Lesson 1: Philippine Literature

• What is the origin of the term "literature"?

  The term literature is derived from the Latin word "littera" which means "a letter of the alphabet".
• How can literature be classified?

  Literature can be classified according to language, national origin, historical period, genre, and subject matter.
• What are the two forms of literature?

  Literature can either be in oral or written form.
• What are the products of written literature called?


  The products of written literature are called literary texts.
• What elements must a text have to be considered literary?

  A text can be considered literary if it has elements of psychological characterization and chronology.
• What literary devices are commonly used in literature?

  Literature uses literary devices such as metaphor and symbolism.
• What are the two major forms of literature?

  1. Poetry
  2. Prose
• What characterizes poetry as a literary type?

  Poetry is usually written in lines and characterized by rhythm, sound, imagery, and form.
• What is the main purpose of poetry?

  The main purpose of poetry is to express feelings, thoughts, and ideas.
• What are the three types of poetry?

  1. Narrative Poetry
  2. Dramatic Poetry
  3. Lyric Poetry
• What defines narrative poetry?

  Narrative poetry tells a story and includes elements such as characters, setting, and conflict.
• What is an epic in narrative poetry?

  An epic is an extended narrative about heroic exploits often under supernatural control.
• What is metrical narrative poetry?


  Metrical poetry is a narrative written in verse and can be classified as a ballad or metrical romance.
• What is a ballad?

  A ballad is the shortest and simplest narrative poem that tells of a single incident.
• What are the variations of ballads?

  Variations of ballads include love ballads, war ballads, sea ballads, humorous, moral, and historical or mythical ballads.
• What characterizes dramatic poetry?

  Dramatic poetry is an emotionally appealing drama written in verse intended to be recited or sung.
• What is comedy in dramatic poetry?

  Comedy is a form of dramatic poetry that is light and written to amuse, usually with a happy ending. It came from the Greek term "komos" meaning festivity or revelry.
• What is melodrama in dramatic poetry?

  Melodrama is usually used in musical plays and arouses intense emotion, often with a happy ending for the principal character.
• What is tragedy in dramatic poetry?

  Tragedy involves a hero struggling against dynamic forces, often leading to death or ruin.
• What is farce in dramatic poetry?


  Farce is an exaggerated comedy that seeks to arouse mirth through laughable lines and absurd situations.
• What is lyric poetry?

  Lyric poetry focuses on expressing feelings rather than telling a story.
• What are folk songs?

  Folk songs are short poems intended to be sung, commonly themed around love, despair, grief, and joy.
• What is a sonnet?


  A sonnet is a lyric poem of 14 lines dealing with an emotion, feeling, or idea.
• What are the two types of sonnets?

  The two types of sonnets are the Italian and the Shakespearean sonnet.
• What is an elegy?

  An elegy is a lyric poem that expresses feelings of grief and melancholy, often themed around death.
• What is an ode?


  An ode is a poem of noble feeling expressed with dignity, without a definite number of syllables or lines.
• What are psalms (Dalit)?

  Psalms are songs praising God or the Virgin Mary, containing a philosophy of life.
• What are songs (Awit)?

  Awit are poems with measures of twelve syllables (dodecasyllabic) and are slowly sung to the accompaniment of a guitar or banduria.
• What are corridos?


  Corridos are poems with measures of eight syllables (octosyllabic) recited to a martial beat.
• What are the two major types of prose?

  1. Fiction
  2. Non-Fiction
• What is fiction in prose?

  Fiction is a product of the writer's imagination where characters react to conflicts central to the main idea.
• What are examples of fiction?


  Examples of fiction include legends, fables, anecdotes, novels, and short stories.
• What is non-fiction in prose?

  Non-fiction consists of stories inspired by real events, aiming to present or interpret experiences based on facts.
• What are examples of non-fiction?

  Examples of non-fiction include biographies, autobiographies, news, essays, diaries, and journals.
• What is genre in literature?

  • Genre refers to the forms of literature.
  • The main types are prose and poetry.
  • General genres include epic, tragedy, comedy, and creative nonfiction.
• What are literary elements?

  • Literary elements are the basic building blocks of a story.
  • They include plot, character, setting, and theme.
• What are the elements of plot?

  • Exposition
  • Rising action
  • Climax
  • Falling action
  • Resolution
• What characterized the Pre-Colonial Period of Philippine Literature?

  • Existence of oral literature before Spanish colonization.
  • Social classes: Datu, Maginoo, Maharlika, Timawa, and Alipin.
  • Baybayin writing system was the oldest.
  • Oral literature: Riddles (Bugtong), Proverbs (Salawikain), Maxims or Epigrams (Kasabihan), Tanaga, Chants (Bulong), Folk Songs, & Folk Tales
• What characterized the Spanish Period of Philippine Literature?

  • Over 300 years of Spanish colonization.
  • Spanish was the language of Philippine literature.
  • Introduction of naming systems, baptism, and Catholicism.
  • Alibata was the first Filipino writing system.
  • Roman Alphabet was used.
  • Doctrina Cristiana was the first Tagalog and Spanish book published.
  • Ang Barlaan at Josephat was the first biblical story published.
  • Two characteristics: Non-secular (religious literature) and secular (non-religious subjects)
• What characterized the American Period of Philippine Literature?

  • Introduction of free public education.
  • English became the medium of instruction.
  • Filipino writers imitated English and American literary models.
  • Three periods: Reorientation, Imitation, and Discovery and Growth.
  • Thomasites - "first teachers"
  • Writers drew ideas from the Propaganda and Revolutionary movements.