GE117 | Philippine Literature Prelim

Topic 1: Reintroduction to Literature

Zerrah Ann BS Psychology | Prof: Mr. Ian Paul Daug | SEM 1 2023

LITERATURE STYLE
➢ The peculiar way/s in which man/writer sees life,
➢ Literature comes from the Latin word ‘litera’
form his ideas, and expresses them (ideas).
which means an acquaintance with letter.
➢ It is a body of literary productions, oral, written, PERMANENCE
or visual, containing imaginative language that
➢ Great literature endures the test of time, drawing
realistically portrays thoughts, emotions, and
out timelessness. It remains invariable and
experiences of the human condition - (Bwalya. L,
relevant forever.
2006)
➢ Literature is language use that provides insights
“The greatness of literature cannot be
and intellectual stimulation of the reader. As one
determined solely by literary standards though
explores literature, he likewise discovers the
we must remember that whether it is literature
beauty of language.
or not can be determined by literary standards”
➢ Literature is an art that reflects the works of
- C.S Eliot
imagination, aesthetics and creative writing which
are distinguished for the beauty of style or
LITERARY APPROACHES
expression.
➢ Literature is a product of a particular culture that
MORAL OR HUMANISTIC APPROACH
concretizes man’s array of values, emotions,
actions, and ideas.
➢ Literature is viewed to discuss man and its
Side Note: literature is there for a creation of
nature. It presents man as essentially rational;
human experience that reveals about people and
that is endowed with intellect and free will; or
their world.
that the piece does not misinterpret the true
LITERARY STANDARDS nature of man.

UNIVERSALITY FORMALISTIC APPROACH

➢ Literature appeals to everyone, regardless of ➢ Literature is viewed naturally, independent of the

culture, race, sex, and time which are all
considered significant.
ARTISTRY
➢ Literature appeals to one’s sense of beauty as it
possesses a distinctive aesthetic quality.
INTELLECTUAL VALUE
➢ Literature stimulates critical thinking that
enriches mental processes of abstract and
reasoning.
SPIRITUAL VALUE
➢ Literature elevates the spirit and the soul by
bringing out moral values. It has the power to
motivate and inspire.
SUGGESTIVENESS
author, age, or any other external factor. The
study of the selection is based on the so called
‘literary elements’.
CULTURAL APPROACH
➢ Literature is seen as one of the manifestations
and vehicles of a nation’s culture and tradition. It
includes the entire complex of what goes under
‘culture’ and considers the literary piece in the
total cultural milieu in which it was born.
HISTORICAL APPROACH
➢ Literature operates on the premise that the
history of a nation has telling effects on its
literature and that the piece can be better
understood and appreciated if one knows the
times surrounding its creation.

➢ Literature unravels and invokes man’s emotional

power to define symbolisms, nuances, implies
meanings, images, and messages.
 PSYCHOLOGICAL APPROACH
➢ Literature is viewed as the expression of
‘personality’ of ‘inner drives’ of ‘neurosis.’ It has
resulted in an almost exhausting and exhaustive
‘psychological analyses of characters of symbols
and images of recurrent themes and others.
IMPRESSIONISTIC APPROACH
IMPORTANCE OF LITERATURE
Literature is important to us because it
speaks to us, it is universal, and it affect
us. Even when it is ugly, literature is
beautiful. ‘Literature is a comprehensive
essence of the intellectual life of a
nation.’
- Willian Shakespeare

➢ Literature is viewed to explain ‘reaction-response’

which is considered as something very personal,
relative, and fruitful. Unconditioned by
explanations and often taking the impact of the
piece, it seeks to see how the piece has
communicated.

GENRES OF LITERATURE

PROSE
➢ Language follows a natural flow of speech or
standard

Subgenres:
- Fiction and Non-fiction
- Creative and Non-fiction
POETRY

➢ Arranged for its meaning/ sound/ rhythm

Subgenres:
- Narrative (epic, ballad, metrical
romance, tale)
- Lyric (ode, elegy, song)

DRAMA OR PLAY
➢ Written compositions and are performed on
stage.
Subgenres:
- One act
- Full length
- Stage plays
- Musical
MEDIA
➢ Means of communication
Subgenres:
- Film
- Television
- Electronic
- RPG
GE117 | Philippine Literature Prelim
Topic 2: Pre-Colonial Literature
Zerrah Ann BS Psychology | Prof: Mr. Ian Paul Daug | SEM 1 2023
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
➢ The pre-colonial period in Philippine Literature is
undoubtedly the longest
➢ Our ancestors then had already a distinct
culture of their own
➢ Means of transportation: bancas, rafts,
vintas and horses.
➢ Alphabet: Alibata
➢ Diverse language, beliefs, cultures and
traditions
➢ Subjects were common experiences of the people
like food-gathering, creatures and objects in
nature, farming/ chores/ simplicities
ANCIENT LITERARY FORMS
MYTHS, LEGENDS, TALES AND FABLE
➢ Explain the WHY’s and How’s of natural
happenings and phenomena in localities.
FOLKSONGS (LULLABIES, OYAYIS,
HELES)
➢ Used to accompany our ancestors in almost all
types of their activities.
RIDDLES (BUGTONG)
➢ guessing game
➢ Part of our ancestor’s recreation or enjoyment
EPICS (EPIKO)
➢ Kilometric stories about the lives and exploits of
our ancestors’ folk heroes (verse and prose) in
narratives.
PROVERBS OR WISE SAYINGS
➢ Used for moralizing or reprimanding the children
or the tribesmen f our ancestors.
CHARACTERISTICS OF PRE-COLONIAL
LITERATURE OF THE PHILIPPINES
1.) Philippine pre-colonial literature practices the art of
storytelling.
2.) Common themes are the following: nature,
supernatural events, bravery of heroes, customs, and
ideologies.
3.) The stories told during the pre-colonial times were
considered the truth
4.) Plots were generally shorter, and characteristics have
one distinguishable characteristic.
5.) The language used has melody and rhythm.
‘Philippine literature in the pre-colonial years can
be classified as oral in nature, simple and bucolic’
THE LEGENDS OF THE TAGALOGS
➢ The legends trace the origin of the word
“Tagalog’
➢ It tells the story of Maria, a maiden who gave a
test to her many suitors to see who among them
deserves her hand. One suitor named llog bravely
took the impossible test of bringing a live wild
serpent. Later on, Maria asked to cut the snake.
When she was shouting "Taga llog", two
Spaniards passed by. They were asking for the
place they are in, but nobody paid attention, so
they just mistook the words "Taga-llog" as an
answer to their question and continuously
repeated it until it became Tagalog.
Irony: misinterpretation
Symbolism: serpent = challenge
Themes: love, determination, creativity,
language, cultural evolution, implication
GE117 | Philippine Literature Prelim
Topic 3: Philippine Literature in the Spanish Era
Zerrah Ann BS Psychology | Prof: Mr. Ian Paul Daug | SEM 1 2023

SPANISH COLONIZATION SPANISH INFLUENCES ON THE

PHILIPPINES
➢ SPANIARDS CAME WITH:
SWORDS - Territorial expansion ➢ Our periodicals this time gained a religious tone
CROSS – Evangelization ➢ European legends and traditions brought here
became assimilated in our songs, corridors, and
➢ Spanish colonization brought about great cultural
Moro Moros
changes which also greatly altered the
➢ Ancient literature was collected and translated to
literature's:
Tagalog and other dialects
- CONTENT
➢ The first Filipino alphabet, ALIBATA was replaced
- MEDIUM
by the roman alphabet
- FORM
➢ Many grammar books were printed in Filipino like
CONTENT OF LITERATURE Tagalog, Ilocano and Visayan

➢ Mostly religious THE FIRST BOOKS

➢ Lives of Saints, Religious books, Prayers, Psalms,
Marian Hymns, The Pasyon
MEDIUM OF LITERATURE
➢ Tri-lingual: Castillan language, Tagalog, and
dialects of some communities.
➢ Literature began to appear in print Alibata was
replaced by the roman alphabet
FORMS OF LITERATURE
➢ European metrical romances (corridos and
awaits)
➢ Recreational plays (duplo, moro-moro, and
zarzuela, juego de prenda)
LITERATURE’S ROLE
➢ catalyst of change
➢ Became a tool for the awakening of the Filipinos.
➢ Philippine literature in Spanish includes all
the poems, stories, novels, and essays written by
Filipinos in the Spanish language. This literature
began as a tool in the religious and political
conquest of the Philippines in the 16th century.
but eventually blossomed into a literature of
protest the Spanish colonizers and later the
American rulers.
CHARACTERISTICS:
• Religious
• Devotional
• Secular formal
• Naturalistic
• Academic
DOCTRINA CHRISTIANA
➢ Fr. Juan de Placencia & Fr. Domingo Nieva in
Tagalog and Spanish
➢ First book printed in the Philippines in 1593 in
xylography
➢ Contains the Pater Noster (Our Father). Ave Maria
(Hail Mary), Regina Coeli (Hail Holy Queen), The
Ten Commandment of God, The Commandment
of the Catholic Church, Seven Mortal Sins, How to
Confess and the Cathecism.
BARLAAN AT JOSAPHAT
➢ By Lope de Vega
➢ First biblical story printed in the
Philippines even thought it is a translation
THE PASION
➢ Book about the life and suffering of Jesus
Christ
➢ Read only during the Lenten season Urbana at
Feliza
➢ About the exchange of letters between two
sisters
ANG MGA DALIT KAY MARIA (PSALMS OF MARY)
➢ Fr. Marianna Sevilla in 1865
➢ Collection of songs praising the Virgin Mary
➢ Popular during Flores De mayo
 LITERARY COMPOSITIONS BY ➢ The Tagalog language’s akin to Latin to English,
FILIPINO LITERATES Spanish, Angelical tongue
• Native tongue is just like English,
FRANCISCO ‘BALAGTAS’ BALTAZAR Spanish, and even the language of the
angels.
• Florante at Laura, his narrative poem about the ➢ For God who knows how to look after us this
tyranny in Albania perceives the tyranny in his language he bestowed us upon
Filipino homeland. • Filipino language/native tongue shall
not be treated as inferior to other
GREGORIA DE JESUS
languages
• Wife of Andres Bonifacio, wrote noble Tagalog ➢ As others, our language is the same with alphabet
poem and letters of its own, it was lost because a storm
did destroy on the lake the bangka in years
LEONA FLORENTINO bygone
• Letters unique only to the Filipino
• Was a Filipino poet in the Spanish and Ilocano language could be trace back to baybayin
languages. She was considered as the ‘Mothers
of Philippine Women’s Literature.’
THEME: Take pride in own native language to achieve
DR. JOSE RIZAL freedom

• Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo, his novel, MORAL VALUE:

chronicle the life of Ibarra, a Filipino educated
abroad to reform his country through education. • Nationalism and Patriotism
• Love for language
GASPAR AQUINO DE BELEN
• Most gifted ladino
• Ladinos – bilingual natives, learned to read and
write both in Spanish and in their native tongue.
‘He who does not love his own language is worse than
• Published their works mainly devotional poetry
an animal and smelly fish.’ - Dr. Jose Rizal
• Wrote Mahal na Pasion ni Jesu Christo, a tagalog
poem-based o n Christ Passion was published in
1704.

OUR MOTHER TONGUE

• It truly a people dearly love the tongue to them
by heaven sent
• Peoples mother tongue is a gift from
heaven
➢ They’ll surely yearn for liberty like a bird above in
the firmament
• People would yearn for the freedom to
build an identity for themselves
➢ Because by its language one can judge, a town,
a barrio, and kingdom; and like any other created
thing every human being loves his freedom
• Language is the standard by which
outsiders judge a community, a culture,
a civilization
➢ One who doesn’t love his native tongue, is worse
than putrid fish and beast; and like a truly
precious thing it therefore deserves to be
cherished
• A nation’s language is treasure to be
valued and cherished.
GE117 | Philippine Literature Prelim
Topic 4: Beside the Pasig by Jose Rizal
Zerrah Ann BS Psychology | Prof: Mr. Ian Paul Daug | SEM 1 2023

BACKGROUND OF THE PLAY

➢ WRITTEN BY Jose Rizal and staged on December

8, 1880 OVERVIEW OF ‘BESIDE THE PASIG’
➢ Staged on the feast of “Immaculate Conception
➢ Beside the Pasig is a story which shows a
of the Virgin Mary’
sensitive issue in religion and spirituality –
BACKGROUND OF THE PLAY Catholicism versus Paganism. It offers questions
pertaining to what we believe in and what we do
➢ A one act zarzuela (recreational play)
not believe in. From a teenager’s perspective in
➢ Religious in theme
the character of Leonido, the play will portray a
➢ Written in Spanish language (originally)
different view of the Virgin Mary and Satan as the
➢ Divided into 7 scenes
evident symbols for spirituality. Which of the two
CHARACTERS OF THE PLAY is the real savior of mankind? Who is worthy to
be worshipped? What doctrines should be
LEONIDO (MAIN CHARACTER) followed? Who should we believe? Do you have
➢ The protagonist in the story to believe?
➢ A young Filipino who has strong faith to virgin
Mary
➢ Played by Isidro Perez

SATAN (SUPPORTING CHARACTER)

➢ The antagonist in the story

➢ Introduced himself as God of Filipinos
➢ Disguised himself as a Diwata
➢ Symbolizes Spanish authority
➢ Played by Isidro Perez

ANGEL (SUPPORTING CHARACTER)

➢ The one who saves Pascual in the wrath of the
devil and the battle against it.
➢ Played by Pedro Carranceja

PASCUAL, CANDIDO (SUPPORTING)

➢ the friends of leonido who are excited for the
feast.
➢ Pascual (Aquiles R. de Luzulaga
➢ Candido (Antoni Fuentes)

SETTING OF THE PLAY

➢ Pasig riverbank
➢ During the feast of Virgin Mary
➢ The setting of the play reflects the culture of
Filipinos in celebrating feasts of patron or saints.
GE117 | Philippine Literature Midterms
Topic 5: Philippine Literature During American Regime
Zerrah Ann BS Psychology | Prof: Mr. Ian Paul Daug | SEM 1 2023
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
➢ American colonization began in 1898 when Spain
ceded the Philippines to America
➢ Filipino resistance to American colonization ended
on July 4, 1902 through Roosevelt’s
announcement
➢ Acculturation of Filipino into American way of life
began thus affecting the literatures of the
Philippines
AMERICAN REGIME INFLUENCES
A NEW LANGUAGE
➢ Americans went into extensive effort to
propagate American English language
➢ American textbooks in English were used in
schools
• English: the language of the era
(became the sole medium of instruction
and official language of government)
EGALITARIAN PUBLIC-SCHOOL SYSTEM
➢ Added factor that facilitated the linguistic change
over from Spanish and various vernaculars into
the new language
➢ University of the Philippines was established
(1908)
• The Philippine Collegian: outlet to
produce literature by students and
facultty.
THE MUSHROOMING OF NEWSPAPERS
AND PERIODICALS
➢ A driving force in the development of Philippine
literature in English
• The Philippine Review (1916)
• The Citizen (1918)
• Philippine Nat’l Weekly (1917)
• The Philippine Republic (1923)
➢ The College Folio: first student publication of
the state university and contained better
production of the Filipino writers in 1920’s
➢ The Filipino People (Manuel Quezon):
published some poems, stories, essays in English
by Filipino students in America.
➢ The Philippine Free Press: first magazine that
gave serious attention to development of short
stories
➢ The Evening Star: devoted primarily to the
development of drama, fiction, and poetry
PERIOD OF IMITATION, CHANGES IN
CONTENT AND STYLE
➢ Writers imitate models both from England and the
United States (Hemingway, O. Henry, Saroyan,
etc.)
➢ Literary technique was criticized by famous
English professors but did not deal on the
contents
A STEADY GROWTH IN FORM
➢ Novel writing by the Filipino writers.
• A Child of Sorrow
• The Filipino Rebel
• The Winds of April
➢ Filipino Short Stories in English: a
comprehensive anthology of short stories edited
by Jose Garcia Villa
• Filipino Love Stories by Paz Marquez
Benitez (1927)
• Footnote to Youth by Jose Garcia Villa
lauded as distinguished collection of
stories
“Filipino writers had acquired the mastery
of English writing. They known
confidently and competently wrote on a
lot of subjects although the old-time
favorites of love and youth persisted.
 THE FENCE OVERVIEW

JOSE GARCIA VILLA
➢ (Augusrt 5, 1908 - February 7, 1997)
➢ A Filipino poet, literary critic, short story writer,
and painter
➢ National Artist for Literature (1973)
➢ Guggenheim Fellowship in creative writing
➢ Known as comma poet: Doveglion
➢ Introduced the reverse consonance rhyme
scheme
CHARACTERS
➢ The story revolves around Aling Biang whose
heart was hardened by betrayal, hurt and
emotion she felt when her neighbor and her
husband slept together one night, thus a fence
has been built. This also caused her to forbid her
sickly child from making any connections with
their neighbors’ family. But her son, Iking longed
for attention and company, he eventually resisted
from her mother’s rules when he saw the girl from
the neighborhood, but he could not do more as
he was very sick. Aling Biang did not notice how
her fences was hurting her son’s soul.

ALING BIANG (main character)

➢ Unforgiving woman who was betrayed by her

husband with her neighbor

ALING SEBIA (supporting)

➢ Aling Biang’s neighbor who has not seen a feeling
of remorse having caught with her neighbor’s
husband

IKING

➢ Aling Biang’s son who wanted his mom to

reconcile with their neighbor

ALING SEBIA’S DAUGHTER

➢ A girl who is good in playing guitar that made
Iking fall in love

SETTING OF THE STORY

➢ The story is set in a desolate place where two

nipa huts are the only visible houses. The
occupants of both houses are distant and cold
towards each other. Their attitudes reflect the
remoteness and emptiness of their location
GE117 | Philippine Literature Midterms
Topic 6: Dead Stars by Paz Marquez Benitez
Zerrah Ann BS Psychology | Prof: Mr. Ian Paul Daug | SEM 1 2023

PAZ MARQUEZ BENITEZ MAKE READERS MORE CONNECTED TO

CHARACTERS
➢ (March 3, 1894 – November 10, 1983)
➢ a Filipino educator who authored the first modern ➢ effective flashbacks provide a deeper insight into
Filipino literature written in English who a person is
➢ Outstanding teacher in UP’s English department ➢ helps audience feel empathy and make sense of
from 1916-1951 the antagonist’s behavior
➢ She became an influential figure to many Filipino
writers in the English language AID CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT
➢ Founded “woman’s Home Journal” – first ➢ flashing back can help a reader better understand
women’s magazine in the country why and how the protagonist got into the
situation that’s driving the plot and the reasons
behind the main conflict
LITERARY DEVICE
FORESHADOWING
➢ Refer to the typical structure used by writers in
➢ Literary device writers utilize as a means to
their works to convey his or her messages in a
indicate or hint to readers something that is to
simple manner to the readers
follow or appear later in a story
➢ It helps readers to appreciate, interpret, and
➢ This can heighten a reader’s enjoyment of a
analyze a literary work
literary work, enhance the works meaning, and
Examples:
help the reader make connections with other
• Flashback
literature and literary themes
• Foreshadowing
➢ Functions as means of focusing a reader’s
• Symbolism
attention and /or setting up anticipation of a
• figurative language
narrative revelation or plot twist
• Frame story
➢ It primes readers emotions and expectation for
• Motif
something to be revealed
• Epigraph
DIRECT (OVERT) FORESHADOWING
FLASHBACK
➢ The story openly suggests an impending problem,
➢ Interruptions that writers do to insert past events,
event, or twist
in order to provide background or context to the
➢ Usually accomplished through the character’s
current events of a narrative
dialogue, the narrator’s comments, a prophecy,
➢ Dream sequence and memories are methods
or even a prologue
used to present flashbacks
FLASHBACK FUNCTION IN LITERATURE INDIRECT (COVERT) FORESHADOWING

AID CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT ➢ The story hints at an outcome by leaving subtle

clues throughout the story
➢ diving into a character’s past is a way for writers
➢ Readers likely won’t realize the meaning of the
to convey background information that supports
clues until they witness the foreshadowed event
the main storyline
Example:
INCORPORATE DIFFERENT TIME • Noli Me Tangere (father
PERIODS damaso’s close relationship with
Maria Clara, and her possessing
➢ break up chronological flow of a story, making it European features)
more interesting and realistic • The Empire Strikes Back (Luke
Skywalker sess that the face
behind Darth Vader’s mask is his
own)
 MAJOR CHARACTERS THEMES

ALFREDO SALAZAR
➢ The 30-year-old bachelor son of Don Julian. He
falls in love with Julia after his marriage with his
wife
FORBIDDEN LOVE
➢ Forbidden love is only apparent and curses and
disturbs the person until a person realizes his or
her faults

ESPERANZA RESPONSIBILITY
➢ She is the wife of Alfredo Salazar. Esperanza is an ➢ He forgets his responsibility towards his to-be
impassionate woman having strong will and wife, even after eight years he still thinks of Julia
principles until he realizes that Julia has changed herself

JULIA
➢ She is the sister-in-law of Judge Dal Valle and the
love affair of Alfredo

MINOR CHARACTERS

➢ Don Julian
➢ Carmen
➢ Judge Del Valle
➢ Calixta
➢ Vicente
➢ Brigada Samuy

SETTING OF THE STORY

➢ Calle Real, House of Judge Del Valle

➢ Sta. Cruz, House of Don Julian in Tanda

OVERVIEW OF DEAD STARS

➢ Dead Stars is a short story of an over thirty years

old bachelor, Alfredo Salazar who was about to
get married to his fiancé, Esperanza. His love and
passion for his fiancé started getting fade as he
was attracted to another woman named Julia
Salas. As Alfredo knew that his family would
disapprove his desire of having another woman,
he unwantedly married with Esperanza and
started his own family. Later, after eight years,
Alfredo went on a business trip to Julia’s place. In
his visit to Julia, to his surprise, he recognized
that he no more feel attracted to her anymore.
He compared his love for her as dead stars, his
memory of a long way to get a girl he thought he
loved.
GE117 | Philippine Literature Midterm
Topic 7: THE MATS by Francisco Arcellana
Zerrah Ann BS Psychology | Prof: Mr. Ian Paul Daug | SEM 1 2023
FRANCISCO ARCELLANA
➢ (September 6, 1916 – August 1, 2002)
➢ A Filipino writer, poet, essayist, critic, journalist
and teacher
➢ Received his Ph.D degree in U.P (1939)
➢ Pioneered the development of the short story as
a lyrical prose-poetic form
➢ The pride of fiction is ‘that it is able to render
truth, that is able to present reality”.
➢ National Artist for Literature (1990)
➢ Received two international scholarship grants to
study at lowa writing center
➢ Brigadier General Hanz Menzi Professional Chair
in Creative Writing in University of the Philippines
➢ Works: Selected Short Stories (1965),
Storymaster 5 (1973), Philippine PEN Anthology
of Short Stories (1962)
CHARACTERS
MR. ANGELES (JAIME)
➢ The head of Angeles family
EMILIA (MILING)
➢ Wife of Mr. Angeles
MARCELINA, JOSE, ANTONIO, JUAN,
JESUS, SUSANNA, ALFONSO
➢ Children of Mr. and Mrs. Angeles
JOSEFINA, VICTORIA, CONCEPCION
➢ Dead family members
SETTING
➢ Place: House of Angeles Family
➢ Time: set before World War II, started in the
afternoon and revolves in the evening
SYPNOSIS
➢ Mr. Angeles’ homecoming celebration from his
occasional trips out of town had never been more
different than his homecoming from the South.
Aside from the things that he usually brings
home, he carried with him extraordinary sleeping
mats from a mat weaver whom he met during his
trip. He made each sleeping mats personalized for
everybody. However, it surprised them when they
found the extra mats that Mr. Angeles bought for
their loved ones who already passed.
THEMES
➢ Importance of remembering departed loved ones
➢ Importance of grieving and moving on
ELEMENTS OF A PLOT
1.EXPOSITION
➢ This usually occurs at the beginning of a short
story. Here the characters are introduced. We
also learn about the setting of the story. Most
importantly, we are introduced to the main
conflict (main problem)
2.RISING ACTION
➢ This part of the story begins to develop the
conflicts. A building of interest or suspense
occurs.
3. CLIMAX
➢ This is the turning point of the story. Usually, the
main character comes face to face with a conflict.
The main character will change in some way.
4. FALLING ACTION
➢ Start of resolving conflicts and subplots. Conflicts
that arose as a result of the climax can start being
resolved here.
5. RESOLUTION
➢ The resolution is the end of your story where you
can tie up the final loose ends and bring your
story to its happy or tragic ending.
GE117 | Philippine Literature Midterm
Topic 8: GOD SAID ‘I MADE A MAN’ by Jose Garcia Villa
Zerrah Ann BS Psychology | Prof: Mr. Ian Paul Daug | SEM 1 2023

GOD SAID, I MADE A MAN

THEME
God said, “I made a man out of clay-
➢ Relationship of humans to God
But so bright he, he spun himself to the brightest ➢ Selflessness of God
day ➢ The human’s attitude to question the existence of
God or even overpower Him
➢ When God created man, man was nothing but
clay. But with man’s own efforts he developed
himself into our civilized state
“Its one thing to ask God why and another thing to
Till he was all shining gold, And oh, doubt His goodness and His existence.”
He was lovely to behold!

But in his hands held he a bow “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who
gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will
➢ God seems to be surprised at the human behavior
be given to you. But when you ask, you must believe
of questioning the existence of God, in what
and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a
seems to be controversial language and manner
wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.
Aimed at me who created him. And I said
-James 1:5-6
‘Wouldst murder me who am thy Fountainhead!’

➢ Then god questions man about the reason of

what God thinks is slaying him.

Then spoke he the man of gold:

I’I will not murder thee! I do but Measure thee.

Hold Thy peace.’

➢ Man clarifies his intention, by explaining that he

desires nothing but to discover the concept of
God, out of curiosity.

And this I did. But I was curious of this so regal

head. ‘Give thy name! ‘ –‘Sir! Genius.”

➢ At the end, the poet seems to approve of the

necessity of thinking, and that reason is the way
to reach God. This approval can be seen through
the usage of ‘Genius’.
GE117 | Philippine Literature Semi-Finals
Topic 9: The Literature of the New Society
Zerrah Ann BS Psychology | Prof: Mr. Ian Paul Daug | SEM 1 2023

THE LITERATURE OF THE NEW SOCIETY TADHANA: The History of the Filipino People

➢ dated 1971-1980
➢ Philippine literature has touched the domain of
the socio-political issues ever since the time of
Rizal
➢ Countless essays, short stories, poems, articles
tackled issues and injustices have been published
➢ This literature is focused on the things which has
happened in the Martial Law or during the regime
of Marcos
➢ Culture and arts were much given importance
MANNER OF LITERATURE OF THE NEW
SOCIETY
➢ The new society or the declaration of Martial Law
did not defer the growth of Philippine Literature.
➢ The government itself led in the publication of the
literary outputs of poets, fictionists, essayists,
playwrights, and historians alike
➢ Despite the restrictions that were imposed during
the declaration of the martial law, Filipinos were
more inspired to create literary works especially
with the socio-political themes
➢ Almost all themes in most writings addressed the
event or progress of the country – like the green
revolution(agriculture), birth control, proper
nutrition, environment, white plague (war on
drugs), and pollution.
➢ The New Society tried to prevent pornography or
those writings giving bad influences on the morals
of the people
RELEVANT LITERARY WORKS
➢ The late President, Ferdinand E. Marcos himself
put out writings on various subjects and in forms
just as varied.
• Revolution: Democracy
• TADHANA: History of Filipino
People
• The Democratic Revolution in the
Philippines
• The New Philippine Republic
• Five Years of the New Society
• Dialogue with my People
➢ Supposed to be written in 19 books, the series
was never finished as envisioned. Only five books
were printed recount the foundations of Filipino
culture and the archipelagic genesis of the
Philippines
THE DEMOCRATIC REVOLUTION IN THE
PHILIPPINES
➢ Printed in 1977, this book argues the particularity
of the Philippine Martial Law. More than a
justification of Martial Law in the country, it offers
the philosophy and ideology of those who now
seek to restructure Philippine society
THE NEW PHILIPPINE REPUBLIC: A Third
World Approach to Democracy (1982)
➢ This book defines the new Philippine- United
States Relations, and the Philippine foreign
relations with other countries of the world
relations that should veer towards an authentic
Philippine sovereignty
FIVE YEARS OF THE NEW SOCIETY (1978)
➢ This book contains his report card – his evaluation
of what has been achieved during the first five
years of Martial Law. It is supposed to answer two
questions: (1) What exactly, has been achieved
after five years of crisis government? (2) How far
has this vision for the future progressed?
WRITERS/ AUTHORS/ HISTORIANS
➢ Literature topics were of trival matters during this
era and only few depicts the reality of Philippine
society
➢ It did awaken the patriotism of the Filipino people
in matters relating to society and politics and as
a result, it paved way for more writers to be born
➢ The department of public information have two
significant publications
 THE MANILA REVIEW: The Philippine Journal ➢ This included the revival of annual religious
of Literature and Arts festivals and folk rites such as:
• “Viva Sto. Nino” – January
➢ Their quarterly publication • “KRISTO” or “Senaculo” -Lenten
Season
• “PAMASKO” – December Christmas
The Archipelago: The International Magazine Festival
of the Philippines
➢ Has three main categories NATIONAL ARTIST AWARDEES
• Philippine Current Affairs
• Culture ➢ The institution of the NATIONAL ARTISTS’
• Travel AWARD, in 1972 gave further impetus to Filipino
writers, film directors and other artists to pursue
their art with greater zeal. Here are some of the
AUTHORS awardees:
➢ POETRY: • 1972 – Fernando Amorsolo (Painting)
• Ricardo de Ungria • 1973 - Jose Garcia Villa (Literature)
• Edith Tiempo • Amado V. Hernandez (posthumous)
• Bienvenido Santos • Francisca R. Aquino (Dance)
• Herminio Beltran, Jr. • Carlos Francisco (Painting)
• Luis Francia • Antonio Molina (Music)
• Rolando Tinio • Juan Nakpil (Architecture)
• Guillermo Tolentino (Sculpture)
➢ FICTIONIST: • 1976 – Lamberto Avellana (Theater)
• Linda T. Casper • Nick Joaquin (Literature)
• Julie Yap Daza • Napoleon Abueva (Sculpture)
• Rowena Torrevillas • Pablo Antonio (Architecture)
• Erwin Castillo • Victorio Edades (Painting)
• Donel Pacis • Jovita Fuentes (Music)
• Carlos Bulosan • 1982 – Carlos P. Romulo (writer,
• Conrado de Quiros diplomat, statesman)
• Cirilo Bautista • Gerry de Leon (film director)

➢ ARTICLE & ESSAY WRITERS:

• N.V.M Gonzales
• Ricaredo Demetillo
• Eric Casino
• Carlos Quirino
• Sagani Cruz
• Nick Joaquin
• Teodora Agoncillo
• Ophelia A. Dimalanta

➢ PLAYWRIGHTS:
• Nick Joaquin
• Wilfredo Nolledo
• Alfredo N. Salonga
• Adrian Cristobal

❖ Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) on

September 10, 1969
❖ Folk Arts Theater (FAT) on July 7, 1974
❖ Metropolitan Theater on December 17, 1978
GE117 | Philippine Literature Semifinals
Topic 11: Obsession by Amado Vinuya
Zerrah Ann BS Psychology | Prof: Mr. Ian Paul Daug | SEM 1 2023

AMADO VINUYA PLOT SUMMARY

➢ Born in Manila in 1930 EXPOSITION

➢ he studied in the University of Santo Tomas and
the Far Eastern University
➢ Vinuya served as editor and public information
officer of the Manila Health Department.
➢ A versatile worker, he has also been a laborer,
sanitary inspector, laboratory technician, clerk,
and radio announcer.
➢ Vinuya also wrote fiction. He has a poetry
collection, with preface written by Carlos P.
Romulo, entitled Pregnant Woman and Other
Poems (1968)
➢ It started when Jasmine and Homer went to Phil’s
cottage during winter
RISING ACTION
➢ When Homer and Jasmine arrived at Phil’s
cottage. They started to talk with each other
about the painting she had seen. While Jasmine
was listening to Homer, then she felt scared.
CLIMAX

➢ Homer started kissing Jasmine from the cheek,

eyes, ear, and her neck. They started to argue
CHARACTERS OF THE STORY
the feelings of Homer towards Jasmine and the
➢ HOMER obsession of Homer.
• Main character
FALLING ACTION
• Suffered from obsessive love disorder
and his wife left him for selfish reason ➢ Jasmine protested Homer to stop what he was
➢ ROSSANNA doing. The two of them returned to the city.
• Supporting character Homer was very upset that time and thought
• Selfish ex-wife of homer Jasmine and his ex-wife were bitches.
• Used homer to be free from her parents DENOUEMENT/RESOLUTION
authority
➢ JASMINE ➢ Homer was terminated from his job and felt
• A punk girl and the one with Homer in the uneasiness and the depression of not being able
cottage to see jasmine. Thus, he went to Phil’s cottage
• New love affair of Homer until he eventually died.
➢ ROBIN
• The unknown character in the story
• Imaginary image of Homer CONFLICT OF THE STORY

SETTINGS OF THE STORY ➢ Man vs Self

➢ Man vs Society
➢ At the Office
• Theme: An OBSESSION is a way for
➢ Phil’s Cottage
damaged people to damage themselves
OVERVIEW more

➢ Revolves around the story of a man who

desperately wants to love and be loved. As a
result, he grew in him an obsessive love disorder
that made a negative impact in his life. A story of
a man who made his obsession his ‘world’ and
thus when his feelings were not reciprocated, he
felt depressed and isolated himself in a friend’s
cottage where there he reflected on some things
and eventually decided to take his own life.
 IDENTIFYING CAUSE-EFFECT
RELATIONSHIP
➢ Cause - the driving force in the text. It is the
reason that things happen. In essence, cause is
the things that makes other things happen. (why
something happened)
➢ Effect – refers to what results. It is the what
happened next in the text that results from a
preceding cause (what happened)
➢ Cause and effect are important elements of a text
that help the reader to follow a writer’s line of
thought, regardless of whether that text is fiction
or nonfiction

IMPORTANCE

➢ Help the reader follow a coherent thread through

the material
➢ In fiction, it help maintain plausibility in plotlines

STRATEGIES TO IDENTIFY

➢ Signal words (cause: because/because of/

since/ as a result of, etc.) , (effect: so/ therefore/
this resulted in, etc.)
➢ Graphic Organizer (fishbone diagram/ column/
arrows)
GE117 | Philippine Literature Semifinals
Topic 12: The Dog Eaters by Leoncio P. Deriada
Zerrah Ann BS Psychology | Prof: Mr. Ian Paul Daug | SEM 1 2023

➢ Setting:
LEONCIO P. DERIADA
• Place: Artiaga Street, Davao City
specifically at the house of Victor and
➢ January 13, 1938 – April 3, 2019
Mariana
➢ Award-winning Filipino poet, playwright,
• Time: In 1970’s
fictionist, and teacher
➢ Point of View:
➢ Studied BA English degree in Ateneo De Davao
• Third person omniscient (all-seeing)
University, MA in English in Xavier (CDO) and
received his PhD degree at Siliman University
(Dumaguete)
➢ Father of contemporary West Visayan literature SUMMARY
➢ Works
➢ Victor who is a former body builder and club
• The Road to Mawab (1984)
bouncer married Mariana who is an
• The Week of the Whales (1994)
undergraduate college student because she gets
• The Dog Eaters (1986)
pregnant. Victor and his friends are always
• Ani, West Visayas (1989)
drinking tuba early in the morning at Sergio’s
• Patubas (1995)
store with Dog dishes as their pulutan. Mariana
➢ Awards
was very mad because it is not the life she
• Palanca Awards Hall of Famer,
expected to have. She takes care of their 8-
• Gawad Pambansang Alagad ni Balagtas month-old and now she’s bearing another one in
• Gawad CCP para sa Sining (2015)
her womb. She can’t stand it anymore and tried
• Blue Knight Award from Ateneo de Davao
to abort her child by drinking some herbal liquid
for Outstanding Achievement in which she bought desperately from Aling Elpidia
Literature for 40 pesos. She and Victor had a quarrel. Victor
➢ Other Jobs threw the bottle of herbal liquid out the window,
• Head, Sentro ng Wikang Pilipino (UP and it was broken. Mariana pounded Victor with
Visayas) her fists, but the man carried it. Suddenly,
• Associate, UP Institute of Creative Mariana saw Victor’s Dog Ramir, she killed the
Writing dog. And for a long time living in Artiaga street,
• Professor Emeritus in Comparative Mariana cried.
Literature (U.P Visayas)
STYLE, TONE AND LANGUAGE
CHARACTERS OF THE DRAMA ➢ STYLE
• The story is written in a richly detailed
➢ VICTOR manner
• Husband of Mariana • The author reveals the actual condition of
• A carpenter who’s also a former bouncer the characters in every scene or
and body builder. He married Mariana circumstance
after he got her pregnant ➢ TONE
➢ MARIANA • The tone of the story is very intense and
• The wife of victor strong
• A college undergrad who married victor • Some instances in the story show
at a young age sarcasm and humor as observed in
➢ RAMIR Mariana and Victor’s dialogues
• The dog of victor which mariana killed ➢ LANGUAGE
out of anger and frustration • The language used in the story is light
➢ ALING ELPIDIA and very easily understood by the
• A fish and vegetable vendor who helped readers
mariana abort her and victors second • The author used a typical language used
child by a common Filipino
 THEMES

➢ One’s anger must not be blamed to the innocents

around them for they can bring evil on oneself
➢ The right to live is entitled to everybody even a
fetus or an animal

IMAGE, ALLEGORY, AND SYMBOL

➢ IMAGE
• The house of Victor and Mariana shows
their social status
• The image of the couple quarreling
reveals that the conflict of the story is
man vs. man

➢ SYMBOLISM/ALLEGORY
• Ramir: Mariana’s life and relationship
being noisy and troubled
• Bottle of liquid: Mariana’s bitter feelings
towards her life
• Dog Meat: social economic status of the
family
GE117 | Philippine Literature Finals
Topic 13: Philippine Contemporary Literature
Zerrah Ann BS Psychology | Prof: Mr. Ian Paul Daug | SEM 1 2023

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
➢ The flowering of Philippine literature in the
various languages continues especially with the
appearance of new publications after the Martial
Law years and the resurgence of committed
literature in the 1960’s and the 1970’s
➢ Filipino writers continue to write poetry, short
stories, novellas, novels, and essays whether
these are socially committed, gender/ethnic
related, or are personal in intention or not.
➢ Filipino writers become more conscious of their
art with the proliferation of writer’s workshops
here and abroad and the bulk of literature
available via the mass media including the
internet.
➢ The establishment of more literary award giving
bodies (Don Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for
Literature, the Philippines Free Press, Philippine
Graphic, Home Life, and Panorama literary
awards) encourage Filipino writers to compete
with their peers.
➢ With the new requirement by the Commission on
Higher Education of the teaching of Philippine
Literature in all tertiary schools in the country
emphasizing the teaching of the vernacular
literature or literature of the regions, the
audience for Filipino writers is virtually assured.
And, perhaps, national literature finding its niche
among the works of literature of the world will not
be far behind
FOOTNOTE TO YOUTH
(Jose Garcia Villa)
➢ DODONG
• Is a farmer’s son who marries at
seventeen and became a father shortly
thereafter
➢ TEANG
• Is dodong’s sweetheart, then his wife and
the mother of his children. Though she
loves dodong, she sometimes wishes she
had not married him
➢ DODONG’S FATHER
• Is a quiet farmer who unsuccessfully
cautions his son against marrying young
SETTING OF THE STORY
➢ Place: in a province, farm (Philippines)
➢ Time: planting season between June and August
SUMMARY
➢ Footnote to Youth is a 1932 short story set in the
Philippines and centered on Dodong, a farmer’s
son who marries young. When seventeen-year-
old Dodong decided to marry his sweetheart,
Teang, his father feels that Dodong is too young
to marry but is unable to stop him. Dodong
becomes a father nine months after marrying
Teang. The two go on to have many more
children together, and both are often unhappy. At
age eighteen, their eldest son, Blas, announces
his own decision to marry, and Dodong knows he
can do nothing to change Blas’s mind.
PLOT SUMMARY
➢ Part 1 – On a sunny afternoon after a hard day’s
work in the fields, Dodong decides to tell his
father that he wants to marry his sweetheart
Teang. He’s only seventeen-year-old. After a
sumptuous dinner, he spills out his plans to his
father. His proposition is met with hesitation and
discouragement. His father tells him that he’s too
young to get married. But in the end, his father
agrees to his wishes and grants him the
permission to marry Teang.
➢ Part 2 – Nine months after their marriage, Teang
gives birth to her first son. Dodong experiences a
whirlwind of conflicting emotions during the
birthing process- confusion, fear, discomfort,
embarrassment, and guilt. But when he hears the
little baby whimper and cry, he swells with
happiness.
➢ Part 3 – Blas is followed by six more children.
Dodong didn’t want any more children, but they
came anyway. This makes him angry at himself
sometimes. The parade of children is also taking
its toll on Teang. She often wishes that she’s not
married. She sometimes wonders if her life
would’ve been better had she married Lucio, a
former suitor she rejected for the reason that he
was nine years older than Dodong.

➢ Part 4 – Blas is eighteen years old. One night, he

tells his father that he wants to marry his
girlfriend Tona. Like his father before him,
Dodong doesn’t want Blas to marry as he’s too
young. He knows what’s going to happen if Blas
marries too early. He gives him permission to
marry anyway. But he does so with sadness in
him.

THEMES

➢ The ignorance of youth

• The story portrays youth as a time of
ignorance and inevitable rash decisions,
as well as romanticism and ‘dreamful
sweetness’
➢ The phases of life
• Villa highlights the cyclical nature of life
by emphasizing the character’s ages and
drawing attention to the symbolism of
the moon.
➢ Fear and Inaction
• Dodong and his father both demonstrate
an inability to prevent their own or
other’s suffering largely through fear and
sense of helplessness

❖ Conflict: Man vs Himself

• Internal conflict confronts the leading
character in the story, Dodong
❖ Point of View
• Third person omniscient. The narrator
presents the story in an all-knowing
perspective.
GE117 | Philippine Literature Finals
Topic 14: Children of the City by Amadis Ma Guerrero
Zerrah Ann BS Psychology | Prof: Mr. Ian Paul Daug | SEM 1 2023

AMADIS MA. GUERRERO

❖ Setting of the Story: Manila, Late 80’s
➢ April 15, 1941, 80 yrs old • Luneta
➢ A filipino author, short story writer and a veteran • Bar
journalist • Boulevard
➢ Graduated from Ateneo De Manila (1956) and • Newspaper Building
University of Santo Tomas (1959)
➢ He wrote for Graphic Magazine and Philippine SUMMARY
Daily Inquirer
➢ The father of the boy Victor got involved in a
➢ Works: Children of the City and Other Stories
strike. He acts as though it was nothing and takes
(1974), The Struggle of Philippine Arts (1974,
Victor to night walks around Manila. He takes
non-fiction), The Mainstream and Other Stories
Victor’s mind off vices and promises Victor a
(1979), Red Roses for Rebo (1986)
bright future some day. One day, during the
➢ Awards: Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature
strike. Victor’s father was shot dead in the heart.
(1971) for Children of the City
His wife mourned greatly, and his son was
subdued. The wife began to disappear late at
night and come home early dawn. She refuses to
CHARACTERS OF THE STORY take care of Victor. And then, she comes home
with some goon, saying that the goon will be
➢ VICTOR
Victor’s new dad. Victor didn’t like the stranger at
• Central character of the story
all. As often as possible, he tries to stay out of his
• Son of a dockworker and an unemployed
mon and her lover’s way. And then, Victor just
wife in the shanties of Manila
woke up with his mother and the man gone. His
➢ TATANG
uncle Pedring introduces to take care of him. He
• A hardworking and caring father as seen
recruits Victor to a newspaper job. The man does
in the story
not treat Victor well unless he brings home
• He is a dockworker who joined the strike
money. During his job, Victor meets Nacio. Nacio
to fight for the low compensation they
was also a newspaper boy. He taught Victor
are given after all the hard work they do
various tricks in newspaper selling. They become
everyday
close friends. Victor’s job grew prosperous. Soon
➢ INAY
his ‘boss’ starts to trust him with a ration of 20
• Victor’s mom is depicted as somewhat
papers a day. He becomes contented with his life
uncaring throughout the story
until Nacio was run over a car. He was dead.
• Although she was very loving towards
Victor grieved for his friend just like the way he
victor’s dad, she didn’t seem to care
did with his father. He gets beaten up with other
much at all about her son
kids. His colleagues beat him up whenever he
➢ PEDRING
refuses to smoke or say curse words. Victor was
• Tio Pedring is victor’s uncle who adopts
defiant at first but long after, he got tired of being
him after he was left by his mother
tossed around like a stray dog-Victor finally gave
• He got victor to work as a newsboy in the
up.
newspaper Tio Pedring had a connection
with
➢ NACIO
• Nacio is another newspaper boy who
befriends Victor
• He is depicted as somewhat
‘irresponsible’ and a ‘troublemaker’
• He helped victor adjust in his life as a
newspaper boy
 PLOT SUMMARY: COTC TYPES OF CHARACTER DEV’T

➢ EXPOSITION: The story is about life of Victor, 1. Dynamic Character – is a character who
an eight-year-old boy whose father was involved undergoes significant internal change throughout
in a company menace because of unjust salaries the course of a story. As such, a dynamic
and compensation. character makes the best protagonist.
➢ CONFLICT: Victor’s father and mother have a
fight regarding his father’s job. His mother is 2. Static character – type of character who
urging his father to swallow it all, accept what remains largely the same throughout the course
little was given, and stay away from the groups of the story line. These characters often play
that wanted to fight back but his father did the tertiary roles in a narrative.
opposite.
➢ RISING ACTION: his father joined the
employee’s strike and there he met his death 3. Stock character – an archetypal character with
when he was shit by the police officers who were a fixed set of personality traits. Stock characters
managing the chaos in the strike. Victor was are those types of characters who have become
shocked to know the sudden death of his father conventional or stereotypical through repeated
in a newspaper. He and his mother were in a deep use in particular types of stories.
pain upon his father’s death.
➢ CLIMAX: Soon, her mother had a new husband
and left him to his Tio Pedring. There he was 4. Symbolic character – is any major or minor
trained to be a newspaper boy in the dangerous character which represents a concept or theme
streets of Avenida. He met there many children larger than themselves (an idea or any aspect of
doing just like what he is in. In those dark streets society). They may have dynamic qualities, but
he learned how to curse-say and smoke cigarette they also exist to subtly steer an audience’s mind
because he was influenced by unmannered toward broader concepts
teenagers. He found himself alone in the streets
being beaten up by bullies.
➢ DENOUEMENT: The story ended when the
author realized how cruel the world is; where
workers are made to sign statements certifying
the received minimum wage, where politicians,
received holy communion every Sunday, where
mothers taught their children the art of begging,
where orphans and children sleep on pavements
under darkened bridges and where best friends
feel out and betrayed one another.
GE117 | Philippine Literature Finals
Topic 15: Wedding Dance by Amador T. Daguio
Zerrah Ann BS Psychology | Prof: Mr. Ian Paul Daug | SEM 1 2023
AMADOR T. DAGUIO
➢ January 8, 1912 – April 26, 1966
➢ Was a poet, novelist and teacher during the pre-
war. He was known for his fictions and poems
➢ Finished his bachelor’s degree in Philosophy at UP
and completed his Master of Arts in English as
government scholar at Stanford University
➢ Daguio was editor and public relations officer in
various offices in government and the military. He
also taught for twenty-six years at the University
of the East, U.P, and Philippine Women’s
University
CHARACTERS OF THE STORY
➢ AWIYAO
• Lunmay’s husband but choose to left her
because they can’t have a child and
marries Madulimay and hopes that
through marrying her they can have a
child
➢ LUNMAY
• Awiyao’s first and former wife who’s still
in love with him despite his husband
marrying another woman
➢ MADULIMAY
• Awiyao’s new younger wife with whom
he hopes to have children.
❖ Setting: a mountain village of the Philippines
where awiyao has been remarried
❖ Point of View: the story is told from a third
person omniscient point of view
SUMMARY
➢ Awiyao and Lunmay is a long married couple from
the Mountaintribes. Awiyao is going to marry
another woman, Madulimay, because Lumnay
was not able to give him a child. Awiyao went
back home to see Lumnay because he didn’t find
her among the dancers at his wedding. He
wanted Lumnay to dance at his wedding for the
last time, but she cannot. On their moment, there
are many flashbacks about how Lumnay did her
best to have a child, through offering to the god,
Kabunyan; and how Awiyao and Lumnay’s love
was as strong as the river but it’s just that a man
must have a child, and he had to leave her. He
promised her that if he fails to have a child, he
will come back to her. She wanted to protest the
unwritten rule that a man can marry another
woman, so Lumnay went to the wedding dance.
But while seeing her husband married to another
woman, she could not take it anymore and just
went to the mountain to clear away the beans she
had thought about. And so Lumnay, waiting for
Awiyao a long time, thought of Awiyao’s promise
as she cleared away the growing bean plants.
PLOT SUMMARY
➢ EXPOSITION: The story begins at night in a
mountain village in the Philippines, where Awiyao
has just been remarried.saperation.
➢ CONFLICT: Awiyao has left his wife Lumnay
because she couldn’t give him a child. He has now
married Madulimay in hopes to have a son and
Lumnay is upset because she loves Awiyao and
does not want this
➢ RISING ACTION: Outside, the villagers are
dancing in celebration of the wedding. Awiyao
leaves to try and comfort Lumnay. He offers her
many items of the life that they built together.
Lumnay refuses them and clings to Awiyao,
wishing he would stay.
➢ CLIMAX: Awiyao finally leaves to re-join the
wedding and Lumnay runs into the hills.
➢ FALLING ACTION: Lumnay sits on the side of
the mountain overlooking the blazing fire and
dancing women, thinking about how her life has
 changed. She has a sense of desperation, characteristics in common with what they
isolation, and worthlessness represent.
➢ DENOUEMENT: The reader is left knowing what
will become of Lumnay. SYMBOLISM AND ALLEGORY

➢ An allegory is a work that conveys a moral

THEME OF THE STORY
➢ Love as self-sacrifice, True love
• The couple must give up for their love not
only because of what their culture
dictates but also to save each other from
scorn of the society. In Awiyao’s case he
had been mocked being childless
because to be considered a man should
have a child. “If you truly love a person,
you must let him/her be happy.”
through the use of symbolic characters and
events. Not every work that incorporates symbols
is an allegory; rather an allegory is a story in
which the majority of characters and plot
developments serves as symbols for something
else, or in which the entire storyline is symbolic
of a broader phenomenon in society.

WHAT IS SYMBOLISM?

➢ Symbolism is a literary device that uses symbols,

be they words, people, marks, locations, or
abstract ideas to represent something beyond the
literal meaning.
➢ Characters and events can also be symbolic

PHYSICAL OBJECTS
➢ Physical objects are used to symbolize an idea or
concept, as a way of pointing the reader towards
some of the basic themes that a work is dealing
with.

SYMBOLISM THROUGH CHARACTERS

➢ Sometimes, characters themselves can serve as
symbols- of a particular virtue or vice, or political
ideology.

SYMBOLSIM THROUGH EVENTS

➢ Events can also be symbolic

SYMBOLS VS. METAPHOR

➢ Metaphors compare two different things by

stating that one thing is the other. This does not
happen in symbolism, where the relationship
between a symbol and what it represents is not
stated explicitly and one thing is not said to be
the other thing. Instead, a symbol stands for or
represents something else.
➢ Whereas a metaphor is used to compare one
thing to another based on shared characteristics,
symbols can but don’t need to have any
➢