ORAL FORMS

OF LITERATURE
DURING THE
PRE-COLONIAL
PERIOD
OBJECTIVES:
At the end of the lesson the student will be
able to:
 Identify the different oral forms of literature
during the pre-colonial times
 Appreciate the value of oral forms of
literature.
 Create different oral forms of literature in
different perspective
The Pre-Colonial Period
 This existed before the Spanish occupation in the 1500s.
 It is oral in nature and is full of lessons and ideas about life,
its blessings, and its consequences.
 It contains ideas from birth to the grave.
 The oral characteristic of pre-colonial literature gives the
possibility for many alterations.
 In the Philippine context, no matter how it may be
considered as altered, pre-colonial literature is still revered
to by many Filipinos.
ORAL LITERATURE
Oral literature is a broad term which
may include ritual texts, curative chants,
epic poems, musical genres, folk tales,
creation tales, songs, myths, spells,
legends, proverbs, riddles, tongue-
twisters, word games, recitations, life
histories or historical narratives.
1. RIDDLES (MGA BUGTONG)

• These are statements that contain superficial

words, but they function figuratively and as
metaphors, and are in the form of questions.
• These are questions that demand deeper answers.
• Deals with everyday life.
• It usually has mundane things as answers.
• This is used in the past as a form of game in small
or large gatherings.
EXAMPLE:

1. Nakayuko ang reyna di nalalaglag ang korona.

Sagot: Bayabas
2. Ate mo, ate ko, ate ng lahat ng tao.
Sagot: Atis
3. Isda ko sa maribeles nasa loob ang kaliskis
Sagot: Sili
4. Ulan nang ulan, hindi pa rin mabasa ang tiyan.
Sagot: Dahon ng gabi
5. Maliit na bahay, puno ng mga patay.
Sagot: Posporo
6. Hayan na si kaka bubuka-bukaka.
Sagot: Gunting
2. PROVERBS (MGA SALAWIKAIN)

• These are statements that are

considered as wise.
• These are usually given by parents or
elders of the community.
• There is belief that experience is the
best teacher.
EXAMPLE:

“Ang giho mas gahambal sang sa hambalanon.”

“Wala sing adlaw nga Wala’y pala-abuton”

“Karon imo pa, Buas akon na”

3. FOLK SONGS

• These are folk lyrics that are usually chanted.

• These usually contain ideas on aspirations,
hopes,
everyday life and expressions of love for loved
ones.
• It is bounded by the learning of good morals.
• It is easy to understand because it is
straightforward and
not figurative in nature.
EXAMPLES:

• Si Pilemon
• Iliili Tulog Anay
• Dandansoy
• Waray-Waray
• Pakitong Kitong
• Tuba
FOLK NARRATIVES
The folk narratives, i.e. 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. Fables are about animals and
these teach moral lessons.
FOLKTALES
The term folklore
encompasses the traditional
beliefs, stories, customs, and
legends, transmitted orally,
from generation to generation.
1. MYTHS
- a traditional story, especially one
concerning the early history of a
people or explaining some natural
or social phenomenon, and
typically involving supernatural
beings or events.
EXAMPLES:

Hercules and the Lion (Greece)

The Birth of Horus (Egypt)

The Children of Lir (Ireland)

2. LEGEND

A story from the past that is

believed by many people but
cannot be proved to be true.
EXAMPLE

Alamat ng Pinya (The Legend of the Pineapple)

Alamat ng Durian (The Legend of Name Durian)

Alamat ng Bawang (The Legend of the Garlic)

3. FABLE

A short allegorical narrative

making a moral point, traditionally
by means of animal characters who
speak and act like human beings.
EXAMPLE:
THE ANT AND THE GRASSHOPPER

THE LION AND THE MOUSE

THE GOLDEN GOOSE

THANK YOU !