Notes on the Philippine Epic

Philippine folk literature reaches its highest point of development in its epics. These are long heroic narratives that recount the adventures of tribal heroes. E. Arsenio Manuel calls heroic narratives in verse “folk epics” or "ethno-epics” and defines them in terms of characteristics common to them as,

1)      narratives of sustained length,

2)      based on oral tradition,

3)      revolving around supernatural events or heroic deeds,

4)      in the form of verse,

5)      which is either chanted or sung, and

6)    with a certain seriousness of purpose, embodying or validating the beliefs, customs, ideals, or  life-values of the people (Manuel 1963:3)

Notes on Philippine Folk Literature

Philippine folk literature refers to the traditional oral literature of the Filipino people. Thus, the scope of the field covers the ancient folk literature of the Philippines' various ethnic groups, as well as various pieces of folklore that have evolved since the Philippines became a single ethno-political unit.

Notes on The Literary Forms in Philippine Literature

The diversity and richness of Philippine literature evolved together with the country's history.

Notes on What is Literature?

"What is literature?" is often interpreted as a question regarding the nature of literature, but it can also be a question about the distinguishing characteristics of works known as literature: what distinguishes them from non-literary works?

Hence, the question attains a certain degree of difficulty as works of literature come in many shapes and sizes.

Notes on the History and Development of English

The history of the English language really started with the arrival of three Germanic tribes who invaded Britain during the 5th century AD. These tribes, the Angles, the Saxons and the Jutes, crossed the North Sea from what today is Denmark and northern Germany. At that time the inhabitants of Britain spoke a Celtic language. But most of the Celtic speakers were pushed west and north by the invaders - mainly into what is now Wales, Scotland and Ireland. The invading tribes named  their new home Englaland and called their language Englisc - from which the words England and English are derived.