21st Century Literature from the Philippines

and
the World
 Objectives

At the end of the lesson, the students will be able to:

a.define Asian Literature;

b.distinguish the prominent authors and literary pieces from
four divisions of Asian Literature;
c. show understanding and appreciation of Asian Literature
by creating a short analysis of a given story.
Asia is the world's largest continent and the cradle of
humanity, religion, and civilization. Therefore, the
continent has diverse and rich written literature.

Let’s Define Asian Literature

Refers to the variety of literary works that was written
over a period of thousands of years ago in all of the
countries in Asia.
Significance of Asian Literature

It gives us the philosophies in life, the

hardships and the triumph of their
developing nations and its people.
 FOUR DIVISIONS OF ASIAN LITERATURE
West Asian
 Arabic Literature

 It’s written in Arabic literature known with the

scriptures in Koran. The sacred book of Islam
which is a widespread of the Muslim faith in
Asia, Africa and Europe.
Khalil Gibran (1883-1931)

*Lebanese American philosophical essayist,

novelist, poet and artist.
*Alienation, disruption, and the lost rural
beauty and security in a modern world.
*His simple and direct style was a
revelation and an inspiration.
KHALIL GIBRAN
EAST ASIAN
(CHINESE LITERATURE)
*most of their literature focuses on
everyday events, such as prevalent
agricultural society. It also reflects the
political and social history of China.
The Book of Songs is the oldest
collection of Chinese poetry
and was written during Chou
Dynasty (1600 B.C.).
  LU XUN / LU HSUN (1881-1936)
*Chou-Shu-jen
*Known as China’s greatest modern writer of
the 20th century
*His sharp and unique essays created more
than 600 articles.
*He was the head of the Chinese Left-Wing
Writers League in Shanghai in the 1930’s.
 *His works deal with
themes of social concern,
problems of the poor,
women, and intellectuals.
He wrote “A Madman’s
Diary” in 1918.
  JAPANESE LITERATURE
●Early Japan borrowed much from Chinese culture but
evolved its own character overtime.
●Poetry is Japan’s popular means of expression. There
are different poems in Japan according to form and
structure:
*Choka- poems that consist of alternate five and seven
syllables with additional seven-syllable line at the end.
 *Tanka- consist of 5 lines of 5-7-5-7 syllables. This is
the most prevalent verse form in Japanese literature.
*Haiku- consists of 3 lines of 5-7-5 syllables. Most of
the Haikus consist of Kigo or seasonal words like
snow or cherry blossoms.
Mastuo Basho, Yosa Buson and Koyobashi Issa are
the greatest haiku poets of Japan.
●Novels and Short Stories
Snow Country by Kawabata
The Makioka Sisters by Tanizaki
The Setting Sun by Ozuma
Confessions of a Mask by Yukio
●Drama includes Noh,
the earliest form of
Japanese drama and
Kabuki which is
performed with the
accompaniment of
orchestra.
●Most of Japanese
Writers committed
suicide.
CENTRAL ASIA
 INDIAN LITERATURE
●Originally written in Sanskrit, the Indic
Language of Hinduism and the Vedas, the
religions’ sacred text.
● Sanskritlyric poetry
can be written
categorized into three:
FRAGMENTARY,
NARRATIVE AND
DRAMATIC.
●RABINDRANATH TAGORE (1861-1940)
Mainly the poet, but his literary works included
essays, short stories, travelogues, dramas, and
thousands of songs.
Literary Pieces:
GORA (Love, religion and patriotism-1910)
GITANJALI (Song of Offerings-1912)
GHARE BAIRE (Nationalist movement/Indian
women)
SOUTHEAST ASIAN
THAI LITERATURE
●Traditionally heavily influenced by Indian
Culture.
●Thailand’s national epic is a version of the
Ramayana called the Ramakien.
●Most of the imaginative literary works in Thai,
before the 19th century, were composed in
poetry.
King Rama I
*He composed
Ramakien in the 18th
century, it diverges
from the popular
Indian versions of the
Ramayana.
●Prose writing was reserved to historical records,
chronicles, and legal documents.
Activity 2:
Directions: In a clean yellow pad paper, copy and
answer the questions below. 2 sentences for each
answer. (15 points)
1.Upon discovering what Asian literature is, how will you
define Asian Literature in your own words?
2.In the four divisions of Asian Literature, which among the
4 authors you want to know more? Why?
3.Why do you think Asian literature shows rich and diverse
literature?
 Assessment 2:

Directions: Write an analysis of the story “A Madman’s

Diary” by Lu Xun in 4 paragraphs. Use the guide
questions in writing your analysis and follow the
provided rubric. 2 sentences for each answer, meaning
there must be 4 sentences per paragraph.
Guide questions:
1.Who is the author of the short story? What
aspects of the author’s personal life are
relevant to this literary piece?
2. What seem to be the author’s major
concerns? Do they reflect any of the writer’s
personal experiences?
3. How does it reflect the time in which it
was written?

4. What figures of speech are used?

(metaphors, similes, etc.). Cite a line
from the story for your evidence.
5. What view of life does the short story present?

6. What moral statement, if any, does this poem make?

Is it explicit or implicit?

7. Does the story address societal issues? What social

issues are presented in the story? Are the issues
presented in the poem still relevant or still happening in
the society?
Criteria

Relevance of the Content: 50%

Originality: 30%
Mechanics: 20%
________________________________
Total 100%