LESSON NO. 1 – LITERARY DEVICES AND 3.

Repetition - deliberate use of the same word

ELEMENTS or phrase multiple times for emphasis
Literary devices 4.Onomatopoeia - Words that imitate or
- encompass a wide range of techniques, resemble the sound they describe.
elements, and structures used in literature 5.Irony - contrast between what is expected
- enhance the artistic and communicative and what actually occurs
qualities of a text. 5.1 Dramatic - The writer reveals
- Include figures of speech information to the reader, but not to the
- Literary devices purpose - conveying characters
themes, creating mood, developing 5.2 Situational - Takes place when the
characters, and shaping the narrative opposite of what is expected actually
structure happens
Rhetorical devices 5.3 Verbal - when you say something
- specific techniques employed in different than what you mean
communication 6.Pun - A form of wordplay, for humor or to
- such as speeches, essays, or persuasive create a double entendre
writing 7.Personification - Attributing human
- influence or engage an audience. characteristics to non-human entities or
Figures of speech objects
- are specific language constructions or 8. Analogy - A comparison is made to clarify or
expressions that depart from the literal or explain a concept by showing its similarity
ordinary meaning of words to create a to something more familiar.
particular effect, image, or emphasis in 9.Imagery-appeals to the senses, creating
writing or speech. mental pictures (e.g setting in How My
1.Simile - A figure of speech that compares Brother Leon)
two unlike things using "like" or "as" to 10. Hyperbole - Exaggerated language or
create a vivid and imaginative comparison. statements, not meant to be taken literally
2.Metaphor- Direct comparisons without "like"
or "as"
LESSON NO. 2 –CRITICAL APPROACHES IN LITERATURE
1. Reader-Response Criticism - reader's interpretation and response to a text
2. Formalist Criticism - analyzes a literary text by examining its intrinsic elements, such as the
style, symbolism, and language.
3. Structuralism Criticism - underlying structures and patterns in literature
4. Historical And Cultural Context Criticism - focuses on understanding a literary work within
the context of the time and place in which it was written.
5. Psychological/Psychoanalytic Criticism - delves into the characters' motivations, desires, and
unconscious conflicts to analyze their actions and development.
6. Sociological Criticism -themes reflect broader social issues.
7. Feminist Criticism -Focuses on gender roles, power imbalances, and the portrayal of women
in literature.
8. Marxist Criticism - Analyzes class struggle, economic inequalities, and the representation of
social classes in literature.
9. Post-Colonialism - explores how colonization, imperialism, and their aftermaths are depicted
in literature.
LESSON NO. 3 – PHILIPPINE LITERARY HISTORY
Pre-Colonization
- Oral recitation and incantation
- Written literature was written in a native alphabet called Baybayin.
- Printing was not yet introduced.
- Spaniards burned and destroyed most of our ancestors’ earlier records. The introduction of the
Roman Alphabet impeded the use of Baybayin.
- Animism is the belief that objects, places, and creatures all possess a distinct spiritual essence.
- Anito – ancestors' spirit, nature spirits and deities
- Content - How people earn their livelihood by farming, fishing, pottery, etc.
- Damiana Eugenio - Mother of Philippine Folklore (Folk Literature = Folk Narratives, Folk
Speeches, and Folk Songs)
Spanish Colonization
- March 16, 1521
- Ferdinand Magellan – Sent by the king of Spain (paved the way for Spanish Rule)
- Miguel Lopez de Legaspi – Cebu, 1565 (First dominion)
- Literature played a big role in the spread of Christianity in the country.
- Also, the teaching of the Christian Doctrine became the basis of religious practices (lives of
saints, miracles, and invocation)
- Printing was introduced (Preservation of literary works)
- LADINO – Christianized Filipino (Translators)
- The Bible was translated into local languages
- Metrical Romances – Media for literary expression
- Literature can be categorized into two:
A. Religious Prose and Poetry B. Secular Prose and Poetry
- Pasyon: Chanted - Love and romance
- Cenaculo: Dramatized - Awit at Korido
- Comedia/ Moro-moro - conflict - Awit (Florante at Laura)
between - Korido (Ibong Adarna)
- Christians and Muslims
Period Of Enlightenment
- Propaganda Movement
- Illustrados – Elite Filipinos who studied in Europe who seek reform and inform Spain of the
abuses of its colonial government.
- La Solidaridad – Written in Spanish
- Nationalistic Literature
American Colonization
- 48 Years (1898-1946)
- 1900 – President Willian Mckinley
- English as the medium of instruction
- Public schools
- Thomasites (600)
- Philippine Literature in English
- Literary works during the period
- 1901 – Sedition Law of 1901(Prohibiting any form of advocating Philippine independence)
> Juan Abad (Tanikalang Ginto (Dula)) – Promise of democracy
> Aurelio Tolentino (Kahapon, Ngayon at Bukas (Dula))
- Founding of the University of the Philippines (1908)
- Printing works of promising writers
- Essays – A short form of writing outlining the writer’s perspective or story.
> Become a popular form of literary expression
> Claro M. Recto, Francisco Benitez, etc.
- Spanish literary works have been replaced by English literary works overtime.
- Full control of English Language
- No longer relied on imitating techniques and literary forms from the English and American
writers. (e.g. Jose Garcia Villa (Footnote to Youth))
Post War and Contemporary Period
• Marks of colonialism remain.
• Continuously influenced by Americans
• Pursued education in the UK and America:
- Francisco Arcellana (Fictionist)
- NVM Gonzales (Fictionist)
- Bienvenido Santos (Fictionist)
- Nick Joaquin (Fictionist)
• Romanticism, nature, nationalism, expression of feelings, independence, etc.
• Filipino Literature written in English and local languages continues to flourish
• Exploration of different themes
• Censorship (Blocking of something from being read, heard, or seen)
• Former President Ferdinand Marcos imposed
• Martial Law in 1972 (Letter of Instruction No. 1 – all newspapers, radio, and TV facilities were
prohibited from operating)
• Pete Lacaba
- Prometheus Unbound (poem)
- Ruben Cuevas (Penname)
- Marcos Hitler Diktador Tuta
• Primitivo Mijares
- Conjugal Dictatorship of Ferdinand and Imelda Marcos (Memoir)
 • 21st Century Philippine Literature
- The Internet has paved the way for the development of Philippine Literature.
- Wattpad
- New literary genres – Tweaking the rules and conventions of literature
- Textula, graphic novels, performance poetry, eBooks, flash fiction, chick lit, creative non-
fiction, etc.
LESSON NO. 4 - CANONICAL WORKS AND WRITERS IN PHILIPPINE LITERATURE
• Canon- Pertains to the collection of works considered representative of a period or of a genre.
• Canonical Writers - Are those whose writing style and whose marks have had significant
impact on all aspects of their genre, and contribution to literature in general
Paz Marquez Benitez
• Paz Marquez-Benitez was born in Lucena, Tayabas
• Graduated with a Bachelor of Arts Degree from U.P. in 1912 and joined the U.P. faculty
(1916-1951)
• She handled classes in literature and creative writing
• 1919 – Woman’s Home Journal
• Dead Stars - 1920
• 1928 - Compiled “Filipino Love Stories” which was considered the first anthology of Philippine
stories in English by Filipinos, from the work of her students
• Dead Stars (Short Story)
• The short story revolves around the life of a young man named Alfredo Salazar. He is engaged
to be married to Esperanza, but he finds himself drawn to another woman named Julia
Salas. Throughout the story, Alfredo grapples with his feelings and the choices he must make
between love and societal expectations. The story explores themes of love, disillusionment,
and the passage of time.
• Theme: Love and disillusionment
• Characters: Alfredo Salazar, Esperanza, Julia Salas, Don Julian, Carmen
• Setting: Don Julian’s House, Judge del Valle’s House, Don Julian’s House in Tanda
Jose Garcia Villa
• Jose Garcia Villa was born to an affluent family, his father was a doctor, and his mother
wasa wealthy landlord.
• Poet, critic, short story writer, and painter
• Comma Poet (extensive use of punctuation marks)
• Doveglion (Dove+Eagle+Lion)
• He began a pre-medical course at U.P. but eventually shifted to pre-law.
• In 1929 he published a collection of erotic poems called “Man Songs.”
• Expelled from U.P.
• In 1929 he won a short story contest through the Philippines Free Press and used the prize
money to travel to the United States.
• University of New Mexico
• He was awarded the National Artist of the Philippines title for literature in 1973.
• Footnote to Youth (Short Story)
• The short story follows the life of a young man named Dodong. He marries his childhood
sweetheart, Teang, at a very young age because he believes that youth is the best time to
start a family. However, as they face the challenges and responsibilities of parenthood,
Dodong begins to realize the harsh realities of early marriage. The story explores Dodong's
journey from youthful idealism to the burdens of adulthood, highlighting the consequences of
hasty decisions made in one's youth.
Manuel E. Arguilla
• Born on June 17, 1911, in Nagrebcan, Bauang, La Union to parents Crisanto Arguilla, a
farmer, and Margarita Estabillo, a potter.
• He entered the University of the Philippines where he joined the UP Writers Club and later
became the president and editor of the UP Literary Apprentice
• University of Manila
• Bureau of Public Welfare where he was the editor of Welfare Advocate, the bureau's
publication.
• His famous works were compiled in a book entitled How My Brother Leon Brought Home a
Wife (And Other Stories) published by the Philippine Book Guild in 1940
• First prize in the Commonwealth Literary Contest in 1940
• How My Brother Leon Brought Home a Wife (Short Story)
• Setting: The story is set in a rural village in the Philippines.
 • Characters: Baldo, Leon/Noel, Maria, Father
• Theme: The central theme of the short story is the clash between tradition and modernity.
• Conflicts and Challenges Faced by Maria: Maria faces several challenges, including the
unfamiliarity of rural life, the expectations of Leon's family, and the need to conform to
traditional customs
• Moral Lesson: Respect for Tradition and Customs, Balancing Modernity and Tradition, Open-
mindedness and Adaptability, Love and Acceptance, and Family Bonds
LESSON NO. 5 - REPRESENTATIVE TEXTS FROM THE REGION REFLECTING PHILIPPINE
REALITIES
Tagalog Literature - In Central Luzon, there are three provinces where Tagalog is predominantly
used and these are the provinces of Nueva Ecija, Bataan, and Bulacan.
Representative Writers from Region 3
1. Gregorio C. Brillantes
• Camiling, Tarlac
• a Palanca Award Hall of Famer and multi-awarded fiction writer
• known for his sophisticated and elegant style, which is compared to that of James Joyce
2. Rony Diaz
• Nueva Ecija
• He has won several Palanca Awards
• joined Manila Times in 2001 as executive director
• became publisher and president of Manila Times School of Journalism
3. Damiana Eugenio
• Bulacan
• Professor Emeritus in the Department of English, University of the Philippines, and Vice
President for External Affairs of the Philippine Folklore Society
• Known as the Mother of Philippine Folklore
4. Lazaro Francisco
• Bataan and Nueva Ecija
• novelist, essayist and playwright
• Kapatiran ng mga Alagad ng Wikang Pilipino
• developed the social realist tradition in Philippine Fiction
• known as the Master of the Tagalog Novel
5. Angela Manalang Gloria
• Pampanga
• poet who wrote in English
• Among the first-generation female students at the University of the Philippines
• rival to Jose Gracia Villa
• Both poets vied for the position of literary editor of The Philippine Collegian, which Manalang
eventually held for two successive years
6. Rogelio Sicat
• Nueva Ecija
• uses “Sikat” as a pen name to reflect his Filipino identity
• deliberately chose to write his prose in Filipino
• novelist, playwright and short story writer
• Sikat was also a distinguished educator. He was a former university professor and former
college dean of the University of the Philippines’ College of Arts and Letters.
7. Aurelio Tolentino
• Pampanga
• playwright, poet, journalist, and revolutionary
• His works at the turn of the 20th century depicted his desire to see Philippine independence
from its colonizers.
• Became a member of Katipunan
Representative Writers from Bulacan
1. Virgilio Amario (Rio Alma)
• born in San Miguel, Bulacan
• Ang Makata sa Panahon ng Makina (1972)
• a poet, literary historian, and critic
• Translator
• Professor Emeritus in UP
• National Artist (2003)
 • Palanca Awardee
• Chairman of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA)
2. Francisco Baltazar
• Born in Panginay, Bigaa, Bulacan (Balagtas)
• considered as Filipino William Shakespeare
• poet laureate
• popular Filipino debate form Balagtasan was named after him
• Florante at Laura
3. Jose Corazon de Jesus
• born in Santa Cruz, Manila
• Huseng Batute
• spent his childhood in Sta. Maria, Bulacan (his father’s hometown)
• changed the format of the duplo and renamed it balagtasan in honor of Balagtas
• dubbed “Hari ng Balagtasan”
4. Marcelo H. Del Pilar
• Born in Bulakan, Bulacan
• advanced the goal of the Propaganda Movement
• Plaridel
• established the nationalist newspaper Diariong Tagalog (1882)
• Father of Philippine Journalism
5. Amado V. Hernandez
• born in Hagonoy, Bulacan
• grew up in Tondo, Manila
• a pre-war poet laureate and journalist
• Socially conscious poetry and prose
• his activities and writings led him to imprisonment
• Isang Dipang Langit (Beauty of the natural world and the struggles of the Filipino people.)
LESSON NO. 6 - PHILIPPINE LITERATURE FROM LUZON, VISAYAS, AND MINDANAO
LUZON - ARTURO LLARVES TOLENTINO (Artdax)
• Kapampangan Poet Laureate
• Academia Ning Amanung Sisuan International (ANASI)
• Aguman Capampangan Northwest (September 6, 2009)
• International Poet Laureate
• United Poets Laureate International (UPLI)
LUZON – Afternoon of My Life (Poem)
Youth - Morning
Mid-life - Noon
Old Age – Night
Theme: The theme deals with how fleeting time and life is.
VISAYAS – NOEL P. TUAZON
• Bachelor of Arts in Literature
• Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing
• Recipient of many awards
- Gawad Komisyon
- Kuwentong Cebuano
- Homelife Timpalak Tula
- Don Carlos Palanca Awards for Literature
VISAYAS - To Follow a Line (Poem)
Pagsunod sa Badlis – Visayan Translation
1. Drawing a line on plywood - Guidance and direction that parents provide to their children
2. Crafting and shaping - Symbolize the way, parents shape and mold their child’s character
3. Learning through struggles - Symbolize the challenges and setbacks children encounter as
they grow old and learn life lessons.
4. Discovering lessons over time - This signifies the realization that the child has learned a
valuable lesson from the parent’s teaching.
5. Respect for tradition and guidance - Will this go through the door jamb?
- This represents the child’s acknowledgment and respect for their parent’s guidance.
Theme: The poem depicts through an analogy with carpentry values and life lessons handed
down by a parent to his child.
MINDANAO - Raul G. Moldez
• President of Bathalan-ong Halad sa Dagang-Mindanao (Bathalad-Mindanao)
• Currently the Assistant Secretary to the Sanggunian in the City of Cagayan de Oro
 • Fiction and poetry
• Won awards in writing competitions sponsored by Davao Writers Guild
MINDANAO – Playing with Guns (Poem)
1. Guns and Rifles: The use of rifles with curved magazines in the hands of children symbolizes
violence, conflict, and the harsh reality of their world. It contrasts with the innocence
associated with toys and dolls, highlighting the impact of a violent environment on young
minds.
2. Guevara's local versions: Mention of Guevara, a revolutionary figure associated with armed
struggle, symbolizes the influence of revolutionary or militant ideologies on the children's
upbringing.
3. Triggers of Death: The reference to pulling "the triggers of death" symbolizes the destructive
power and consequences of violence, particularly in the context of warfare.
4. Live Targets in Camouflage: This symbolizes the dehumanization of individuals in the
military or conflict settings, where people become "targets" rather than individuals.
5. Climbing Mountains: The act of climbing mountains can symbolize the challenges and
struggles these children face in their lives, and it may also suggest their determination and
resilience.
Theme: The poem reflects the existence of child soldiers among rebel groups.
LESSON NO. 7 - LITERARY ADAPTATION
Close Analysis – is a method used by scholars, students, and enthusiasts to deeply examine and
interpret texts, whether they are literary works, films, art, or any form of communication.
Close reading is a thoughtful, critical analysis of a text that focuses on significant details or
patterns to develop a deep, precise understanding of the text's form, craft, meanings, etc.
Literary adaptation - is the process of taking a written work, such as a novel, short story, play, or
even a poem, and transforming it into a different medium, such as film, television, theater, or video
games. It involves translating the narrative, characters, and themes of the original work into a
format suitable for a new audience, often through visual and auditory means.
Successful adaptation manages to strike a balance between preserving the spirit of the source
material and effectively engaging a new audience in a different form.
STEPS IN MAKING CLOSE ANALYSIS
1. Start by selecting a text that intrigues you. It could be a poem, a short story, a movie scene,
a painting, or any piece of media.
2. When you start, read, watch, or view your chosen text actively. Pay close attention to details,
the language used the structure, and the visual or auditory elements.
3. Annotate and Highlight - While engaging with the text, annotate or highlight significant
passages, words, or visual elements that catch your attention. These could be things like
metaphors, symbols, or repeated motifs.
4. Identify Patterns - Next, look for patterns. Are there recurring themes, symbols, or narrative
devices? What might these patterns suggest about the text's meaning?
5. Context Matters – Consider the historical, cultural, and social context in which the text was
created. How might these factors influence the author or creator's message?
6. Develop a Thesis - With your observations in mind, formulate a thesis statement. This will be
the main argument or interpretation you want to convey about the text.
7. Provide Evidence - Support your thesis with evidence from the text. Quote passages,
reference scenes, or show visual examples that back up your interpretation.
CHALLENGES OF LITERARY ADAPTATION
• Loss of Detail: Adapting literature into visual or auditory forms often means losing intricate
details, character thoughts, and background information, impacting the audience's
understanding due to time and presentation constraints.
• Visual vs. Imagination: Literature relies on readers' imagination, while adaptations provide a
specific visual interpretation that may not match readers' mental images, making it
challenging to capture the original work's essence.
• Time Constraints: Adaptations must fit specific runtimes, potentially leading to compressed
narratives and omitted scenes, affecting pacing and depth.
• Fidelity to the Source: Balancing faithfulness to the source material with necessary changes
for the new medium is a major challenge, as creatives decide what to alter or omit.
• Risk of Oversimplification: Simplifying a story for a wider audience can result in the loss of
richness and complexity found in the original literature.

SECOND QUARTER

LESSON NO. 1: CONVENTIONAL & 21ST CENTURY GENRES

 • 21st Century Literature refers to new literary work created within the last decade. It is
written by contemporary authors which may deal with current themes/ issues and reflects a
technological culture. It often breaks traditional writing rules.
• POETRY - It has been known to employ meter and rhyme.
• DRAMA - Drama is a genre of literature that is meant to be performed. It is characterized by
its focus on dialogue and conflict.
• FICTION - Fiction is literature created from the imagination, not presented as fact, though it
may be based on a true story or situation.
• NON-FICTION - is based on facts and the author’s opinion about a subject.
• HYPER POETRY - Also called cyber poetry; cannot be presented without the aid of a
computer and the internet
• BLOG - A regularly updated journal on the Internet.
• TEXTTULA - Has its origin in Tanaga. It is composed on 4 lines and 7 syllable count with
rhyme scheme aabb, abab, or abba.
• CHICK LIT - Chick Lit typically features a female protagonist who is trying to live in the
modern world. The plot is lighthearted, smart, and funny
• FLASH FICTION - Defined as a very short story. While no set word count separates flash
fiction from more traditional short stories, flash fiction stories can be as short as a few
words.
• GRAPHIC NOVEL - Narrative work in which the story is conveyed to the reader using a comic
form.
• SPECULATIVE FICTION - Speculative fiction is a broad umbrella category of fiction that
encompasses all the genres that deliberately depart from realism or from strictly imitating
ordinary reality, instead presenting supernatural, futuristic, and other highly imaginative
realms.
• SPOKEN WORD POETRY - Spoken Word Poetry is usually written on a page but performed
for an audience. This genre demonstrate heavy use of rhythm, improvisation, free
association, rhymes, rich poetic phrases, word play, and slang.
ASIAN LITERATURE
• The literature of Asia is a rich collection of stories that reflect the beliefs, culture and feelings
of its people.
• It covers East, South, West and South East Asia.
• The literature of India, China, and Japan are the most popular among other Asian countries
due to its longevity and influence over other countries
EAST ASIA (China and Japan)
CHINESE LITERATURE - Chinese Literature, does not include epic poems but rather stresses
on everyday issues of society.
• The Book of Songs - said to have been compiled by Confucius
• Tao Te Ching - the central book of Taoism
• Both focus on the duties, behavior, and actions a person must do in order to belong
harmoniously to his society.
600 BC- 200BC Three important Philosophies emerged and shaped Chinese writings - Taoism,
Confucianism, and Buddhism
21st Century Chinese Literature - Exploration of new genres - Sinophone Literature
JAPANESE LITERATURE - Japanese literature has been influenced heavily by the Chinese
literature. Both in quantity and quality, Japanese literature ranks as one of the major literature
in the world.
Ancient Literature (Before 794): Introduction to mytho-historical texts like Kojiki and Nihon
Shoki. Mention of the significance of Man'yōshū as an early anthology of poetry.
Classical Literature (794-1185): Highlighting the Heian period's courtly literature with "The
Tale of Genji" and "The Pillow Book." - Emphasis on the evolution of poetry and prose during this
period.
Medieval Literature (1185-1603): - Overview of war tales and linked-verse poetry. -
Introduction to Noh and Kyōgen as significant performing arts.
Early Modern and Modern Literature (1603-Present): - Exploration of popular fiction during
the Edo period.
Transition to the Meiji period, reflecting the clash of tradition and modernity
Famous 21st-century Japanese Writers
• Kenzaburo Oe
• Ishiguro Kazuo
• Haruki Murakami
 MANGA The most significant development in 21stcentury Japanese Literature is the rise of Manga.
SOUTH ASIA LITERATURE (India)
INDIAN LITERATURE
Vedic Period (1500–500 BCE) - Introduction to the earliest literary traditions in the form of
Vedic hymns and scriptures. • Emphasis on the oral tradition and religious significance.
Classical Sanskrit Literature (500 BCE – 1100 CE)
• Highlights of epics like the Mahabharata and Ramayana.
• Mention of classical plays, poetry, and scientific treatises.
Golden Age of Indian Literature (200–1200 CE)
• Exploration of literary achievements during the Gupta Empire.
• Introduction to renowned works like Kalidasa's "Shakuntala" and the Panchatantra
Post-Independence Literature (1947 Onward) •
Overview of literature reflecting India's post-independence socio-political landscape. • Notable
works addressing themes of identity, partition, and social issues.
Multilingual Diversity (21st Century) • Recognition of the diverse linguistic literature in India.
• Introduction to contemporary authors writing in English, Hindi, regional languages, and
exploring various themes. Famous 21st-century Indian Writers • V.S. Naipaul • R.K Narayan •
Salman Rushdie
SOUTH EAST ASIA LITERATURE (Cambodia)
CAMBODIAN LITERATURE
Ancient Period
o Introduction to early oral traditions and folk narratives.
o Mention of the influence of Hinduism and Buddhism on Cambodian literature.
Angkor Period (9th to 15th centuries)
o Exploration of inscriptions and stone carvings at Angkor Wat.
o Introduction to classical Khmer literature, including poetic forms like Chbap and prose
like Sdok Kok Thom.
Khmer Rouge Era (1975-1979)
o Discussion of the impact of the Khmer Rouge regime on literature.
o Mention of the loss of many literary works and the suppression of intellectual activities.
Post-Conflict Revival (Late 20th Century - 21st Century) •
o Overview of efforts to revive and rebuild Cambodian literature.
o Introduction to contemporary Cambodian authors and their contributions to literature.
Themes in Contemporary Cambodian Literature - Exploration of themes such as identity,
resilience, and the impact of historical trauma
WEST ASIAN LITERATURE (ISRAEL)
Ancient Hebrew Literature
o Overview of biblical texts, including Psalms and Prophetic writings.
o Emphasis on the importance of religious and historical narratives
Medieval Period
o Introduction to medieval Jewish poetry and philosophical works.
o Mention of the influence of Arabic literature on Hebrew poetry.
Haskalah and Jewish Enlightenment (18th-19th centuries)
o Discussion of the cultural and literary revival during the Enlightenment.
o Introduction to secular Hebrew literature.
Pre-Statehood Period (Late 19th - Early 20th Century)
o Overview of early modern Hebrew literature.
o Exploration of themes related to identity, nationalism, and the Zionist movement.
Post-Statehood Period (1948-Present)
o Recognition of significant literary figures like Amos Oz, A.B. Yehoshua, and David Grossman.
o Discussion of themes such as the Israeli-Arab conflict, identity, and diaspora.

LESSON NO 3: AMERICAN LITERATURE

AMERICAN LITERATURE - Refers to the body of work written in the English language that reflects
the life and times of the people of the USA. American Literature is a recount of the Americans’
challenges and triumphs, as well as their principles and values.
One thing that helped shape American culture, identity, and literature is their fight for freedom.
16th CENTURY - America was dominated by European perspectives, and the rich oral traditions of
Native American cultures were often not documented until later centuries.
17TH CENTURY – Colonization by countries like England, Scotland, and Great Britain took place.
First British colony was established. Colonial Literature. Writings were historical and religious in
nature.
1861-1865 - Civil war between northern and southern parts of the US erupted, changing once
again America’s way of life and ideologies.
o Writings were generally a form of propaganda and were political in nature.
o There were also narratives and autobiographies written about slaves.
POST CIVIL WAR - American Literature flourished more because of the change in peoples
perspectives brought about by the war.
o Technological advancements
o 1870 - Newspaper and Magazines
o Aim to establish their own identity
o Washington Irving, Edgar Allan Poe, Emily Dickinson
o AMERICAN DREAM - The rise of factories and mass production during industrial revolution
spurred on the United States’ engagement in the war boosted their economy.
o Jazz-Age - F. Scott Fitzgerald
o The Great Depression
o John Steinbeck’s “The Grapes of Wrath”

EUROPEAN LITERATURE
EUROPEAN LITERATURE - are pieces of literature written only within the bounds of continental
Europe. Include works written in English, Spanish, French, Italian, Russian, German, Dutch,
Czech, Greek, and Polish. Oftentimes referred to as Western literature
WESTERN LITERATURE is the term used to refer to the big bulk of literary works written in the
context of Western culture and tradition in the different European languages, and it often
encompasses even American and Latin American literature.
ENGLISH LITERATURE - English literature is the collective term to refer to works written in
English language. English literature undeniably had impacted through its mechanics, form, and
structure other written works from all parts of the world.
Middle Ages and Medieval Literature (500BC-1500AD)
• During this literary period, the main literary themes were religion and chivalry.
• The Middle Ages is also known as the Age of Chivalry.
• Majority of the writings were moral and allegorical works that explored religious teachings in
addition to stories about heroism and courtly love.
• Dark Ages / Age of Chivalry
• Two major religions spread throughout Europe:
Christianity - Living righteously
o Heavenly revelations
o Dante Alighieri (Italy)
o The Divine Comedy (Italian narrative poem)
o The Inferno
o Development halted in the Christian world
Islam - Reached Europe around 8th Century
o Started in Spain and Portugal
o Muslim cities like Cordoba became the center of science and culture.
o Architecture and Libraries
o Preservation of ancient texts
o Hafiz (Shams al din Mohammad) from Iran
o Divan
Chivalry- the way a knight should act
o Knight = Became a new social class
o Stories about knights arose
o Love stories
Renaissance and Period of Enlightenment Literature (1600-1800)
o During this literary period, works were centered on celebration of ideas.
o Ideas about what human mind was capable of, and what could be achieved through
deliberate action and scientific methodology.
o Renaissance means rebirth
o Sailors from Florence reached the Muslim World
o Ancient Literature has been preserved and translated
o Ideas and art of the ancient world felt like a rebirth
 o During Middle Ages, books needed to be copied by hand
o Printing Press arrived
o Books and ideas can now reach their audience quicker
o Criticism of the Catholic Church
o The rediscovered ancient ideas led to a new way of looking at humanity.
o Humanism - Every human being has their own worth.
o Led to the questioning of the church’s right to decide on people’s personal matters.
o The Church imposed censorship
o Satire - The use of humor to point out that something is wrong in society.
o Miguel Cervantes - Don Quixote
o First Modern Novel
o Jean Jacques Rousseau (French)
o In 1762 he published two major books, one of which is Émile, or On Education.
o Criticized religion and was immediately banned in both France and Geneva.
o Outlines a process of education that would prevent humans from being corrupted by
society and instead nurture their natural virtues and goodness.
Romanticism and Realism Literature (1800-1920)
o Romanticism is an artistic and intellectual movement that redefined the ways in which
people in the West thought about themselves and their world.
o Emotional Sensitivity
o Individual Subjectivity
o Imagination
o Literary Genre: Poetry
o - William Blake - Songs of Innocence and of Experience
o Literary Genre: Poetry
o - William Wordsworth I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud
o Romanticism and Realism Literature (1800-1920)
o Realism in the arts is generally the attempt to represent subject matter truthfully, without
artificiality, and avoiding speculative and supernatural elements.
o Literary Genres
o - Novel
o - Short Story
o – Drama
Modernism and Post Modernism (1920-Present)
o Modernism is characterized by a self-conscious separation from traditional ways of writing in
both poetry and prose fiction writing.
o Modernist writers in general rebelled against clear-cut storytelling and formulaic verse from
the 19th century.
o Presented a new way of living and seeing the world
o Subjectivity and Inner Consciousness
o Alienation and Disillusionment
o Playfulness and Irony
o Experimentation with Form and Language
o James Joyce
o Ulysses
o Stream of Conciousness
o Nonlinear storytelling
o One of the hardest works of literature to read
o Grandeur of ordinary life

AFRICAN LITERATURE
o AFRICAN LITERATURE - Refers to the body of oral and written works produced by Africans
in either African or European languages
o Two great colonizing movements have made an impact on the literary traditions of Africa.
• Islamic Arabs in the 7th century
• Strong trading system
• Oral traditions
• Myths Provides entertainment
o Teaches lesson about everyday life
o Way of imparting knowledge
o Sang and performed by Griots
o Poetry - On-the-spot oral poems. Praising a chief, mourning the dead, and get favors
from the gods to cure a disease. Priests are also required to study the Ifa oracle which
is a massive poem about pleasing the gods.
o Folktales, Proverbs, Riddles - African proverbs are known to be amusing because of
the surprising way they put ideas into words. African riddles are often “intended to
display the questioner's imagination rather than to test the cleverness of the
audience.”
o Folktales are usually heard in the evening for family entertainment.
o Dilemma tales are also popular where the ending is up to the listeners to find the best
solution to a conflict in the story.
o Since most of African languages are only spoken, they owe their writing traditions to
the influence of Muslim Arabs in Africa.
o Written Traditions
o Arabic script
o Roman Alphabet
o Hieroglyphics
o SWAHILI LITERATURE
• non-religious poems
• grown out of poetry contests
• first poet comes up with two lines and other poets must continue adding two
lines each with the same rhyme and rhythm
o HAUSA LITERATURE
• Islamic scholars living among the locals in Northern Africa wrote the first poems
in Hausa using Arabic alphabets.
• They call these religious poems as Ajami
• Theme: Conflicts between Islamic ways and European culture and beliefs.
o YORUBA LITERATURE
• The fantasy Igbo Olodumare (The Forest of the Lord, 1947) made Chief D.O.
Fagunawa one of Nigeria's most popular writers.
• Yoruba has also produced social and political satires by Hubert Ogunde as well
as tragedies by Duro Lapido.
o Christian Europeans in the 16th century
• Slave system intensified
• Africans were transported to different parts of the globe as if they were goods
and commodities
• Largest forced migration
• Commercialized oppression began
• Racism and Colorism
o English-language literature
• Around the 18th century, freed slaves who have settled in England and America
wrote in the English language.
• Writers expressed through poetry their love for their race and country while at
the same time commemorated the European and Christian values.
• Joseph Ephraim Casley-Hayford - In 1911, the first African novel in English,
Ethiopia Unbound by Joseph Ephraim Casley-Hayford of Ghana was published.
• Amos Tutuola - Was the first Nigerian who was recognized internationally for
reinventing Yoruban folklore in the English language. Because he lacked formal
language education, he often relied on Yoruba's orality rather than on standard
English.
• Chinua Achebe - He was the most widely read African novelist and has one of
the biggest contributions in letting the world enter into an understanding of
African literature.
• Africa's Literary Giant
• Things Fall Apart
o CONTEMPORARY AFRICAN LITERATURE
▪ Theme of Migration
▪ Migration is a recurring theme in African literature, reflecting the
complex and diverse experiences of individuals and communities across
the continent.
 ▪ In Chinua Achebe's "Things Fall Apart," forced migration and colonialism
play significant roles in shaping the narrative and impacting the Igbo
society portrayed in the novel.
o Negritude - means “blackness”
o the literary movement of the 1930s-1950s that began among French-speaking African
and Caribbean writers living in Paris as a protest against French colonial rule and the
policy of assimilation. Africans must look to their own cultural heritage to determine
the values and traditions that are most useful in the modern world. Committed writers
should use African subject matter and poetic traditions and should excite a desire for
political freedom.
o CRITICAL RACE THEORY - The CRT is an approach to literature that focuses on how
one is molded by his or her idea of race and racism and his or her reaction to combat
the phenomenon.
o This approach to literature sheds light as to how one perceives, understands, and
evaluates a work of literature and the society and issues it presents based on their
background, presumably as a victim of racism, oppression, or colonialism.

A gentle reminder: there's no need to memorize everything from the PowerPoint presentations and
study guides. Typically, only about 20% to 30% of the content, especially word-for-word definitions,
will actually be tested in your exams. As I always emphasize, focus on comprehension rather than
rote memorization, as exams typically require applying knowledge in practical scenarios.

Rooting for all of you. Good luck!

-Ms. Mean