What is Literature?

written works, especially those considered of superior or lasting artistic merit.

a faithful reproduction of mans manifold experiences blended into one harmonious
expression.
Expresses the feelings of people to society, to the government, to his surrounding, to his
fellowmen and to his divine creator.
A piece of written work which is undying.

Why Study Philippine Literature?

1. To better appreciate our literary heritage.
Literary Genres:
Prose
1. Novel a long narrative divided into chapters.
a.
2. Short Story a narrative shorter than a novel that has a plot, a message and divided by
paragraph.
Ex.: The Laughter of My Father Carlos Bulosan
3. Drama/Play a narrative that is intended to be staged and is divided by act
Ex.: Wanted: A Chaperon Wilfrido Ma. Guererro
4. Legend fictitious story that tells the origin of something.
5. Fable Story whose characters are animals portraying human characteristics and has a
lesson.
6. Anecdote product of writers imagination which aims to teach a lesson to the reader.
Ex.: The Moth and The Lamp
7. Essay a short piece of writing about a particular subject.
8. Biography a writing that deals with the life of a person.
9. News a report of everyday event
Poetry Types
1. Narrative
a. Epic long narrative poem
b. Bllad short narrative poem
2. Lyrical usually accompanied by music
a. Folksong intended to be sung, and usually the topic is about love, despair, joy and
hope
Ex.: Sitsiritsit
b. Sonnet has 14 lines and the 2 last lines are rhymed known as heroic couplet
c. Elegy a praise for the dead containing grief and melancholy
Ex.: Ricaredo Demetillo
d. Ode poem created to address of a particular
e. Psalm/Hymn/Song poem intended to be sung
Awit has 12 syllables (dodecasyllabic)
Ex.: Florante at Laura
"O pagsintang labis ng kapangyarihan,
sampung mag-aama'y iyong nasasaklaw;
'pag ikaw ang nasok[6] sa puso ninuman,
hahamaki'ng lahat masunod ka lamang!"
f. Corridos has 8 syllables (octosyllabic)
Ex.: Ibong Adarna
"May isang ibong maganda
Ang pangalan ay adarna
Kung marinig mong magkanta

Ang sakit moy giginhawa

3. Dramatic Petrarchan or Shakesperian
1. Comedy -light in form; purposed to make people laugh
2. Melodrama - A kind of romantic and sensational drama, crude, sentimental, and conventional, involving
poetic justice and happy endings

3. Farce - A comedy characterized by broad satire and improbable situations

4. Tragedy - A type of drama dealing with tragic events and often involving the fall of an honourable, worthy
and important protagonist, often with elevated action and language

Quiz
Define the following:
1. Literature
2. Elegy
3. Sonnet
4. Epic
5. Ballad
6. Comedy
7. Drama
8. Song
9. Legend
10.Prose
Enumerate and briefly discuss the following:
1. Elements of the story:
Setting
Plot
Character
Characterization

points of view
techniques of narration
Theme