21st Century (reviewer)
● A literary text is according to the author’s
I. Literary Reading through a
Biographical Context
biography (noun) - a detailed account or narrative
of a person written by someone else.
autobiography (noun) - a narrative of a person
written by himself or herself.
belief system (noun) - the set of mutually
supportive beliefs that define a person’s or
society’s outlook on life or reality.
confessional (adjective) - intimately
autobiographical; characterized by openness and
self-revelation.
jilt (verb) - ending a relationship with someone
suddenly or painfully.
Reasons to read literature through the
biographical context (Gioia and Kennedy 2007):
 Understanding the author’s life can help
you understand his or her work thoroughly.
 Reading the author’s biography or
autobiography helps you see how much
his experiences shape his or her work
directly and indirectly.
Biographical Strategies
 Research on what the author believes in and
also what he or she does not.
 Analyze how the author’s belief system is
reflected in his or her work.
 Look at the author’s other works and
analyze if there is a pattern with regard to
the theme that is indicative of his or her life
and beliefs.
Take note of the following before
reading a text through a biographical
context:
● You should not assume that all works are
confessional, biographical, or even “true
to life.”
●
perspective and will be heavily influenced
by him or her, but it is not the only way of
studying literature.
Reading Literature through a
Biographical Context
 In what year was the text written and
published?
 Is there anything significant that happened
in the author’s life during this time? What
were the circumstances that happened to
the author before the writing of the text?
 Were there several drafts of the text? What
can you say about the changes that the
author made? What aspects do you think
the author struggled with during the
revision? What is the effect of the revisions
to the published text?
 Are there characters and situations in the
text that could be representative of or are
similar to the ones in the author’s life?
 How will knowing about the author amplify
your appreciation of the work?
Ex. Poetry Title: Dreams
Paul Laurence Dunbar (June 27, 1872 –
February 9, 1906) was an American poet,
novelist, and short story writer of the late 19th
and early 20th centuries. Born in Dayton, Ohio,
to parents who had
been enslaved in Kentucky before
the American Civil War, Dunbar began writing
stories and verse when he was a child. He
published his first poems at the age of 16 in a
Dayton newspaper, and served as president of
his high school's literary society.
 are Kundiman, Ang Dait or Imno, Ang Oyayi
o Hele, Diana, Soliraning and Talinday.

II. Various dimensions of Philippine

literary history from pre-colonial to
contemporary
The Spanish friars burned their alphabet in
the belief that they works of devil or were Spanish Period
written on materials that quickly perished.
Literature in this period may be classified as
Like the barks of trees, dried leaves, and
religious prose and poetry and secular prose and
bamboo cylinders which could not have
poetry.
remained firm or even if efforts we re made to
preserve them. Spanish influences on Philippine
Literature
Pre-Spanish Period
The first Filipino alphabet called Baybayin
Characterized by: (Alibata), was replaced by the Roman alphabet.
Chant (Bulong) Also, the teaching of Christian Doctrine became
the basis of religious practices.
-This was used in witchcraft or enhancement
especially in remote areas in Visayas. European legends and traditions brought here
became assimilated in our songs, corridos, and
Legends moro-moros.
-these are genres of folklore that consists of  Folk songs It manifests the artistic feelings
narrative featuring human action perceived of Filipinos and shows their innate
or believed both by the teller and and appreciation for, and love of beauty.
listeners to have taken place within human
Examples are Leron Leron Sinta, Dandansoy,
history.
Sarong Banggi, and Atin Cu Pong Sing-sing
Folk Tales
 Recreational Plays There were so many
Ex. Moon and the Sun (Epics) recreational plays performed by Filipinos
during the Spanish times. Almost all of
-these are made up stories about life,
them were in a poetic form as Cenaculo,
adventure, love, horror, and humor where
Panunuluyan, Salubong, Lagaylay, and
one can derive lessons.
Zarzuela
Epics
-these are long narrative poems in which a
series of heroic achievements, or events,
usually a hero, are dealt with at length

Folk Songs
-these are oldest forms of Philippine literature
that emerged in preSpanish period. These
songs are mirrored the early forms of culture.
Mostly of these have 12 syllables. Examples

II.Period of Enlightment (1872-1898)
In 19th Century, Filipino intellectuals educated in
Europe called Ilustrados began to write about the
hitch of colonization.
The Propaganda Movement (1872-1896)
This movement was spearheaded mostly by the
intellectual middle-class.
Rizal’s writings:
Pen Name: Dimasalang, Laong Laan
 Noli Me Tangere
 Mi Ultimo Adios
Socio-political Essays of Rizal
(published in La solidaridad in Madrid in 1890)
 Sobre La Indolencia Delos Filipinos
– story on how Filipino’s became lazy because
of abuse and discrimination.
 Filipinas Dentro De Cien Aňos.
– how espaniards became cruel
Del Pilar’s writings:
Pen Name: Plaridel, Siling Labuyo, Piping
Dilat, and Dolores Manapat
 Kaiingat Kayo (Be Careful)
– pagpapakita ng kaslagayan ng mga Pilipino
 Dasalan at Tocsohan (Prayers and Jokes)
– pagpapakita ng kabanalan (prayle) sa mga
tao ngunit may pangit na ugali.
Jaena’s writings:
Pen name: Diego Laura
 Ang Fray Botod
- pangongolekta ng malaking buwis tuwing
may patay.
 La Hija Del Fraile (The Child of the Friar)
- pagtuligsa sa edukasyon
 Everything Is Hambug (Everything is mere
show) Sa Mga Pilipino 1891
- pagpapakitang gilas ng mga Espanyol sa mga
Pilipina upang sila’y mapakasalan
 Talumpating Pagunita Kay Kolumbus (An
Oration to Commemorate Columbus)
- papasok na ang American Era
-pagpapasalamat kay Kolombus dahil sa
pagkakalaya ng mga Pilipino sa kamay ng mga
Espanyol.
The American Regime (1898-1944)
The languages used in writing were Spanish
and Tagalog and the dialects of the different
regions. But the writers in Tagalog, continued
in their lamentations on the conditions of the
country and their attempts to arouse love for
one’s native tongue and the writers in English
imitated the themes and methods of the
Americans.
Americans influenced Filipino writers to
write using English language.
Jose Garcia Villa (Filipino poet)
 free verse
 Comma Poet
 National Artist of the Philippines for
Literature
 Have Come, Am Here
 DOVEGLION- Dove, eagle and lion
 An old silent pond.
A frog jumps into the pond,
splash! Silence again.

The Japanese Period (1941-1945)

All newspapers not to be circulated in the
community except for TRIBUNE and
PHILIPPINE REVIEW.
Filipino Poetry during this period
The common theme of most poems during the b. Tanaga
Japanese occupation was nationalism, country,
love, and life in the barrios, faith, religion, and - like Haiku
the arts.
- it has measure and rhythm
- 7-7-7-7 syllabic verse, AABB
-nature and love.

THREE TYPES OF POEM

“Love us like a tree”
a. Haiku
It grows as you nurture it
-free verse poem
Growing, growing, grow
-made up of 17 syllables
Beautiful flowering leaves
-three lines Swaying in the summer wind
-5, 7, 5 pattern
-nature c. Karaniwang Anyo

“Old Pond“ -usual form

Matsuo Bashō
fu-ru-i-ke ya (5)
ka-wa-zu to-bi-ko-mu (7)
mi-zu-no-o-to (5)
Translated