Definition
and
Importance of Literature
EdEng 306: Advanced Philippine Literature
Reporter: APDUA, MARY GRACE J.
What is Literature??
LITERATURE
etymologically, the term LITERATURE
derives from the LATIN Word “LITERA” which
literally means “acquaintance with letters”
Webster definition, the term is defined 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.
It is a body of work, either written, oral, or
visual, containing imaginative language that
realistically portrays thoughts, emotions, and
experiences of the human condition.
Is a product of particular culture that
concretizes man's array of values , emotions,
actions and ideas. It is therefore a creation of
human experiences that tells about people and
their world.
Importance of Literature
Studying literature is like looking at the mirror of
life where man’s experiences, his innermost feelings
and thoughts are reflected.
Through literature, we learn the culture of people
across time and space.
We understand not only the past life of a nation
but also its present.
Moreover, we become familiar not only with the
culture of neighboring countries but also with
that of others living very far from us
Why do we need to study LITERATURE?
To trace our rich heritage of ideas and handed
down to us form our forefathers.
For appreciation of our heritage.
To understand that we have noble traditions which
can serve as the means to assimilate other cultures.
History of Philippine Literature
Philippine literature before 1940 can be divided
into three periods: the Legendary and Epic Age
(Pre-Spanish), the Period of the Spanish
Occupation, and the Period of the American
Occupation.
The Legendary and Epic Age
The literature of the legendary age was oral and was
handed down from the elders. Very little of this early
literature remains, but from what is left, one can
conclude that the literature of this period consisted of
magical incantations, myths, legends, and folktales. The
early ancestors believed in sun and moon worship, tree
worship, and worship of other forms of nature. They also
believed in environmental spirits, good or bad. The
mountain groups and even some of the barrio folk today
still believe in these spirits.
The myths and legends explained the origin of the
universe and of land regions, the origin of the first man
and woman, and of the human race.
The epic age produced a wealth of literature.
Scholars estimate that Filipinos have no fewer than
twenty-four epics from different regions of the
archipelago; they are written in the different Filipino
languages.
The ones which are better known all over the islands
are the following:
1) Biag ni Lam-ang (from the Ilocos)
2) Hudhud and Alim (from the Ifugaos)
3) Maragtas (from Panay)
4) Bantugan (from Maranaw)
5) Bidasari (adapted by the Muslims of Sulu)
6) Indarapatra and Sulayman (from Maranaw)
The Spanish Occupation
The Spaniards introduced Christianity to the
Philippines. Consequently, much of the literature
produced during this period was religious in nature.
Among the early books to be written was the Pasyon, a
story of the life of Christ, beginning with the
Annunciation and ending with the Crucifixion.
The moro-moro was an extremely popular type
of drama. Its subject matter was always a conflict
between the Christians and the Moros (the
Mohammedan Moors), with Christianity triumphing
at the end.
The corrido and the awit were popular forms
of poetry during the latter part of the Spanish rule and
early in the American regime. The corrido was a long
narrative in verse telling the deeds of a legendary hero.
Although the setting was foreign and some of the
incidents absurd and fantastic, still the corrido provided
reading material for the masses. It always began with a
religious invocation. The priest favored it because of its
religious nature.
The Filipino poets patterned some of their works
on the corrido, the most notable of which is Florante
at Laura by Francisco Baltazar (Balagtas), now
considered a classic in Filipino. Other works include
the Life of Don Juan Teñoso, Siete Infantes de Lara
sa Kaharian ng España, and Doce Pares ng Pransya. The
awit also dealt with the adventures of knights but in a
light romantic tone.
Early in the nineteenth century, with the opening of the
Suez Canal and a change in government administration, many
young Filipinos went to Europe to study. The contact with the
outside world made these Filipinos move for reforms. Filipinos
wrote impassioned nationalistic poetry in Spanish, imitative of
European models. Prose was much used as a medium for
reform. Antonio Luna founded the newspaper La
Independencia, and Jose Rizal wrote his masterpieces, the
Noli Me Tangere (Touch Me Not) and its sequel, El
Filibusterismo (The Subversive or The Reign of Greed). The
two novels were banned by the Spanish colonial government
because they revealed the abuses of the church and the state
in the Philippines. On the whole, the literature of the period
was propaganda written by the leaders of the movement
against Spain.
The American Occupation
The coming of the Americans introduced the English
language which Filipinos began using as a literary medium.
Thus began Philippine literature written in English. English
as a literary vehicle for Filipino writers is a choice forced
by history. With the coming of the Americans, a new
system of education was begun, and English was made the
medium of instruction in schools. The Filipino writers
began, haltingly at first, producing unimaginative verse
patterned after American and European models, but soon
progressed to produce a body of literature for the world
to notice.