Yuson, Cassey C. - Written Work 1

What do you know about the different Literary Periods in Philippine Literature?

A literary period is a time when the literature produced by authors shares the same intellectual, linguistic, religious, and artistic influences. Based on my research, the Philippines has undergone six different literary periods. Namely, the Pre-colonial period, the Spanish colonization period, the Nationalistic/Propaganda and Revolutionary period, the American colonial period, the Japanese Occupation, and the Contemporary/Modern period. Each literary period differs because our country was operating under unique circumstances.

For example, during the Pre-colonial period, Filipinos already had their art and culture. They already had literature native to the citizens, such as folk songs and riddles (bugtong). However, once the Spaniards colonized the Philippines, new beliefs and philosophies started to emerge. Christianity became prevalent, and Spanish was introduced as another language to learn. Thus, literature was influenced, and religious lyrics became widespread.

The same can be said for both the American colonial period and the Japanese Occupation. As our country was passed from one colonizer to another, they brought their ways of life and started to teach us. Now, when you look at the residents of the Philippines, you can see the impact of years of being subjugated. Foreign last names and foreign ancestors are the easiest to spot. But just like I said, like the Spaniards, the Americans and the Japanese influenced the literature native to those periods. English became so popular that Filipinos started to write literature in that language!

As for the Nationalistic/Propaganda and Revolutionary period, it is when the abuse of the Spaniards came to light. The literature depicted propaganda to awaken the nationalism of the Filipinos. Editorials, satires, and others were the method to inform the masses of the truth behind the colonizers’ reign.

And finally, we have the Contemporary/Modern period, where we are currently. Unfortunately, at the beginning of this period, Martial Law had been declared. The president controlled the press, so authors used symbolism to drive their point home. Filipinos also used theatre as their way of protesting against the government. Thankfully, at present, Martial Law has been abolished. Now, our citizens can use their creativity to write whatever they want, even if it's criticizing the administration.

 

What are the essential elements of the literary pieces under different periods of Philippine literature?

Regardless of the literary period a piece of literature is in, it will always have five essential elements, namely, the characters, the setting, the plot, the conflict, and the resolution. However, the literary period will influence each component. For example, the characters may include the Spaniards if the novel was created during the Spanish colonization period. And the setting may depict places like Intramuros and Luneta Park. To better understand why these five elements are essential, let us discuss them in detail.

The characters are the doers of the actions. They are who we follow as we read. Usually, characters take on the forms of human beings, but they can also be animals, fantastical creatures, or inanimate objects. There are four types of characters: the protagonist, the antagonist, the flat character, and the rounded character. The protagonist is the “good guy” of the story. Noble, selfless, and humble. They are typically the ones who we root for. They are the heroes and the do-gooders. The antagonist is the opposite. Cruel, vicious, and unlikable. They are the ones who butt heads with the protagonists and are usually the ones to be defeated. The flat character is a character whose only purpose is to help move the story along. Usually, they are very boring and insignificant. On the other hand, we have the rounded character, who is complex and just as important as the protagonist. Typically, they appear as the side characters supporting the protagonist or antagonist.

The setting answers the question of when and where. It depicts the time when the story is occurring. It could be a day of the week: Monday, or a year: 1565. It also details the place where the characters are. It could be a country: the Philippines, a city: Manila, or a building: Manila Cathedral.

The plot is the sequence of events in a narrative. It is what happens in the story, it is what the story is about. The conflict is the major problem the protagonist encounters. It will challenge the characters and test their strengths and trust in one another. It makes the readers question if the goal will ever be attained. The resolution is the end of the story, where the reader can find out if the hurdles were conquered or the trial was too arduous to defeat.