigmo - Cebu
ii. Paktakon - Ilonggo
Literature and History iii. Patotdon – Bicol
 Literature and history are closely interrelated. B. Proverbs (salawikain) - wise sayings that contain a
 In discovering the history of a race, the feelings, metaphor used to teach as a food for thought
aspirations, customs, and traditions of a people are C. Tanaga or Poem, - a mono-riming heptasyllabic
sure to be included. quatrain expressing insights and lessons on life is "more
 And these feelings, aspirations, emotionally charged than the terse proverb and
customs, and traditions that are written is thus has affinities with the folk lyric."
literature.
 Events that can be written down are part of true Folk songs
literature. Literature, therefore, is part of history.  It is a form of folk lyric which expresses the hopes
and aspirations, the people's lifestyles as well as
TRACES OF PHILIPPINE LITERATURE their loves. This is often repetitive, sonorous,
1. Pre-Colonial Period (--BC to 1564) didactic and naïve.
2. Spanish Colonization Period (1565-1863) a. Hele or oyayi – lullaby
3. Nationalistic / Propaganda and Revolutionary b. Ambahan (Mangyan) – 7-syllable per line
Period (1864-1896) poem that are about human relationship and
4. American Colonial Period (1910-1945) social entertainment.
5. Japanese Occupation (1942-1960) c. Kalusan (Ivatan) - work songs that depict the
6. Contemporary/Modern Period (1960-Present) livelihood of the people
d. Tagay (Cebuano and Waray) – drinking song
Pre-Colonial Period (--BC to 1564) e. Kanogan (Cebuano) – song of lamentation
 Life is simple for the dead
 The first Filipino Alphabet is Baybayin
 Literature in this period is based on tradition, Folk Tales
reflecting daily life activities such as housework, a. Myths – explain how the world was created, how
farming, fishing, hunting, and taking care of the certain animals possess certain characteristics, why
children as well. some places have waterfalls, volcanoes, mountains,
 Pre-colonial literature showed certain elements flora or fauna
that linked the Filipino culture to other Southeast b. Legends – explain the origin of things
Asian countries (e.g. oral pieces which were i. Why the Pineapple Has Eyes
performed through a tribal dance have certain ii. The Legend of Maria Makiling
similarities to the Malay dance); c. Fables – used animal characters and allegory
 This period in Philippine literature history d. Fantastic Stories – deal with underworld characters
represented the ethos of the such as “tiyanak”, “aswang”, “kapre” and others
 a. Awit - colorful tales of chivalry made for singing and
Epics chanting
These are “narratives of sustained length based on oral Example: Ibong Adarna
tradition revolving around supernatural events or
heroic deeds”(Arsenio Manuel) b. Korido – metrical tale written in octosyllabic
quatrains
Examples: Example: Florante at Laura by Francisco
i. Lam-ang (Ilocano) Baltazar
ii. Hinilawod (Panay)
iii. Kudaman (Palawan) c. Prose Narratives – written to prescribe proper
iv. Darangen (Maranao) decorum
i. Dialogo
Spanish Colonization Period (1565-1863) ii. Ejemplo
 Religion became an important theme that iii. Manual de Urbanidad
influenced the early Filipino writings which had the iv. tratado
presence of paganism – “Christian Folk-Tale”; Examples: Modesto de Castro's "Pagsusulatan ng
 In addition, the influence of religion, besides on Dalawang Binibini na si Urbana at si Feliza" and Joaquin
the daily life of the natives, was lead by the Tuason's "Ang Bagong Robinson“ (The New Robinson)
friar/missionary/parish priest who were appointed in 1879
by the Spanish government;
 The essay genre was recognized amidst the scene Nationalistic / Propaganda and Revolutionary
of editorial protest – Jose Rizal and Plaridel Period(1864-1896)
(Marcelo H. Del Pilar) were among those who opt  Planted seeds of nationalism in Filipinos
in using the pen in voicing out the people‟s cry  Language shifted from Spanish to Tagalog
instead of the sword;  Addressed the masses instead of the “intelligentsia”
 The Filipino literature of this period became the
predecessor of many more literary works to come Literary Forms
in the ages, wherein the theme of nationalism and
freedom of speech would be evident. Propaganda Literature - Reformatory in objective
a. Political Essays
Christian Doctrine- the First Book ever printed in the -satires, editorials and news articles were written to
Philippines in 1593 by the Dominican Press. attack and expose the evils of Spanish rule
i. Diariong Tagalog - founded by Marcelo del Pilar
 It introduced Spanish as the medium of ii.La Solidaridad - whose editor-in-chief is Graciano
communication. Lopez-Jaena
b. Political Novels
Filipino Writers under Spanish Period Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo - Jose Rizal’s
masterpieces that paved the way to the revolution.
Marcelo H. Del Pilar- Pasyon Dapat Ipag-alab ng Puso
Pascual Poblete- Patnubay sa Binyagan Revolutionary Literature
Jose Rizal- Noli me Tangere and El Filibusterismo - more propagandistic than literary as it is more violent
Francisco Baltazar- Florante at Laura in nature and demanded complete independence for
the country
Literary Forms a. Political Essays - helped inflame the spirit of
revolution
Religious Literature - Religious lyrics written by ladino b. Kalayaan - newspaper of the society, edited by Emilio
poets or those versed in both Spanish and Tagalog were Jacinto
included in early catechism and were used to teach c. Poetry
Filipinos the Spanish language. i. True Decalogue - Apolinario Mabini
a.Pasyon – long narrative poem about the passion and ii. Katapusang Hibik ng Pilipinas -Andres Bonifacio
death of Christ. The most popular was “Ang Mahal na iii. Liwanag at Dilim - Emilio Jacinto
Passion ni Jesu Cristong Panignoon Natin” by Aguino de
Belen American Colonial Period (1910-1945)
b. Senakulo – a dramatization of the pasyon, it shows  Literature was written in English
the passion and death of  The English language eventually became the
Christ medium of writing and instruction in schools;
Secular (non-religious) Literature  During the American colonization period,
Philippine literature reflected the ethos of its
 people under a new role. However, Palanca Awards for Literature
these day-to-day experiences under a new foreign  Jose Garcia Villa
influence, as well as sentiments, were expressed  Nick Joaquin
through the English  NVM Gonzales
language;  Bienvenido Santos
 The Spanish „sarsuwela‟ was eventually replaced  Gregorio Brillantes
by the drama‟;  Gilda Cordero Fernando

 One major influence of the American occupation National Artist Awards

on the Filipino  Jose Garcia Villa ii. Nick Joaquin
literature is its refining in the context of the
content and the form. Contemporary/Modern Period (1960-Present)
 Furthermore, because of this broadened  Martial Law repressed and curtailed human rights,
knowledge on the field of including freedom of the press
literature through the education provided by the  Writers used symbolisms and allegories to drive
American government, Philippine literature has home their message, at the face of heavy
become more than a tradition formed by culture. censorship
 It has become an art which succeeding poets,  Theater was used as a vehicle for protest, such as
fictionists, and playwrights continue to build upon the PETA (Phil. Educational Theater Association)
and enrich in every generation; and UP Theater.
 From the eighties onwards, writers continue to
Literary Forms show dynamism and innovation.
a. Short Stories
Dead Stars – Paz Marquez Benitez
The Key – Paz Latorena
Footnote to Youth – Jose Garcia Villa
b. Novels
Childe of Sorrow – first novel in English, by Zoilo
Galang

Japanese Occupation (1942-1960)

 Golden Years of Literature

 War Years (1942-1944)
 Tagalog poets broke away from the Balagtas
tradition and instead wrote in simple language and
free verse.
 Fiction prevailed over poetry
a. 25 Pinakamabuting Maikling Kthang Pilipino (1943)
– compilation of the short story contest by the military
government
i. Suyuan sa Tubigan – Macario Pineda
ii. Lupang Tinubuan – Narciso Reyes
iii. Uhaw ang Tigang na Lupa – Liwayway Arceo

b. Period of Maturity and Originality (1945-1960)

 Bountiful harvest in poetry, fiction, drama and
essay
 Filipino writers mastered English and familiarized
themselves with diverse techniques Literary
“giants” appeared

c. Poem
HAIKU 17 syllables- 5-7-5
TANAGA each lines had 17 syllables
Karaniwang Anyo- usual common form of poetry