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WEST BAY LEARNING CENTER, INC.

Sangi, Toledo City, Cebu
westbaylearningcenter@gmail.com

LEARNING MODULE IN 21ST CENTURY LITERATURE

GRADE 11 HUMSS/ABM
GRADE 12 STEM
SECOND QUARTER, WEEK 4-5 MODULE NO. 3

ANCIENT LITERATURE
TITLE
LEARNING COMPETENCY

Writing a close analysis and critical interpretation of literary texts, applying a reading approach,
and doing an adaptation of these, require from the learner the ability to identify: representative
texts and authors from Asia, North America, and Europe (EN12Lit-llla-22)

OVERVIEW / TO DO LISTS
LEARNER – In this module, you will understand the ancient literature and analyze the story of Beowulf.For you
to be able to do the activity correctly, read the instruction on every activity. Ask the guidance of your parent in
doing the activity if there are things you can’t understand on the module.
FACILITATOR – Please facilitate your child upon answering or completing this module. Let them do the task
independently.

INTRODUCTION TO THE LESSON

The history of literature begins with the history of writing, in Bronze Age Mesopotamia and Ancient Egypt,
although the oldest literary texts that have come down to us date to full millennium after the invention of
writing, to the late 3rd millennium BC.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES
Understand the ancient literature
Read and analyze the story of Beowulf by British Epic
Recognize the qualities which the author possessed

WHAT I KNOW
Give at least 3 stories under ancient literature.

LESSON PROPER
REVIEW
World literature carries with it two possible meanings. First, it may refer to the vast literary production
across the world; second, it might only contain what is deemed “the best” of what the world’s literature can
offer. In reality, world literature subscribes to both definitions and so one can imagine the internal
contradiction of the phrase “world literature”-it is inclusive of all literary works produced across time and yet
the phrase is also rigid in selecting what works can be deemed truly representative of the literature of the
world.

WHAT I NEED TO KNOW

Ancient Literature
All early literature began with simple word-tunes-rhythmic sounds that might or might not have
meanings; lullabies, songs of shepherds to help pass the long, lonely days; religious chants or hymns. Later
came praises for a hero, a king or chieftain, the oftener than not, the hero was said to have descended from a
god or goddess.
Then came stories of adventure on land and sea, stories of love and courage, of dignity and splendor,
or of crime and punishment. Most of the pieces of very ancient literature that we have today are of these
kinds.
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The oldest extant literature are the literary remains of the Middle Kingdom of Egypt which are written
in ink papyrus. There still exist fragments of stories such as the marvelous adventures of a shipwrecked sailor
or the tale of the eloquent peasant. These themes appear also in the Hebrew Book of Genesis.
In Greece, Homeric poems represented an age of epic poetry with the Odyssey as a shining example.
This was followed in the seventh and sixth centuries by a lyric age. In the fifth, dramatic poetry became the
leading from of literature, while prose- historical, philosophical and oratorical – became predominant in the
fourth century.
This period of lyric poetry is from 700 to 470 B.C. when it culminated in Pindar. Dramatic dances and
performances were almost universal among savage peoples. The earliest complete specimen of tragedy and
comedy were those composed in Greece for Athenian festivals of Dionysus, the wine god. Thus, they were
closely connected with religion and public life, drawing their subjects and characters from the myths.
Confucius in China edited the Book of History and composed the Spring and Autumn Annals. There was
no Latin literature worthy of fame until Ennius, an epic poet commonly called the Father of Literature, was
admitted to Roman citizenship in 184 BC. To a great extent, Rome not only derived its art and literature, but its
religious mythology and historical legends, from the Greeks.
Early German literature gives a retrospective view of her life, as do most literatures of various
countries. But it was also very much influenced by Roman civilization and their conversion to Christianity.
Apparently their original religion and mythology was much like that of other Indo-Europeans, as may be seen
by comparing Norse and Icelandic literature with the Rigveda and Homer and Hensiod.
The oldest extent Chinese literary works are the Five Classics which became the component stones in
China’s true Great Wall against barbarism.
Religion and literature were the prominent features in the civilization of India following the Rigveda.
The two great epics of Mahabharata and Ramayana date back to Sutras of the first centuries of our era. The
golden age of Sanskrit literature was about 400 to 800 AD.
Of the works of Arabic learning, commentaries of the Koran, collections of Moslem tradition,
biographies of Mohammed, religious and historical literature, science and medicine, are noteworthy.

What I have Learned

A. Directions: Identify the following:

_________1. He edited the Book of History and composed the Spring and Autumn Annals.
__________2. The oldest Chinese literary works which became the component stones in China’s true Great
Wall
against barbarism.
__________3. These are the prominent features in the civilization of India following the Rigveda.
_________ 4. It represented an age of epic poetry with the Odyssey as a shining example.
_________ 5. A poetry that became the leading form of literature.

B. Directions: Read the following statements carefully. Write T if it is true and F if it is false.
_________ 1. Values of reading literature is to understand better of other peoples and nations.
_________ 2. Rome not only derived its art and literature, but its religious mythology and historical, from
Greece.
________ 3. The two great epics of Rigveda and Autums Annals date back to the Sutras of the first centuries of
our era.
________ 4. Lyric poems represented an age of epic poetry with the Odyssey as a shining example.
________ 5. The earliest complete specimen of tragedy and comedy were those composed in Greece for
Athenian festivals of Dionysus, the wine god.

LEARNING ACTIVITY SHEET

Name:__________________________________________________________________________________
Grade and Section: ___________________________________________________Date:________________
Directions: Search and read “The Story of Beowulf” by British Epic and answer the guide questions below in 3-
5 sentences. Each answer must be written in a creative way .
1. After reading the story, what would you say were the qualities deeply esteemed by the people of those
times?
2. What qualities do you think describe Beowulf?
Cite instances or read passages to prove your answer?
3. Which adventure of his, do you think, was the most difficult? Why?
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REFLECTION
The epic Beowulf is the only full-length heroic epic that has survived in English literature. It is a very
good example of warrior literature. Its author is unknown, but judging from the story, name some
qualities which you think he might have possessed. Why do you think so?

REFERENCES
MELC (Most Essential learning Competency)
Reading Literature in the 21st Century Literature
First Edition Copyright 2016 The Phoenix Publishing Inc.