UNIT I

Through literature, people learn the innermost feelings and thoughts

INTRODUCTION of people- the most real part of themselves, thus gain an
understanding not only of others, but more importantly, of themselves
and of life (Garcia, 1993).

At the end of this unit, you should be able to:

LEARNING 1. Discover and assess the reasons why we need to study the
OUTCOMES Philippine literature.
2. Identify and explain the different literary standards;
3. Differentiate prose from poetry;
4. Determine the elements of genre in a literary piece.

This lesson presents the definition of literature from various authors,

INTRODUCTION the importance of studying literature, reasons of studying Philippine
literature, and literary standards. Studying Philippine literature
appeals to college students who are searching for answers on the
intricacies of life through literature. We study literature so that we can
better appreciate our literary heritage. Through a study of our
literature, we can trace the rich heritage of ideas handed down to us
from our forefathers. Further, by the help of our literature we can
understand ourselves better and take pride in being a Filipino.

At the end of this unit, you should be able to:

LEARNING
5. Analyze and share insights on the meaning and nature of
OUTCOMES
literature;
6. Appreciate the function and value of studying literature; and
7. Assess and discover the reasons why we need to study the
Philippine literature.

The word literature is derived from the Latin term ‘litera’ which means ―letter‖. It has
been defined differently by various writers.

Definition from various authors:

1. Literature deals with ideas, thoughts, and emotions of man-thus it can be said the
literature is dthe story of man. (Kahayon, 1998)

2. The best way to understand human nature fully and to know a nation completely is to
study its literature. Literature appeals to man‘s higher nature and its needs-emotional,
spiritual, intellectual, and creative. Like all other forms of art, literature entertains and gives
pleasure; it fires the imagination and arouses noble emotions and it enriches man by
enabling him to reflect on life and by filling him with new ideas. (Garcia, et al, 1993)
3. Literature is our life‘s story including its struggles, ideas, failures, sacrifices and
happiness. (Ang,2006)

4. 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 & their world.

5. Lazar (1993) discusses that literature ―provides meaningful and memorable contexts for
processing and interpreting new language.‖

Importance of Literature

Literature Adds Value

As stated in the quote by C.S. Lewis, literature not only describes reality but
also adds to it. Literary works are portrayals of the thinking patterns and social norms
prevalent in society. They are a depiction of the different facets of common man‘s life.
Classical literary works serve as a food for thought and encourage imagination and
creativity. Exposing oneself to good literary works, is equivalent to providing one with the
finest of educational opportunities. On the other hand, the lack of exposure to good literature
is equal to depriving oneself from the opportunity to grow.

Literature Helps Understand Life

It is through reading great literary and poetic works, that one understands life. They
help a person take a closer look at the different facets of living. In many ways, literature, in
its different forms, can change one‘s perspective towards living. Biographies of great people,
real-life stories of courage, sacrifice and other good values never fail to inspire readers.
Such works give the masses an insight into the lives of eminent people, and also serve as a
bible of ideals.

It Provides Information
Literature serves as an enormous information base. Research works by
famous inventors and literary works by notable scientists often narrate stories of their
ground-breaking discoveries and inferences. Ongoing developments in the fields of science
and technology are documented so that the world can know about them. Several ancient
scriptures relating stories of human evolution and narratives of human life in those times,
have been of tremendous help to mankind. Thus, literature has always served as an
authentic source of information.

Literature is Important
For the breadth of knowledge is gives, the moral values it carries, and
the enjoyment it provides, literature is important. An exposure to good literary works is
essential at every phase of life as it enriches us in more ways than one. Literature is
definitely much more than its literary meaning, which defines it as ‗an acquaintance to
letters‘. In fact, it lays the foundation of a fulfilling life. It adds ‗life‘ to ‗living‘.

The seven literary standards are: artistry, suggestiveness, intellectual

INTRODUCTION
value, spiritual value, permanence, universality and style. These are a
set of characteristics to determine whether or not a work is literary.
The criteria were developed by writer William J. Long in his textbook
―English Literature: Its History and Its Significance for the Life of the
English-speaking World.‖
 LEARNING At the end of the lesson, you should be able to:
OUTCOMES 1. Develop in-depth understanding of the literary standards; and
2. Appreciate the value of literary standards in literature.

Literary Standards

Artistry
Literature has an aesthetic appeal and thus possesses a sense of beauty This is a
quality which appeals to our sense of beauty.

Intellectual Value
A literary work stimulates thought. It stimulates critical thinking that enriches mental
processes of abstract and reasoning, making man realize the fundamental of truths of life
and its nature.

Suggestiveness
Literature is associated with the emotion of a literary piece and also with the emotion
of a literary piece. It unravels man‘s emotional power to define symbolism, nuances, implied
meanings, images and messages, giving and evoking visions above and beyond the plane
of ordinary life and experience.

Spiritual Value
This elevates the spirit by bringing out the moral values of a person or situation and
thus has the power to motivate and inspire.

Permanence
A great work of literature endures across time and draws out the time factor:
 Timeliness-occurring at a particular time
 Timelessness-remaining invariable throughout time

Universality
Great literature is timeless. It is said that literature appeals to everyone regardless of
culture, race, sex, and time which are all considered significant.

Style
This is the peculiar way in which a writer sees life, forms his ideas and expresses
them as evidence by the formation of his ideas, forms, structures and expressions which are
marked by their memorable substance.

In a separate sheet of yellow paper, respond to the following

EVALUATION questions comprehensively.

1. What are the qualities of literature?

2. Choose one (1) literary piece, then evaluate the quality standards
as to its artistry, suggestiveness, and style. Describe the
aforementioned literary standards of the chosen piece.
 –

The study and appreciation of literature has two main purposes: to

INTRODUCTION inform while the other is to entertain. To fully understand and explain
the aesthetic value of literature, genre should be considered. The two
main divisions of literature are poetry and prose. There is a clear
difference between the two, and it's really important to understand the
concepts in order to distinguish the two forms of literature
accurately. This lesson provides an avenue for in-depth understanding
the two division of literature and its forms.

At the end of the lesson, you should be able to:

LEARNING
1. Distinguish the features of prose and poetry, and;
OUTCOMES
2. Identify each form of prose composition.

Two Main Divisions of Poetry

Prose Poetry

Form  Written paragraph  Written in stanza or verse form

Language  Expresses in ordinary form  Expressed in metrical, rhythmical

and figurative language

Appeal  To the intellect  To the emotion

Aim  To convince, instruct,  Stir the imagination and set an

imitate and reflect idea of how life should be.

Prose

1. Prose Drama- a drama in prose form. It consists entirely of dialogues in prose,

and is meant to be acted on stage.
2. Essay- a short literary composition which is expository in nature. The author
shares some of his thoughts, feelings, experiences or observations of some
aspects of life that has interested him; Example; Carmen Guerrero Napkil‘s
―Where Is The Patis?‖
3. Prose Fiction (something invented, imagined or feigned to be true)

a. Novel - a long fictitious narrative with a complicated plot. It may have a main
plot and one or more sub plots that develop with the main plot. Characters and
actions representative of the real life of past or present times are portrayed in a plot.
It is made up of chapters. Example: Without Seeing the Dawn by Estevan Javellana

b. Short Story- a fictitious narrative compressed into one unit of time, place and
action. It deals with a single character interest, a single emotion or series of emotions
called forth by a single situation. It is distinguished from the novel by its compression.
Example: Dead Stars by Paz Marquez-Benitez.
 4. Biography and Autobiography
a. Biography - a story of a certain person‘s life written by another who knows
him (the former) well. Example: Cayetano Arellano by a Socorro O. Alberto
b. Autobiography - a written account of man‘s life written by himself, Example: A
Woman with No Face by Ms. PiLar Pilapil

5. Letter – a written message which displays aspects of an author‘s

physiological make-up not immediately apparent in his more public writings. It is a
prose form which by the force of its style and the importance of its statement
becomes an object of interest in its own right.

6. Diary - a daily written record of account of the writer‘s own experiences,

thoughts activities or observations.

7. Journal - a magazine periodical especially of a serious or learned nature.

8. Other Prose Forms:

1. Historical Prose- a prose form dealing with historical events.

2. Scientific Prose-a prose form that deals with the subject science.
3. Satirical Prose – a prose form that ridicules the vices and follies of men.
4. Current Publications – books, magazines or newspapers that are
commonly known or accepted or in general usage at the time specifies or,
it is unspecified at the present time.
5. Literary Criticism – the analysis interpretation and evaluation of literary
works; it does not mean ―finding fault with‖.
6. Book Review – an article dealing with the contents, literary worth etc. of a
book especially a recently published book.
7. Philosophy – a prose form that deals with the theory of investigation of
the principles or laws that regulate the universe and underlie all
knowledge and reality.
8. Travel - a written account of trips, journeys, tours, etc. taken by the writer.
9. Parody – an imitation of another author‘s work, where ridicule is the main
objective.
10. Anecdote – a brief narrative concerning a particular individual or incident.
Example: The Moth and The Lamp
11. Character Sketch – a short descriptive of the qualities and traits of a
person.
12. Parable – a short description of the qualities and traits of a person.
13. Pamphlet – a small book of topic of current interests.
14. Eulogy - writing in praise of a dead person, event or thing.
15. Speech – the general word for a discourse delivered to an audience,
whether prepared or impromptu.
15.1 Address – implies a formal, carefully prepared speech and usually
attribute importance to the speaker or the speech
15.2 Oration – suggest an eloquent rhetorical sometimes merely
bombastic speech, especially one delivered on some special occasion.

Poetry
Poetry is a type of writing that combines lyrical and metric elements of traditional
poetry with idiomatic elements of prose, such as standard punctuation and the lack of line
breaks.
Comparison Chart

BASIS FOR PROSE POETRY

COMPARISON

Meaning Prose is a straight forward form of Poetry is that form of literature in

literature, wherein the author which the poet uses a unique style
expresses his thoughts and and rhythm, to express intense
feelings in a lucid way experience.

Language Straight Forward Expressive or Decorated

Nature Pragmatic Imaginative

Essence Message or information Experience

Purpose To provide information or to To delight or amuse.

convey a message.

Ideas Ideas can be found in sentences, Ideas can be found in lines, which
which are arranged in paragraph. are arranged in stanzas.

Line break No Yes

Paraphrasing Possible Exact paraphrasing is not possible.

Poetry is derived from a Greek word poesis meaning ―making or creating‖. Poetry is
a kind of language that says it more intensely than ordinary language does. According to
Baritugo ( 2004) five things about poetry.

1. Poetry is a concentrated thought.

2. Poetry is a kind of word-music.
3. Poetry expresses all the senses.
4. Poetry answers our demand for rhythm.
5. Poetry is observation plus imagination.

Poetry formulates a concentrated imaginative awareness of experience in language

chosen and arranged to create a specific emotional response through its meaning, sound,
and rhythm. Poetry emphasizes the descriptive, makes greater use of metaphors and
similes, and how the writer delivers a message is often just as important as what message
they're delivering. Poetry is less bound by rules. Punctuation conventions can be broken,
sentence structure goes out the window.

Different Types of Poetry

Poetry is categorized by the number of lines in the poem, the words in the poem,
whether it rhymes or not, and what it is about. Some types of poetry examples include haiku,
free verse, sonnets, and name poems. (Cabasaan et al.2014)

Haikus are one category of poems. The haiku originated from Japan, the shortest
type of poem and, often, the most difficult to understand. It consists of three lines that
generally do not rhyme. The lines should have five, seven, and five syllables in them.
 Free verse poems are another type of poetry. A free verse is the loosest type of
poem. It can consist of as many lines as the writer wants. It can either rhyme or not, and it
does not require any fixed metrical pattern. Free verse is commonly used among writers
because it allows for maximum flexibility.

Sonnets are another classification of poetry. A sonnet is best described as a lyric

poem that consists of fourteen lines. Sonnet‘s have at least one or two conventional rhyme
schemes. Shakespeare was famous for writing best sonnets.

Name poems are popular among children and are often used in schools. The name
of the person becomes the poem. Each letter in the name is the first letter in the line of the
poem.

Epic is a metrical tale that narrates a story of a hero that possess a supernatural
ability. It is written in verse and consist of thousand lines.

Mythology is also written in stanza and similar to epic but it uses a divine
intervention of the connection of mortals to the gods and goddesses.

In a separate sheet of yellow paper, perform the following tasks. Do

EVALUATION this comprehensively.
1. What is the difference between prose and poetry? Use Venn
diagram to illustrate you answer.
2. Give an example to each type of prose/poetry composition. Write
the title of the story and its author.
3. Describe the writer‘s style in writing poetry.

INTRODUCTION
Understanding the differences between various types of literature can
be difficult. Numerous literary genres exist to broaden knowledge and
entertain. Way back in ancient Greece, literature was divided into two
main categories: tragedy and comedy. Nowadays the list of possible
types and literature genres can seem endless. But it is still possible to
narrow down the vast amount of literature available into a few basic
groups. The five genres of literature students should be familiar with
are Poetry, Drama, Fiction, Nonfiction, and Folktale—each of which is
explained in more detail in this lesson

LEARNING At the end of the lesson, the you should be able to:
OUTCOMES 1. Identify the differences between various genres of literature and its
elements
2. Demonstrate in-depth understanding of the elements of each genre;
and
3. Determine the elements of genre in a literary piece.

Poetry
This is often considered the oldest form of literature. Before writing was invented, oral
stories were commonly put into some sort of poetic form to make them easier to remember
and recite. Poetry today is usually written down but is still sometimes performed. A lot of
people think of rhymes and counting syllables and lines when they think of poetry, and some
poems certainly follow strict forms. But other types of poetry are so free-form that they lack
any rhymes or common patterns. Poems are heavy in imagery and metaphor and are often
made up of fragments and phrases rather than complete, grammatically correct sentences.
And poetry is nearly always written in stanzas and lines, creating a unique look on the page.

Prose
Once you know what poetry is, it‘s easy to define prose. Prose can be defined as any
kind of written text that isn‘t poetry (which means drama, discussed below, is technically a
type of prose). The most typical varieties of prose are novels and short stories, while other
types include letters, diaries, journals, and non-fiction (also discussed below). Prose is
written in complete sentences and organized in paragraphs. Instead of focusing on sound,
which is what poetry does, prose tends to focus on plot and characters. Some of these
genres revolve around the structure of the text, such as novellas, biographies, and memoirs,
and others are based on the subject matter, like romances, fantasies, and mysteries.

Drama
Any text meant to be performed rather than read can be considered drama (unless
it‘s a poem meant to be performed, of course). In layman‘s terms, dramas are usually called
plays. Since dramas are meant to be acted out in front of an audience, it‘s hard to fully
appreciate them when looking only at pages of text. Students respond best to dramas, and
grasp their mechanics more fully when exposed to film or theater versions or encouraged to
read aloud or act out scenes during class. The dramas most commonly taught in classrooms
are definitely those written by the bard. Shakespeare‘s plays are challenging, but rewarding
when approached with a little effort and a critical mindset.

Non-Fiction
Poetry and drama both belong to the broader category of fiction—texts that feature
events and characters that have been made up. Then there is non-fiction, a vast category
that is a type of prose and includes many different sub-genres. Non-fiction can be creative,
such as the personal essay, or factual, such as the scientific paper. Sometimes the purpose
of non-fiction is to tell a story (hence the autobiography), but most of the time the purpose is
to pass on information and educate the reader about certain facts, ideas, and/or issues.
Some genres of non-fiction include histories, textbooks, travel books, newspapers, self-help
books, and literary criticism. A full list of non-fiction types would be at least as long as this
entire article. But the varieties most often used in the classroom are textbooks, literary
criticism, and essays of various sorts. Most of what students practice writing in the
classroom is the non-fiction essay, from factual to personal to persuasive.

Fiction
One of the most popular genres of literature, fiction, features imaginary characters
and events. This genre is often broken up into five subgenres: fantasy, historical fiction,
contemporary fiction, mystery, and science fiction. Nonetheless, there are more than just five
types of fiction, ranging from romance to graphic novels.

In fantasy, the characters or settings could not exist in the world as we know it
because they require a sort of ―magical‖ element. Historical fiction, however, features made-
up stories that accurately portray life during a particular period in history. Similar to historical
fiction is the subgenre of contemporary fiction. In this category, stories take place in the
present day and characters encounter modern day difficulties and issues.

Folktale
Another beloved genre of literature is folktale. Folktale, which is also referred to as
mythology, tells stories of originally oral literature and are meant to pass on particular moral
lessons. These tales often have a timeless quality, dealing with common concerns that are
relevant despite the time period.
 Elements of Poetry

1. Sense- is revealed through the meaning of words, images and symbols

2. Sound- is the result of a combination of elements

3. Structure- refers to arrangement of words, and the lines to fit together, the
organization of the parts to form a whole

Types of Poetry

1. Narrative poetry

a. Epic- a tale centering about a hero concerning the beginning, continuance, and the
end of events of great significance-war, conquest, strife among men

b. Metrical Romance- a narrative poem that tells a story of adventure, love and chivalry.

c. Metrical Tale- a narrative poem consisting usually of a single series of connective

events that are simple idylls or home tales, love tales, tales of the supernatural or tales
written for a strong moral purpose in verse form.

d. Ballad- it is a short narrative poem telling a single incident in simple meter and
stanzas and intended to be sung.

e. Popular Ballad- a ballad of wide workmanship telling some simple incidents of

adventure, cruelty, passion, or superstition.

f. Modern or Artistic-created by a poet imitation of the folk ballad, makes use of many
devices and conventions.

g. Metrical Allegory-an extended narrative that carries a second meaning along with the
surface story.

2. Lyric poetry

a. Ode-a lyric poem of some length serious in subject and dignified in style

b. Elegy-a poem written on death of a friend of the poet

c. Song-a lyric poem in a regular metrical pattern set to music

d. Corridos-these have measures of eight syllables and recited to a material beat

e. Sonnet-a lyric poem containing fourteen iambic lines, and a complicated rhyme

Elements of Drama

1. Plot- a term for the action of drama. The function of the plot is to give action a form that
helps the audience understand the elements of the drama in relation to one another.

2. Characters-as the conflict unfolds, so are the characters revealed. Characters are
revealed through their own words, their interaction with other characters, their expression of
feelings, and their presence on stage expressed in movement and gesture.
3. Setting-as it is fiction, setting refers to the time and place in which the action occurs. It
also refers to the scenery and physical element that appear on stage to vivify the author‘s
stage directions.

4. Dialogue-the speeches that the characters use to advance the action. A highly efficient
dialogue reveals the characters, unfolds the action and introduces the themes of the play.

5. Movement-was keyed to the structure of their speeches. In reading a play, the stage
directions give information as to where the characters are, when the move, and perhaps
even the significance of their movement.

6. Music-is an occasional dramatic element in a play. This may either be sung live by the
characters or provided with a background.

7. Theme-is the message, the central action, or what the play is about.

Elements of Fiction

1. Characters- are the representation of human being; persons involved in a conflict. There
are types of characters; round characters; flat characters; protagonist, antagonist,
deuterogamist.

2. Setting-the locale (place) or period (time) in which the action of a short story, play, novel
or the motion picture take place; local color described, the writer‘s use of words and lines
create a vivid picture of native place

3. Conflict-the struggle or complication involving the characters, the opposition of persons

or forces.

4. Plot- the sequence of events

5. Point of view- the writer‘s feeling and attitude toward his subject determines who tells the
story

6. Mood- the atmosphere or emotional effect generated by the words, images, situations in a
literary work

7. Tone- denotes an attitude of feeling of the speaker or author as conveyed by the

language in its artful arrangement

8. Symbolism-bring to mind the concrete qualities

9. Images-characterized by concrete qualities rather than abstract meaning; these appeal to

the senses

10. Theme-the central or dominating idea in literary work

Elements of Folktale
Folktales employ certain characteristics or conventions common to virtually all tales.
The most familiar involve the setting, character, plot, theme and conflict, and style.

A. Setting- Most folktale settings remove the tale from the real world, taking us to a time and
place where animals talk, witches and wizards roam, and magic spells are commonplace.
The settings are usually unimportant and described and referred to in vague terms (e.g.,
―Long ago in a land far away…‖ and ―Once upon a time in a dark forest…‖). Some settings
reflect the typical landscape of the tale‘s culture, for example, medieval Europe with its
forests, castles, and cottages, Africa with its jungles, India and China with its splendid
palaces.

B. Character -The characters in folk literature are usually flat, simple, and straightforward.
They are typically either completely good or entirely evil and easy to identify. They do not
internalize their feelings and seldom are plagued by mental torment. Motivation in folktale
characters tends to be singular; that is, the characters are motivated by one overriding
desire such as greed, love, fear, hatred, and jealousy.

The characters are usually stereotypical, for example, wicked stepmothers, weak-
willed fathers, jealous siblings, faithful friends. Physical appearance often readily defines the
characters, but disguises are common. The hero or heroine is often isolated and is usually
cast out into the open world or is apparently without any human friends. Evil, on the other
hand, seems overwhelming. Therefore, the hero/heroine must be aided by supernatural
forces, such as a magical object or an enchanted creature, to fight against evil forces.

C. Plot - Plots are generally shorter and simpler than in other genres of literature. The
action tends to be formulaic. A journey is common (and is usually symbolic of the
protagonist‘s journey to self-discovery). Repetitious patterns are found, suggesting the ritual
nature of folktales and perhaps to aid the storyteller in memorization; for example, events
often occur in sets of three (e.g., three pigs, three bears, three sisters, three wishes). The
action is concentrated, no lengthy explanations and descriptions. Conflicts are quickly
established and events move swiftly to their conclusion. The action never slows down.
Endings are almost always happy (―They lived happily ever after‖).

D. Theme and Conflict -Themes in folk literature are usually quite simple, but serious and
powerful. Folktale themes espouse the virtues of compassion, generosity, and humility over
the vices of greed, selfishness, and excessive pride. Common folktale themes include the
following:

1. The struggle to achieve autonomy or to break away from parents (―Beauty and the
Beast‖)
2. The undertaking of a rite of passage (―Rapunzel‖)
3. The discovery of loneliness on a journey to maturity (―Hansel and Gretel‖)
4. The anxiety over the failure to meet a parent‘s expectations (―Jack and the
Beanstalk‖)
5. The anxiety over one‘s displacement by another – the ―new arrival‖ (―Cinderella‖)
-These themes are at the very heart of growing up. Also, they are similar to the themes
of Greek tragedy: Wisdom comes through suffering. For every benefit there is a
condition; nothing in life comes without strings attached, responsibilities to be met, and
bargains to be kept.

E. Style -The language is typically economical, with a minimal amount of description and a
heavy reliance on formulaic patterns, e.g., conventional openings and closings. -Repetitious
phrases are common; they supply a rhythmical quality desirable in oral tales and perhaps
aided in memorization the stories. Dialogue is frequently used; it captures the nature of the
character speaking. Folktales often use a technique – stylized intensification, which occurs
when, with each repetition, an element is further exaggerated or intensified. This has the
effect of increasing the drama. Folktale motifs (i.e., recurring thematic elements) are quite
prevalent; they may have served as mnemonic devices when the tales were still passed on
orally.
 Examples of common motifs include journeys through dark forests, enchanted
transformations, magical cures or other spells, encounters with helpful animals or mysterious
creatures, foolish bargains, impossible tasks, clever deceptions, and so on. Some folktales
have powerful visual images that we can readily identify, such as a glass slipper, a bean
stalk, a spinning wheel, a poisoned apple, a red riding hood, a magic lamp, and a blue bird.
These stark visual elements give the tales their enduring strength. Many folktale motifs (i.e.,
recurring thematic elements) are examples of magic: helpful animals, enchanted
transformations, granted wishes, etc.

In a separate sheet of yellow paper, perform the following tasks:

EVALUATION
1. Read a short story, indicate its title on your sheet of paper.
2. Identify the elements of fiction in the story you have read.