Republic of the Philippines

Lyceum of Alabang
Km. 30 National Road, Brgy. Tunasan
Muntinlupa City

PRELIMINARY TERM

The literary coverage of this module was screened from the

literal different angles of society so college students can have a
glimpse of the evolvement of Philippine Literature thus questions of
the “How’s and the What’s” can be answered by “reading” this text.

The Learning Objectives of this text module are:

1. Students must have the knowledge of how literature affects

the customs and traditions of our early inhabitant.
2. Because of that vague knowledge of Philippine Literature,
college students can look back and admire how our
forefathers managed their community and even their families,
their beliefs, customs and traditions.
3. Develop the interests, abilities of the learners to read books
and gather other information through current gadgets.
4. College students now, can compare and be proud of the
Philippine Heritage because there were Filipinos who were
famous and earned not only locally but internationally.

TOPIC / LESSON:

Importance and Significance of Literature:

1. Literature – origin of the term is “litera” Latin word meaning

letter, that deals with ideas, thoughts and emotions of man.
Thus, it can be said that literature comes from the French
phrase “belles-letters” which means beautiful writing
(Baritugo, et al 2004, p.1).
2. Literature is the mirror of one’s country because from the time
a person is born (womb) growing to his golden life and

Prepared by: Prof. Luchi P. Sereneo Noted & approved by:

Leah Digo, Phd.
Faculty
VP Acad
 Republic of the Philippines
Lyceum of Alabang
Km. 30 National Road, Brgy. Tunasan
Muntinlupa City

reaching the sunset of their life (tomb) they can have that
understanding and witnessed the different stages of life.
3. Through literature, we learn the innermost feelings and
thoughts of people – the most real part of themselves, thus we
gain an understanding not only of others, but more
importantly, of ourselves and of life itself (Garcia, et al,
1993.p.4).
4. Literature is our life’s stories including its struggles, ideas,
failures, sacrifices and happiness (Ang,2006).
5. Literature is one of the seven arts (i.e., music, dance,
paintings, sculpture, theatre and architecture) and as such,
literature is a creative product of a creative work, the result in
which 1’s form and beauty (_. Nuggets, 2004, p.2).
6. The ability to judge literature is based on the application of
certain recognizable standards of good literature. Great
literature is distinguishable of the following qualities (Garcia,
1993, p.3).
7. All literature falls under two main divisions: (Nuggets, 2004
p.8)

PROSE POETRY

Form Written in paragraph form

Language Expressed in ordinary Expressed in metrical,

Language rhythmical and figurative
language.

Appeal To the intellect To the emotion

Aim To convince, inform, Stir the imagination and set

instruct, imitate and reflect an ideal of how life should
be

Prepared by: Prof. Luchi P. Sereneo Noted & approved by:

Leah Digo, Phd.
Faculty
VP Acad
 Republic of the Philippines
Lyceum of Alabang
Km. 30 National Road, Brgy. Tunasan
Muntinlupa City

8. Prose -comes from the Latin word “prosa” meaning straight

forward (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prose).
-is a form or technique of language that exhibits a
natural flow of speech and grammatical structure
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prose).

4 Types of Prose in Literature (https://www.quora.com/)

1. Fictional Prose (includes novels, novellas, short stories)

2. Non-Fictional Prose (includes biographies, essays,
journals)
3. Heroic Prose (includes legends, tales) heroic sagas -a love
story of heroic achievement.
4. Poetry Prose (poetry written in prose instead of using verse
but maintaining poetic qualities)

9. Literary Genres – A. Fiction B. Poetry C. Essay D. Drama

10. Fiction – a product of imagination as in short stories (revealed

in a time, place and series of events), deals with a single
character’s interests, feelings designed in a single location.
Ex. “Dead Stars” by Paz Marquez-Benitez
11. Novel – a product of imagination composed of complicated
plots hence, represented by chapters and is longer than short
stories.
Ex. “Dog eaters” by Jessica Hagedorn
12. Elements of FICTION:
A. Characters – are the representation of a human being;
persons involved in the conflict.
*Type of Characters
 Round character – is mature, has open mind,
settings therefore absorb changes.
Prepared by: Prof. Luchi P. Sereneo Noted & approved by:
Leah Digo, Phd.
Faculty
VP Acad
 Republic of the Philippines
Lyceum of Alabang
Km. 30 National Road, Brgy. Tunasan
Muntinlupa City

 Flat character – not fully mature and has closed

mind, setting therefore do not absorb changes.
 Others:
1. Protagonist – hero/heroine
2. Antagonist – a fail to the protagonist
3. Deuterogamist – second in instance
4. Fringe character – fails because of inner conflicts
5. Minor characters
B. Setting – represents the place and time during the events.
C. Conflict – occurs when there is dissatisfaction may
characterize or oppositionists who do not conform.
*Types of Conflict
 Internal Conflict – undecided within – “to be” or “not
to be”
 Interpersonal Conflict – with another person
 External Conflict – their value vs. society
D. Plot – refers to the triad of the story (Beginning-Climax-
End).

1) Exposition (beginning) tells us the place, time, setting

and the characters.
2) Complication (rising events) unveils the problems and
struggles that will be experienced by the main
characters leading to the crisis.
3) Climax (result of the crisis) the highest point of the
problem or of the struggles (action/emotions).
Prepared by: Prof. Luchi P. Sereneo Noted & approved by:
Leah Digo, Phd.
Faculty
VP Acad
 Republic of the Philippines
Lyceum of Alabang
Km. 30 National Road, Brgy. Tunasan
Muntinlupa City

4) Denouncements is the untying of the misconceptions

/misinterpretations of the events leading the
understanding of events leading to the near end.
5) Resolution (end) shows the last part of the story.

Worksheet #1:

1. Enumerate five (5) essence and significance of Literature and

briefly explain (10 points).

2. Follow the instructions:

Give an example of: (20 points)

A. Name a T.V. drama program

Prepared by: Prof. Luchi P. Sereneo Noted & approved by:

Leah Digo, Phd.
Faculty
VP Acad
 Republic of the Philippines
Lyceum of Alabang
Km. 30 National Road, Brgy. Tunasan
Muntinlupa City

B. List the following characters (name) and briefly describe

their roles:
Protagonist:

Antagonist:

Deuterogamist:

E. Point of View – the author’s perception and values of his

subjects, determine who tells the story; it identifies the
narrator of the story.
*Classification
1) First Person – the writer uses the pronoun “I”,
he/she must be a participant or character in his own work;
the narrator maybe the protagonist, or observer, a minor
character or the author himself/herself.
2) Third Person – the writer – narrator is a
character in the story and narrates the events.
3) Omniscient – the writer – narrator sees all; can
see the inner self of characters.
F. Mood – refers to the emotional effect coming from the
words, images, situations in a literary work.
G. Tone – devotes an attitude of feeling of the author or
speaker as the connotation of the language in its best,
arrogant showing artful skills.
H. Symbolism – is an idea or thought associates with them.
Prepared by: Prof. Luchi P. Sereneo Noted & approved by:
Leah Digo, Phd.
Faculty
VP Acad
 Republic of the Philippines
Lyceum of Alabang
Km. 30 National Road, Brgy. Tunasan
Muntinlupa City

I. Images – are tangible qualities that appeals to our senses.

(sight, smell, taste, feel or sound)
J. Theme – is the central idea of a literary work.

Poetry – is derived from the Greek word “poesis” meaning “making

or creating.” The use of poetry is having emotions with languages.
According to (Baritugo 2004, p.1), 5 things to remember about
poetry:
1. Poetry is a concentrated thought.
2. Poetry is a kind of word-music.
3. Poetry expresses all the senses.
4. Poetry answers our demand for rhythm.
5. Poetry is observation plus imagination.

Poetry – is as varied as the nature of man – unique in some sense

along with man’s eccentricities yet clings if appreciated or if deeply.

Elements of Poetry:

1. Senses mirrors the meaning of the words, images, and

symbols.
a. Diction – meanings / symbols
b. Images and sense impression – sight, sound, smell, taste,
touch, motion and emotion.
c. Figure of Speech – simile, metaphor, personification,
apostrophe, metonymy, synecdoche, hyperbole, irony,
allusion, antithesis, paradox, litotes, oxymoron,
onomatopoeia.
2. Sound is the result of a combination of elements.
3. Structure refers to arrangement of works.

Types of Poetry:
Prepared by: Prof. Luchi P. Sereneo Noted & approved by:
Leah Digo, Phd.
Faculty
VP Acad
 Republic of the Philippines
Lyceum of Alabang
Km. 30 National Road, Brgy. Tunasan
Muntinlupa City

1. Narrative poetry:
a. Epic – is a long narrative poem wherein the events from
the start to the end are recorded.
Ex. BIAG-Ni-Lam-Ang by Pedro Bukaneq.
b. Metrical Romance Story of adventure, love and chivalry.
The typical hero is a knight on a quest.
c. Metrical tale
Ex. Home tales, love tales, tales of the supernatural.
d. Ballad – simplest type of narrative poetry and intended
to be sung.
e. Popular Ballad
f. Modern or Artistic Imitation of the folk ballad.
g. Metrical Allegory Things and actions are symbolic.

2. Lyric poetry:
a. Ode – is the most majestic of the lyric poems.
Ex. “Ode to the West End” by Shelly
b. Elegy – a poem written on the death of a friend of the
poet.
Ex. “The Lover’s Death” by Ricardo Demetillo
c. Song
Ex. Florante and Laura by Francisco Balagtas
d. Corridos – recited to a material beat.
Ex. Ibong Adarna by Jose dela Cruz (Huseng Sisiw)
e. Sonnet
Ex. Santang Abad by Alfonso Santos

Prepared by: Prof. Luchi P. Sereneo Noted & approved by:

Leah Digo, Phd.
Faculty
VP Acad
 Republic of the Philippines
Lyceum of Alabang
Km. 30 National Road, Brgy. Tunasan
Muntinlupa City

The Essay:

- Is the most popular form of literature.

- Is a prose composition of moderate length usually
expository in nature with the goal to explain.

Elements of Essay:

1. Theme and Content – what is the major goal of an essay?

2. Form and Structure – how are ideas arranged to form?
3. Language and Style – what makes the essay literary?

Types of Essay:

1. Formal or Impersonal Essay – deals with Philosophy,

Theology, Science and politics. It has authoritative and
scholarly style with clear forward expressions and its main
purpose is to teach and instruct.
2. Informal or Familiar Essay – appeals more to the emotion
than the intellect and the personality of the author is
revealed through fluid style.

The Drama:

1. Comes from the Greek word “dram” which means to do;

2. Aristotle defines drama as “the imitation of an action.”
3. Drama mirrors life.

Kinds of Theater:

A. Arena - a popular as the theater style of early Greeks, the

actors are all surrounded by their audience.
B. Medieval – is the theater which uses playing areas called
mansions inside the churches.

Prepared by: Prof. Luchi P. Sereneo Noted & approved by:

Leah Digo, Phd.
Faculty
VP Acad
 Republic of the Philippines
Lyceum of Alabang
Km. 30 National Road, Brgy. Tunasan
Muntinlupa City

C. Elizabeth – is the theater which has a wooden structure

providing an enclosed space around a country open sky.
Actors speaks directly to the audience.
D. Proscenium – used as a stage during the 19 th century. This
type of stage distances the audience from the plays.
E. Theater of Cruelty – this was developed in France.

Types of Drama:

1. Tragedy – sad ending

2. Comedy - a type of drama intended to amuse and create
motivation.
3. Tragicomedy – this is a serious play that has also the same
qualities of a comedy.

Elements of Drama:

1. Plot is to give action a form to aid the audience to

understand the elements of drama.
2. Character
3. Setting – place and time.
4. Dialogue – speeches the characters uses.
5. Movement
6. Music
7. Theme – is the message, the central action or what the play
is all about.

Prepared by: Prof. Luchi P. Sereneo Noted & approved by:

Leah Digo, Phd.
Faculty
VP Acad