Introduction

to Literature
for the Filipino

People
Ms. Antoneth C. Alviola, MA-Eng
Northwest Samar State University
Literary pieces such as stories, poetry, essays have always been
enjoyed by people in the past.

With your exposure to various literary pieces in the past, and

the present, define literature. List in the boxes some
definitions of the word.

Life Experiences

Literature
 WARM-UP QUESTIONS:
• What is literature?
• Why do we need to study Philippine
literature?
Literature
 What is
Literature?
“Litera” – Latin word which
literally means an
“acquaintance with
letters”
 What is Literature?
• Webster defines literature as anything that
is printed, as long as it is related to the
ideas and feelings of people, whether
it is true, or just a product of one’s
imagination
 What is Literature?

It is a body of work, either written,

oral, or visual, containing imaginative
language that realistically portrays
thought, emotions, and
experiences of the human
condition.
• Its function is not to tell us about
experience but to allow us
through the imagination to
participate in it.
• To bring us a sense and a perception
of life
• to widen and sharpen our contact
with existence
• It comes from the Greek word litera,
meaning letter.
• It refers to timeless , imaginative
writings that deal with life and
human experiences in language .
• It shows experiences which
communicate more than a
statement .
 What is Literature?

• is a product of particular culture

that concretizes man’s array of
values, emotions, actions and ideas.
It is therefore a creation of human
experiences that tells about people
and their world.
• “Literature raises life to a new level of
meaning and understanding, and in the
process restores sanity and justice in an
insane and unjust world.”
– Cirilo F. Bautista

What is Literature?
In short…………
Literature
is LIFE
itself
Why do we need to study
Philippine Literature?

ignatius joseph n estroga

Why do we need to study Philippine Literature?

• To trace our rich heritage of ideas and handed

down to us from our forefathers
• For appreciation of our heritage.
• To Understand that we have noble traditions
which can serve as the means to assimilate
other cultures.

ignatius joseph n estroga

 LITERATURE
TYPES
PROSE POETRY
Is a discourse which uses
Refers to writings in verse,
sentences and
with rhythm and rhyme
paragraphs to express
and characterized by
ideas, feelings and
melodious tone.
actions.
 LITERATURE
Division
FICTION NON-FICTION
-it portrays imaginary
people caught in
imaginary situations Gives actual facts
-it is usually read for and information
pleasure -it is not invented or
-intended to expand Make up
and refine our life
-quicken our senses
 Anecdote Myth Folktale
Play Chronicle

Diary PROSE Essay

News Legend
Fable
Biography Parable Oration
Novel Short story
 PROSE
Short story- it focuses on a single main incident
and is usually read in one sitting.
Example:

THE LAUGHTER OF MY FATHER

by Carlos Bulosan
Novel-long narrative prose divided into chapters.
Example:

WITHOUT SEEING THE DAWN

by Stevan Javellana
Legend-it talks about origins.
Example:

THE BIKOL LEGEND

by Pio Duran
Myth-deals with the stories about gods and
goddesses.
Example:

ANG PINAGMULAD NG DAIG-DIG:SI MALAKAS AT MAGANDA

By: Mabel Cook Cole
 PROSE
Fable-the characters are animals with human
attributes.
Example:
The Monkey and the Turtle
By: Dr. Jose Rizal
Parable-stories usually Biblical in nature.
Example:
Folktale- a narrative prose told for amusement
and instructional values.
Example:

By: Norma Olizon-Chikiamco

Anecdote-it is an interesting , amusing incident
generally characterized by human interest.
Example:
Chronicle-a historical account of facts or events
in the order of time. It is detailed but without
analysis or interpretation.
Example:
Biography-records the facts and events of a
person’s life that is written by another person.
Example:
CAYETANO ARELLANO
By: Socorro O. Albert
Autobiography-deals with facts and events of a
person life written by himself.
Example:
The biography
of Dr. Jose Rizal
 PROSE
Essay- a critical literary composition about a
topic or subject from a limited often personal
point of view. The best example of this is the
Editorial page of a newspaper.
News- an account of everyday events in society,
government , science or industry.
Oration-a formal treatment of a subject and is
intended for the delivery in public.
 PROSE
Play- also called drama, it is written to be
performed on stage.
Diary-it is the daily record of events and
experiences in the author’s life.
 POETRY

Narrative Lyric
It is a poetry Dramatic A kind of poetry
that tells a that is intended
to be sung to
story. It is meant to the
be performed accompaniment
on stage. of a lyre.