Reviewer in 21st Century Literature

LESSON 1

Literature

• Is a body of written works

• Originated from oral traditions

• Are imaginative works

• Deals with stories and poetry

• It is an art form and a style of expression.

The Literary Periods

• Pre-Colonial (B.C. 1564)

• The Spanish Period (1521 – 1898)

• The American Period (1900 – 1942)

• 21st Century Period (Present)

Pre-Colonial Period (B.C 1564)

• This existed before the Spanish occupation in the 1500s

• It is oral in nature and is full of lessons and ideas about life, its blessings, and its consequences.
• It contains ideas from birth to grave
• The oral characteristic of pre-colonial literature gives the possibility for many alterations.
• The sources are usually the local native town folk.

Forms

⮚ Oral Literature
- Riddles
- Proverbs
⮚ Folk Songs
- Lullabies
- Drinking Songs
- Love Songs
- Songs of Death
- Religious Songs

⮚ Folk Tales
- Myths
- Legends
- Fables
 - Epics

Riddles- These statements that contain superficial words, but they function figuratively and as
metaphors, and are in the form of questions. These are questions that demand deeper answers.

Proverbs

- These are statements that are considered as wise.

- These are usually given by parents or elders of the community

Folk Songs

- These are folk lyrics that are usually chanted

- These usually contain ideas on aspirations, hopes, everyday life and expressions of love for loved
ones.
- It is bounded by the learning of good morals.
- It is easy to understand because it is straightforward and not figurative in nature.

Forms of Folk Songs

⮚ Lullabies- these is logically known as the “Hele”. These are sung to put sleep babies.
⮚ Drinking Songs- these are locally known as “Tagay” and are sung during drinking sessions.
⮚ Love Songs- to many Filipinos, these are known as the “Harana”. It can also be called Courtship
Songs and are used young men to capture the heart of the girl they love.
⮚ Religious Songs- are songs or chants that are usually given during exorcisms and thanksgiving
during good harvest
⮚ Songs of Death- are lamentations that contain the roll of good deeds that the dead has usually
done to immortalize his or her good image.

Folk Tales

⮚ Myths-A folklore genre consisting of narratives that play a fundamental role in a society, such as
foundational tales or origin myths. The main characters in myths are usually gods, demigods, or
supernatural humans.
⮚ Legends (Alamat)- a very old story or set of stories from ancient times, or the stories, not
always true, that people tell about a famous event or person.
⮚ Fables- a succinct fictional story, in prose or verse, that features animals, legendary creatures,
plants, inanimate objects, or forces of nature that are anthropomorphized, and that illustrates
or leads to a particular moral lesson
⮚ Epics- a long poem, typically one derived from ancient oral tradition, narrating the deeds and
adventures of heroic or legendary figures or the history of a nation

LESSON 2

Spanish Period (1565-1898)

- In this period, many changes occurred in the lives of Filipinos and even in literature. Many
literatures during the pre-colonial period were destroyed by the Spanish colonizers. This
explains why there were few to no records of written literature during the pre-colonial and the
only remaining way to preserve it that time was through oral tradition.
 - Also, the Spanish started to introduce Catholicism to the Filipinos which led to a lot of changes,
especially the use of language and the literature produced

Influences of the Spanish Period

- The first Filipino alphabet was replaced by the Roman Alphabet

- The teaching of the Christian Doctrine became the basis of religious
practices.
- The Spanish language became literary language - even many of its words still present nowadays
- European Legends and traditions brought here became assimilated
in our songs, corridos, and moro-moros
- Ancient literature was collected and translated to Tagalog and other
dialects
- Many grammar books were printed in Filipino, like Tagalog, Ilocano,
and Visayan
- Periodicals during these times gained religious tone

The Period of Enlightenment (1827-1898)

- The Filipino spirit reawakened after the martyrdom of the three priests Gomez, Burgos, and
Zamora
- There were many Filipinos who shown their courage and fought for freedom. One of them is Dr.
Jose P. Rizal (Jose Protacio Rizal Mercado Alonzo y Realonda) who used writing as his weapon
against the Spaniards.
✔ Some of his books and writings:
✔ Noli Me Tangere - the book that gave spirit to propaganda movement.
✔ El Filibusterismo - the sequel of Noli that talks about politics.
✔ Mi Ultimo Adios (My Last Farewell) - the poem of Rizal when he was incarcerated at Fort
Santiago.

The other Filipino heroes who used their writing skill in fighting for freedom are the following:

• Marcelo H. Del Pilar - popular with his pen name Plaridel, Pupdoh, Piping Dilat, and Dolores
Manapat.

• Graciano Lopez Jaena - he established the first magazine LA SOLIDARIDAD which later became
the official voice of the Association of Hispano de Filipinas (Filipino-Spanish Association)
composed of Filipinos and Spaniards who worked for reforms in the Philippines.

American Regime (1898-1941)

- Filipino writers went into all forms of literature like news reporting, poetry, stories, plays,
essays, and novels. Their writings clearly depicted their love of country and their longings for
independence.

Characteristics of Literature during this Period

- There were three group of writers who contributed to Philippine

Literature. They are Spanish, Tagalog, and English writers.
 - The Spanish writers were wont to write on nationalism like honoring
Rizal and other heroes
- The Tagalog writers continued in their lamentations on the condition
of the country and their attempts to arouse love for one’s native
tongue
- The English writers imitated the themes and methods of the
Americans.

Authors in this Period

• Cecilio Apostol - wrote poems dedicated to Rizal, Jacinto, Mabini and all other heroes. (e.g. A
Rizal)

• Francisco Balagtas (Florante at Laura) and Modesto Castro (Urbana at Felisa) - the inspiration
of the Tagalog writers

Japanese Period (1941-1945)

- This period gave an advantageous effect on Filipino Literature, which experienced renewed
attention because writers in English turned to writing in Filipino. Juan Laya, who used to write in
English turned to Filipino because of the Japanese regarding writing in English
- The weekly LIWAYWAY was placed under strict surveillance until it was managed by a Japanese
named Ishiwara.
- Filipino Literature was given a break during this period. Many wrote plays, poems, short stories,
etc. Topics and themes were often about life in the provinces.

Poetry during this period

1. Haiku - a poem of free verse that the Japanese liked. It has 12 syllables - 5 syllables on the first
and third lines, and 7 syllables on the second line. This is allegorical in meaning, short, and covers
wide scope in meaning.

2. Tanaga - short like Haiku but has measure and rhyme. Each line has 17 syllabus and also
allegorical in meaning.

3. Karaniwang Anyo (Usual Form) - a popular poem written in this period.

The Rebirth of Freedom (1946-1970)

- The early post-liberation was marked by a kind of “struggle of mind and spirit” posed by the
sudden emancipation from the enemy and the wild desire to see print. Filipinos has, by this
time, learned to express themselves more confidently but post-war problems beyond language
and print-like economic stability, the threat of new ideas and mortality - had to be grappled with
side by side.

The Period of Activism (1970-1972)

- Because of the ills of society, the youth moved to reforms. Some continued to believe that
democratic government is stable and that is only the people running the government who is at
 fault. Some believed that socialism or communism should replace democracy. Some armed
groups were formed to bring down the democratic form of government.
- The Literary Revolution - The youth became completely rebellious during this period. This
proven not only in the bloody demonstrations and in the sidewalk expression but also in
literature. Campus newspapers showed rebellious emotions. The once aristocratic writers
developed an awareness for society. They held pens and wrote on placards in red paint the
equivalent of the word MAKIBAKA (To dare!)
-

Period of the New Society (1972-1980)

- Almost all themes in most writings dealt with the development or progress of the country - like
the Green Revolution, family planning, proper nutrition, environment, drug addiction, and
pollution. The new society tried to stop pornography or those writings giving
- bad influences on the morals of the people
- All school newspapers were temporarily stopped and so with the school organizations. The
military government established a new office called the Ministry of Public Affairs that supervised
the newspapers, books and other publications

Period of the third Republic (1981-1985)

- This stage of the nation had the effect on our literature. After the Aquino assassination, the
people voices could no longer be contained. Both the public and private sectors in the
government were chanting, and shouting; women, men, and the youth became bolder and their
voices were raised in dissent.
- We can say that Philippine Literature, in spite of the many restrictions, still surreptitiously
retained its luster.

Periods (1986-1999)

- In the short span of the existence of the third Republic of the Philippines, several changes
already became evident. This is noticed in the new Filipino songs, in the newspapers, in the
speeches, and even in the television programs.
- On Newspapers and other publications: Newspapers were once branded crony newspapers
became instant opposition papers overnight.
- On Books: Philippine Literature is still in the making… we are just beginning a new era. Two
books were conceived, People Power and Bayan ko. Both books carry print and visual events of
what transpired during the February Revolution

These events that happened in the past were proof that literature has been existing to form the
culture, traditions, and identity of the Filipinos. It was used to entertain, preserve memories, and
most importantly a significant tool in fighting oppression and injustices.

From the words written by Jose Rizal - who aimed for freedom and loved his country, to the youth
who courageously fought the social injustices that threatened democracy during Martial Law, and to
those who with strong resilience started to face the new and free republic. These events were
engraved in the history that literature was part of it - and was used to enable those who were not
heard and represent those who couldn’t stand on their own
LESSON 3
NATIONAL ARTISTS FOR LITERATURE AND
WHAT ARE THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE
DEVELOPMENT OF PHILIPPINE LITERATURE
The National Artist for Literature
- An award given to those exemplary
individuals who gave immeasurable
effort in writing literature in which the
soul and heart of their writings were
bound from reflecting the Filipino
culture, customs, and traditions.
Moreover, these individual are
considered to be those who gave
significant contributions to the
development of Philippine Literature
⮚ Francisco Arcellana
- a writer, poet, essayist, critic, journalist
and teacher,
- is one of the most important
progenitors of the modern Filipino short
story in English.
- He pioneered the development of the
short story as a lyrical prose-poetic
form
⮚ Virgilio S. Almario
- also known as Rio Alma, is a poet,
literary historian and critic, who has
revived and reinvented traditional
Filipino poetic forms, even as he
championed modernist poetics.
- In 34 years, he has published 12 books
of poetry, which include the
seminal Makinasyon and Peregrinasyon,
and the landmark trilogy Doktrinang
Anakpawis, Mga Retrato at
Rekwerdo and Muli, Sa Kandungan ng
Lupa.  wrote, “Francisco championed the
- In these works, his poetic voice soared
from the lyrical to the satirical to the
epic, from the dramatic to the
incantatory, in his often examination of
the self, and the society
⮚ Cirilo F. Bautista
- poet, fictionist and essayist with
exceptional achievements and
significant contributions to the
development of the country’s literary
arts.
- He is acknowledged by peers and critics,
and the nation at large as the foremost
writer of his generation
⮚ Levi Celerio
- A prolific lyricist and composer for
decades.
- He effortlessly translated/wrote anew
the lyrics to traditional melodies: “O
Maliwanag Na Buwan” (Iloko), “Ako ay
May Singsing” (Pampango),
“Alibangbang” (Visaya) among others
⮚ Lazaro A. Francisco 
- Prize-winning writer Lazaro A.
Francisco developed the social realist
tradition in Philippine fiction.
- His eleven novels, now acknowledged
classics of Philippine literature,
embodies the author’s commitment to
nationalism. Amadis Ma. Guerrero
 cause of the common man, specifically - regarded by many as the most
the oppressed peasants. distinguished Filipino writer in English
- His novels exposed the evils of the writing so variedly and so well about so
tenancy system, the exploitation of many aspects of the Filipino. Nick
farmers by unscrupulous landlords, and Joaquin has also enriched the English
foreign domination.” Teodoro Valencia language with critics coining
also observed, “His pen dignifies the “Joaquinesque” to describe his baroque
Filipino and accents all the positives Spanish-flavored English or his
about the Filipino way of life. reinventions of English based on
Filipinisms.
- Aside from his handling of language,
Bienvenido Lumbera writes that Nick
⮚ Nestor Vicente Madali Gonzalez 
Joaquin’s significance in Philippine
- better known as N.V.M. Gonzalez,
literature involves his exploration of the
fictionist, essayist, poet, and teacher,
Philippine colonial past under Spain and
articulated the Filipino spirit in rural,
his probing into the psychology of social
urban landscapes. Among the many
changes as seen by the young, as
recognitions,
exemplified in stories such as Doña
- he won the First Commonwealth
Jeronima, Candido’s
Literary Contest in 1940, received the
Apocalypse and The Order of
Republic Cultural Heritage Award in
Melchizedek. Nick Joaquin has written
1960 and the Gawad CCP Para sa Sining
plays, novels, poems, short stories and
in 1990.
essays including reportage and
- The awards attest to his triumph in
journalism.
appropriating the English language to
express, reflect and shape Philippine
⮚ F. Sionil Jose
culture and Philippine sensibility.
- F. Sionil Jose’s writings since the late
60s, when taken collectively can best be
⮚ Amado V. Hernandez
described as epic. Its sheer volume puts
- poet, playwright, and novelist, is among
him on the forefront of Philippine
the Filipino writers who practiced
writing in English. But ultimately, it is
“committed art”.
the consistent espousal of the
- In his view, the function of the writer is
aspirations of the Filipino-for national
to act as the conscience of society and
sovereignty and social justice-that
to affirm the greatness of the human
guarantees the value of his oeuvre
spirit in the face of inequity and
oppression.
⮚ Bienvenido Lumbera
- Hernandez’s contribution to the
- Bienvenido Lumbera is a poet, librettist,
development of Tagalog prose is
and scholar.
considerable — he stripped Tagalog of
- As a poet, he introduced to Tagalog
its ornate character and wrote in prose
literature what is now known as Bagay
closer to the colloquial than the
poetry, a landmark aesthetic tendency
“official” style permitted.
that has helped to change the
vernacular poetic tradition.
⮚ Nick Joaquin
- He is the author of the following works:
Likhang Dila, Likhang Diwa (poems in
Filipino and English), 1993; Balaybay,
Mga Tulang Lunot at Manibalang, 2002;
Sa Sariling Bayan, Apat na Dulang May
Musika, 2004; “Agunyas sa Hacienda
Luisita,” Pakikiramay, 2004.
⮚ Alejandro Roces
- Alejandro Roces is a short story writer
and essayist, and considered as the
country’s best writer of comic short
stories. He is known for his widely
anthologized “My Brother’s Peculiar
Chicken.”
- In his innumerable newspaper columns,
he has always focused on the neglected
aspects of the Filipino cultural heritage.
- His works have been published in
various international magazines and has
received national and international
awards.
⮚ Carlos P. Romulo
- Carlos P. Romulo’s multifaceted career
spanned 50 years of public service as
educator, soldier, university president,
journalist and diplomat
- It is common knowledge that he was
the first Asian president of the United
Nations General Assembly, then
Philippine Ambassador to Washington,
D.C., and later minister of foreign
affairs.
- Essentially though, Romulo was very
much into writing: he was a reporter at
16, a newspaper editor by the age of
20, and a publisher at 32
⮚ Rolando S. Tinio
- a playwright, thespian, poet, teacher,
critic, and translator marked his career
with prolific artistic productions.
- Tinio’s chief distinction is as a stage
director whose original insights turned
them into scripts he handled brought
forth productions notable for their
visual impact and intellectual cogency.
- Subsequently, after staging productions
for the Ateneo Experimental Theater
(its organizer and administrator as
well), he took on Teatro Pilipino
⮚ Edith L. Tiempo
- Edith L. Tiempo, poet, fictionist, teacher
and literary critic is one of the finest
Filipino writers in English whose works
are characterized by a remarkable
fusion of style and substance, of
craftsmanship and insight.
- Born on April 22, 1919 in Bayombong,
Nueva Vizcaya, her poems are intricate
verbal transfigurations of significant
experiences as revealed, in two of her
much-anthologized pieces, “The Little
Marmoset” and “Bonsai”.
⮚ Jose Garcia Villa
- Jose Garcia Villa is considered as one of
the finest contemporary poets
regardless of race or language.
- Villa, who lived in Singalong, Manila,
introduced the reversed consonance
rime scheme, including the comma
poems that made full use of the
punctuation mark in an innovative,
poetic way.
- The first of his poems “Have Come, Am
Here” received critical recognition when
it appeared in New York in 1942 that,
soon enough, honors and fellowships
were heaped on him: Guggenheim,
Bollingen, the American Academy of
Arts and Letters Awards.
LESSON 4
Elements of literature
 - denote the things that are used to
make up a work of literature. There are
different types and forms of
literature. They are novel, drama,
poetry, biography, non-fictional prose,
essay, epic and short story. All these
types of literature have some elements.
To complete a piece of literature, a
writer, dramatist or a novelist need to
use certain elements like plot,
character, theme, etc.
Plot
- The serial arrangement of incidents,
ideas or events. In literature, the plot
encompasses all the incidents and
provides aesthetic pleasure
Character
- In drama, character reflects the
personality of the protagonist and
other related characters. Characters
can be fictional or based on real,
historical entities. It can be human,
supernatural, mythical, divine, animal
or personifications of an abstraction
Setting
- It refers to geographical location of the
story, time period, daily lifestyle of the
characters and climate of the story.
Theme
- It represents the brief idea of the drama
Point of view
- Another element of the narrative,
through which a writer tells the story.
❖ First Person POV - indicates
that the main character is
telling the story.
❖ Third Person POV - directs that
the narrator is telling the story.
Conflict
- Refers to the different drives of the
characters or forces involved.
Foreshadowing
- Applied as hints or clues to suggest
what will happen later in the story. It
creates suspense and encourages the
reader to go on and find out more
about the event that is being
foreshadowed
LESSON 5
Literary Genres
Non-Fiction
- Indicates that the work is based on or
addresses real events, and is not an
imaginary construction
Examples of Non-Fiction Literature
Essay
- Expected to reflect on a single topic in
philosophical terms.
Lecture
- A speech given to an audience in order
to provide instruction on a specific topic
or area.
Sermon
- A speech delivered by a member of the
clergy on a moral or religious issue, with
 the intention of persuading, instructing,
or exhorting listeners.
Philosophical Dialogue
- The term dialogue derives from the
Greek word dialogus, meaning
“conversation”, “debate”.
Journal
- Derives from the Latin word diurnalis,
meaning “daily”. The term refers to
both a daily diary, a private record of
events, and daily newspaper or
periodical in which matters of public
interest are recorded
Personal Narrative
- A narrative which the writer relates a
personal experience in order to
illustrate a point or to make an
argument.
Letter
- A written document addressed to a
specific person or persons. Until the
invention of the telephone, letters were
the primary means of long-distance
communication
Chronicle
- A narrative about actual historical
events
Prose Fiction
- An invented narration that is “made-
up” by the author. A writer may
portray a real event as experienced by
invented characters.
Examples of Prose Fiction Literature
Novels
- Usually divided into chapters and trace
the development of the characters and
action through a sustained narrative.
Novels are usually about love and romance but
there are still sub-genres:
Bildungsroman – portraying the growth of a
character from childhood to adulthood.
Picaresque – the adventures of a hero told in
episodic form.
Historical Novel – set in a specific period
significantly before that of the writing.
Regional Novel – Set in a specific region and
specifically concerned with the characteristics
of that geographical locale.
Roman a These – a novel with an argument,
seeking to cause changes in society
Proto Novel– a text that relates a sequence of
events rather than the development of a plot
and characters.
Gothic Novel– novels in which thrills and
mysteries are prevalent and the reader is in
suspense throughout much of the narration
LESSON 6
The Main Contexts of a Literary Work
Literary Context
- To understand and appreciate a literary
selection, a reader must understand the
significant contexts in which it was
written
The definition of context is the setting within
which a work of writing is
situated. Context provides meaning and clarity
to the intended message.
Biographical Context
- What biographical facts has the author
used in the text?
- What insights do reader acquire about
the author’s life by reading the text?
Historical Context
Sociological Context
- What is the specific historical events
were happening when the work was
being composed?
- What historical events does this work
deal with?
- In what ways did history influence the
writer’s outlook
Geographical Context
- Is this author a regionalist writer?
- How does dialect influence the text?
Psychological Context
Political Context
- What political events are significant to
the text?
- What political events were occurring at
the time the work was written?
- What political beliefs does the author
seem to have?
Philosophical/Religious Context
- Are any religions or philosophies
mentioned in specifically in the text?
- Whar religious/ethical/philosophical
beliefs does the author seem to favor?
- What behavior do the characters
display that author wants us to think is
“right”?
- What behavior is “wrong”? How can
one tell?
- What sort of society does the writer
describe>
- What does the writer see, to like/dislike
about this society?
- What changes do you think the writer
would like to make in the society?
Evidence?
- What sorts of pressures does the
society put on its members? How do
members respond?
- What theories of human behavior does
the writer seem to believe?
- What theories of human behavior does
the writer seem to reject?
- How do people’s minds work in the
text?
- In what ways does the structure and
organization of the story indicate the
writer’s beliefs about the workings of
the mind.