21st Century Literature from the Philippines & the World

LITERATURE –body of written works produced in a particular language, country, or age. A piece of writing that
is valued as work of art. Originated from oral traditions.
3 POINTS OF LITERATURE
1. It portrays human experience.
2. Authors interpret these human experiences.
3. It is an art form and a style of expression.
IMPORTANCE OF LITERATURE
1. Literature improves your command of language.
2. It teaches you about the life, culture, and experiencesof people anywhere in the world.
3. It gives you information about other parts of the world.
4. It entertains you and provides useful occupation.
5. It helps you compare your experiences with other people.
PRE-COLONIAL PERIOD (BC-1564)
Principally works were oral, concise and poet.
Bugtong (fiddles) Dalit (religious song)
Salawikain (proverbs) Kundiman (le song)
Kasabihan (sayings) Dipayanin ( drinking song)
Kantahingbayan (folk song) Hibais (travel song)
Oyayi (lullaby) Bung-aw (funeral song)
Soliranin (boat song) Bansal (courting song)
Kumintang (war song)
Diona (wedding song)
With the passage of time, oral communication became lengthy in the form of epic:
Biagni Lam-ang(Ilocano)
Alim and Hudhud (Ifugao)
Kumintang (Tagalog)
Ibalon (Bicolano)
Maragtas at Hinilawod (Visayas)
Hari saBukid (Hiligaynon)
Dagoy atSudsud (Tagbanua)
Bantugan (Muslim
Indarapatra at Sulayman (Maguindanao)
Tatuang (Bagobo)
Prose and works
Alamat (legends) Pabula (fables)
Arabula (Mito (myth) Parabula (parables)
Kwentongbayan (folktale)
The oral works were transcribed through syllabary or alibata.
AWIT – composed of dodecasyllabicmonorhyming quatrains
KORIDO – octasyllabic monorhyming quatrains
SPANISH PERIOD (1521-1898)
Spaniards spread Christianity.
The Propagandists, led by Dr. Jose Rizal, raised for assimilation.
DOCTRINA CHRISTIANA –Catholic book of prayers and doctrines
FRANCISCO BALTAZAR –ama ng balagtasan. He wrote Florante at Laura (an immortal allegorical work)
CRISOSTOMO SOTTO – father of Pampanggoliterature
PEDRO BUKANEG – father of Ilokano literature
Fr. MODESTO DE CASTRO –wrote Urbana and Felisa(book of etiquette)
PSEUDONYMNS
Rizal – Dimasalang and Long Laan
Marcelo H. del Pilar - Plaridel
Graciano Lopez Jaena – Diego Laura
Jose Maria Panganiban - Jomapa
AMERICAN PERIOD (1900-1942)
Americansintroduced the public school system and the English Language in the Philippines.
THOMASITES –first English teachers in the Philippines.
JAPANESE PERIOD (1941-1945)
Introduced NIPONGGO to the Filipinos.
Forms of Japanese Poetry
1. HAIKU – short descriptive poem about nature of 17 syllables and 3 lines. (5-7-5)
2. SENRYU –the subject is human nature and the tone is satirical and ironical (5-7-5)
3. TANKA–with 31 syllables and 5 lines (5-7-5-7-7)
THE REPUBLIC (1946-1985) - 21ST CENTURY LITERATURE
There are literary innovations, new genres arise, and even Filipinos without literary background managed to
express themselves through writing.
LITERARY GENRES
FICTION
1. Fantasy–a story that is imaginable but could never really happen. The setting may be from another
world and characters might be magical.
2. Historical fiction –a story that takes places in a historically accurate time and setting. The
characters and some events are fictional.
3. Mystery –a story that usually involves suspense and the solving of a crime. Clues are typically
given throughout the story.
4. Realistic fiction –a story that seems real or could happen in real life. It is set in present day and
includes modern day problem and vents.
5. Science fiction –a story that is set in the future or in another planet. It is based on the impact of
actual, imagined, or potential science.
6. Adventure –a story where the protagonist and other major charactersare placed in dangerous
situations. The characters must use their wits and skills to defend themselves from the protagonist.
FOLKTALES
1. Fable – a brief story that is meant to tell a moral lesson. The characters are usually animals with
human characteristics.
2. Folk tale –a story with magical elements.
 3. Legend –a story usually about national or folk hero. It is partially true. The character traits of the
hero is often exaggerated.
4. Tall tale –a humorous story with extreme exaggerations. The main character, hero, usually does
impossible things with ease.
5. Myth –often based on a historical event to explain some phenomenon of nature and human
behavior. Characters are usually gods.
POEM
1. List poem –a poem that is based on a list or catalogue or some sort.
2. Poem of address –a poem that is written to somebody something. It is not about that person or
thing.
3. Narrative poem –a poem that is written from a different point of view (1st, 2nd, 3rd person).
4. Couplet –poetry that uses 2 lines that rhyme.
5. Haiku –Japanese poem (5-7-5)
6. Cinquain–a five line poem.
7. Diamante –a seven line poem
8. Acrostic –a poem in which the first letters of each line spell a special word.
9. Biopoem–eleven line poem that describes a person.
NON-FICTION
1. Biography – a true story of someone’s life.
2. Autobiography –a biography written by someone about his own life.
3. Essay – a short composition usually written from the author’s point of view. It can be persuasive,
comparative, literarycriticism, political manifestos, arguments, recollections, observations, or
reflections.
4. How to –an instructional form of writing that demonstrates how to do a task, procedure, etc.
5. Textbook –a manual of instruction or a standard book for any branch of study.
6. Encyclopedia –a comprehensive written work that is used as a reference.
7. Magazine –a periodical that contains articles, pictures, advertisements that are published regularly.
8. Research report – an informational, objective writing based on multiple accurate references.
9. Almanac –an annual publication that contains tabular information in a particular field.
( astronomical data, tide changes)
10. Newspaper –a publication containing news, current events, information, and advertising.
11. Atlas –a collection of maps.
12. Memoir –a type of autobiography in the account of 1 or 2 events in the life of the life of the writer, written in a 1st
person point of view.
13. Brochure –a pamphlet or leaflet advertisement.
14. Editorial –an article in newspapers, magazines, tv, etc. that expresses the author’s opinion or view on a
particular topic.
15. Advertisements –a public promotion of a product or service.
DRAMA
1. Tragedy –shows the downfall or destruction of a noble person.
2. Comedy – intended to amuse the audience.
3. Tragicomedy –a serious play with some comedic qualities.
4. Farce –it beings laughter for the sake of laughter and does not stimulate thoughts.
5. Melodrama –the characters are victims of merciless fate.
21st CENTURY LITERARY GENRES
1.Illustrated novel –story through text and illustrated images. 50% of the narrative is illustrated.Readers must
interpret the images to completely comprehend the story.
2. Digi-fiction –triple media literature. (book, video/movie, internet/web). In order to get the full story, students
must read, view, and navigate.
3. Graphic novels –narratives in comic book formats.
♡ Manga – Japanese word for comics.
♡Ameri-manga –comics created by
American artists in Manga style.
TYPES OF MANGA
a. Shonen – boy’s manga (Naruto, Bleach)
b. Shojo – girl’s manga (Sailor Moon)
c. Seinen – men’s manga (Akira)
d. Josei – women’s manga (paradise Kiss)
e. Kodomo – children’s manga (Doraemon, Hello Kitty)
4. Doodle fiction –the author incorporates doodle writing drawing, and handwritten graphics in place of
traditional font. Drawing enhances the story, often adding humorous elements.
5. Text-talk novels –blog, email, IM format narratives. Stories told completely in dialogue simulating
social network conversations.
6. Chick Lit –fiction which addresses issues of womanhood, often humorously and lightheartedly.
7. Flash fiction –a fiction of extremme brevity. It can range from a word to a thousand.
♡ 6-word flash fiction
8. Science fiction –(literature of ideas)a speculative fiction dealing with imaginative concepts, such as
futuristic science and technology, space and travel, time travel, faster than light travel, parallel
universe and extraterrestriallife.
9. Blog –a web log: a website containing short articles containing posts that are changed regularly.
Written by one or more individuals about their own opinion, interests, and experiences.
10. Creative non-fiction –( literary non-fiction/narrative non-fiction) it uses literary styles and techniques
to create factually accurate narratives. As a genre, it is still relatively young, and is only beginning
to be scrutinized with the same critical analysis given to fiction and analysis.
11. Hyper poetry –digital poetry that uses links using hypertext mark up. It is usually found online.
FIGURES OF SPEECH –presents ordinary things in a new and unusual way. They communicate ideas
that go beyond word’s usual literary meaning.
1. Imagery –descriptive writing that appeals to the senses.
2. Simile – comparing 2 unlike things using like or as.
3. Metaphor – comparing 2 u like things without using like or as.
4. Alliteration – repetition of beginning consonant sounds.
5. Hyperbole – a major exaggeration or overstatement.
6. Onomatopoeia –a word that sounds like its meaning.
7. Personification –giving human traits or characteristics to something that is not human.

Using original figures of speech in our writing is a way to convey meanings in fresh, unexpected ways. They
can help our readers understand and stay interested in what we have to say. 
1. Alliteration: The repetition of an initial consonant sound. Example: She sells seashells by the seashore.
2. Anaphora: The repetition of the same word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses or
verses. Example:Unfortunately, I was in the wrong place at the wrong time on the wrong day. 
3. Antithesis: The juxtaposition of contrasting ideas in balanced phrases. Example: As Abraham Lincoln said,
"Folks who have no vices have very few virtues."
4. Apostrophe: Directly addressing a nonexistent person or an inanimate object as though it were a living
being. Example:"Oh, you stupid car, you never work when I need you to," Bert sighed.
5. Assonance: Identity or similarity in sound between internal vowels in neighboring words. Example: How
now, brown cow?
6. Chiasmus: A verbal pattern in which the second half of an expression is balanced against the first but with
the parts reversed. Example: The famous chef said people should live to eat, not eat to live.
7. Euphemism: The substitution of an inoffensive term for one considered offensively explicit. Example: "We're
teaching our toddler how to go potty," Bob said.
8. Hyperbole: An extravagant statement; the use of exaggerated terms for the purpose of emphasis or
heightened effect. Example: I have a ton of things to do when I get home.
9. Irony: The use of words to convey the opposite of their literal meaning. Also, a statement or situation where
the meaning is contradicted by the appearance or presentation of the idea. Example: "Oh, I love spending big
bucks," said my dad, a notorious penny pincher.
10. Litotes: A figure of speech consisting of an understatement in which an affirmative is expressed by
negating its opposite. Example: A million dollars is no small chunk of change.
11. Metaphor: An implied comparison between two dissimilar things that have something in
common. Example: "All the world's a stage."
12. Metonymy: A figure of speech in which a word or phrase is substituted for another with which it is closely
associated; also, the rhetorical strategy of describing something indirectly by referring to things around
it. Example: "That stuffed suit with the briefcase is a poor excuse for a salesman," the manager said angrily.
13. Onomatopoeia: The use of words that imitate the sounds associated with the objects or actions they refer
to. Example:The clap of thunder went bang and scared my poor dog.
14. Oxymoron: A figure of speech in which incongruous or contradictory terms appear side by
side. Example: "He popped the jumbo shrimp in his mouth."
15. Paradox: A statement that appears to contradict itself. Example: "This is the beginning of the end," said
Eeyore, always the pessimist.
16. Personification: A figure of speech in which an inanimate object or abstraction is endowed with human
qualities or abilities. Example: That kitchen knife will take a bite out of your hand if you don't handle it safely.
17. Pun: A play on words, sometimes on different senses of the same word and sometimes on the similar
sense or sound of different words. Example: Jessie looked up from her breakfast and said, "A boiled egg
every morning is hard to beat."
18. Simile: A stated comparison (usually formed with "like" or "as") between two fundamentally dissimilar things
that have certain qualities in common. Example:Roberto was white as a sheet after he walked out of the horror
movie.
19. Synecdoche: A figure of speech in which a part is used to represent the whole. Example: Tina is learning
her ABC's in preschool.
20. Understatement: A figure of speech in which a writer or speaker deliberately makes a situation seem less
important or serious than it is. Example: "You could say Babe Ruth was a decent ballplayer," the reporter said
with a wink.

ELEMENTS OF LITERATURE
FICTION
1. Character – the people in a literary work
2. Setting – the place & time of the story
3. Plot – author’s arrangement of the events of the story
4. Point of view – the angle or perspective from which a story is told
 5. Style
6. Theme – central idea or central message of the story
NONFICTION
1. Source – supplier of information
2. Subjective details –description that tells a person’s feelings, attitude, or judgment instead of
external facts
3. Objective details –true to life descriptions that do not include personal feelings or judgement
4. Primary source – the original or direct source
5. Secondary source – one that is based on primary sources
POETRY
1. Lines –a single line in a poem
2. Stanza –the group of lines (couplet, triplet, quatrain, quinrain, sestet, octet)
3. Rhyme & rhyme scheme –words rhyme if they sound alike. Rhyme scheme is the rhyme pattern of
a poem.
a. Alliteration – repetition of the initial consonant sound.
b. Consonance –repetition of the intermediate or final conssonant sound.
c. Assonance – repetition of vowel sound.
4. Rhythm –pattern of beats or a series of stressed or unstressed syllable in a poem.
5. Meter – the measure of a line in a poetry
6. Foot – it is a grouping of 2 or more syllables making up a basic unit of meter.
7. Mood – the feeling that a poem creates in a reader.
8. Tone – the attitude a writer takes towards the subject or audience of the poem.
9. Imagery – language that appeals to the 5 senses.
10. Figures of speech
DRAMMA
1. Plot –the basic storyline of the play
2. Theme – the meaning of the play
3. Character – the people
4. Dialogue – the words written by the playwright and spoken by the characters
5. Music/rhythm – the rhythm of the actor’s voices as they speak
6. Spectacle – the visual element’s of a play (set, costumes, special effects)
7. Convention – the techniques & methods used by the playwright & director
8. Genre – the type of play
9. Audience – the people who watch the play
10. BIOGRAPHICAL CONTEXT – same as authorial context. It places a particular literary work within
the context of the author’s life. Consider the circumstances under which the literary work was
written.
BLOG –a web blog; a website containing short articles called posts that are changed regularly. It is often
written by one or several out of his/their opinion, interests, and experiences.
CHICK LIT – genre fiction which addresses issues of modern womanhood, often humorously and light-
heartedly.
CLOSE ANALYSIS –synonymous to close reading. It fosters and advance understanding of the literary
passage that is focused primarily on the words themselves ( word choice, diction, imagery, syntax, structure,
literary devices, context, tone, strange or surprising statements, and rhythm).
CONTEXT – anything beyond the specific words of literary work that may be relevant to understanding the
meaning. It may be economic, social, cultural, cultural, historical, literary, biographical, etc.
CREATIVE NONFICTION –also known as literary nonfiction or narrative nonfiction, is a genre of writing that
uses literary styles and techniques to create factually accurate narratives.
CRITICAL INTERPRETATION –a critical explanation of the meaning of a literary work. It involves the analysis
of the elements, especially the theme. When applied to poetry, it is called EXPLICATION. ( literary criticism)
CRITICAL PAPER – a composition that offers an analysis, interpretation, and/or evaluation of a text. It often
takes the form of an argument, based on an evidence.
FIGURES OF SPEECH – alsoknown as figurative language, it creates figures ( pictures) in the mind of the
reader or listener. These pictures help convey the meaning faster and more vividly than words alone. It is
used to awaken the imagination.
FLASH FICTION –a style of fiction of extreme brevity.
HYPERPOETRY – a form of digital poetry using hepertextmmark-up.
LINGUISTIC CONTEXT – discourse that surrounds a language unit and helps to determine its interpretation.
LITERARY ELEMENTS –refers to particular identifiable characteristics of a whole text.
LITERARY GENRE –a category of literary composition. Genres may be determined by literary techniques,
tone, content, or even length.
LITERARY HISTORY – the historical development of writings in prose or poetry which attempts to provide
entertainment, enlightenment, or instruction to the reader.
LITERARY TECHNIQUES – refers to any specific deliberate construction or choices of language which an
author uses to convey meaning in a particular way.
LITERARY TRADITIONS –it is a collection of works that has an underlying interconnectedness and coherence
that makes them more than simply a group of works sharing geography or group.
MOBILE PHONE TEXT TULA –a particular example of this poem is a tanaga, a type of Filipino poem
consisting of 4 lines with 7 syllables each with the same rhyme at the end of each line, that is to say, a 7-7-7-7
syllabic verse, with an AABB rhyme scheme.
NATIONAL LITERATURE – a literature that reflects the history and culture of a country, usually created by its
own local writers.
ORAL HISTORY RESEARCH –a method of research where the memories of living people about events of
social conditions which they experience in their earlier lives as taped and preserved as historical evidence; oral
history.
SOCIOCULTURAL CONTEXT - it is about how a particular literary work depicts society.
SPECULATIVE FICTION –An umbrella term encompassing the more fantastical fiction genre, specifically
science fiction, fantasy, horror, weird fiction, supernatural fiction, superhero fiction, utopia and dystopian fiction,
apocalypticand post-apocalyptic fiction, and alternative history in literature, as well as related static, motion,
and virtual arts.
21st CENTURY LITERATURE – (2001 onwards) these works are often characterized as gender sensitive,
technologically alluding, culturally pluralistic, operates on the extreme reality or extreme fiction, and questions
conventions and supposedly absolute norms.