21st Century Literature

from the Philippines and the World

 21st CENTURY IN LITERATURE

 refers to world literature in prose

produced during the 21st century.
 The range of years in 21st century
literature was written from (roughly) the
year 2001 to the present.
• Literature depicts the history, culture and
tradition of a country. It is hard to imagine
a nation without it.
• Philippine Literature
• "The history of a nation can be learned in its
constitution its laws, and its political statements.
But to know the history of a nation's spirit, you
must read its literature." (Croghan, 1977)
• Philippine Literature in English reveals the spirit
of the Filipino.
• Gradually, this literature has learned to express
the deepest of human experiences in words that
create memorable images.
 Importance of Literature

• sharing of human experiences

• learn what you are and how you have
become what you are
• learn learn what you might be in the future.
• shows how the Filipino differs from others
 Development of Philippine Literature

Philippine Literature in English

1. The Early Period
• 1900-1930
2. The Middle Period
• 1930-1960
3. The Modern Period
• 1960-1974
4. Contemporary
• 1970-Present
 Pre-colonial Times

Folk speeches, folk songs, folk narratives

and indigenous rituals and mimetic dances
that affirm our ties with our Southeast
Asian neighbors.
Most seminal of these folk speeches is the
riddle which is tigmo in Cebuano, bugtong
in Tagalog, paktakon in Ilongo and
patototdon in Bicol.
Folk Narratives:
• epics and folk tales are varied, exotic and magical. They
explain how the world was created, how certain animals
possess certain characteristics, why some places have
waterfalls, volcanoes, mountains, flora or fauna and, in
the case of legends, an explanation of the origins of
things.
Sample Epics:
• Darangen: (Maranao- Islam) narrates the
heroic feats of the Maguindanao people–
highlighting the bravery and prowess of
the skilled Moro warriors.
• Biag-ni-Lamang: (Ilokano)
• Hudhud: (Ifugao) features the characters
Aliguyan (Aliguyon), Bugan and their
families, and the elements of the early
civilization which rose in the mountain
province
• Biag ni Lam-ang (Ilokano)
• Hudhod & Alim (Ifugao)
• Kabuniyan & Bendian (Ibaloi, Benguet)
• Kumintang (Tagalog)
• Ibalon & Aslon (Bikol)
• Maragtas, Haraya, Lagda & Hinilawod
(Bisaya)
• Hari sa Bukid (Negros)
• Darangan (Muslim)
Numerous newspapers in English were
published:
• Komedya
• Senakulo
• Sarswela
• Ibong Adarna
• Florante at Laura
• Noli Me Tangere
• El Filibusterismo
• 1905: The Philippine Free Press is
founded;
• 1910: College Folio is published at UP;

• 1920: Phil. Herald/Phil. Magazine (most

influential literary Magazine.)
 Spanish Occupation

• UP was founded in 1908

Characteristics
• language is easy to understand
• moralistic
• sense of nationalism is evident
• romantic grammatically uneven
• the Philippine Commonwealth Government was
established on July 4, 1935
• writers began to explore the idea of searching
for a national identity
• the short story flourished
• the first Commonwealth Literary Awards were
given in 1940
• Philippine Independence was proclaimed on July
4, 1946
• Philippine literature in English greatly improved.
 Japanese Occupation

Characteristics

• recurrent subject matter/themes – rural

life, love, self-sacrifice and suffering,
novelty of city life, value of education,
struggle against poverty
• recurrent setting – the province, the barrio,
the small town
• recurrent characters – the barrio lass/lad,
the first schooled/educated person in the
barrio, the teacher, hardworking
farmer/fisherman, ardent lovers, the
Filipino expatriate educated in America.
 World War II/Japanese occupation

• stylistic characteristics – simple structure,

simple plots, mild climaxes, explicit
symbols, slow pace or movement,
abundant description of people and places

• reflected Filipino customs, traditions,

practices, traits

• culture clashes – American vs. Filipino

• the first Palanca Memorial Awards were given in
1950; for English and the Tagalog one-act play
in 1954.
• there was a growing sense of nationalism
• the Republic Cultural Awards were started in
1960 – 1st winner was N.V.M. Gonzalez
• the first Pro Patria awards were presented in
1961 – 1st winners were Jose Garcia Villa,
N.V.M. Gonzalez, and Wilfrido Ma. Guerrero
• the first Asian Writers’ Conference was held in
Baguio in 1962
• themes of confusion and violence were evident
in the late 60’s and 70’s
• Martial Law was declared in Sept. 21
1972.
• continued influence of the West upon Phil.
Literature was evident
• recurrent subject matter – colonial
mentality, guerilla and wartime stories,
consequences of the war (poverty,
disorientation, identity crisis), love, family,
death, social problems
Characteristics
• recurrent setting – the home, the city, the
province, America
• recurrent characters – rich/poor people,
characters with psychological problems,
immigrants in America
• Martial Law was lifted in 1981.
• 1986 EDSA Revolution occurred .
• gay and lesbian literature came out
• more social problems are tackled
• TV and films have become more popular.
• younger writers have entered the literary scene
• more literary criticisms have been written
Characteristics

• very innovative in structure and style

• influence of different –isms and literary
trends from the West
• characters, plot structure and narrative
techniques are more complex
• The book, 21st century literature from the
Philippines and the world provides usin
Philippine English, with lexical items in
Filipino, and with dislogue that tries to
capture the Filipino-ness of the English
that is used in the Philippines.
• There's hope that in reading today's Phil.
literature in English, the reader will find a
reflection of oneself and reflection of
Philippines Society. This is composed of
novel excerpts, short stories, essays, and
poems that are organzied in a thematic
manner.
• There is pleasure in reading and analyzing
literature that is slowly being forgotten.

• The book is divided into 2 parts;

1. 21st century Philippine Literature
2. 21st century World Literature
The text included post- colonial, socio-
political perspectives about literature and
society. Although the text include have
been published from 2000 abd beyond,
these spans concerns about the new and
the old.
This book aims to help us udenrstand the
complex world we live in through the use
of literature.