LITERATURE
understanding of these ideas.
l. Close reading and its Phases
- Close reading, according to Snow and Connor
(2016), is “an approach to extract meaning from text
by examining carefully how language is used in the
passage itself” (p. 1). This means that you will
determine the meaning of the text by reading the
words in the text. Just like what you did with the rebus
puzzle, you were able to answer it because the words
in the puzzle served as clues. The main intention of
close reading is to make the reading of literature more
simple. We have learned that literature can be
accessed as a poem, novel, song, and even a movie.
This means that for us to appreciate literature, we
have to take note of what we see, hear and of course,
read.
1. What the Text Says First, read the text carefully,
note the details like the names, things, places, events,
and actions in what you are reading. Make sure that
you have at least an understanding of what it says
even if things are not yet clear to you. If you can’t
understand a thing you may re-read the text.
2. How the Text Says it After realizing what you have
read, you should be able to note what are the
evidences or the things that made you realize what
you know about the text that you are reading. Now,
prove your analysis by taking note to how the text is
presented such as the shape of the poem, vocabulary
words, perspective, actions, the number of stanzas,
characteristics of the persona and speech that
supports your realization of the text. You may mark
and annotate the text for easy reading.
3. What the Text Means Finally, determine the
purpose of the text, what it means, and relate its
importance to real life situations, other texts, and even
bigger ideas. In this phase you should be able to fully
understand the text, appreciate its visual image in
your head, and be able to relate it to things that you
know.
ll. Meaning in literature: Context, Denotation and
Connotation
Context A literature student is familiar with
terminologies like context, denotation, and
connotation. These are extremely useful in formal and
informal talks, as well as in writing. However,
deciphering a message is not always reliant on a
single characteristic or circumstance. The term
"contextual understanding" refers to how a message
might be understood literally or figuratively. Let's look
at the definition and description below to get a better
Denotation is the literal or dictionary definition of a
word and this does include emotion. The term
denotation is taken from the Latin word
‘denotationem’ which means ‘indication’.
Denotation-Related Facts
1. A denotation is attached to every word. Every word
has a dictionary definition, regardless of the language
or part of speech.
2. Denotation is a method of expressing something
objectively. The connotative meaning of a word can
change, but not the denotative meaning. Depending
on your experience, you grasp the meaning of a word.
Whatever the case may be, the dictionary meaning of
a term will always be the same for everyone.
3. Multiple words can be used to express the same
idea. Occasionally, dictionary definitions for similar
words are the same. The terms "waste" and "junk," for
example, refer to the same discarded material.
4. It might not be the case that denotation is fair.
Connotation can give a term a favorable or
unfavorable connotation, although a word's dictionary
definition can also be positive or negative.
Connotation, on the other hand, is the subjective or
associated meaning of a word. It is an emotion linked
with a word that influences how readers interpret its
meaning. Positive, negative, or neutral connotations
are possible. Different connotations are commonly
used by writers to add numerous layers of meaning to
a word, phrase, or paragraph.
Connotation Types in Writing Authors commonly
incorporate connotations to elicit positive, negative, or
neutral emotional responses.
1. Positive connotation refers to words that elicit a
positive emotional reaction. For example, someone
motivated is referred to as a "with go," while someone
energetic and curious is referred to as a "youngster."
2. Negative connotation is portrayed in a bad
light. Using the examples above, the motivated
individual may be labeled an "attentive listener,"
whereas the curious person could be labeled
"infantile."
3. Neutral connotation expresses itself without
attaching a positive or negative meaning, it is
said to be neutral. The phrase "he is eager"
implies that a person works hard and strives for
success, without implying that desire is a
favorable or harmful quality.
lll. Picture in Literature: Imagery and its
Types
Imagery
• The collection of images within a literary work.
• It pertains to the mental pictures that the poet
creates through language. Figures of speech
generally paint vivid pictures in the minds of the
readers.
Types of Imagery
Auditory -Sound
Tactile- Touch
Gustatory- Taste
Visual-Sight
Olfactory-Smell
Kinesthetic-moving objects.
Organic-experiences, attitudes, and emotions.
lV. East Asian Literature: Literary Periods
and Backgrounds
●Asia boasts of having given birth to the oldest
human civilizations
> 7,000-year-old Sumer civilization (cuneiform)
> 6,000-year-old Indus Valley civilization
> Known as “cradle of civilization” -
Mesopotamia (Iraq, Iran, Syria, and Turkey.
●The writings spring from ancient literary
traditions comprising China, Japan, and Korea
CHINA
●One of the oldest existing literary writings
(3,000 years old)
●Used language consisting of script or
characters that stands for ideas
Classical Age (600 BC - 200 BC)
- Three important philosophies emerged and
shaped Chinese writings.
> Taoism- Lao Tzu (Tao Te Ching or The Way
and Its Power)
> Confucianism- Confucius or Kung Fu Tzu
(Confucian Classics and Analects)
> Buddhism- Buddha or Siddhartha Gautama
(Four Noble Truths and Eightfold Paths)
- They have made indelible imprints in many
classical Chinese texts.
- These philosophies continued to influence
many Chinese writers until China became
exposed to Western ideas in the 18th century.
Modern Age (19th Century)
- New Culture Movement a reaction against
Confucianism and traditional Chinese culture.
-Used vernacular to replace the classical
language which they declared “dead language”
-The end of the New Culture Movement in 1949
closed the contemporary period and ushered in
the present age in Chinese Literature
Modern Age
- The inauguration of the Communist People’s
Republic of China was installed in 1949 by Mao
Zedong.
- The literary activity was institutionalized by the
government.
- On June 4, 1989, a student-led demonstration
at Tiananmen Square was forcefully suppressed
by a large-scale military mobilization that
crushed all opposition to the Communist
government.
21st-century Chinese Literature
(2001-Present)
- Anchored on personal experiences to political
convictions of writers at home or abroad -
Produced a diverse collection of works that are
noted for their artistry and literary imagination
- Explored varied genres such as a novel, short
story, essay, poetry, and play
- David Der-wei, a Harvard professor of Asian
studies, claims that the current Chinese writings
mostly deal with science fantasy
> Sinophone literature written in Chinese by
Chinese-speaking writers in various parts of the
world outside of China.
JAPAN
●Considered as one of the major literary writings in
the world
●Had NO writing system until it developed its own
based on borrowed and modified Chinese characters
or script called Kanji
●Kanji was the earliest writing system in Japan.
Japanese Literary Periods
A. Ancient era (before the 8th century)
- Had only oral tradition existed because of the
absence of a writing system
- Written literature came with the introduction of the
Kanji and the publication of The Kojiki (Record of
Ancient Matters), the oldest extant chronicle in Japan
B. Classical period (8th-12th century)
- Considered Japan’s golden era of art and literature
- Tale of Genji, the most popular literary output of this
era
> Tale of Genji a 54-chapter novel considered one of
the oldest novels in the world
C. Medieval times (13th-16th century)
- Periods of civil war and strife in Japan, which
produced the country’s popular epic Tale of the Heike
- Tale of Heike tells the story of the
late-twelfth-century power struggle between the Taira
(or Heike) and Minamoto (or Genji) households. The
medieval era began with the destruction of the Taira in
1185, and the victorious Minamoto's formation of a
new military government. We may learn a lot about
living in Japan during this period of transition, as well
as a warrior culture, from this epic tale (Asia for
Educators, 2021).
D. Modern literature (17th-mid-19th century)
- Known as the Japanese literature of peace
- The era when the haiku and kabuki became popular
literary forms |
> haiku- 5-7-5 metrical pattern (images from nature)
> kabuki- is one of the minimalist forms of traditional
Japanese poetry (nature & season) and considered
Japan’s major theatrical form for four centuries now >
ka- song, bu- dance, and ki- skill
- Japan reopened itself to the West by the late 19th
century
- The period of rapid industrialization gave rise to a
new literary form the I novel.
- I novel a long-form fiction that depicts the uglier side
of life and carries a depressing tone and mood of
Naturalism.
- Naturalism is a vision or perspective which leans on
to the dark side of life.
- Naoya Shiga was acknowledged to be the first
I-novelist.
> Otsu Junkichi is a confessional narrative about the
author’s affair with a woman not suited to his station
in life.
E. World War II (1939-1945)
- Witnessed the rise of several authors known for their
exquisite literary styles and expressions
- The memory is the foreground for some renowned
modern Japanese writers.
> Tanizaki Jun’ ichiro earned worldwide distinction for
his story of love and sensuality.
> Kawabata Yasunari, a master of psychological
fiction, became the first Japanese to receive the
Nobel Prize for Literature.
> Mishima Yukio (real name: Hiraoka Kimitake)
regarded by many as the most important Japanese
novelist in the 20th century.
F. 21st-century Japanese literature/ post-World
War II era
- The writings that emerged on the heels of this global
war dealt with social and moral issues, alienation,
problems of a nuclear age, and even religious
dilemmas.
- The years following the war also thrust into the
international scene of the best Japanese writers.
21st-century Japanese Writers
> Kenzaburo Oe, winner of the 1994 Nobel Prize for
Literature
> Ishiguro Kazuo, recipient of Britain’s Man Booker
Prize in 1989
> Haruki Murakami, the 2006 winner of the Frank O’
Connor International Short Story Award - The most
significant development in 21st-century Japanese
literature is the rise of manga.
> Manga is a popular Japanese comic as a form of
entertainment
> Manga Japanese comics enjoy a broad patronage
because people of all ages read it.
The genres cover the following:
A. Action
B. Fantasy
C. Adventure
D. Mystery
E. Romance
F. Horror
G. Drama
H. Comedy
I. Science Fiction
> Mangaka, the Japanese artists or cartoonists.
A. Naoki Urasawa has been consistently conferred
the prestigious Manga Awards in Japan over the
years.
B. Akira Toriyama has earned immense popularity in
Japan and many countries for his Dragon Ball series.
C. Masashi Kishimoto is a popular household
mangaka in and out of Japan known for his Naruto
series.
- The Japanese manga has been criticized for
causing a decline in the quality of Japanese writing. -
Ironically, manga has encouraged the younger
generation to read.
Otaku
• A Japanese term for people with consuming
interests, particularly in Anime and Manga
KOREA
●Developed under the shadow of Chinese literature
●Hanja was the first writing system in Korea and had
also been devised from Chinese script and
characters.
●Rooted in Chinese philosophies, like Confucianism,
Taoism, and Buddhism.
●The first Korean writing had not been effectively
preserved because their scribes' early literary works
were inscribed on stones, tombs, and bamboo.
Korean Literary Period
Classical Literature
- The literary works, written in Hanja, were shaped by
traditional Korean folk beliefs.
> Hyangga is a literary form written by Buddhist
monks that consists of poems of four, eight, or ten
lines in length.
> Koryo kayo are songs categorized as either short
or extended form, which do not adhere to any strict
measure or rhyme.
> Shijo is a poetry that incorporates
Neo-Confucianism.
> Kasa are short poems that serve as a repository for
personal views and moral advice.
Modern Literature
- Hanja was replaced by Hangul in the 15th century.
> Hangul is the Korean alphabet or script in its original
form. - The official language of Korea for
administration and education had been Japanese.
Korea’s Division in 1945 (the 38th parallel)
1. North Korea- the north region of the 38th parallel
under the former Soviet Union.
2. South Korea- the south region of the 38th parallel
under the United States.
-This division had resulted in the emergence of both
North Korean and South Korean literature.
> North Korean literature was more conservative
under the strict control of the Communist government.
> South Korean literature was more open, democratic,
and Western oriented.
Hallyu
• Chinese term which, when translated, literally means
“Korean Wave”.
● It is the global popularity of South Korea's cultural
economy exporting Kpop music, entertainment,
Korean dramas and movies.
My True Face TLDR
Characters
-Box man (Box)
-Masked boy (Mask)
-Emotionless princess (Torso)
Goal
They initiated a search for their true faces as the evil
witch stole them,during their travels they encountered
scenarios that helped them face their true selfs and
learn that the witch didn’t stole their faces but their
courage to seek happiness
How did they seek it
Emotionless princess - With her pity towards the
clown dancing on the thorny field
Box Man- With his courage to help his friends
Masked Boy- By comforting the mother fox
Element of Fiction: Setting
Setting - refers to the place or the locale where the
story is situated. The date, the time, and the action all
add up to the setting.
Types of Setting:
A. Realistic - The setting, like realism in fiction,
attempts to properly reproduce the actual presence of
life, particularly that of ordinary people in everyday
situations.
B. Non-Realistic - The characters are either
allegorical or symbolical, such as ghosts, animals, or
human representations of virtues or vices, and are not
real people. - It could be a dreamy forest, a desolate
mountain, a gloomy alley, the underworld, or a
fictional place.
Element of Fiction: Characters
- Character/s It is an imagined person who inhabits a
story, but characters may also be based on real
people whom the writer uses as models. They often
possess human personalities and qualities that are
familiar to us and act in a reasonably consistent
manner.
Types of Characters:
1. Stock or stereotyped
- They are the characters in commercial fiction.
- These are characters that require less-detailed
portrayal.
- We already know them well since they have
dominant virtues and vices.
- Characters must be solid, complex, and real, to be
believable.
2. Hero or heroine
- The hero is the good guy or leading male character
who opposes the villain or the bad guy.
- The heroine is the leading female character.
- The hero and the heroine are usually larger than life
like those found in epics and swashbuckling tales.
- They are often stronger or better than most human
beings and possess godlike traits and qualities.
3. Antihero
- The antihero is a flawed character who is more than
just a good guy.
- Readers either regard him with pity or disgust, unlike
the traditional hero who is admired and extolled.
4. Protagonists
- They are also called lead characters and we think of
them as more complex than the minor characters, the
other figures who appear in a story.
- They often play significant roles in the way we
understand or interpret the major characters.
- They are also pivotal in the changes that major
characters undergo.
5. Foil/Antagonist
- A foil serves as a contrast to the major character to
highlight the particular qualities of the latter.
- It usually serves as a counterpart for the hero and
adds to the story's dramatic effect.
- A foil character works in contrast to the
characteristics of the hero.
6. Static/Flat
- Flat characters are stereotypes or stock characters
who are capable of moving the plot forward but just
need the bare minimum of description.
- It also remains still throughout the story and feels
the gap in the story.
- A static character does not appear to change during
the course of a story.
7. Round
- Round characters are usually the protagonists.
- They have more than just one trait.
- They are complex and at times complicated.
- They possess traits that may even seem
contradictory.
- Round characters seem very real to readers just like
our friends, neighbors, family members, and
colleagues.
- This character develops and gets more complex as
the story progresses, as he or she does not stick to
the limiting traits.
8. Dynamic
- Dynamic characters experience changes throughout
the development of the story.
- A dynamic character may undergo sudden changes
but these are usually expected based on the events of
the story.
V. North American Literature
A. Plot
• The arrangement of events to develop an author’s
basic idea of a story.
• The logical series of events and character’s
actions having a beginning, middle, and end.
ELEMENTS OF PLOT
1. Narrative hook refers to what catches a reader’s
interest or attention through the presentation of
problems in the story.
2. Introduction/Exposition is the beginning of the
story; this is also where the story’s character are
introduced, setting is revealed, and complication
begins.
3. Rising Action deals with the series of conflicts or
crises in the story that lead to the climax.
4. Climax is the turning point in the story.
5. Falling Action takes place after the climax. It
includes events that will help to fully resolve the
conflict.
6. Denouement/Resolution is where the falling
action is concluded through the revelation or
suggestion of the outcome of the conflict or crisis.
Things to Remember About Plot
A. Interruptions to chronological sequence
1. Flash-forward refers to the technique of showing
bits or glimpse of what is going to happen towards the
end of the story.
2. Flashback refers to glimpse provided about the
past. William Faulkner, an American writer, is
considered the master of using flashback and
flash-forward in his literary piece titled, “A Rose for
Emily”.
3. Foreshadowing is mainly a technique to provide
clues or hints as to some events or circumstances
that may come soon in the flow of the story.
B. In medias res
1. In medias res means “in the middle of things” or “in
the middle of the action”.
This starts in the middle of the action without
exposition Ex: The River Piedra by, Paulo Coelho
(starts with an image of a crying woman)
C. Fabula vs. Syuzet (Russian Formalism)
1. Fabula refers to a simple linear causality chain.
2. Syuzet (Sue’jet) is a nonlinear presentation of
events.
D. Irony
1. Irony refers to certain unexpected contradictions.
Types of Irony:
a. Verbal irony refers to the contradiction between
what a character says and what a character means.
Ex. I can’t wait to read the seven-hundred-page
report. Great, someone stained my new dress.

b. Situational Irony involves a discrepancy between

what is expected to happen and what actually
happens.
Ex. Philippines, as an archipelago, has no fish to
catch. Farmers have no food to eat.

c. Dramatic Irony this type of irony is popular in

works of art such as movies, books, poems, and
plays.
Ex. In a movie where a detective does not know that
the criminal responsible for the crimes in the city is his
partner. The audience however is already aware of
this fact and waits anxiously to know what will happen
once the character finds out what they already know.

E. Deus ex machina
Deus ex machina means “god out of the machine” in
Greek. An event or twist in the story which is
completely illogical and is simply inserted to save the
protagonist of the story from danger.