INTRODUCTION: "Philippine Literature"

An Introduction...

Philippine Literature is a diverse and rich group of works that has evolved side-by-side with the country’s history. Literature had started with fables and legends made by the ancient Filipinos long before the arrival of Spanish influence. The main themes of Philippine literature focus on the country’s pre-colonial cultural traditions and the socio-political histories of its colonial and contemporary traditions.

• It is not a secret that many Filipinos are unfamiliar with much of the country's literary heritage, especially those that were written long before the Spaniards arrived in our country. This is due to the fact that the stories of ancient time were not written, but rather passed on from generation to generation through word of mouth. Only during 1521 did the early Filipinos became acquainted with literature due to the influence of the Spaniards on us. But the literature that the Filipinos became acquainted with are not Philippine-made, rather, they were works of Spanish authors.

• So successful were the efforts of colonists to blot out the memory of the country's largely oral past that present-day Filipino writers, artists and journalists are trying to correct this inequity by recognizing the country's wealth of ethnic traditions and disseminating them in schools through mass media.

• The rise of nationalistic pride in the 1960s and 1970s also helped bring about this change of attitude among a new breed of Filipinos concerned about the "Filipino identity."

• Philippine literature is written in Spanish, English, Tagalog, and/or other native Philippine Languages.

Why do we need to study Philippine Literature?

• Whatever nationality you are it is always very important to study the literature of your country. In doing so you are not only learning about the historical aspects of your land, but you are also keeping alive the thoughts, beliefs and cultural variations of your ancestors that differentiate your country from the rest of the world. 
• A country's literature also tells us about its civilization in a form other than straight fact. Literature is usually one person's description of a situation told through their own personal feelings; eyewitness testimony to historical events that we were not present at.  Writers have a talent for bringing the past back to life with emotive language and metaphor, helping us to imagine scenarios that may have happened decades, or even centuries, ago.

LITERATURE BY LANGUAGES

§  Cebuano literature

§  Hiligaynon literature

§  Ilokano literature

§  Tagalog literature

§  Waray literature

§  Philippine Poetry

§  Philippine Literature in English

§  Philippine Literature in Filipino

§  Philippine Literature in Spanish

NOTABLE PEOPLE

§  Jose Rizal

§  Marcelo H. Del Pilar

§  Carlos P. Romulo

§  Francisco Balagtas

§  Amado V. Hernandez

§  Carlos Bulosan

§  Teodoro M. Locsin

§  Claro M. Recto

NOTABLE WORKS

§  Noli Me Tangere

§  El Filibusterismo

§  Biag ni Lam-ang

§  Ibong Adarna

§  Florante at Laura

§  Doctrina Christiana

LITERARY GENRES

Genres of literature are important to learn about. The two main categories separating the different genres of literature are fiction and nonfiction. There are several genres of literature that fall under the nonfiction category. Nonfiction sits in direct opposition to fiction. Examples from both the fiction and nonfiction genres of literature are explained in detail below.

Types of Nonfiction:

• Narrative Nonfiction is information based on fact that is presented in a format which tells a story.
• Essays are a short literary composition that reflects the author’s outlook or point. A short literary composition on a particular theme or subject, usually in prose and generally analytic, speculative, or interpretative.
• A Biography is a written account of another person’s life.
• An Autobiography gives the history of a person’s life, written or told by that person. Often written in Narrative form of their person’s life.
• Speech is the faculty or power of speaking; oral communication; ability to express one’s thoughts and emotions by speech, sounds, and gesture. Generally delivered in the form of an address or discourse.

Genres of Fiction:

• Drama is the genre of literature that’s subject for compositions is dramatic art in the way it is represented. This genre is stories composed in verse or prose, usually for theatrical performance, where conflicts and emotion are expressed through dialogue and action.
• Poetry is verse and rhythmic writing with imagery that evokes an emotional response from the reader. The art of poetry is rhythmical in composition, written or spoken. This genre of literature is for exciting pleasure by beautiful, imaginative, or elevated thoughts.
• Fantasy is the forming of mental images with strange or other worldly settings or characters; fiction which invites suspension of reality.
• Humor is the faculty of perceiving what is amusing or comical. Fiction full of fun, fancy, and excitement which meant to entertain. This genre of literature can actually be seen and contained within all genres.
• A Fable is a story about supernatural or extraordinary people Usually in the form of narration that demonstrates a useful truth. In Fables, animals often speak as humans that are legendary and supernatural tales.
• Fairy Tales or wonder tales are a kind of folktale or fable. Sometimes the stories are about fairies or other magical creatures, usually for children
• Science Fiction is a story based on impact of potential science, either actual or imagined. Science fiction is one of the genres of literature that is set in the future or on other planets.
• Short Story is fiction of such briefness that is not able to support any subplots.
• Realistic Fiction is a story that can actually happen and is true to real life.
• Folklore are songs, stories, myths, and proverbs of a person of “folk” that was handed down by word of mouth. Folklore is a genre of literature that is widely held, but false and based on unsubstantiated beliefs.
• Historical Fiction is a story with fictional characters and events in a historical setting.
• Horror is an overwhelming and painful feeling caused by literature that is frightfully shocking, terrifying, or revolting. Fiction in which events evoke a feeling of dread in both the characters and the reader.
• A Tall Tale is a humorous story with blatant exaggerations, swaggering heroes who do the impossible with an here of nonchalance.
• Legend is a story that sometimes of a national or folk hero. Legend is based on fact but also includes imaginative material.
• Mystery is a genre of fiction that deals with the solution of a crime or the unraveling of secrets. Anything that is kept secret or remains unexplained or unknown.
• Mythology is a type of legend or traditional narrative. This is often based in part on historical events, that reveals human behavior and natural phenomena by its symbolism; often pertaining to the actions of the gods. A body of myths, as that of a particular people or that relating to a particular person.
• Fiction in Verse is full-length novels with plot, subplots, themes, with major and minor characters. Fiction of verse is one of the genres of literature in which the narrative is usually presented in blank verse form.

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