G12-LITHIUM: 21st CENTURY

LITERATURE FROM THE

PHILIPPINES AND THE WORLD

Introduction to Literature For many, the word literature suggests a

higher art form; merely putting words on
What is Literature? a page doesn't necessarily equate to
creating literature. A canon is the
Literature deals with ideas, thoughts, accepted body of works for a given
and emotions of man – thus it can be author. Some works of literature are
said that literature is the story of man. It considered canonical, that is, culturally
came from the word “litera” meaning representative of a particular genre
‘letter’. (Kahayon, 19998, p.5-7) (poetry, prose, or drama).
Literature also comes from the French
phrase “bellesletters” which means
beautiful writing. (Baritugo, et. Al. 2004, Why Is Literature Important?
p. 1)
Works of literature, at their best, provide
Literature is our life’s story including the a kind of blueprint of human society.
struggles, ideas, failures, sacrifices and From the writings of ancient civilizations
happiness. (Ang, 2006) such as Egypt and China to Greek
philosophy and poetry, from the epics of
Literature is language in use that Homer to the plays of William
provides insights and intellectual Shakespeare, from Jane Austen and
stimulation to the reader. As one Charlotte Bronte to Maya Angelou,
explores literature, he likewise discovers works of literature give insight and
the beauty of language. context to all the world's societies. In
Literature is a product of a particular this way, literature is more than just a
culture that concretizes man’s array of historical or cultural artifact; it can serve
values, emotions, actions and ideas. It is as an introduction to a new world of
therefore a creation of human experience.
experience that tells about people and But what we consider to be literature
their world. can vary from one generation to the
Simply put, literature represents the next. For instance, Herman Melville's
culture and tradition of a language or a 1851 novel "Moby Dick" was considered
people. The concept is difficult to a failure by contemporary reviewers.
precisely define, though many have However, it has since been recognized
tried; it's clear that the accepted as a masterpiece and is frequently cited
definition of literature is constantly as one of the best works of Western
changing and evolving. literature for its thematic complexity and
use of symbolism. By reading "Moby
Dick" in the present day, we can gain a fundamental truths about life and human
fuller understanding of literary traditions nature. Literature enables us to learn
in Melville's time. more about the world, to discover
information which are relevant for us to
Why do people read Literature? know. Literature, be it fiction or non-
*For information fiction, enables us to discover vital
concepts related to any field of study.
*For amusement
3. Suggestiveness – This is the quality
*For higher and keener pleasure associated with the emotional power of
literature, such that it should move us
*For cultural upliftment
deeply and stir our creative imagination
*For discovery of broader dimensions in beyond the plane of ordinary
life experience. You may have already
experienced that feeling when you’re
Hallmarks of Literature reading a book or any short story, and
you notice yourself crying after you
Literature, as compared to any other
finish it! This is only one of the many
forms of writing, possesses distinct
powers of literature. It is able to bring
qualities that separate it from the rest.
out emotions because we are able to
We call them “hallmarks”, as they serve
relate to what is happening in the story.
as the standard for the quality of good
literature. These include: 4. Permanence – A great work of
literature endures – it can be read again
1.Artistry – It is a quality which appeals
and again as each reading gives a fresh
to our sense of beauty. Literature has an
delight and new instance. Have you
aesthetic appeal which makes readers
noticed the fact that even though we are
and people alike to be delve into it. Take
now living in the 21st century, we still
a look at the picture below. This is
read and look back to the stories from
actually a copy of William Blake’s poem
ages past? This is because issues and
entitled “Spring”, with an accompanying
significant human experiences that may
painting that the poet himself made.
have occurred in the past are still
Through this piece of art, we can realize
relevant and prevailing in the present
that literature evokes a sense of beauty
times. Literature has made us realize
that when we attempt to read it, we are
that human experiences, emotions, and
instantly in awe. Many scholars have
feelings are more often than not
even noted that literature evokes a
perennial.
sense of nostalgia.

2. Intellectual Value – A literary work

stimulates thought and enriches our
mental life by making us realize
5. Universality – Literature appeals to Prose is a literary work that is
everyone, regardless of culture, race, spoken or written using the usual flow of
sex, and time which are all considered language in sentences and paragraphs
which give us information, connect
significant. You may have noticed that
events, and elaborate opinions. Prose
somehow, even though we are Filipinos, may be classified as fiction or nonfiction.
we still read literature with themes which There are different types of prose, and
are most likely foreign to us. This is you would discover them below. Ang
because literature has universality, it (2016) mentioned the different types of
appeals to almost everybody and it just prose.
a matter of interest on the reader’s part. Types of Prose
REMEMBER  Prose Drama - A drama is prose
form. It consists of dialogues in prose,
We define literature as significant and is meant to be acted on stage. 
human experiences. Through literature,  Essay - A short literary
we are able to tell our stories. We are composition which is expository in
able to expose our culture, our nature. The author shares some of his
traditions, and even our deepest feelings thoughts, feelings, experiences, or
and emotions can be expressed and observations on some aspects of life.
One famous example of essay is
evoked through literature. That is why
Alexander Pope’s Essay on Criticism.
literature is the story of man, it defines
 Prose Fiction - Something
who we are, and what happened in the
invented, imagined, or feigned to be
past, what could happen today and in true. There are two types of prose
the future. fiction: novel and short story.
PROSE AND POETRY 1.Novel - A long fictitious narrative with
a complicated plot. Usually divided into
Literature refers to written creative different chapters.
work, particularly those which have a 2.Short Story- a fictitious narrative
high and enduring value. It is known for compressed into one unit of time, place,
its form in which the message is and action.
presented or communicated and
its content. Prose and poetry are the two  Biography - A story of a person’s
common forms of literature; life written by another who knows him or
wherein prose is written work, which her.
contains sentences and paragraphs,  Autobiography - A written
and does not have any metrical account of man’s life written by himself.
structure. As against, poetry is a genre  Letter - A written message which
of literature which is based on a displays aspects of an author’s
particular form, that creates a rhyme. psychological make-up.
PROSE  Diary - A daily written account of
Let us first have a discussion on the first the writer’s own experiences, thoughts,
type of literature, and that is prose.  activities, or observations. One of the
 most famous examples of diaries is the  Oration– bombastic speech
famous Anne Frank’s Diary.  delivered during occasions
 Journal - A magazine or  Lecture– intended to inform the
periodical especially of a serious or audience
learned nature.  Talk– suggests informality, in a
The above types are some of the conversational approach
most relevant examples of prose. Here  Sermon– a speech by a clergy
are other types of note: man.
 Historical Prose – deals with
historical events POETRY
 Scientific Prose – deals with the Now, let us move on to the second type
science subject of literature, which is poetry.
 Satirical Prose – a prose that
Poetry
ridicules the vices and follies of men
 Current Publication – books, Poetry is a kind of language that
magazines, newspapers says it more intensely than ordinary
language does.  The term poetry was
 Literary Criticism– the analysis derived from the Greek
of literary works word poesis meaning ‘making or
 Book Review– deals with the creating. Poetry has implied meaning/s
contents, literary worth of a book which is/are evoked in the carefully
 Philosophy– deals with selected words.  The aim of poetry is to
processes of governing thought and stir the imagination and set an idea of
conduct how life should be. Here are some
noteworthy definitions of poetry:
 Travel– A written account of trips
 Parody– imitations of another 1. Gemino Abad contends that “A
author’s works poem is a meaningful organization of
 Anecdote– a brief narrative words.”
concerning an incident 2. T.S. Eliot categorized poetry as
“The fusion of two poles of mind,
 Character Sketch– short emotion, and thought.”
description of the qualities of a person 3. Manuel Viray states that “Poetry
 Parable– short tale that illustrates is the union of thoughts and
principles in life feelings.”
 Pamphlet– a small book of topic 4. William Wordsworth says,
of current interest “Poetry is the spontaneous overflow
of powerful feelings recorded in
 Eulogy– written for a dead tranquility.”
person
 Speech– word of discourse Ang (2016) also mentioned about the
delivered to an audience.  different types of poetry:
 Address– implies formal, Types of Poetry
carefully prepared speech
1. Narrative Poetry - A narrative  Corridos - These have measures
poem is a longer form of poetry that of eight syllables per line. 
tells an entire story, with a beginning,  Sonnet - A lyric poem containing
middle, and end. It usually has a plot fourteen iambic pentameter lines.
and set of characters. Here are the
different examples of narrative poetry:
 Epic - A long narrative poem of BASIS FOR
largest proportions. Here is an PROSE POETRY
COMPARISON
example of a famous epic: Beowulf
 Metrical Romance - A narrative Meaning Prose is a Poetry is that
poem that tells of chivalry, love and straight form of
adventure. The hero is a knight.  forward form literature in
 Metrical Tale - A narrative poem of literature, which the
consisting of connective events: love wherein the poet uses a
tales or supernatural. author unique style
expresses his and rhythm,
 Ballad - The simplest type of thoughts and to express
narrative poetry. It is a very short poem feelings in a intense
telling simple incidents.  lucid way experience.
 Popular Ballad - A ballad telling
simple incidents about adventure, Language Straight Expressive
cruelty, passion, or superstition. Forward or Decorated
 Modern or Artistic - Created by
Nature Pragmatic Imaginative
a poet, imitation of folk ballad.
 Metrical Allegory - An extended Essence Message or Experience
narrative that carries a second information
meaning; it is symbolic.
Purpose To provide To delight or
2. Lyric Poetry - is poetry that information or amuse.
describes the thoughts and emotions of to convey a
a single speaker or writer, and is usually message.
intended to be sang. Here are the
different examples of lyric poetry: Ideas Ideas can be Ideas can be
 Ode - It is the most majestic of found in found in
poems, written to praise someone or sentences, lines, which
something.  which are are arranged
arranged in in stanzas.
paragraph.
 Elegy - A poem written on the
death of a friend of the poet. Line break No Yes
 Song - A lyric poem in a regular
metrical pattern set to music. Florante at Paraphrasing Possible Exact
Laura is an example of a song (or awit in paraphrasing
Tagalog). is not
possible.
William Shakespeare, the Bard of Avon,
is a famous sonneteer.