NORTHERN PHILIPPINES COLLEGE for MARITIME, SCIENCE and TECHNOLOGY

LINGSAT, SAN FERNANDO CITY, LA UNION

COURSE/SUBJECT: PHILIPPINE LITERATURE

MODULE NO.: 1

TOPICS: Definition and Classification of Literary Types

TIME FRAME/TIME COVERAGE: 3 HRS.

Lesson 1 General Topic: Introduction to Literature

Sub-Topics: - Definition of Literature

- Classification of Literary Types

I. Introduction

“Because Literature deals with ideas, thoughts and emotions of man,

Literature can be said to be the story of man. Man’s loves, griefs, thoughts,

dreams and aspirations coached in beautiful language in Literature.

In order to know the history of a nation’s spirit, one must read its

literature. Hence, it is, that to understand the real spirit of a nation, one

must trace the little rills as they course along down the ages, broadening and

deepening into the great ocean of thought which men of the present source

are presently exploring “.

II Instruction

The study of Philippine Literature develops a keener sensitiveness, a

clearer knowledge and a more balanced sense of values.

 It is designed to meet the needs of those whose interest are in the

field of aesthetics.

A good deal of understanding and appreciation of any literary work

depends on your understanding. The way of understanding is through

appreciation.

Good literature provides you the opportunity to feel the excitement,

live through the anxiety, and enjoy the thrills of those vicarious experiences.

At the end of the lesson, you should be able to answer guide questions, acti-

vity and quiz prepared for you.

III Lesson Proper

A. Presentation of the Lesson

Welcome to Philippine Literature – aimed primarily to help

students see the human being as an integral living in both a national

and a global community. In order to know the history of a nation’s

spirit, one must read its literature.

B. Discussion/Explanation of the Lesson

Literature – written works collectively, especially those of enduring

 importance, exhibiting creative imagination and artistic

skill.

- Any printed matter which is found within the covers of a

a magazine, pamphlet or book.

Importance of Literature

1. Literature is an eternally burning flame, exuding light that

renders significance to civilization.

2. In literature likewise, there is a conserved heritage that gives

to a people’s ideals.

3. Literature mirrors the depth of culture and manifests the truly

genius of the race.

4. Literature helps us to grow both personally and intellectually.

5. It helps us to connect ourselves to the cultural context of

which we are part.

6. It helps us to develop mature sensibility and compassion for

the condition of all living things that shape our lives; it makes

us human.

7. It encourages us to assist creative, talented people who are

in need.

Literature and History

Literature and history are closely interrelated. In discovering the history of a race,

the feelings, aspirations, customs and traditions of people are sure to be included, and

these feelings, aspirations, customs and traditions that are written is literature. History

can also be written and this too, is literature. Events that can be written down are

part of true literature. Literature, therefore, is part of history.

 Literature and history, however, also have differences. Literature may be

figments of imagination or events devoid of truth, that have been written down,

while history is made up of events that really happened.

General Types of Literature

Literature can be generally divided into two types: prose and poetry.

1. PROSE

- consists of those written within the common flow of conversation in

sentences and paragraphs.

There are many types of prose. These include the following:

a. Novel. This is a long narrative divided into chapters. The events

are taken from true-to-life stories and spans a long period

of time.

b. Short Story. This is a narrative involving one or more characters,

one plot and one single impression.

c. Plays. This is presented on stage, is divided into acts and each act

has many scenes.

d. Legends. These are fictitious narratives, usually about origins.

e. Fables. These are also fictitious and they deal with animals and

inanimate things who speak and act like people and their

purpose is to enlighten the minds of children to events

that can mold their ways and attitudes.

f. Anecdotes. These are merely products of the writer”s imagination

and the main aim is to bring out lessons to the reader.

It can be stories about animals or children.

g. Essay. This expresses the viewpoint or opinion of the writer about

 a particular problem or event.

h. Biography. This deals with the life of a person which may be about

himself, his autobiography or that of others.

i. News. This is a report of everyday events in society, government,

science and industry, and accidents, happening nationally

or not.

j. Oration. This is a formal treatment of a subject and is intended to be

spoken in public. It appeals to the intellect, to the will or to

the emotions of the audience.

2. POETRY

- refers to those expression in verse, with measure and rhyme, line and stanza

has a melodious tone.

There are three types of poetry: narrative, lyric and dramatic.

A. Narrative Poetry. This form describes important events in life either real

or imaginary. The different varieties are:

1. Epic. This is an extended narrative about heroic exploits often under

supernatural control. It may deal with heroes and gods.

Two kinds of Epic Poetry:

a. Popular or Ancient

- often without a definite author and is of slow growth.

b. Literary or Modern

- with a definite author.

2. Metrical Tale. This is a narrative which is written in verse and can be

 classified either as a ballad or metrical romance.

Examples of these are simple idylls or home tales,

love tales, tales of the supernatural or tales written

for a strong moral purpose.

3. Ballads. This is considered the shortest and simplest. It has a simple

structure and tells of a single incident. In the early times,

this referred to a song accompanying a dance.

There are also variations of these: love ballads, war

ballads.

B. Lyric Poetry. Originally, this refers to that kind of poetry meant to be sung to

the accompaniment of lyre, but now, this applies to any type

of poetry that expresses emotions and feelings of the poet.

they are usually short, simple and easy to understand.

There are different types of lyric poetry. These are:

1. Folksongs (Awiting Bayan)

- these are short poems intended to be sung. The com-

mon theme is love, despair, grief, doubt, joy, hope and

sorrow.

2. Sonnet

- this is a lyric poem of 14 lines dealing with an emotion,

a feeling or an idea.

3. Elegy

- this is a lyric poem which expresses feelings of grief

and melancholy, and whose theme is death.

4. Ode
 - this is a poem of a noble feeling, expressed with

dignity, with no definite number of syllables or

definite number of lines in a stanza.

5. Psalms (Dalit)

- this is a song praising God or the Virgin Mary and

containing a philosophy of life.

6. Awit (Song)

- these have measure of twelve syllables (dodeca-

syllabic) and slowly sung to the accompaniment

of a guitar or banduria.

7. Corridos (Kuridos)

- these have measures of eight syllables (octo-

syllabic) and is recited to a martial beat.

C. Dramatic Poetry.

Included in this form are the following:

1. Comedy

- comes from the Greek term “Komos” meaning festivity or

revelry. This form usually is light and written with the pur-

pose of amusing, and usually has a happy ending.

2. Melodrama

- this is usually used in musical play with the opera. It arouses

immediate and intense emotion and is usually sad but there

is a happy ending for the principal character.

3. Tragedy

- this involves the hero struggling mightily against dynamic forces;

he meets death or ruin without success and satisfaction obtained

by the protagonist in a comedy.

4. Farce

- this is an exaggerated comedy. It seeks to arouse mirth by laughable

lines; situations are too ridiculous to be true.; the characters seem to

be caricatures and motives undignified and absurd.

5. Social Poems

- this form is either purely comic or tragic and it pictures the life of today.

It may aim to bring about changes in the social conditions.