INTRODUCTION TO THE

STUDY OF PHILIPPINE
LITERATURE

© Capital Community College

DEFINITION OF LITERATURE

 The word literature is derived from the Latin

term Litera which means letter. It has been
defined by various writers.
 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 a
beautiful language is Literature.
 In order to know the history of a nation’s spirit, one must
read its literature.
 Brother Azurin defines Literature that it expresses the
feelings of people to society, to the government, to his
surroundings, to his Fellowmen and to his Divine Creator.
 Webster defines literature as anything that is printed, as long
as it is related to the ideas and feelings of people, whether it
is true, or just a product of one’s imagination.
 Salazar and Nazal says that true literature is a piece of
written work which is undying. It expresses the feelings and
emotions of people
In response to his everyday efforts to live, to be
happy in his environment and, after struggles,
to reach his Creator.
 LITERARY STANDARDS
 Universality
 Artistry
 Intellectual Value
 Suggestiveness
 Spiritual Value
 Permanence
 Style
UNIVERSALITY
 Great literature is timeless and timely.
 Forever relevant, it appeals to one and all,
anytime, anywhere, because it deals with
elemental feelings, fundamental truths and
universal conditions.
Artistry

 This is the quality that appeals to our sense

of beauty.
Intellectual Value

 A literary works stimulates thought. It enriches

our mental life by making us realize
fundamental truths about life and human
nature.
 Suggestiveness

 This is the quality associated with the

emotional power of literature.
 Great literature moves us deeply and stirs our
feeling and imagination, giving and evoking
visions above and beyond the plane of
ordinary life and experience.
 Spiritual Value

 Literature elevates the spirit by bringing out

moral values which makes a better persons.
 The capacity to inspire is part of the spiritual
value of literature.
Permanence

 A great work of literature endures.

 It can be read again and again as each
reading gives fresh delight and new
insights and opens a new world of
meaning and experience.
 Its appeal is lasting.
Style

 This is the peculiar way in which writers

sees life, forms his ideas and expresses
them.
Why do we need to study
Philippine Literature?
 We study Philippine Literature so that we can better
appreciate our literary heritage.
 Through the study of Philippine Literature, we can trace
our rich heritage of ideas and handed down to us from our
forefathers.
 Understand that we have a noble traditions which can
serve as the means to assimilate other cultures.
 Realize literary limitations conditioned by certain
historical factors and we can take steps to overcome them.
 Manifest our deep concern for our own literature.
Literature and History
 Literature and history are closely interrelated. In
discovering history of a race, a country, we
basically understand their own culture and
traditions, hence the written customs and
traditions of a country, the dreams and aspirations
of its people is called Literature.
 History can also be written down and this too, is
literature.
 History therefore is an integral part of literature.
 Literature and history however also have their
differences. Literature may not necessarily be
based on true events but history is.
Literary Compositions that
influenced the world
 The Bible or the Sacred Writings – This has
become the basis of Christianity originating
from Palestine and Greece.
 Koran- The Muslim Bible originating from
Arabia.
 The Iliad and Odyssey – These have been the
source of myths and legends of Greece. They
were written by Homer.
 The Mahabharata- The longest epic of the
world. It contains the history of religion of
India.
 Canterbury Tales- It depicts the religion and
customs of the English in the early days. This
originated from England and written by
Chaucer.
 Uncle Tom’s Cabin- by Harriet Beecher Stowe
of the US. This depicted the sad fate of slaves;
this became the basis of democracy later on.
 The Divine Comedy – by Dante Alighieri
 This shows the religion and customs of the Early
Italians.
 El Cid Compeador – This shows the cultural
characteristics of the Spaniards and their
national history.
 The Song of Roland – This includes Doce Pares
and Ronscesvalles of France. It tells about the
Golden age of Christianity in France.
 The Book of the Dead – This includes the cult of
Osiris and the mythology and theology of Egypt.
 One Thousand and One Nights or the Arabian
Nights – From Arabia and Persia (Iran) It shows
the ways of government, of industries and of the
society of the Arabs and the Persians.
Genre of Literature
Types of Prose

 Novel- This is a long narrative divided into

chapters.
 Short Story – It is a fictional narrative in prose
consisting of a series of events designed to
create a single dominant effect. It is intended to
be read in one sitting
 Plays- These are presented on a stage, is divided
into acts and each acts has many scenes.
 Essay- is a prose composition with a focused
subject of discussion or a long systematic
discourse. The word essay is taken from the
French infinitive essayer to try or to attempt
 Biography – This deals with the life of a
person.
 Fairytale – Is a type of narrative that relates
the lives and adventures of supernatural spirit.
 Folktale – Is a narrative filled with the superstition,
anecdotes, proverbs, legends, and customs of a particular
group, race or geographical region.
 Myth – is a traditional story of unknown authorship,
ostensively with historical basis, but serving usually to
explain some phenomena of nature, the origin of man and
customs. Myths usually involve the exploit of gods and
goddesses.
 Parable- is a short single story, usually of an occurrence of
a familiar kind, from which moral or religious lesson may
be drawn.