INTODUCTION TO THE STUDY OF PHILIPPINE LITERATURE
Literature is a
word derived from the Latin word "litera" which means Letter. It is
defined as a piece of printed work to the ideas and feelings of the people that
may be true or just a product of the writer’s imagination. Literature is
divided into two large groups: prose and poetry.
Prose is defined
as a spoken or written language without metrical regularity. Poetry, on the
other hand, is the imaginative expression of emotion, thought or narrative,
frequently in metrical form and often using figurative language. Poetry was
traditionally been distinguished from prose by rhyme or the rhythmical
arrangement of words.
The true Philippine blood is through its art. Art in the sense that
it shows the real output of a develop individual. Literature is one of the
finest art which each person can develop through its own version, experience,
thoughts and ideas. Literature plays a vital role in one's life and for the
society. through its presence in the Philippine art, it represents the true
meaning of culture and love for nation.
It is very important to
know, understand or interpret a Philippine Literature for the sustainable
development of every members of the society. Philippine Literature can be a
guide for improving physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually.
"Literature" is sometimes differentiated from popular
and ephemeral classes of writing. Terms such as "literary fiction"
and "literary merit" are used to distinguish individual works as
art-literature rather than vernacular writing, and some critics exclude works
from being "literary", for example, on grounds of weak or faulty
style, use of slang, poor characterization and shallow or contrived
construction. Others exclude all genres such as romance, crime and mystery,
science fiction, horror and fantasy. Pop lyrics, which are not technically a
written medium at all, have also been drawn into this controversy.
