Philippine Literature

PHILIPPINE LITERATURE
University of Mindanao Tagum College

Literature Defined
The word literature basically means anything that is written. It

refers to literary works, such as poetry, short stories, essays
especially works of imagination characterized by brilliance of
style and expressions by the themes of general and continuing
interest.
Usually, it is body of written or printed work of a society or
populace which is unique and has imaginative and artistic value.
The term can also mean spoken works of arts that are typically
creative.
Literature Defined
 Kahayon and Zulueta (2000) stated that “Literature is derived from

the Latin term “litera” which means letter. It has been defined
differently by various writers.
 Philippine Literature is a diverse and rich group of works that has
evolved side by side with the country’s history. Literature has started
with fables and legends made by ancient Filipinos long before the
arrival of the 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.
Importance and Relevance of
Studying Philippine Literature
It cultivates other important abilities that make it an
essential and indispensable part of a person’s
education.
To gain knowledge about the literature of the
Philippines. Through the pieces of our different Filipino
writers and poets, we are given an insight of the class of
Filipino writings in particular subjects.
We can better appreciate our literary heritage.
Two Divisions of Literature
POETRY, from Medieval Latin

“poetria”, from Latin “poeta” and
from the Greek word “poiesis” for
á making’, is notable for its
unusual structure and meter in
language. Poetry uses a number
of literary techniques which serve
to make it stand apart from prose
Two Divisions of Literature
PROSE is a term from the Latin

word “prosa”(oratio) which
means straightforward (discourse)
and is the type of writing that
mimics everyday speech. Prose
consists of both fiction and non-
fiction, imaginative and factual
writing.
COMPARISON POETRY PROSE
FORM VERSE PARAGRAPH

Language Metrical, Formal, Rhythmical, Common flow of conversation,
Use of Figurative Language Words and rhythms are based
on normal and usual languages
APPEAL FEELINGS AND MENTAL/INTELLECT

EMOTIONS
AIM To stir the one’s To influence, to
mind, to show give information,
what’s ideal of to educate and
how life inculcate
GENERAL TYPES OF PROSE
Short Stories – These refer to the kind of prose

that usually encompasses of less than 7,500
words but can be limited to as less as 500 words.
Factual Prose – This is commonly used for the
writing of short stories and novels. It has been
known that most of its examples have existed
throughout history; it did not actually develop
into a more methodical and orderly form until a
few centuries ago.
Letters– These refer to any form of written and
GENERAL TYPES OF PROSE
Novels – These refer to a long stories written in

prose which give an extra freedom to the writer
to experiment with different literary styles. It
consists of 40,000 words to complete the whole
novel.
Diaries– These are records of everyday events,
experiences, activities, observations, etc. They
are also books for keeping records for personal,
occupational or business use.
Three other kinds of prose are journals,
ELEMENTS OF PROSE (Parts of a Story)
PLOT – It is called the “framework”or
“skeleton”of the story. It refers to the sequence
of events that are linked together. The following
terms explain what happens in a plot.
EXPOSITION (Introduction) – This comes at the
beginning of a story.
RISING ACTION (Complication) – The struggle grows
stronger.
CLIMAX – The most exciting part in the story. It is the
turning point.
CHARACTER – This refers to the person or
individual in a story that performs the action of
the plot.
TYPES OF CHARACTER
PROTAGONIST- He/She is the central person in a story, and
is often referred to as story’s main character. A protagonist
can either be good or evil.
ANTAGONIST – The character or force that comes into
conflict with the protagonist which can be another person,
an animal, a force of nature, society, or the characters’
own conscience.
MINOR CHARACTERS – These are characters who play a
CONFLICT – The conflict is the struggle between
two or more characters in a short story. Conflicts
normally occur when the protagonist struggles
against an antagonist (villain the goes against
the protagonist), or opposing force.
GENERAL TYPES OF CONFLICT
EXTERNAL CONFLICT – This emphasizes that conflict
between the character and an outside force.
MAN VS. MAN
MAN VS. NATURE
MAN VS. SOCIETY
INTERNAL CONFLICT – An internal conflict is

between a character and himself/herself.
Character struggles with some personal quality
that is causing troubles.
MAN vs. HIMSELF/HERSELF –The character’s struggles
takes place in his/her own mind. It has something to
do with a choice (choosing between right and
wrong), or it may have to do with conquering one’s
feelings and emotions.
SETTING – It refers to the time and locale of the

story. It answers the question “Where?” and
“When?”.
SEVERAL PURPOSES OF SETTING
It gives background information.
It provides conflict.
It reveals many things about someone’s character.
It provides mood or atmosphere.
It paints images for the readers.
POINT OF VIEW (POV) – Point of view is the
direction from which the writer has chosen to
tell a story. It is from whose consciousness the
reader hears, sees, and feels the story.
 THREE TYPES OF POINT OF VIEW
FIRST PERSON –One of the characters tells the story; talks
directly to the reader.
THIRD PERSON LIMITED– The narrator centers on the
thoughts and feelings of just one character. Reader
experience the events of the story through the memory
and senses of one single character.
THIRD-PERSON OMNISCIENT – It is called “all-knowing”
THEME – It is the central idea or belief

in a short story. It is what the author is
saying through the story (a deeper
truth about reality). The theme may be
the author’s belief about a topic or
view of human nature.
GENERAL TYPES OF POETRY
LYRIC POETRY
A lyric is any fairly short poem, consisting of
the utterance by a single speaker, who
expresses a state of mind or a process of
perception, though and feeling.
It conveys the thoughts and emotions of a
single speaker of a peom. A lyric poem
normally creates a short, single, unified
impression. It does not tell a story.
GENERAL TYPES OF POETRY
LYRIC POETRY includes:
Lyric Poem
Personal Lyric – the persona of the speaker is identified with
the poet
Sonnet – single stanza of 14 iambic pentameter lines
Dramatic Lyric – lyric speaker addresses an auditor in a
specific situation
Dramatic Monologue – a single speaker, not the author,
who utters the entire poem in a specific situation at a
critical moment.
Elegy- a formal and sustained lament in verse for the death
of a particular person, usually ending in a consolation
Ode- a long lyric poem either regular or irregular stanzas- in
NARRATIVE POETRY. This poetry refers to poems
which are usually non-dramatic. It is a form that
has similar structure to that of a novel or a short
story but in verse form.
SUB-CATEGORIES:
Epics – tend to use an elevated style of language and
supernatural beings take part in the action.
Ballads- These are songs, originally transmitted orally,
which tell a story.
Dramatic Poetry- It refers to a verse or verses which are
written to be spoken, typically by a character made-up
by the author himself.
Three Types of Dramatic Poetry
Dramatic Monologue- It is a combination of drama
and poetry. It presents the speech of a single
character in a specific situationat a critical moment.
Soliloquy – It is a passage by a speaker in a poem or
a character in a play. It is a long, usually serious
speech that a character in a play makes to an
audience and that reveals the character’s thoughts.
Character Sketch – It is a poem in which the writer is
concerned less with matter of a story, complete or
implied, than he is with arousing sympathy,
antagonism, or merely interest for an individual.
Elements of Poetry
1. Sense- is revealed through the meaning of words;
image and symbols.
2. Sound – is the result of the combination of elements.
a.TONE COLOR
b. RHYTHM
c. METER
d. RHYME SCHEME
3. STRUCTURE- refers to arrangement of words and lines to it
together, and the organization of the parts to form a whole.
4. Speaker – all poems have speaker, the voice that talks to
the reader.
5. Sensory/Poetic Images- by using sensory/poetic images or
PRE-COLONIAL PERIOD (--BC- 1564)
ORAL LITERATURE
Is a kind of literature that describes a
stiry through mouth. As a substitue of
writing, these literatures are highly
conserved through different chants,
proverbs, songs and folklore. Also, oral
literature among Filipino ancestors
adopts formulaic repetitions,
stereotyping of characters, regular
A. RIDDLES-(bugtong in Tagalog; tigmo in
Visayan) are entertaining forms of folk
speech usually contain a metaphor called
talinghaga which refers to a particularperson
or thing that has to be answered and
guessed by people.
B. PROVERBS are called salawikain in Tagalog
or panultihon in Visayan. They are short
popular sayings that give advice about how
people should behave or that expresses a
belief that is generally thought to be true.
(IDIOM is sawikain in tagalog)
FOLK SONGS or awiting bayan are narrative
songs that use traditional melodies and are
written in a style that entails the traditional
culture of Filipinos. It is a tale song typically
about a community of people of a certain
culture or region which uses customary tune to
depict on the people’s outlook and life.
FOLKTALES – are classified as myths, legends,
fables, and fantastic stories.

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What are the two main divisions of literature discussed in the passage?

What are some examples of oral literature from the pre-colonial Philippines mentioned in the passage?

PHILIPPINE LITERATURE

University of Mindanao Tagum College

The word literature basically means anything that is written. It

 Kahayon and Zulueta (2000) stated that “Literature is derived from

POETRY, from Medieval Latin

PROSE is a term from the Latin

FORM VERSE PARAGRAPH

APPEAL FEELINGS AND MENTAL/INTELLECT

Short Stories – These refer to the kind of prose

Novels – These refer to a long stories written in

INTERNAL CONFLICT – An internal conflict is

SETTING – It refers to the time and locale of the

THEME – It is the central idea or belief

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