21st Century Literature from the Philippines and the World

1st Semester

LITERARY CONTEXT
Biographical Context II. Syntax
 Puts the reader within the context of - form of lineation shaped by using line
the author’s life. break
 Understanding the author’s life through
a. traditional
reading the author’s biography or
autobiography can help us understand b. non-traditional
his/her literary work thoroughly (Gioia and
Kennedy, 2007).
 Not all works are confessional, biographical
or in any way based on a true story but is
heavily influenced by the author’s
perspective.
Examples: “Under My Invisible Umbrella” by
Laurel Fantauzzo and “Catch a Falling Star” by
Cristina Pantoja Hidalgo III. Figurative Language
IV. Tone
Linguistic Context
 Readers read the text on their own, - It could be positive or negative.
regardless of the author’s biography and - It determines the mood
sociocultural context.  Analyze the diction or choice of words in the
 Understand the literary text through text.
analyzing the words, sentences, patterns,  Examine the texts’ syntax or use of
imagery, sentences, clauses, phrases, line cuts, etc.
literary text’s grammar, syntax, or  Observe the use of figurative language.
phonemic pattern, etc. of the text.  Analyze the mood and tone of the text.
Strategies to read a text through the  Observe the text’s overall structure.
linguistic context:  Analyze the content of the text.
Example: “Tonight I Can Write The Saddest Lines”
I. Diction by Pablo Neruda
a. Formal
b. Informal
* if there are contradictions in dictation, it
is INFORMAL. (ex. of contradictions:
you’ll, wouldn’t, etc.)

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 21st Century Literature from the Philippines and the World
Sociocultural Context
 Examined by the factors that affect the writing
of the literary text and how the work was
received by the readers during the time it was
written.
 Helps understand the social, economic,
political and cultural forces affecting the work
that you are reading. Moreover, analyzing the
sociocultural context of the text makes you
examine the role of the audience (readers) in
shaping literature. (Gioia and Kennedy, 2007).
Literary Approaches for Sociocultural Context
1. Marxism – shows class struggle and
materialism examining oppression, social
conflicts, and solution to these struggles as
shown in the literary work.
2. Feminism – examines the role of the women
in the literature, how the female character may
be empowered, or discriminated against.
3. Queer Theory – concerned with the queer or
the third gender meaning the gay, lesbians,
and other characters or persona in literature
that may fall under queer.
4. Historicism or traditional historical criticism –
perspective dealing with the history that
influenced the writing of literature.
5. Postcolonialism – literary perspective that
looks into the changes in the attitude of the
post colonies after the colonial period
examined by the dependence or independence
of decolonized countries.
6. New Historicism – focuses not only on the
history when the literary text was written, but
also how the history happened. The
abovementioned perspectives can be
integrated with each other.
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1st Semester
Lesson 16
SPECULATIVE FICTION
Speculative Fiction is a broad genre that
encompasses stories that take place in imaginary
worlds as a result of one or more what if questions.
Subgenres of Speculative Fiction
1. Science Fiction or Sci-Fi – deals mainly with
the impact of actual or imagined science upon
society or individuals.
2. Fantasy – uses magic and supernatural elements
in plot, theme and setting.
3. Utopian Fiction – presents a world that is ideally
perfect in all aspects of society.
4. Dystopian Fiction – presents a futuristic,
imagined world of a perfect society, but is in
fact one which is oppressed through corporate,
bureaucratic, technological, moral or totalitarian
control.
5. Apocalyptic Fiction – deals with the end of
civilization either through nuclear war, plague
or some other general disaster.
6. Post-apocalyptic Fiction – shows the world after
an apocalyptic event and focus on the survivors
figuring out how to navigate their new
circumstances.
7. Alternate History – set in worlds where one or
more historical events unfold differently from
how it did in reality based on the idea of parallel
universe where the event or decision turned out
differently.
 21st Century Literature from the Philippines and the World
1st Semester

LESSON 17
Memoir
-a literary genre and a sub-genre of creative
nonfiction have gotten the term from the
French word “memoire” meaning ‘memory’ or
‘reminiscence’.
-It usually involves a public portion, of the
writer’s life as it relates to a historical event.

 Sub genres of Memoir

1. Transformation Memoir
Written with the theme of redemption as it is
about the author’s endured challenge and
obstacle in life.
2. Confessional Memoir
Very personal retelling of an author’s most
painful and deepest secrets about themselves
or their family and how it has affected them
3. Professional / Celebrity Memoir
Cover important moments in the author’s rise
to fame and success
4. Travel Memoir
Let us escape with the author and learn about
a time and place through their experience

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 21st Century Literature from the Philippines and the World
1st Semester

Lesson 18 Lesson 19
METAFICTION COMIC BOOK/GRAPHIC NOVEL
 Term given to fictional writing which self-
consciously and systematically draws Comic book
attention to its status as an artifact.  Any format that uses a combination of frames,
 Reminds you that you are reading a fictional words and pictures to convey meaning and tell
work and poses questions about the a story. Physically held together by staples.
relationship between reality and fiction.  Produced with a greater frequency as they are
produced in issues and volumes and arrive on
Metafictional Devices a weekly or monthly schedule.
Graphic Novel
1. A work of fiction within a work of fiction – two
 Also combines frames, words and pictures
or more fictional works on top of another.
 Usually exceeds 50 pages and is bound in
2. A novel about a writer creating a story – an
either a soft or hard cover just like a real book.
author writing another story within the novel it
 Wrapped up in fewer issues than the comic
serves as a character to.
book.
3. A novel where the narrator intentionally or
accidentally reveals himself as the author
Manga
4. A novel about a reader reading a novel –  Japanese version of comic books read in
characters that read another story whilst being a weekly issues
character in a fictional work.  Follows the same layout of western comic
5. A novel in which the book itself seeks books as well. The only difference is that they
interaction with the reader and sees the book are read from the right to the left (both text
itself as a living entity and panels).
6. A non-linear novel which can be read in any
order other than from beginning to end Parts of a Comic Book
7. Narrative footnotes which continue the story
while commenting on it is a device where
narrators comment on how a part of the story
unravels
8. A novel wherein the author is a character
9. A parallel novel which has the same setting and
time period as a previous work, and many of the
same characters, but is told from a different
perspective
10. Merging characters or elements from diverse
works of fiction into a new fictional scenario
11. Characters who express awareness that they are
in a work of fiction

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 21st Century Literature from the Philippines and the World
1. Publisher – company responsible for publishing
the book.
2. Issue Number – number of currently produced
comic book.
3. Main Title – title of the comic denoting the
series it belongs to.
4. Credits – lists the contributors to the book.
Usually, the writer first followed by the artist
and the inker.
5. Cover Image – meant to the reader’s attention.
Usually depicts a scene from the book.
6. Dialogue Balloon – contain words spoken by
indicated characters
7. Caption – refers to a speech box that contains
narration
8. Thought Bubble – contain thoughts of indicated
character representing dialogue internal to the
character.
9. Panel – single image is contained within a
panel. In modern comics, as opposed to
traditional ones like this image, panels are not
always used, and when they are used, they are
not as restrictive as they once were.
10. Gutter – space between panels.
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1st Semester
Lesson 21
THEATRICAL ADAPTATION
Drama
 Literary genre that shares several features with
other forms of literature but possesses certain
unique characteristics that distinguish it from
the others.
 Tell a story by using the elements of fiction
the same way novels and short stories do but
through performance.
Theatrical Adaptation
 Genre wherein a story from another medium is
rewritten to conform to the elements of theater.
 May be performed by a musical or even as a
simple five-act play. But a literary work is
being reinterpreted through another genre and
this requires great artistry and skill.
1. Musicals – form of theatrical performance that
involves people conversing in dialogues and in
musical numbers.
2. Opera – form of theatrical performance that
involves singing as well but singing is the
emphasis and it is the driving force of the entire
performance.
3. Broadway show – often mistaken as an
individual and separate form of theatrical
production. But is simply just another set of
theatrical performances performed on Broadway
in New York City.
 21st Century Literature from the Philippines and the World
1st Semester

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 21st Century Literature from the Philippines and the World
1st Semester