Understanding Mood in Poetry
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Lovely PitiquenUnderstanding Mood in Poetry
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Lovely Pitiquen21st Century Literature from the
Philippines and the World
LESSON 3 WEEK 4
Mood
Mood is one element in the narrative structure of a piece of literature. It can also
be referred to as atmosphere because it creates an emotional setting enveloping
the reader. Mood is established in order to affect the reader emotionally and
psychologically and to provide a feeling for the narrative. It is how a reader feels
after reading a story. Example: Horror movie gives the suspense mood to the
audience because of the nature of the story, the music used and the plot. It gives
the feeling of suspense to the viewers.
Activity 6
Discuss with three or four of your classmates what you like about the following: a. Poem b. Its subject c. The
mood the poem puts in you d. What it makes you remember e. What it makes you think about Share your
findings with the class.
What I like about
Group’s Name Title
of the poem Its
subject
the mood the poem puts you in What
it makes you remember
What it makes you think about Its
impact to you
The next example of a narrative poem is that of Dr. Paolo Manalo, a professor in UP Diliman. His
work which is shown below is a narrative poem with a different structure and form compared to that of
Rio Alma‘s more traditional poetry style.
PAOLO MANALO is a poet born in Manila and an assistant professor of
English, literature and creative writing at the University of the Philippines-
Diliman. Until recently, he was the literary editor of the Philippines Free Press.
His first book of poems, Jolography (University of the Philippines Press, 2003)
received the Don Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature (2002) and
the UP Gawad Chanselor (2004). He was a student at the 15th New York State
Summer Writers Institute (2001), a fellow of the UP ICW National Writers'
Workshop when it was revamped (2006) and an artist-in residence at The
MacDowell Colony (2006). At took his postgraduate studies at the University of
St. Andrews in Scotland.
Critics say that poetry is as alive as ever, albeit with reduced readership, with contemporary
writers taking on varied experimental approaches. Thus works like Jolography (from the word jolog,
which originally referred to Pinoy hip-hop), where poems by Paolo Manalo are in ―textese‖ or
Taglish (Tagalog plus English), written in the premise that, in Manalo‘s words, ―the language that
we‘re using is flawed, damaged, corrupted, sold out, negotiated… and yet it‘s still beautiful.”
Jolography, which won First Prize in the 2002 Palanca Awards, has apparently sparked interest,
where other young writers even attempted to follow suit. Below is an example
Below is an example of a 21st Century poem written by Paolo Manalo
from his collection Jolography.
CoÑotations (An Excerpt)
Paolo Manalo
1. I‘m like tripping right now I have suitcase fever.
2. Dude, man, pare, three people can be the same.
3. Except he‘s not who he says he is, pare. He‘s a sneeze with Chinese blood: Ha Ching!
4. Naman, it‘s like our Tagalog accent, so they won‘t think we‘re all airs; so much weight
it means nothing naman.
5. Dude, man, pare, at the next stop we‘ll make buwelta. So they can see we know how to look
where we came from.
6. It‘s hirap kaya to find a connection. Who ba‘s puwede to be our guide?
7. Dude, man, can you make this areglo naman?
8. Make it pabalot kaya in the mall. So they can‘t guess what you‘re thinking. That‘s what I call a
package deal.
Processing
1. Who do you think are the characters in the poem?
2. Using the urban dictionary, define ―CoÑo”.
3. What do these characters talk about?
4. Is there a story that you can derive from the poem?
5. What are some events or situations mentioned in the poem?
6. What language/s did the author use in the given selection?
7. Have you tried using the same language while talking to friends or other family members?
8. Can you easily understand the meaning of the lines from the poem based on the language used?
9. Who do you think are the types of individuals that use these kind of language?
Code-switching and code-mixing are present in this poem, for example lines 2, 3,
4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11 and 12, where Filipino and English words are used in the same
sentence. Repetition of the words ―dude‖,
―man‖, ―pare‖ and ―he‘s‖ also plays a significant role in this poem.
Even when the poem is somewhat ambiguous, it does not confuse coherent reading. It
actually enables one to think profoundly and absorb the creativeness of the writer even if
the poem is unpredictable in some way.
Activity 8
Using your own words and understanding, retell the some of the lines from the poem
―CoÑotations”. Write your interpretation per line on the space provided.
1. I‘m like tripping right now I have suitcase fever.
2. 2. Dude, man, pare, three people can be the same.
3. 3. So they can see we know how to look where we came from.
4. 4. Dude, man, can you make this areglo naman?
5. 5. Make it pabalot kaya in the mall?
Activity 9 My Own Jolography
Create a short stanza poem depicting your own Jolography. Think an appropriate title.
Activity 10 My Narrative Poem
Write a short narrative poem from one of your life’s experiences. Make use of the different figures
of speech. Be able to formulate a title of it.
Common questions
Powered by AI"CoÑotations" reflects the tensions between cultural preservation and modernity by blending languages and cultural references that embody both traditional Filipino elements and modern, global influences. The poem’s code-switching indicates an ongoing cultural negotiation, where characters and language straddle Filipino heritage and contemporary global culture. This tension is visible in the poem’s dialogue, where maintaining cultural roots competes with adapting to new, evolving identities in a globalized world, capturing the dynamic yet challenging reconciliation of past and present .
Paolo Manalo's "CoÑotations" challenges traditional poetic forms by utilizing a conversational, unstructured style that mimics informal speech and digital communication (textese). The poem deviates from conventional meter and rhyme, instead adopting a fluid form that reflects modern discourse. This approach highlights the evolving nature of poetry alongside technological and sociocultural shifts, encouraging readers to reconsider the boundaries of poetic expression and the validity of non-traditional poetic styles in capturing contemporary experiences .
Paolo Manalo's "CoÑotations" uses 'textese' and Taglish, reflecting the contemporary linguistic landscape where language is perceived as flawed yet still beautiful. This approach highlights societal issues related to language evolution, identity, and globalization. The poem's language encapsulates cultural code-switching, playing on social dynamics and identities by mixing English and Filipino. Through addressing language use, Manalo comments on the hybridized, often commodified nature of contemporary Filipino identity, inviting deeper reflection on cultural integrity and change .
Code-switching in "CoÑotations" reflects a nuanced view of Philippine society, showcasing cultural fluidity and linguistic adaptability. By blending languages seamlessly, Manalo highlights the coexistence of multicultural identities within Filipino society. The repeated use of terms like "dude," "man," and "pare" symbolizes camaraderie and informal social settings. This linguistic mixture underlines identity negotiation and cultural hybridity in the Philippines, emphasizing both the connective and the divisive nature of language among different demographic groups .
In "CoÑotations," Paolo Manalo employs repetition of words such as "dude," "man," and "pare" to emphasize camaraderie and informal communication reflective of youth culture. This repetition builds an authentic voice that resonates with the reader, creating a rhythmic cadence. It not only highlights everyday conversational styles but also infuses the text with a sense of familiarity and collective experience, reinforcing the poem’s thematic exploration of identity and language .
The poem "CoÑotations" illustrates identity negotiation through its linguistic blends and cultural references. Manalo’s portrayal of the characters using both English and Filipino suggests a dual identity in a globalized context, where traditional and modern identities interplay. This duality is underscored by the characters' struggles to balance cultural heritage with contemporary global influences, embodying the tension between traditional values and new cultural exposures. Language serves as a significant vehicle for expressing these complexities of identity negotiation within a globalized, multicultural environment .
Mood serves as the emotional setting that envelops a reader, created through various narrative elements such as story nature, music, and plot. It influences readers both psychologically and emotionally by establishing an atmosphere which, for instance, in horror stories, generates suspense through plot and sound, affecting how readers feel during and after reading .
"CoÑotations" employs "textese"—a form of writing using abbreviations and informal language common in digital communication—to enhance its relatability to readers who engage with technology frequently. This approach democratizes the language, making it accessible yet intimate, and reflects the dynamic shifts in how language and communication are evolving in the digital age. By blending codes and colloquialisms, Manalo captures the essence of modern communication and identity, highlighting both its creative potential and its implications for cultural expression .
"CoÑotations" uses humor by playing with language and cultural stereotypes, such as referencing "suitcase fever" and "a sneeze with Chinese blood," to poke fun at identity pretenses and the incongruities of societal norms. Manalo’s playful language juxtaposes serious discussions about identity and cultural nuances with lighthearted banter, showcasing the absurdities of maintaining a specific persona or identity against a multicultural backdrop. This clever use of humor allows readers to engage deeply yet unselfconsciously with complex issues of linguistics and identity .
The use of urban slang in "CoÑotations" creates relatability and immediacy with its readers, echoing everyday communication styles. By incorporating terms like "dude," "pare," and "naman," Manalo taps into colloquial expressions familiar to his audience, bridging the gap between literary expression and lived experience. This connection not only engages the readers through familiar language but also invites them to reflect on linguistic evolution and its implications for cultural identity .