Faye Gapas 12 – Baryonyx
21ST CENTURY LITERATURE
FIRST QUARTER
PROSE, POETRY, FIGURES OF SPEECH AND
ELEMENTS OF A SHORT STORY
PROSE
1. Prose Drama – a drama in prose that consists entirely
of dialogues in prose and is meant to be acted on stage
2. Essay – a short literary composition which is expository
in nature
3. Prose Fiction – something invented and magnified
4. Biography and Autobiography
a. Biography – a story of a certain person’s life written
by another person
b. Autobiography – a story of a certain person’s life
written by the person himself/herself
5. Letter – a written message which displays aspects of an
author’s physiological make-up not immediately
apparent in his more public writings
6. Diary – a daily written record of account of the writer’s
own experiences, thoughts, activities, or observations
7. Journal – a magazine or periodical especially of a
serious or learned nature
8. Other Prose Forms
a. Book Review – an article dealing with the contents,
literary worth, etc. of a book especially a recently
published book
b. Travelogue – a written account of trips, journeys,
tours, etc. taken by the writer
c. Parody – an imitation of another author’s work; the
main objective is to ridicule
d. Anecdote – a brief narrative concerning a particular
individual or incident
e. Character Sketch – a short description of the
qualities and traits of a person
f. Parable – a short tale that illustrates principle
g. Eulogy – writing in praise of a dead person, event or
thing
h. Speech – the general word for a discourse delivered to
an audience, whether prepared or impromptu
i. Lecture – a carefully prepared speech/material
intended to inform or instruct the audience
j. Sermon – a speech by a clergyman intended to give
religious and oral instruction
POETRY
- Derived from the Greek word “poesis” – ‘making or
creating’
TYPES OF POETRY
1. Narrative Poetry – a poem that tells a story
a. Epic – a long narrative poem of the largest proportions
centering about hero
b. Ballad – the simplest type of narrative poetry; a short
narrative poem telling a single incident in simple
meter and stanzas and is intended to be sung
c. Metrical Allegory – an extended narrative that carries
a second meaning along with the surface story; things
and action are symbolic
2. Lyric Poetry – very personal in nature; expressed in
musical language; derived from the instrument “lyre”
a. Ode – a lyric poem of some length , serious in subject
and dignified in style and the most majestic of the
lyric poems; written in a spirit of praise of some
persons or things
b. Elegy – a poem written on the death of a friend
c. Song – a lyric poem in regular metrical pattern set to
music; have twelve syllables (dodeca syllabic) and
slowly sung to the accompaniment of a guitar or
banduria; Example: Florante and Laura
d. Corridos (Kuridos) – have measures of eight syllables
(octosyllabic) and recited to a material beat; Example:
Ibong Adarna
e. Sonnet – a lyric poem containing four iambic
pentameter lines and a complicated rhyme
ELEMENTS OF A SHORT STORY
1. Characters – persons involved in a story/conflict
a. Round – a fully developed character, with many traits
shown in the story
b. Flat – does not grow or developed
2. Setting – locate and period in which the events occur
3. Conflict – struggle of compilation involving the
characters
a. Man vs. Man
b. Man vs. Nature
c. Man vs. Society
d. Man vs. Self
e. Man vs. Supernatural
4. Plot – a casually related events; story flow
a. Exposition – beginning of the story; characters and
setting are introduced
b. Rising Action – a story involves an inciting incident
c. Climax – peak of the story
d. Falling Action – story begins to wind down, loose
ends get tied up
e. Resolution – the problem or goal is resolved (could be
positive, negative or neutral); the end of the story
FIGURES OF SPEECH
1. Simile – consists of comparing two things by using the
words ‘as’ and ‘like’
- Example: Your love is like the sun.
2. Metaphor – uses direct comparison of two unlike
things or ideas
- Example: You’re a firework.
3. Personification – gives human traits to inanimate
objects
- Example: The city does not sleep tonight.
4. Apostrophe – is a direct address to someone absent,
dead, or inanimate
- Example: Sweet death, and rid me of this grief.
5. Hyperbole – makes use of exaggeration
- Example: I’ll catch a grenade for you.
6. Oxymoron – puts together in one statement two
contradictory terms
- Example: silent scream, living dead, pretty ugly
7. Onomatopoeia – use of words which imitate sounds
- Example: Tik Tok on the clock.
8. Alliteration – the occurrence of the same letter or
sound at the beginning or adjacent or closely connect
words
- Example: Whisper words on wisdom
HISTORY OF THE PHILIPPINES LITERATURE
PRE-SPANISH PERIOD
- Ancient literature show customs and traditions in
everyday life
- Ancestors had their own alphabet which was similar
to that of the Malayo-Polynesian Alphabet
- Records left were burned by Spaniards or were
written on materials that easily perished
- We have our own system of writing called
“Baybayin” consisting of 3 vowels and 14
consonants
o Baybayin came from the word “baybay”
which means “spelling”
PRE-SPANISH LITERATURE
1. Legends
 - A form of prose - Kahapon, Ngayon, at Bukas – Aurelio Tolentino
- Origin of a thing, place, location or name - Malaya – Tomas Remigio
2. Myth - Walang Sugat – Severino Reyes
- A traditional story, especially one concerning the
early history if a people or explaining some natural or 1910 – English, Spanish and Tagalog were the medium
social phenomenon, and typically involving used in literature
supernatural beings or events Literature in Spanish (Nationalism)
3. Epic - Cecilio Apostol’s A Rizal
- Long, narrative poems in which a series of heroic - Claro M. Recto’s Ante El Martir!
achievements or events, usually a hero, are dealt with - Fernando Ma. Guerrero’s Invocation A Rizal
at length
4. Folktales Literature in Tagalog (lamentation of country’s condition)
- Stories made up about life, adventures, love, horror - Poet of the Heart – Jose Corazon de Hesus (Huseng
and humor where one can derive lessons in life Sisiw)
5. Folksongs - Poets of Life – And Panday and Isang Dipang Langit
- One of the oldest form of Philippine Literature by Amado V. Hernandez
- Many have 12 syllables - Poets of Stage – Walang Sugat by Severino Reyes
6. Chant
- Bulong Literature in English (imitation of American’s theme and
- Used in witchcraft or enchantment methods
7. Sayings (Kasabihan) - Period of Orientation (1898 – 1910)
- Often used in teasing or to comment on a person’s - Period of Imitation (1910 – 1925)
actuation - Period of Self-Discovery (1925 – 1941)
8. Proverbs
- Customarily used and served as laws or rules on good JAPANESE PERIOD (1941 – 1945)
behaviour by our ancestors
9. Riddles Philippine Literature
- Bugtong or palaisipan - The development was interrupted
- Made up of one or two measured line which may - English came to a halt except for the tribune and the
consists of 4 to 12 syllables Philippine Review
- Often used to stir a thought-provoking questions - Liwayway was placed under strict surveillance until
it was managed by Ishiwara
SPANISH PERIOD (1565 – 1898) - Filipino literature’s themes were about life in the
Influences: provinces
1. The first Filipino alphabet called BAYBAYIN was
replaced with Roman Alphabet. Poetry
2. The teaching of the Christian Doctrine became the 1. Haiku
basis of religious practices. - A poem of free verse
3. The Spanish language which became the literary - Allegorical in meaning
language during this time lent many of its words to - Short and covers a wide scope of meaning
our language. - 17 syllables (3 lines, 5 – 7 – 5)
4. Ancient literature was collected and translated to
Tagalog and other dialects. Period Name Pen Name Works
5. Many grammar books were printed in Filipino like
Tagalog, Ilokano, and Visayan. Noli Me
Laong Laan /
6. Our periodicals during these times gained a religious Jose Rizal Tangere/ El
Dimasalang
tone. Filibusterismo
 Doctrina Cristiana – first book printed in the
Philippines in 1593 Plaridel/Pupdo
 Ang Barlaan at Josephat – first Tagalog novel Marcelo H. h/Piping Dasalat at
The Del Pilar Dilat/Dolores Tocsohan
published in the Philippines
Propaga Manapat
 The Pasion – book about the life and suffering of nda
Jesus Christ Moveme Graciano Fray Botod/
 Ninay – first novel in Spanish nt (1872 Lopez Diego Laura La Hija Del
 Urbana and Felisa – written by Modesto de Castro; – 1896) Jaena Fraile
letters between two sisters
 Folksongs – became widespread; each region has its Pedro
national song from the lowlands to the mountains of Ninay
Paterno
Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao
Jose Maria Ang Lupang
Jomapa
PERIOD OF ENLIGHTENMENT (1872-1898) Panganiban Tinubuan
(Gomez, Burgos, Zamora)
Andres
Huling Paalam
AMERICAN REGIME (1898 – 1941) Bonifacio
June 12, 1898, Emilio Aguinaldo, 1903 – Miguel Malvar
Kartilya ng
Emilio
Newspapers: Period Pingkian Katipunan/Liw
Jacinto
- El Nuevo Dia of Active anag at Dilim
- El Grito Del Pueblo Revoluti
on (1896 Apolinario Er Verdadero
Plays were written but after the first and second presentation, – 1898) Mabini Decalogo
Americans put a stop to this
Himno
Ana-haw/Gan
Jose Palma Nacional
Hantik
Filipino
 2. Tanaga 3. Prose and Poems (1952) by Nick Joaquin
- Usual form
- Short Novels and Short Stories in English
- Has measure and rhyme - Stevan Javellana
- 7 syllables each line o Without seeing the Dawn
- Allegorical in meanings o Tells of the grim experiences of war during
the Japanese Period
Drama - In 1946, the Barangay Writer’s Project was
- Experienced a lull established
- Big movie houses were just made to show stage
shows The New Filipino Literature during this Period
- Many are reproduction of English plays to Tagalog - The Philippine literature was revived on this period
- Most themes dealt with Japanese government and the
Short Story brave guerrilla exploits
- The filed widened - Newspaper and magazine publications like the
- Best writings in 1945 Bulaklak, Liwayway, Ilang-Ilang, and Sinag Tala
- 1st Prize – Lupang Tinubuan by Narciso Reyes were re-opened
- 2nd Prize – Uhaw and Tigang na Lupa by Liwayway - Tagalog poetry acquired not only on rhyme but
Arceo substance and meaning
- 3rd Prize – Lunsod Nayon at Dagat-dagatan by NVM - Short stories had better characters and events based
Gonzales on facts and realities; themes were meaningful
- Novels become common but were still read by the
Philippine Literature in English people for recreation
- Dark Period - People’s love for listening to poetic jousts increased
- Few did write for bread and butter and propaganda more than before and people started to flock to places
- Journalistic in nature – came out during this period to hear poetic debates
- Mga Aklat ni Rizal: Many books about Rizal came
I saw the fall of the Philippines, I see out during this period
Carlos P. - The law activated our writers to write books about
Philippines rise, mother America and my
Romulo Rizal
brother Americans

Nick Joaquin The woman who looked like Lazarus PERIOD OF ACTIVISM (1970 – 1972)
Historical Background
Carlos Bulosan The Voice of Bataan - According to Pociano Pineda, youth activism in
1970-72 was due to domestic and worldwide causes
Rafael Zulueta - Connected with the history of Filipino youth
Like the Molave
de Costa - Youth moved to seek reforms
- Some believed that the democratic government is
How my brother Leon brought home a stable and that it is only the people running that
Manuel Arguilla
wife government who were at fault
- Some believed that socialism or communism should
Salvador Lopez Literature and Society
replace democracy
Juan Laya His Native Soil - Armed groups were formed to bring down the
democratic form of government
- Many young people became activists to ask for
THE REBIRTH OF FREEDOM (1946 – 1970) – THE changes in the government
COMEBACK - Many young activists were imprisoned in military
- The Americans returned in 1945 camps together with revel writers
- Guerillas who fled to the mountains joined the
American Army The Seeds of Activism
- July 4, 1946 – the chains were broken - Declaration of Martial Law in 1972
- The seeds were earlier sown from the times of Lapu-
The State of Literature during this Period lapu, Lakandula, and Rizal
- Filipinos gad learned to express themselves more
confidently Period of the Bloody Placards
o There was an increase of newspapers, like - Pineda – this was the time when the youth once more
the Free Press, Morning Sun, Daily Mirror, proved that it is not the constant evasion that shapes
Evening News and the Bulletin our race and nationalism
- There is a limit to one’s patience. It may explode like
Poetry in English during this Period a volcano if overstrained
- The themes of most poems dealt with the Love of - Life? What avails life if one is a coward who does
Nature and of Social and Political Problems not take a stand for himself and for the succeeding
- Some notable works of the period include the generations?
following:
1. Heart of the Islands (1947) – a collection of poems The Literary Revolution
by Manuel Viray - The youth became completely rebellious
- Campus newspapers showed rebellious emotions.
2. Philippines Cross Section (1950) – a collection of The once aristocratic writers developed awareness for
prose and poetry by Maximo Ramos and Florentino society “Makibaka”
Valeros - They attacked the ills of society and politics
 - They stated boldly what should be dome to effect
these changes
- Some of those who rallied to this revolution form
of literature were
o Rolando Tinio
o Rogelio Mangahas
o Efren Abueg
o Rio Alma
o Clemente Bautista
Writing during the Period of Activism
- The irreverence for the poor reached its peak during
this period of the mass revolution
- It was also during this period that “Bomba films”
that discredit our ways as Filipinos started to come
out
PERIOD OF THE NEW SOCIETY (1972 – 1980)
Historical Background
- September 21, 1972, The Carlos Palanca Awards
continued to give annual awards
- Themes dealt with the development or progress of
the country, like:
o Green Revolution
o Family planning
o Proper nutrition
o Environment
o Drug addiction
o Pollution
- The New Society tried to stop pornography
- All school newspapers were temporarily stopped and
so with school organizations
- Ministry of Public Affairs
o A new office that the military government
established
o Supervised the newspapers, books and other
publications
- The government took part in reviving the old plays
like the Cenakulo, the Zarzuela and the Embayoka
of the Muslims, The Cultural Center of the
Philippines, the Folk Arts Theater and even the old
Metropolitan Theater were rebuilt in order to have a
place for these plays
- Singing both Filipino and English songs received
fresh incentives. Those sent abroad promoted many
Filipino songs
- The weekly publications like Kislap, and Liwayway,
became outlets for our writers to publish many of
their works
Filipino Poetry during this Period
- Themes of most poems dealt with patience, regard
for native culture, customs and the beauties of
nature and surroundings
- Those who wrote poetry during this period were:
o Ponciano Pineda
o Aniceto Silvestre
o Jose Garcia Revelo
o Bienvenido Ramos
o Vicente Dimasalang
o Cir Lopez Francisco
o Pelagio Sulit Cruz
- Many composers added their bit during this
period, among them were:
o Freddie Aguilar
o Jose Marie Change
o And the group Tito, Vic and Joey
o ANAK of Freddie Aguilar became an instant
success because of the spirit and emotions
revealed in the song
Radio and Television
- Radio continued to be patronized during this period
o Simatar
o Dahlia
o Ito ang Palad ko
o Mr. Lonely
- Popular television plays
o Gulong ng Palad
o Flor de Luna
o Anna Liza
- Popular with the youth
o Superman
o Tarzan
A yearly Pista ng mga Pelikulang Pilipino (Yearly Filipino
Film Festival) was held during this time
New kinds of films without sex or romance started to be made
but which were nevertheless well-received by the public
1. Maynila… Sa mga Kuko ng Liwanag written by
Edgardo Reyes and filmed under the director of Lino
Brocka. Bembol Roco was the lead role
2. Minsa’y isang gamu-gamo – Nora AUnor was the
principal performer here
3. Ganto kami noon… Paano kayo ngayon: led by
Christopher de Leon and Gloria Diaz
4. Insiang: by Hilda Koronel
5. Aguila: led by Fernando Poe Jr., Jay Ilagan and
Christopher de Leon and Gloria Diaz
Comics, Magazine and Other Publications
- Newspapers donned new forms. News on economic
progress, discipline, culture, tourism, and the like
were favoured more than the sensationalized
reporting of killings, rape and robberies
- Liwayway had been an old-time favourite of the
Filipinos since 1920
- Like mushrooms, comics also proliferated
everywhere and were enjoyed by the masses like:
o Pilipino
o Hiwaga
o Extra
o Klasik
o Love Life
o Espesyal
An Overview of the Literature during the New Society
- Bilingual education which was initiated by the Board
of National Education as early as 1958 and continued
up to the period of Martial Rule in September 21,
1972, resulted in the deterioration of English I the
different levels of education
- The forms of literature that led during this period
were the essays, debates, and poetry. The short
stories, like the novels and plays were no different in
style from those written before the onset of activism