INSTRUCTIONAL MODULES IN PHILIPPINE LITERATURE
COLLEGE OF ARTS, SCIENCES AND EDUCATION
MODULE 3: TRADITIONAL LITERATURE
Prerequisite Skills:
Instructor:
Level:
Allotted time:
Overview
This module enables the students to recognize and differentiates the different literary forms since
the beginning of time which consists mainly of oral literature. By looking back at the past, the students of
today increase their knowledge, understanding, and appreciation of their literary heritage and how these
heritage impinge itself to the growth and development of the nation.
Learning Objectives
Upon completion of this module., you should be able to:
1. familiarize with different literary conventions of the period
2. make simple interpretation and analysis of the oral forms of literature
3. enhance your vocabulary and language skills
Pretest
Name: Score:
Course and Year Date:
Direction: Answer the following guide questions completely by providing simple explanation, example or
illustration.
1. What is traditional literature, its nature and characteristics?
2. What are the common features of traditional literature?
3. What are the types of traditional literature? Identify and then give at least 2 examples of each.
Learning Focus (Presented in PPT)
Understanding our Traditional Literature
Traditional literature is the body of ancient stories and poems that grew out of the human quest to
understand the natural and spiritual world and what was preserved through time by the oral tradition of
storytelling before being eventually written down. Having no known or identifiable authors, these stories and
poems are attributed to the entire groups of people or cultures. Although, in ancient times, some traditional
stories may have been told as truths or may have been thought to contain elements of truth, today we
consider them to be mostly or wholly fantasy.
Traditional literature includes several different types of stories, but because they were all shared
orally for so long, they have many features in common such as the following:
1. Plots are generally shorter than any other genres of literature because all but the essential details
were omitted during countless retelling.
2. Action, in turn, is concentrated, which kept audience alert and interested.
3. Characteristics in traditional literature tend to have only one outstanding quality, which made them
easy to identify. In this stories, the audience has no doubt about who is good and who is bad.
4. Settings are unimportant and are described and referred to in the vaguest of terms such as "In the
beginning...) or "Long ago in a land far away...."
5. The language, though full of rhythm and melody, is sparse, since lengthy explanations and
descriptions were also pared down or eliminated by countless retellings.
6. Style is characterized by story beginnings and endings ("Once upon a time" and "They lived
happily ever after"), motifs of recurrent features (use of number 3, as in three sisters, three wishes),
and repetition or refrains or chants (Mirror, mirror, on the wall...").
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INSTRUCTIONAL MODULES IN PHILIPPINE LITERATURE
COLLEGE OF ARTS, SCIENCES AND EDUCATION
7. Themes that are most common in these stories are good versus evil, the power of perseverance,
and explanations for the ways of the world.
8. The endings usually have a happy ending.
Folklore is still being created particularly in some remote areas of the country where the oral
tradition remains the chief means of communication. Elsewhere in the country (including the
Metropolis) legends (white lady, aswang, kapre, tiyanak, multo, barang, mankukulam, tikbalang,
demonyo) jump-rope rhymes are all part of the constantly evolving body of folklore, and perhaps
will always be part of our Pinoy lifestyle.
TYPES OF TRADITIONAL LITERATURE
We have chosen the term traditional literature to refer to the entire body of stories passed down
from ancient times by the oral tradition. The term folktale is sometimes used in the same way. The
term retold tale refers to a version of a tale that is obviously is based upon an earlier, well-known-
tale but in which the language and bits of the plot have been altered to modernize or further
dramatize the story. Nowadays, retold tales are often accompanied from completely new and
original illustrations that sometimes give remarkable insights into the deeper meaning or relevance
of this tales. Variant, a term often used in reference of folk tales, refers to a story that shares
fundamental elements of plot or character with other stories, and therefore is said to be in the same
story family.
1. Myths
Myths are stories that recount and explain the origin of the world and the phenomena of
nature. They are sometimes referred to as creation stories. Myths may have originated in ancient
religious rituals. The characters in these stories are mainly gods and goddesses, with occasional
mention of humans, and the setting is high above earth in the home of the gods. Though often
violent, nonetheless mirror human nature and the essence of our sometimes primitive emotions,
instincts, and desires.
2. Epics
Epics are long stories of human adventures and heroism recounted in many episodes.
Some epics are told in verse. Epics are grounded in mythology, and their characters can be both
human and divine. However, the hero is always human, or, in some cases, superhuman. The
setting is earthy but not always realistic.
3. Legends and Tall Tales
Legends are stories based on either or supposedly real individuals and their marvelous
deeds. Legendary characters are legendary settings are tantalizing mix of realism and fantasy.
Although the feats of the heroes of the legend defy belief today, in ancient times these stories were
considered factual.
Tall tales are highly exaggerated accounts of the exploits of a person, both real and
imagined, so they may be considered a subcategory of legends, albeit of much more recent origin.
In the evolution of the tall tale, however, as each teller embroidered upon the hero's abilities or
deeds, the tales became outlandishly exaggerated and were valued more for their humor and
braggadocio than for their factual content. Legends, in contrast, are more austere in tone.
4. Folktale
Are stories that grew of the lives and imaginations of the people, or folk. One of the most
interesting and important characteristics of these tales is their universality. No theories adequately
explain this phenomenon, but the folktales of all cultures, regardless of geography or other surface
cultural differences, are remarkably similar.
Folktales vary in content as to their original intended audiences. Long ago, the nobility and
the courtiers heard stories of the heroism, valor, and the benevolence of people like themselves-
the ruling classes as unjust or hard taskmasters whose riches were fair game for those common
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INSTRUCTIONAL MODULES IN PHILIPPINE LITERATURE
COLLEGE OF ARTS, SCIENCES AND EDUCATION
folk who were quick-witted or strong enough to acquire them, these class-consciousness tales are
sometimes referred to as castle and cottage tales, respectively.
Some people used the term folktale and fairy tale interchangeably. In fact, the majority of
stories have no fairies or magic characters in them, so to use one term in place of the other can be
confusing and erroneous (Brown & Thomlinson, 1999). We categorize fairy tales under magic
tales, a kind of folktale having magic characters such as fairies.
The following is a list of the most prevalent kinds of folktales. Note that some folktales
have characteristics of two or more folktale categories.
a. CUMULATIVE TALES- uses repetition, accumulation, and rhythm to make an entertaining
story out of the barest of plots. It is simple, filled with rhythm and humor. It has special
appeal to young children.
b. HUMOROUS TALES- revolves around a character's incredibly stupid and funny mistakes.
These tales are also known as noodle heads, sillies, droll, and numbskulls. They have
endured, no doubt, for their comic appeal and the guaranteed laughter they evoke.
c. BEAST TALES- feature talking animals and over stead action. Human characters
sometimes occur. Young children accept and enjoy these talking animals, and older
children can appreciate the fact that the animals symbolize humans.
d. MAGIC TALES- also known as wonder tales or fairy tales, contain elements of magic or
enchantments in characters, plot, or settings. Fairies, elves, pixies, brownies, witches,
magicians, genies, and fairy godparents are pivotal characters in these stories and they
use magic objects or words to wave their enchantments. Talking mirrors, hundred-year
naps, glass palaces, enchanted forests, thumb-sized heroines, and magic kisses are the
stuff of magic tales.
e. POURQUOI TALES- explain phenomena of nature. The word porquoi is French for why
and these tales can be understood as primitive explanations for the many "why" questions
early human asked. The strong connection between these tales and myth is obvious,
which is why some folklorists identify profound pourquoi tales as the simplest myths.
Moreover, the setting in pourquoi tales is earthy, while the setting in myths is the realm of
Gods.
f. REALISTIC TALES are those whose characters, plot and setting could conceivably have
occurred. There is no magic in these tales, and any exaggeration is limited to the possible.
Only one a few realistic tales exist.
5. Fables
The fable is a simple story that incorporates characters-typically animals- whose actions
teach a moral lesson or universal truth. Often, the moral is stated at the end of the story.
Throughout history, fables have appealed to adults as well as children, for the best of these stories
are both simple and wise. Moreover, their use of animals as symbols for human behavior have
made them safe, yet effective, political tools. Perhaps because of their adult appeal, fables were
put into print far earlier than other form of traditional literature.
6. Religious Stories
Stories based on religious writings or taken intact from religious manuscripts are
considered to be religious stories. These stories may recount milestones in the development of
religion and its leadership, or they may present a piece of religious doctrine in narrative form.
Stories of the latter sort are usually called parables.
Scholars of religion, language and mythology have found a definite thread of continuity
from myth and folk narrative to early religious thinking and writing. Many of this stories, figures, and
rituals described in the sacred scriptures of Christianity, Hinduism, and Buddhism, among other
religions, have their roots in ancient mythology.
Regardless of whether one considers the religious stories to be fact or fiction, the
important point is that these wonderful stories be shared with young people. Because religion in the
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INSTRUCTIONAL MODULES IN PHILIPPINE LITERATURE
COLLEGE OF ARTS, SCIENCES AND EDUCATION
classroom is potentially controversial, however, many teachers do not feel comfortable sharing
stories with any religious connection. This is unfortunate, since many wonderful stories and
superlative literature, as well as characters, sayings and situations essential to the culturally
literature person, are therefore, missed.
Traditional literature, the wealth of ancient stories accumulated over the course of human
existence, is one of the treasure of our species. We listen to these endlessly fascinating stories, we
reflect on them, and they help to tell us who we are. Good companions of childhood, they easily
became part of us and stay with us throughout our lives. Every student deserves access to this
wonderful literary heritage.
Learning Activities
Activity 1
Read one epic from the list and do the following activities:
REGION EPIC HERO
Ilocos Biag ni Lam-ang Lam-ang
Ifugao Hudhud Aliguyon
Mindanao Bantugan Bantugan
Visayas Hinilawod Labaw-Dongon
1. Study the pattern of the mythological hero's journey.
Region:____________________________________
Epic:_______________________________________
Hero:_____________________________________
Departure Fulfillment Return
(What is the reason for the (How does the hero perform) (What are the achievements of
departure of the hero) the hero)
2. Character Map: What qualities and achievements do you think might contribute to the
hero's fame?
________________ ________________
________________ ________________
________________ ________________
3. Compare the heroic qualities to our present concept of a hero. (Use the Venn diagram)
HERO
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INSTRUCTIONAL MODULES IN PHILIPPINE LITERATURE
COLLEGE OF ARTS, SCIENCES AND EDUCATION
4. Compare an incident in the epic with similar modern situation.
5. Collect and compare several works in different media or genre inspired by the same
epic you have chosen to analyze in this activity. Share it to the class.
6. Explore one of the following aspects of the epic of the time in which it was written:
a. Clothing e. values
b. social customs f. relationship of men and gods
c. the place of women g. relationship of men and nature
d. weapons
Activity 2
A. A riddle has imagery which gives a clear description of objects. The description makes us see,
feel, hear, taste, touch, and/or smell in our imaginations. In a riddle, an image is usually becomes
a metaphor. Metaphor is a phrase or sentence that shows similarities between two things. A riddle
is divided into syllables.
Riddle Translation Image Senses
Pampago: Two friends in an feet
Adua lang mikaluguran endless chase
Tagalan mong tagalan
Add your example:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
B. A proverb has didactic value. It preserves a community's beliefs and code of behaviors.
Proverb Translation
Write your examples:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
What Filipino values, traits, customs, or traditions are brought out in each proverb you have written?
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Choose a proverb that you like most. Reflect on this proverb and write how it may guide in your life.
C. Music Presentation
Collect folk songs from different regions and choose one which you may study and present in your
class. Use the given questions as guide in your oral presentation.
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INSTRUCTIONAL MODULES IN PHILIPPINE LITERATURE
COLLEGE OF ARTS, SCIENCES AND EDUCATION
Title of the Song:_____________________________________
Region: _________________________________
1. What does the music make you think of? Does it suggest color, images, or scenes?
2. What feelings does the song evoke?
3. What portion of the folk song do you enjoy most and what makes it appealing to you?
4. What are the customs and cultural values of the early Filipinos that are evident in the song?
5. How is the folk song related to the ancestor's life experiences?
POST TEST
Answer the following questions intelligently by providing ample examples, illustration and
explanations.
1. What Filipino traits, values, customs, traditions are brought out in the a.) epic b.) proverbs
c.) folk songs that you have selected/written?
2. Participate in a cultural show (by groups) with role playing of favorite scenes of the epic chosen
and/or performing a native dance, folksong with or without musical accompaniment.
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