1 | 21st Century Literature from Philippines and the World

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3 | 21st Century Literature from Philippines and the World
 6. Match each folk narrative to its origin.

QUESTIONS:

1. This story is passed down from generation to generation, and it becomes part of a
tradition of a community. What do you call this narrative? 7. Match the statements to the right creation myth.

1 legend 2 folktale 3 myth 4 epic

2. This story is told to explain a belief, a practice, or a natural phenomenon. What do

you call this narrative?

1 legend 2 epic 3 myth 4 fable

3. This story is presented as history but is unlikely to be true. What do you call this
narrative?

1 fable 2 epic 3 legend 4 myth

4. Which of the following statements is not true about the precolonial literature of the 8. What is likely the purpose of “Juan Gathers Guavas”?
Philippines?
Juan Gathers Guavas (A Tagalog Folktale)
1 Precolonial literature includes chants, proverbs, and songs. One day several neighbors came to Juan’s home to visit. His father wanted to give the guests
something to eat, so he sent Juan to get some ripe guavas for them.
2 Precolonial literature includes folk narratives like folktales, epics, and myths. Full of mischief, Juan decided to play a joke on his father’s guests. He went to get the guavas
and ate all of them while thinking of a good joke. Then he saw a wasp’s nest hung nearby. With
some difficulty he managed to take it down and put it into a tight basket. He hastened home
3 Precolonial literature includes literature that were passed on from generation to generation and gave the basket to his father. Quickly he left the room where the guests were and closed
through the word of mouth. the door and fastened it.
As soon as Juan’s father opened the basket, the wasps flew over the room. With the door
4 Precolonial literature depicts the livelihood, customs, and traditions of the Filipinos during locked, the people fought to get out of the windows. After a while Juan opened the door. When
the Spanish occupation. he saw the swollen faces of the people, he cried.
“What fine, rich guavas you must have had! They have made you all so fat!”
5. Folk narratives were passed on from generation to generation by PRINTED BOOKS.
1 to teach a lesson 2 to educate the readers about society 3 to amuse its listeners 4 to
Type TRUE if the statement is true. If it is false, type the right phrase to replace the underlined give emphasis on a virtue
phrase.

4 | 21st Century Literature from Philippines and the World

 Now it happened that those who went into the hidden rooms of the house later became the
9. Fables often teach a lesson. What is likely the lesson taught by “The Monkey and the chiefs of the islands; and those who concealed themselves in the walls became slaves. Those
Crocodile”? who ran outside were free men; and those who hid in the fireplace became negroes; while
those who fled to the sea were gone many years, and when their children came back they were
The Monkey and the Crocodile (A Tagalog Fable) the white people.

One day, a monkey saw a tall macopa tree laden with ripe fruits, which stood by a 1 Beating children is a way to teach them how to behave properly. 2 Idle and useless people
wide river. It was hungry, so it climbed the tree and ate all of the fruits. When it should be punished. 3 Parents should be strict. 4 There are different classes of people.
climbed down, it could find no means by which to cross the river. Then it saw a young
crocodile who had just woke up from its siesta. It said to the crocodile in a friendly
way, “My dear Crocodile, will you do me a favor?”

The crocodile was greatly surprised by the monkey’s amicable salutation. So, it
answered humbly, “Oh, yes! If there is anything I can do for you, I shall be glad to do
it.” The monkey then told the crocodile that it wanted to get to the other side of the
river. Then the crocodile said, “I’ll take you there with all my heart. Just sit on my
back, and we’ll go at once.”

The monkey sat firmly on the crocodile’s back, and they began to move. In a short
while they reached the middle of the stream. Then the crocodile began to laugh
aloud. “You foolish monkey!” it said, “I’ll eat your liver and kidneys, for I’m very
hungry.” The monkey became nervous. Trying to conceal its anxiety, it said, “I’m very
glad that you mentioned the matter. I thought myself that you might be hungry, so I
have prepared my liver and kidneys for your dinner. Unfortunately, in our haste to
depart, I left them hanging on the macopa tree. Let us return, and I’ll get them for
you.”

Convinced that the monkey was telling the truth, the crocodile turned around and
swam back to the direction of the macopa tree. When they got near the riverbank,
the monkey nimbly jumped up onto the land and scampered up the tree. The
crocodile came to realize what happened and said, “I am a fool.”

1 Being clever is better than being strong. 2 Your cunning can take you anywhere. 3
Beware of the deceitful. 4 Trust everyone.

10. What does the excerpt suggest about the society of the native Filipinos?

The Creation (An Excerpt from the Tagalog myth)

After a while the parents grew very tired of having so many idle and useless children around.
They wished to be rid of them, but they knew of no place to send them to. Time went on, and
the children became so numerous that the parents enjoyed no peace. One day, in desperation,
the father seized a stick and began beating them on all sides.

The beating frightened the children so much that they fled in different directions. Some seek
hidden rooms in the house. Some concealed themselves in the walls. Some ran outside, while
others hid in the fireplace. Several fled to the sea.

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 QUESTIONS:

1. What are the factors that greatly influenced the Philippine Literature during the
Spanish occupation?

1 education 2 religion 3 trade 4 wealth

2. Published in 1605, this book contains basic Catholic doctrines. What is the title of
this book?

1 Sampaguitas y poesias varias 2 Gracias de sin sempiternas 3 Memorial de la vida cristiana en

lengua tagala 4 Noli Me Tangere

3. These natives could speak and write in both Spanish and their own language. What
do you call them?
4. Complete the following analogy:

Jose Rizal : Noli Me Tangere : : Pedro Paterno : ____________

1 Sampaguitas y poesias varias 2 Ninay 3 Gracias de sin sempiternas 4 El Filibusterismo

5. Complete the following analogy:

Jose de la Cruz : _________ : :

Francisco Baltazar : _________

1 pasyon 2 poetry 3 komedya 4 novel

6. Which of the following statements are not true about the native literature during
the Spanish occupation?
1The oral tradition of the native literature survived during the Spanish occupation of the
country.
2 The written tradition of the native literature was destroyed by the Spaniards during
their occupation of the country.

6 | 21st Century Literature from Philippines and the World

 3 The oral tradition of the native literature failed to survive during the Spanish 9. In this excerpt, why does the poet regard the love for one’s country as pure and
occupation of the country. noble?
4 The written tradition of the native literature survived during the Spanish occupation of
the country. Pag-Ibig sa Tinubuang Bayan
Ni Andres Bonifacio
7. Which statement is true for the moro-moro?
Aling pagibig pa ang hihigit kaya
1 Christians triumph over Muslims in the story of moro-moro. sa pagkadalisay at pagkadakila
gaya ng pagibig sa tinubuang lupa?
2 Christians and Muslims triumph over their common enemy in the story of moro-moro. alin pagibig pa? wala na nga; wala.

3 Muslims triumph over Christians in the story of moro-moro. Ulitulitin mang basahin ng isip
at isa-isahing talastasing pilit
ang salita’t buhay na limbag at titik
4 Christians and Muslims triumph over evil in the story of moro-moro.
ng sangtinakpan ito ang mababatid.

8. What kind of poetry is de Belen’s poem? Banal na pagibig! pagikaw ang nukal
sa tapat na puso ng sino't alin man,
Mahal na Passion imbi’t taong gubat maralita’t mangmang
Ni Gaspar Aquino de Belen nagiging dakila at iginagalang.

Sa Ona pang nanhuhula Pagpupuring lubos ang palaging gawad

ang manga Profetang madla ng taong mahal sa Bayan niyang liyag
saquit na ypararaya umawit, tumula, kumatha’t sumulat
manga ypararalita kalakhan din niya'y isinisiwalat.
sa Messias na naava.
Walang mahalagang hindi inihandog
Ang vica,y, matatalian ng may pusong mahal sa Bayan niyang irog
daracpin nang sandatahan, dugo, yaman, dunong, katiisa’t pagod,
mumurahi,t, di ygalang buhay ma’y abuting magkalagot-lagot.
siya,y pagiyvan naman
Discipulong caybigan 1Because with love for country, one writes for the good of his or her country.

Totobonga,t, ysosombong. 2 Because with love for country, one raises himself or herself and the others from
daraiquin sa pagtotol. poverty.
casinongalingan yaon
doon nila yoolong
cay Poncio Pilatong Hocom, 3 Because with love for country, one frees himself or herself and the others from
colonial oppression.

Ang manga hula pa,t, ysip

ay hahampasing masaquit 4 Because with love for country, one sacrifices his whole being for his or her
nang limang libong mahiguit country.
at popotongan nang tinic
ang olo niyang mariquit. 10. In this excerpt, Crisostomo Ibarra and Elias are having a conversation about the
demands of the tulisanes or the bandits. Which of these statements tells Ibarra’s
1 narrative 2 free verse 3 lyrical 4 descriptive viewpoint on such demands?

7 | 21st Century Literature from Philippines and the World

 “The Voice of the Hunted” 3 The demands of the tulisanes are not realistic for Ibarra thinks that the use of force by the
(Chapter XLIX of Charles Derbyshire’s The Social Cancer, a complete English Spanish forces is necessary and useful.
translation of Jose Rizal’s Noli Me Tangere)
4 The demands of the tulisanes are difficult to meet but not impossible because Ibarra has
In a few words Elias recounted his conversation with the leader of the tulisanes, connections to help in the situation.
omitting the latter’s doubts and threats. Ibarra listened attentively and was the first
to break the long silence that reigned after he had finished his story.

“So they want—”

Philippine Literature during the American and the Japanese Periods
“Radical reforms in the armed forces, in the priesthood, and in the administration of
justice; that is to say, they ask for paternal treatment from the government.”

“Reforms? In what sense?”

“For example, more respect for a man’s dignity, more security for the individual, less
force in the armed forces, fewer privileges for that corps which so easily abuses what
it has.”

“Elias,” answered the youth, “I don’t know who you are, but I suspect that you are
not a man of the people; you think and act so differently from others. You will
understand me if I tell you that, however imperfect the condition of affairs may be
now, it would be more so if it were changed. I might be able to get the friends that I
have in Madrid to talk, by paying them; I might even be able to see the Captain-
General; but neither would the former accomplish anything nor has the latter
sufficient power to introduce so many novelties. Nor would I ever take a single step in
that direction, for the reason that, while I fully understand that it is true that these
corporations have their faults, they are necessary at this time. They are what is
known as a necessary evil.”

Greatly surprised, Elias raised his head and looked at him in astonishment. “Do you,
then, also believe in a necessary evil, sir?” he asked in a voice that trembled slightly.
“Do you believe that in order to do good it is necessary to do evil?”

“No, I believe in it as in a violent remedy that we make use of when we wish to cure a
disease. Now then, the country is an organism suffering from a chronic malady, and
in order to cure it, the government sees the necessity of employing such means,
harsh and violent if you wish, but useful and necessary.”

1 The demands of the tulisanes are not reasonable for the demands suggest that the tulisanes
are ungrateful.

2 The demands of the tulisanes are reasonable because the Spanish forces use excessive
force.

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 QUESTIONS

1. What was the medium of instruction in public schools during the American
occupation of the Philippines?
1 Nihonggo 2 Filipino 3 Tagalog 4 English
2. What is considered to be the first modern Filipino short story?
1 His Native Soil 2 A Child of Sorrow 3 Dead Stars 4 Lupang Tinubuan
3. What year did the anthology Ang Pinakamabuting Maikling Kathang Pilipino ng 1943
come out?
1 1942 2 1943 3 1945 4 1944
4. Filipino fictionists writing during this literary period copied American writers. What is
this period called?
5. Which writers became prominent during the American occupation of the
Philippines?
1 Narciso Reyes 2 Juan C. Laya 3 Liwayway Arceo 4 Paz Marquez Benitez
6. Filipino fictionists during the apprenticeship period copied American writers. Who
were these writers?
1 Franklin Roosevelt 2 Sherwood Anderson 3 William Saroyan 4 Ernest Hemingway

7. The given literary works appear in the anthology Ang Pinakamabuting Maikling
Kathang Pilipino ng 1943. They were the top four stories that won a contest
sponsored by the Japanese during their occupation of the Philippines. Arrange them
according to their rank (from first to fourth).

8. Why did the development of Philippine literature in English during the Japanese
occupation halt?
1 Tagalog short stories became popular.
2 The Japanese censored literary works produced during the period.
2 Some Filipino writers during the period turned to writing in Filipino.
3 4 Tagalog was declared one of the official languages of the country.

9. Which of these figures of speech is shown in the poem?

9 | 21st Century Literature from Philippines and the World

 Moonlight on Manila Bay
By Fernando M. Maramag
Philippine Literature in the Postwar and Contemporary
Period
A light, serene, ethereal glory, rests
Its beam effulgent on each cresting wave;
The silver touches of the moonlight lave
The deep’s bare bosom that the breeze molests;
While lingering whispers deepen as the wavy crests
Roll with weird rhythm, now gay, now gently grave;
And floods of lambent light appear the sea to pave—
All cast a spell that heeds not time’s behests.
Not always such the scene: the din of fight
Has swelled the murmur of the peaceful air;
Here East and West have oft displayed their might;
Dark battle clouds have dimmed this scene so fair;

Here, bold Olympia, one historic night,

Presaging freedom, claimed a people’s care.

1 hyperbole 2 simile 3 personification 4 metaphor

10. In this sonnet, the poet contrasts two images, one of which is a serene night. What
is the other image?

Moonlight on Manila Bay

N By Fernando M. Maramag
A light, serene, ethereal glory, rests
Its beam effulgent on each cresting wave;
The silver touches of the moonlight lave
The deep’s bare bosom that the breeze molests;
While lingering whispers deepen as the wavy crests
Roll with weird rhythm, now gay, now gently grave;
And floods of lambent light appear the sea to pave—
All cast a spell that heeds not time’s behests.
Not always such the scene: the din of fight
Has swelled the murmur of the peaceful air;
Here East and West have oft displayed their might;
Dark battle clouds have dimmed this scene so fair;

Here, bold Olympia, one historic night,

Presaging freedom, claimed a people’s care.

1disorder 2 defeat 3 war 4 victory

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 QUESTIONS:
1. Which of the following is the first postwar Filipino novel written in English?
1 Without Seeing the Dawn by Stevan Javellana
2 The Return by Edith L. Tiempo
3 May Day Eve by Nick Joaquin
4 Waywaya by F. Sionil Jose
2. Which of the following years are not considered as part of the postwar and
contemporary period?
1 1900-1930 2 1975-1990 3 1960-1975 4 1947-1960
3. Which of the following is a part of the issues in the postwar and contemporary
period?
1 widespread epidemics 2 great wealth 3 mass hysteria 4 great poverty
4. Which of the following is not a significant historical event during the postwar and
contemporary period?
1 the election of Fidel V. Ramos as president 2 establishment of the Republic of the
Philippines 3 declaration of martial law 4 the colonization of the Spaniards
5. Who among the following inspired Filipino writers during the postwar period?
1 American leaders 2 American poets 3 American teachers 4 American dramatists
6. Which of the following is not a topic or theme of works during the postwar and
contemporary period?
1 superstitions 2 religious faith 3 nationalism 4 the creation of the world
7. Which of the following works is not similar to the other three?
1 "We Filipinos Are Mild Drinkers" by Alejandro Roces
3 "May Day Eve" by Nick Joaquin
3 "Waywaya" by F. Sionil Jose
4 "History and Philippine Culture" by Horacio de la Costa

8. Kate wants to learn more about postwar and contemporary literature, so she
researched about the topic. Which of the following would she have learned about
it?

11 | 21st Century Literature from Philippines and the World

 1There are only very few postwar and contemporary literary works.
2 These literary works captured Filipino life and human struggles.
3 Postwar and contemporary literature are timeless and have great artistic value.
4 Only literary works in English were produced during the period.

9. You were asked by your teacher to imagine that you were a writer in the postwar
and contemporary period. Which of the following would you not write about?

1 what Filipinos experienced under the hands of the Japanese

2 a piece encouraging Filipinos to fight against the Spaniards
3 a story about life under the Philippine New Republic
4 your thoughts about the martial law
10. Will's teacher asked the class to read a postwar and contemporary literary work that
will enlighten them about the experiences of Filipinos during the war.
Which of the following should Will choose to read?
1 Dead Stars by Paz Marquez Benitez
2 History and Philippine Culture by Horacio de la Costa
3 The Return by Edith L. Tiempo
4 Without Seeing the Dawn by Stevan Javellana

Life and Works of Jose Garcia Villa

12 | 21st Century Literature from Philippines and the World

 2 analyzing the work of other writers in the same period
3 studying the background of the author
4 analyzing the theme of the story
8. Your teacher asked you to write a poem that is inspired by Jose
Garcia Villa's style. Which of the following would help make
QUESTIONS:
your poem similar to his?
1 highfalutin words 2 exaggerated statements 3 reversed
1. He was named as the National Artist for Literature in 1973.
consonance rhyme scheme 4 excessive usage of commas
1 N.V.M. Gonzalez 2 Carlos P. Romulo 3 Jose Garcia Villa 4
9. From the information given about "Footnote to Youth," it can
Francisco Arcellana
be inferred that local short stories are ______________.
2. Jose Garcia Villa pioneered on __________ where he places a
1 a means to observe the whole world
comma after every word.
2 a reflection of the changes in society
1 comma poems 2 apostrophe poems 3 punctuation poems 4
3 a reflection of Philippine culture and traditions
period poems
4 a way to envision the future
3. It refers to a series of controversial poems which led to Jose
10. Based on the story "Footnote to Youth," which of the following
Garcia Villa’s suspension from the University of the
may be inferred about teenagers?
Philippines.
1 Teenagers are hardworking.
1 Winds of April 2 Man Songs 3 Footnote to Youth 4 Mir-i-
2 Teenagers are passionate about their desires.
nisa
3 Teenagers are independent and diligent.
4. "Must you marry, Dodong?" In the story "Footnote to Youth,"
4 Teenagers are disrespectful to their parents.
the given line was uttered by Dodong's father when Dodong
asked for his permission to get married. Which of the following
emotions is expressed in the statement of Dodong’s father?
1 hatred 2 excitement 3 support 4 anxiety
Life and Works of Carlos P.
5. Which of the following is not true about Jose Garcia Villa?
1 He gained international recognition for his works.
Romulo
2 He stuck to using common and traditional styles in his
poems.
3 He was a recipient of the Guggenheim Fellowship.
4 He was a poet, painter, and short story writer.
6. Which of the following should be done first in analyzing a
literary work?
1 Write a review or critique of it.
2 Gather information about the text and its author.
3 Summarize the text.
4 Write your own conclusion to it.
7. Which of the following will help give information regarding
the historical and/or social influences in a story?
1 studying literary works similar to the story

13 | 21st Century Literature from Philippines and the World

 1 Bataan Harvest 2 I See the Philippines Rise 3 I Saw the Fall of the
Philippines 4 The Return of the General
3. Carlos P. Romulo was conferred as National Artist for Literature in
__________.
1 1979 2 1985 3 1982 4 1990
4. Which of the following is not true about Carlos P. Romulo?
1 He died on December 15, 1985.
2 He was an aide-de-camp to General Douglas MacArthur.
3 He grew up in Camiling, Tarlac.
4 He served as the secretary of the United Nations General Assembly.
5. The following are works written by Carlos P. Romulo except __________.
1 I See the Philippines Rise 2 I am a Filipino 3 The Mats 4 Mother America:
A Living Story of Democracy
6. Which of the following is written as a sequel to I Saw the Fall of the
Philippines?
1 I See the Philippines Rise 2 My Brother Americans 3 I am a Filipino 4
Mother America: A Living Story of Democracy
7. Which of the following is true about Carlos P. Romulo’s works?
1 They talk about the love of Filipinos toward their oppressors.
2 They talk about how Filipinos look up to Spaniards and Americans. 3 They
talk about how the Philippines survived the wars during the American and
the Japanese occupations.
4 They talk about how the Filipinos are grateful for being colonized by the
Americans and the Japanese.
8. Which of the following is a valuable contribution of I am a Filipino to
Philippine literature?
1 It helps readers understand what it means to be a Filipino.
2 It encourages readers to think of the Filipinos as superior to any
other race.
3 It allows readers to believe in exaggerations about the Philippines.
4 It causes readers to lose pride and dignity in the Filipino race.
9. Which of the following should you read if you would like to know
more about Carlos P. Romulo's life?
1 I Walked with Heroes
QUESTIONS: 2 I am a Filipino
3 Mother America: A Living Story of Democracy
1. He was the first Filipino journalist to be awarded with the Pulitzer Prize in 4 I Saw the Fall of the Philippines
Journalism. 10. Based on the essay I am a Filipino, Carlos P. Romulo implies that we
1 Francisco Arcellana 2 Ferdinand Marcos 3 Jose Garcia Villa 4 Carlos P. should be______________.
Romulo 1 thankful that we were colonized 2 ashamed of our ancestors 3
2. It refers to a narration of Carlos P. Romulo's personal experiences as an proud of our Filipino roots 4 looking up to the Westerners
aide-de-camp to General Douglas MacArthur in Corregidor.

14 | 21st Century Literature from Philippines and the World

Life and Works of Francisco Arcellana

QUESTIONS:

1. Who among the following well-known Filipino writers is the first director
of the University of the Philippines Center for Creative Writing?

1 Jose Garcia Villa 2 Bienvenido Lumbera 3 Carlos P. Romulo 4 Francisco Arcellana

2. Which of the following is a short story written by Francisco Arcellana
that depicts a character’s struggle in coping with the death of his
children?
1 "The Mats" 2 "A Clown Remembers" 3 "The Man Who Would Be Poe" 4 "Death in
a Factory"
3. Which of the following short stories written by Francisco Arcellana was
adapted into a screenplay?
1 "Lina" 2 "The Man Who Would Be Poe" 3 "Death in a Factory" 4 "Flowers of
May"
4. Which of the following best describes Francisco Arcellana as a writer?

15 | 21st Century Literature from Philippines and the World

 1 innovative 2 resourceful 3 traditional 4 humorous
5. Which of the following writing techniques was used by Francisco
Life and Works of Nestor Vicente Madali
Arcellana in the story "The Mats"? (N.V.M.) Gonzalez
1 stream of consciousness 2 flashbacks 3 indirect characterization 4
foreshadowing
6. Which of the following is not true in the story "The Mats"?
1 The children sense the tension between their father and mother.
2 It pained and surprised Nana Emilia to see the three mats for their dead
children.
3 Each of the mats is woven with the child's name as well as a symbol.
4 Mr. Angeles disappoints his children by giving mats that they do not like.

7. Below is a line that Mr. Angeles said in "The Mats."

"Is it fair to forget them? Would it be just to disregard them?"
From the given information in the lesson regarding the short story, which of the
following do you think Mr. Angeles is talking about?
1 his children who passed away 2 other family members 3 his living children 4 street
children
8. Which of the following is not symbolized by the unfolding of the mats at
the end of the story?
1 commemoration of the death of the three children
2 sadness and courage in remembering the death of the three children
3 honoring the life lived by the three children who passed away
4 the resentment of Mr. Angeles toward his wife
9. Which of the following is not a theme in the story "The Mats"?
1 One way of coping with the death of loved ones is buying things for them.
2 It is difficult to deal with the pain that comes with remembering dead loved
ones.
3 Honoring loved ones who passed away is important.
4 Coping with the death of a loved one is a struggle.
10. Rica likes the writing style of Francisco Arcellana and was taking
inspiration from his short stories while writing a story of her own.Which
of the following would she most likely do?
1 She would use dialogues that reveal the personality of the characters. 2 She would
limit the actions of the characters to make the story concise.
3 She would make use of direct characterization to aptly describe the characters.
4 She would use flowery words to impress and widen the vocabulary of the reader.

16 | 21st Century Literature from Philippines and the World

 2. Which of the following is a collection of short stories that sketch the daily
lives of the Filipino kaingeros in Mindoro?
1 Seven Hills Away 2 The Bamboo Dancers 3 The Winds of April 4 The
Wireless Tower
3. Which of the following is a diasporic novel that features the challenges
faced by Filipinos in America?
1 The Winds of April 2 Lupo and the River 3 The Bamboo Dancers 4 The
Tomato Game
4. Arrange the following in the order that they happened in the story
"Children of the Ash-Covered Loam."

5. "It is bound to come, it is bound to come!" Tia Orang said, kneeling on the
mat, one hand pressing Nanay’s abdomen. She beckoned to Tatay, "Be of
help!" Which of the following is the correct interpretation of the given
lines?
1 Nanay is suffering from a stomachache.
2 Nanay is now ready to bear another child.
3 Tarang's pig will give birth to piglets.
4 The family will be blessed by a rich harvest.
6. Which of the following is not presented in the story "Children of the Ash-
Covered Loam"?
1 mañana habit 2 offering animals to drive away evil spirits 3 hilot 4 kaingin
7. Which of the following is the message of the story "Children of the Ash-
Covered Loam"?
1 The father, as the head of the family, is always right. 2 Death is a very
tragic situation that is difficult to deal with. 3 Faith healers are helpful and
needed in communities. 4 When a living thing dies, a new life emerges.
QUESTIONS:
8. Which of the following is not true about N.V.M. Gonzalez and his works?
1. He is an award-winning Filipino poet, essayist, fictionist, journalist, editor, 1 He is honored as one of the great Filipino writers who advanced
and teacher of creative writing, and he was also the first president of the Philippine literary traditions and culture.
Philippine Writers’ Association. 2 He glorified Western culture in his literary works.
1 N.V.M. Gonzalez 2 Amador T. Daguio 3 Carlos P. Romulo 4 Nick Joaquin 3 He had garnered several awards for his literary works.
4 His work was heavily influenced by local practices and beliefs.

17 | 21st Century Literature from Philippines and the World

 9. Which of the following terms show local color?
1 kugon 2 oats 3 anak 4 bacon

10. You were asked by your teacher to use local color as a technique in your
writing. Which of the following should you not use as a name for a
character in the story?
1 Aunt Chelsea 2 Bunso 3 Ate Neneng 4 Inay

Life and Works of Edith L.

Tiempo

18 | 21st Century Literature from Philippines and the World

 7. Which of the following should you remember when analyzing a poem?
1 A poem's subject is its underlying idea or message.
2 A poem's subject is different from its theme.
3 A poem is highly objective and has the same meaning for all its readers.
4 A poem is always dramatic and symbolic.
8. Which of the following best explains the title of the poem "The Return"?
1 The title connotes cherishing an object with sentimental value.
2 The title connotes the homecoming of a man to his hometown to meet
his friends.
3 The title connotes the old man's paying forward of good deeds.
4 The title connotes the reminiscing of the old man about the past
9. Which of the following are Edith L. Tiempo’s greatest contributions to the
development of Philippine literature?
1 Her literary works depict situations that favor the elite Philippine society.
2 She founded the Silliman University National Writers Workshop, which
produced great young writers.
QUESTIONS: 3 She demonstrated the fusion of style and substance in her literary works.
1. Who among the following writers was awarded as the National Artist for 4 She encouraged young Filipino writers to imitate the poetry writing skills
Literature in 1999? of Americans.
1 Gilda Cordero Fernando 2 F. Sionil Jose 3 Ninotchka Rosca 4 Edith L. 10. Which of the following could be concluded from the life and works of Edith
Tiempo L. Tiempo about the development of Philippine literature?
2. Which of the following literary works by Edith L. Tiempo is set during 1 Women in a patriarchal society are most often the subject of Filipino
World War II? contemporary poets.
1 Bonsai 2 The Black Monkey 3 Lament for the Littlest Fellow 4 The Return 2 Philippine literature in English developed more than Philippine literature
3. Which of the following literary works by Edith L. Tiempo depicts the in vernacular languages.
problems of the Filipino miners of Nibucal in southern Philippines? 3 Filipinos, both men and women, excel in the field of literature.
1 The Return 2 A Blade of Fern 3 Bonsai 4 The Black Monkey 4 Philippine literature reflects the deepest and most meaningful human
4. Which of the following is not true about the subject of the poem "The experiences.
Return" by Edith L. Tiempo?
1 The old man remembers his childhood. 2 The old man enjoys the
company of his grandchildren. 3 The old man wants to visit his friends. 4 Life and Works of F. Sionil Jose
The old man is well-traveled.
5. Which of the following themes is presented in the poem "The Return" by
Edith L. Tiempo?
1 Man’s glory begins in old age. 2 An educated man lives a lonely life. 3 A
man who spends lavishly dies with nothing. 4 Old people face physical and
emotional challenges.
6. Which of the following did Edith L. Tiempo not write about?
1 dystopian societies 2 emotions and memories 3 struggles of Filipinos 4
human experiences

19 | 21st Century Literature from Philippines and the World

 QUESTIONS:

1. He was conferred as National Artist for Literature in 2001.

1 Edith L. Tiempo 2 Francisco Arcellana 3 F. Sionil Jose 4 Nick
Joaquin
2. Which of the following is a compilation of short stories about pre-
Hispanic Philippine society?
1 The Molave and the Orchid and Other Children’s Stories
2 My Brother, My Executioner
3 Waywaya: Eleven Filipino Short Stories
4 The Pretenders
3. Which of the following talks about the friendship between an Ifugao
and an American?
1 Tree
2 Mass 3
The God Stealer
4 The Molave and the Orchid and Other Children’s Stories
4. Which of the following is not true about F. Sionil Jose?
1 He founded La Solidaridad. 2 He was conferred as National Artist
for Literature in 2001. 3 He founded the Philippine PEN. 4 He was
born in Rosales, Pangasinan.
5. Which of the following describes F. Sionil Jose as a Filipino writer?
1 Most of his works mainly focus on the pop culture.
2 Most of his works mainly focus on his experiences.
3 Most of his works mainly focus on the life in the regions.
4 Most of his works mainly focus on the relationship between the
colonizer and the colonized.
6. Which of the following holds true about F. Sionil Jose?
1 He shows a deep understanding of the plight of those belonging to
elite society. 2 He explores the effects of colonization through his

20 | 21st Century Literature from Philippines and the World

 works. 3 His works are intriguing yet easy to understand. 4 He
makes use of unconventional techniques in his literary works.
7. Through his works, F. Sionil Jose tries to_________________.
1 provide representations of the lives of common people
2 use mythical characters in his stories
Poetry
3 present the struggles of women in attaining gender equality
4 portrays elements of magic in a rational world
8. Which of the following sets of words describe what kind of
organization the Philippine PEN is?
1 poets, directors, and actors 2 teachers, playwrights, and writers 3
poets, playwrights, and novelists 4 writers, directors, and painters
9. If Rosales Saga is set from the Spanish colonial period to the
proclamation of Martial Law in the 1970s, Waywaya: Eleven Filipino
Short Stories is ______________.
1 a compilation of short stories about pre-Japanese Philippine
society
2 society a compilation of short stories about pre-American
Philippine society
3 a compilation of short stories about pre-21st century Philippine
society
4 a compilation of short stories about pre-Hispanic Philippine
society
10. Based on what you have learned about F. Sionil Jose and his works,
which of the following would most likely not be a subject of his
stories?
1 human experiences 2 social injustice 3 struggles of Filipino masses
4 fantasy creatures

21 | 21st Century Literature from Philippines and the World

 QUESTIONS:
1. What period of Philippine history did Amador T. Daguio write
the poem “Man of Earth”?
1 Spanish occupation 2 Japanese occupation 3 American occupation 4
British occupation
2. What poetry is written and read on a mobile phone?
1 lyric poetry 2 hypertext 3 textula 4 rhyme
3. What title has been given to Frank Rivera for popularizing
textula?______________

22 | 21st Century Literature from Philippines and the World

 4. Which of these statements is not true for Amador T. Daguio’s 1 napapako – mapaso 2 panalangin – paghiling 3 wala – tama 4
“Man of Earth”? makibaka – binabata
1 It is a lyric poem. 2 It has end rhymes. 3 It uses apostrophe. 4 7. Which pair of words in the right order completes the first and
It contains an illusion. second lines?
5. All pairs of words form end rhymes except one. Which pair of words Textula (An Excerpt)
is it? By Frank Rivera
Man of Earth Sa ating puso’y may awit ng ____________
By Amador T. Daguio
Pliant is the bamboo; Kahit titik nito’y hindi _______________
I am man of earth.
They say that from the bamboo Ang katotohana’y lalaging totoo
We had our first birth. Basta maniwalang mayroong milagro.
Am I of the body, (Reproduced by permission of Frank Rivera)
Or of the green leaf? 1 makabisado, pag-asa 2 makabisa, pag-asa 3 pag-asa, makabisa 4
Do I have to whisper pag-asa, makabisado
My every sin and grief? 8. What figure of speech is used in the last two lines of the
If the wind passes by, stanza? ______________________
Must I stoop, and try Man of Earth (An Excerpt)
To measure fully By Amador T. Daguio
My flexibility? I might have been the bamboo,
I might have been the bamboo, But I will be a man.
But I will be a man. Bend me then, O Lord,
Bend me then, O Lord, Bend me if you can.
Bend me if you can. 9. The stanza from Rivera’s textula has a regular rhythm. What
1 leaf – grief 2 try – fully 3 man – can 4 earth – birth makes its rhythm regular?
6. All pairs of words form “tugmang patinig” except one. Which 1 The length of lines makes the rhythm regular.
pair of words is it? 2 The end rhymes make the rhythm regular.
A Textula (An Excerpt) 3 The number of syllables in each line makes the rhythm
By Frank Rivera regular.
Merong himala, hindi totoong wala 4 The number of lines makes the rhythm regular.
Ituro ma’y mali, alam nati’y tama 10. What Filipino traits do the stanzas suggest?
Kahit walang sagot itong panalangin Man of Earth (An Excerpt)
Hindi tumitigil ang ating paghiling. By Amador T. Daguio
Walang nagturo na tayo’y makibaka I might have been the bamboo,
Ngunit sulirani’y ating binabata But I will be a man.
Kahit may pangakong laging napapako Bend me then, O Lord,
Sa anumang init, handa ring mapaso. Bend me if you can.
(Reproduced by permission of Frank Rivera) A Textula (An Excerpt)
By Frank Rivera

23 | 21st Century Literature from Philippines and the World

 Sa ating puso’y may awit ng pag-asa
Kahit titik nito’y hindi makabisa
Ang katotohana’y lalaging totoo
Basta maniwalang mayroong milagro.
(Reproduced by permission of Frank Rivera)
1 fatalism 2 optimism 3 pessimism 4 resilience

Fiction

24 | 21st Century Literature from Philippines and the World

QUESTIONS: 1 They suffered from the death of their children. 2 They shared the same
sleeping mat on their wedding night. 3 They struggled to cope with the
1. What literary devices are used on purpose by a writer in his work to death of their children. 4 They had the same sleeping mat made by the
convey its meaning? mat weaver.
1 literary meaning 2 literary characters 3 literary elements 4 literary

Drama
techniques
2. What kind of narrative is "The Mats" by Francisco Arcellana?
1 fiction 2 poetry 3 drama 4 nonfiction
3. Jaime, his wife Emilia, and all of their children, living and dead, had their
sleeping mats. How many mats did the mat weaver make for them?
_____________________
4. Which literary devices are inherent in a short story?
.
1 conflict 2 characters 3 dialogue 4 setting
5. Two of the given names are of the dead Angeles children. Which ones are
those?
1 Marcelina 2 Concepcion 3 Victoria 4 Jose
6. Arrange the following names according to the order that the person
received the mat.

7. Which word completes the following analogy?

Emilia : cadena de amor : : Marcelina : ______

1 piano 2 xylophone 3 lyre 4 organ

8. Which one of these statements is true for the characters Jaime and Emilia
of the short story?
The literary meaning of a work is conveyed through the literary devices
which the writer puts together in a random arrangement.
1 satisfying 2 general 3 purposeful 4 beautiful
9. Which one of these statements is true for the characters Jaime and Emilia
of the short story "The Mats"?
1 They are the narrators of the story. 2 They are the other living Angeles
children. 3 They are the parents in the story. 4 They are siblings in the
story.
10. Which one of these statements is not true for the characters Jaime and
Emilia of the short story "The Mats"?

25 | 21st Century Literature from Philippines and the World

 Questions:

1. Which is not an element of a drama?

.
1 characters 2 events 3 plot 4 stage direction
2. Which refers to the conversation between the characters in a drama?
1 stage direction 2 talks 3 scenes 4 dialogue
3. What do you call the statements that tell the actors how they should look,
move, and speak in a drama?
1 stage music 2 stage directions 3 stage actions 4 stage instructions

4. Which of these works were written by Severino Montano, and which ones
were written by Wilfrido Ma. Guerrero?

26 | 21st Century Literature from Philippines and the World

 5. Which of these statements is not true for a one-act play?
1 It has only one part. 2 It has few characters. 3 It tells a part of a
Creative Nonfiction
bigger story. 4 It tells a condensed story.
6. This drama by Alberto Florentino won first prize in the Carlos
Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature in 1954. What is the title of
the drama? _____________________
7. There are only three characters in Alberto Florentino’s "The World
Is an Apple." Two of those are the couple Mario and Gloria. Who is
the third character? __________________
8. At the beginning of the story, Mario lied to his wife Gloria
when he told her why he did not have any money to give her.
What is his ultimate reason for lying?
1 He does not want Gloria to know that he failed as a father
and husband.
2 He does not want Gloria to know that he has decided to go
back to stealing again.
3 He does not want Gloria to know that he does not have a job
anymore.
4 He does not want Gloria to know that he lost his job because
of an apple.
9. Why is Gloria not happy to see Pablo?
1 Because Pablo has no money to lend her for her sick child’s
treatment.
2 Because Pablo has come to take away Mario from her.
3 Because Pablo is a bad influence to Mario.
4 Because Pablo is a self-righteous person.
10. Which statement tells the theme of Alberto Florentino’s "The
World Is an Apple"?
1 The world is an expensive apple that not everyone can afford.
2 Poverty can make people do things for survival.
3 People do not change; only their circumstances do.
4 Friendship is stronger than marriage.

27 | 21st Century Literature from Philippines and the World

 4. Place each work in its correct period.

5. Which works are about travel?

1 Earth, Fire & Air 2 Breaking the Silence 3 Adventures in a
Forgotten Country 4 Living With the Enemy: A Diary of the
Japanese Occupation
6. In the essay “Literature and Society,” Salvador P. Lopez says of the
writer, “He is no longer a florist, scissors in hand gathering lovely
blossoms; he has become a tiller of the soil, spade in hand, digging
into the roots of things and planting seeds.”
What kind of figure of speech does Lopez use to describe the
writer?
1 metaphor 2 simile 3 personification 4 hyperbole
7. In the essay “Where Is the Patis,” Carmen Guerroro Nakpil
asserts that travel has become the great Filipino dream. To
elaborate on her statement, she says, “In the same way that an
American dreams of becoming a millionaire or an English boy
dreams of going to one of the great universities, the Filipino
QUESTIONS: dreams of going abroad.”
How does she elaborate on her assertion?
1. Which of these statements is not true about creative 1 by example 2 by telling a story 3 by comparison 4 by contrast
nonfiction? 8. In one of Nick Joaquin’s essays, he makes the following
1 It uses a literary style of writing. 2 It tells a realistic story. 3 assertions about Filipinos: “Society for the Filipino is a small
It tells a real story. 4 It is a major genre of literature. rowboat: the barangay . . . Enterprise for the Filipino is a
2. Supposed a woman writes about her own life from her birth up small stall: the sari-sari . . . And commerce for the Filipino is
to the present. What do you call her work? the smallest degree of retail: the tingi.”
1 autobiography 2 memoir 3 diary 4 biography What do his assertions say about the Filipinos in general?
3. What kind of creative nonfiction is “I Am a Filipino” by Carlos P.
Romulo? ___________________

28 | 21st Century Literature from Philippines and the World

 1 Filipinos are fond of small things. 2 Filipinos have a small
social circle. 3 Filipinos feel small. 4 Filipinos are small-
minded people.
9. In the essay “I Am a Filipino,” Carlos P. Romulo ends with this
statement: “I am a Filipino born to freedom, and I shall not
rest until freedom shall have been added unto my inheritance—
for myself and my children and my children’s children—
forever.”
What is the tone of his statement?
1 shameful 2 patriotic 3 histrionic 4 doubtful
10. In the collection Stressed in the City, April Timbol Yap tells
about her experience on the road while driving. Once she
turned her attention to a sign that said “Basura Mo, Alagaan
Mo.” She took it literally, saying, “Of course the MMDA
wasn’t very specific about how one exactly should go about
doing this. It might help if they published manuals that
contained instructions on the care of trash—like should it be
watered or fed or taken for walks like the city?”
What does the comment reveal about the writer?
1 She is mindful of the environment. 2 She is a keen observer.
3 She is supportive of law enforcers. 4 She is a critical person.

Popular Fiction

29 | 21st Century Literature from Philippines and the World

 1 The story is set in the year 2105. 2 The story took place a
long time ago. 3 The story takes place in a mall described as an
“ultrasaur.” 4 The story features a character that is
biogenetically engineered people that live in the mall.
9. Match each element to its story.

QUESTIONS:

1. What is the main purpose of writing popular fiction?

1 to reach out to young women 2 to scare readers 3 to appeal to
wide audiences 4 to answer the question “what if”
2. Which of these is not a feature of typical work in popular
fiction?
1 a character-driven story 2 stock characters 3 everyday spoken
language 4 a plot-driven story
3. What is the other name of popular fiction? _____________
4. Which fiction genres are called “speculative fiction”?
1 horror 2 chick lit 3 fantasy 4 sci-fi
5. Complete the following analogy:
An Introduction to the Luminiscent : Science fiction : : The
Haunting at Concha Cruz Drive : _____________________
10. Suppose a novel is about a young woman named Juliet who moves
6. Complete the following analogy: out of her parents’ house and moves into a new apartment owned
An Introduction to the Luminescent : ___________ : : Getting by Romeo, with whom she feels an unexpected emotional
Better : ___________ connection. What genre of popular fiction is the novel
1 novella 2 novel 3 short story 4 ghost story likely?________________________________

7. Is the following statement true?

Ghost stories are a specific kind of stories in the FANTASY

genre.
Type “true” if the statement is indeed true. Otherwise, type the
correct word that replaces the underlined word to make the
statement true.

8. All statements support that “An Introduction to the

Luminescent” by Pocholo Goitia is a work of science fiction
except one. Which is it?
30 | 21st Century Literature from Philippines and the World
New and Emerging Literary Forms in the 21st Century

Questions:
1. Which of these is not a literary genre?
1 graphic novel 2 nonfiction 3 motif 4 fiction
2. Which literary work is an example of metafiction?
1 Ilustrado 2 Fast Food Fiction 3 Waking the Dead 4 Philippine Speculative
Fiction
3. Brevity is the main characteristic of this genre of fiction. What genre is it?
1 slipstream 2 flash fiction 3 metafiction 4 magic realism
4. Suppose a short story has elements of both magic and reality. What genre
would you classify it? _______________
5. Which literary forms or genres use pictures or images to tell their story?
1 graphic novel 2 doodle fiction 3 magic realism 4 fantasy
6. Which statements are true for the genre of slipstream?
1 Slipstream is similar with speculative fiction. 2 Slipstream features
elements of magic realism. 3 Slipstream features elements of fantasy and

31 | 21st Century Literature from Philippines and the World

 Literary Works by Writers from
science fiction as well as serious fiction. 4 Slipstream is similar with
metafiction.
7. Which of the following statements are true for these writers: Gabriel
Garcia Marquez, Jorge Luis Borges, and Isabel Allende? Luzon
1 They are all American. 2 They are writers of magic realism. 3 They are
writers of speculative fiction. 4 They are all Latin American.
8. In her 124-word story “What Is to Come,” Lilledeshan Bose tells the story
of a woman whose husband, a congressman, has another woman.
Which genre is the most appropriate classification for it?
1 poetry 2 short story 3 flash fiction 4 fiction
9. Anne Lagamayo’s “Hopscotch” is a story about a group of children who
are dressed in suits, and they breathe oxygen in them. One day, the children
saw an object coming out of the ground. One of the boys wanted to keep it,
but the other did not. So, to settle the matter, the boys played hospscotch, and
whoever won would have the object to himself.
The story was published in Philippine Speculative Fiction IV (2009), and the
editors of the collection say that Lagamayo’s short story is a work of
slipstream.
Which of the statements tells the reason why Lagamayo’s story is a work of
slipstream?
1 Lagamayo’s short story is about another story. 2 Lagamayo’s short story
tells a very strange story. 3 Lagamayo’s short story tells a very brief story. 4
Lagamayo’s short story tells a realistic story with some magical events.
10. The story of Rosario Cruz Lucero’s “The Death of Fray Salvador
Montano” begins with the plague of locusts. During this time, men and
women came to Fray Montano to confess that they and their wives or
husbands were making love like locusts for the past week.
Based on the information, what makes the story a work of magic realism?
1 The locusts are acting strange. 2 The unusual lovemaking is treated as
normal. 3 The plague of locusts is of biblical proportions. 4 The confession
of the people of their sins is treated as unnatural.

32 | 21st Century Literature from Philippines and the World

 Questions:
1. What is referred to as the background of the text including
biographical, linguistic, and sociocultural factors surrounding it?
1 context 2 theme 3 atmosphere 4 setting
2. What do the works of Mikael de Lara Co and Catherine Batac
Walder have in common?
1 superstitious beliefs 2 an eerie atmosphere 3 Filipino cultural elements
4 highly urbanized areas as setting
3. How did Mikael de Lara Co use diction in “Kundiman”?
1 He used allusions to old and forgotten Philippine folk tales. 2 He used
culture to create a sophisticated tone for the poems. 3 He used slang that
situates the poem in the Luzon region. 4 He used words that evoked Filipino
sentimentality.
4. In “The Kambubulag,” how does using the kambubulag symbol help
in establishing the context of the story?
1 It allows readers to imagine themselves as a blind person. 2 It
produces vivid imagery about killer moths native to Luzon. 3 It situates

33 | 21st Century Literature from Philippines and the World

 the story within the superstitious Tagalog culture. 4 It shows that the (Reproduced by permission of Catherine Batac Walder)
story will have a supernatural twist later on. In what way does this passage highlight the sociocultural context of the text?
5. A kundiman is a song of longing. Which of the following lines from 1 The Philippines is known around the world for its tropical fruits that are
“Kundiman” hints at what the persona is longing for? hard to find elsewhere. 2 Living abroad and missing things from back home
1 coming together to vibrate / in the saddest of frequencies 2 tahan na, are a common Filipino experience. 3 The location of the country is close to
uwi na. Then strained / to hear all the engines in this city 3 I said hold in the equator, an area that receives a lot of sunlight. 4 It is a common Filipino
my own language / again and again, hawak, kapit 4 Your keys dangled superstition to avoid stopping by the side of a road.
by the sink. / Somewhere a chord is diminished 9. The Kambubulag (An Excerpt)
By Catherine Batac Walder
6. In the poem “Kundiman,” what is the significance of choosing the
Tagalog term kundiman over an equivalent English term like The kambubulag is notoriously associated with a road north of the Philippine
“serenade” or “ballad”? capital, home of a stream of vehicular accidents since the previous decade,
such that both names have become interchangeable in recent times:
1 The term is a cultural symbol. 2 The term makes a great pun at the kambubulag or Kambubulag Road. [. . .] Four roads intersect at that point.
end. 3 The term is an allusion to folk musicians. 4 The term is in the title [. . .] This intersection is notorious for heavy traffic. The residents claim that
for consistency. there is something
7. Kundiman (An Excerpt) perhaps a ghost
By Mikael de Lara Co
at the crossroads that keeps people from seeing other oncoming vehicles.
When scientists pressed their ears
against the universe, they found it (Reproduced by permission of Catherine Batac Walder)
whistling a single note in A minor. 1 The element of the supernatural is used to explain why natural and
I learned the word for hold supernatural phenomena occur. 2 The length of folk tales is usually short, so
in another language. I left they can be easily passed on by word of mouth. 3 The use of modern
the door open and wiped elements like technology hints at advanced pre-colonial societies. 4 The
the dust off the table. I drank. custom of giving a riddle or bugtong in the story makes it more engaging to
Ships pointed cannons at each other the audience.
for the right to name a sea.
10. Kundiman (An Excerpt)
(Reproduced by permission of Mikael de Lara Co) What figure of speech is
By Mikael de Lara Co
used in the last two lines of the excerpt?
I ate alone. I grew old. I grew older.
1 allusion 2 personification 3 irony 4 metaphor
I said hold in my own language
8. The Kambubulag (An Excerpt) again and again, hawak, kapit,
By Catherine Batac Walder tahan na, uwi na. Then strained
to hear all the engines in this city
Delia was tempted to pull over, after she saw the mangoes on the fruit stand
droning in A minor. A knife
by the side of the road. Having worked abroad a few years ago, Delia always
scraped against marble. A stick
longed for Philippine mangoes and bought some any chance she got. “The
rattled towards stillness. A minor.
closest I came to buying real Philippine mangoes were those sun-dried ones,
All the lullabies ever hummed
packed in their country of destination,” she used to say. While abroad she
coming together to vibrate
had a regular supply of dried mangoes, as if conjuring the Philippine sun
in the saddest of frequencies.
through them.

34 | 21st Century Literature from Philippines and the World

Your keys dangled by the sink.
Somewhere a chord is diminished
to static. Kundiman means
the opposite of if ever.
(Reproduced by permission of Mikael de Lara Co)
Why does the persona hear all the sounds of the world in A minor?
1 The persona is in a state of melancholy and regards both harsh noises and
beautiful music as equally sad. 2 The persona is in a violent state of mind and
any sound of A minor serves only to aggravate him further. 3 The persona is
in a romantic state and plays the kundiman in his head all the time,
overpowering other sounds. 4 The persona is in a perpetual dream state, so he
hears all the noises in the world as if he were sleeping.

Literary Works by Writers from Visayas and

Mindanao

35 | 21st Century Literature from Philippines and the World

 Questions:
1. Which is not part of the context of a literary work?
1 the theme 2 the author’s life 3 the regional culture 4 the languages
spoken by the author
2. Complete the following analogy:
Merlie Alunan : ____________ : : Gutierrez Mangansakan II :
____________
1 Iloilo 2 Cebu 3 Leyte 4 Maguindanao
3. Complete the following analogy:
Old Women in Our Village : poem : : A Harvest of Sorrows :
__________
4. What is the dominant literary device in the lines below?

36 | 21st Century Literature from Philippines and the World

Old women in my village say 1 The story takes place one morning in an evacuation center in a
the sea is always hungry, they say, remote village in Mindanao. 2 The story takes place one afternoon in
the backyard of a house of one of the refugees from war. 3 The story
1 personification 2 synecdoche 3 hyperbole 4 oxymoron
takes place one afternoon in the backyard of an evacuation center in a
5. According to Gutierrez Mangansakan II, what element is remote village in Mindanao. 4 The story takes place one morning in
consistent in both his films and writing? the rice fields in a remote village in Mindanao.
1 the government’s inadequacy 2 the value of human life 3 the 8. Which of these statements is likely true about the old women in
destruction of the sea 4 the refugees from war the poem Old Women in Our Village?
6. Old Women in Our Village (An Excerpt) 1 Old women have a strong connection to the calm sea because it
By Merlie M. Alunan provides them with much needed relief. 2 Old women are afraid of the
Old women in my village say sea because they are too weak to save themselves when the disaster
the sea is always hungry, they say, finally comes. 3 Old women have experienced how destructive the sea
that’s why it comes without fail can be in real life. 4 Old women are believable storytellers, so they tell
to lick the edges of the barrier sand, a lot of terrifying, real stories about the sea.
rolling through rafts of mangrove, 9. Why has the narrator of the short story “A Harvest of Sorrows”
smashing its salt-steeped flood come to the evacuation center?
on guardian cliffs, breaking itself
against rock faces, landlocks, hills, 1 to give away sacks of rice 2 to guard the evacuation center from
reaching through to fields, forests, the rebels 3 to comfort the refugees 4 to offer his services to his
grazelands, villages by the water, friend
country lanes, towns, cities where 10. Which of these statements does not give a possible explanation
people walk about in a dream, of how the last three lines of the excerpt of the poem Old
deaf to the wind shushing Women in Our Village are written?
the sea’s sibilant sighing
1 The lines mimic the rhythm of rolling tidal waves. 2 The lines do not
somedaywecome follow spelling and grammar conventions to aggravate the reader. 3
somedaywe come The lines make the stanza look like flowing sea waves. 4 The lines
someday . . . . give emphasis on particular words, which heightens the sense of
Why does the persona list land features like mangroves, hills, forests, foreboding.
and cities?
Electronic Literature
1 to produce length in the poem that will suggest the passing of time 2
to show that tidal waves and floods can destroy everything on land 3 to
create an image of a coastal town that is developed and highly
urbanized 4 to make the poem relatable to anyone from rural areas to
city centers
7. What is the setting of “A Harvest of Sorrows” by Gutierrez
Mangansakan II?

37 | 21st Century Literature from Philippines and the World

38 | 21st Century Literature from Philippines and the World
 1 web 2 e-book 3 computer 4 tablet
2. The textula is meant to be shared through this medium. What is this
medium? __________________
3. All of these kinds of electronic literature are of the same genre
except one. Which one is it?
1 textula 2 hyperfiction 3 hyperpoetry 4 photo poem
4. Which statements tell something true about the photo poem and the
silent comics?

1 Both forms are poetic in nature. 2 Both forms contain words. 3 Both forms
can be published through multimedia. 4 Both forms use pictures to convey
meaning.
5. Match the lines from Frank Rivera’s textula.

6. Which metal signs in alchemy are hyperlinks that appear on Vlad

Gonzales’s “hyper kuwento”?
1 copper 2 lead 3 steel 4 iron
7. Match the hyperlinks to the parts of the story “Mga Tala ng Buhay ni
Edward Elric, Dating State Alchemist, bilang State University
Instructor I” by Vlad Gonzales.

Questions:
1. Complete this analogy:
traditional literature : paper : : electronic literature : ________

39 | 21st Century Literature from Philippines and the World

 8. Which statement is not true for Edward Elric as a character in “Mga 1 He thinks his fellow countrymen have poor sense of priority. 2 He thinks
Tala ng Buhay ni Edward Elric, Dating State Alchemist, bilang State his fellow countrymen are very poor. 3 He thinks very highly of his country.
University Instructor 1” by Vlad Gonzales? 4 He thinks his country is a land full of beautiful people.
1 He is a state alchemist. 2 He is a state professor. 3 He has a child. 4
He is married.
9. A Textula (2013)
by Frank G. Rivera
Bayang mahilig sa ganda
Inuuna ang postura
Walang laman ang bituka English Literature
Kundi gasgas na pag-asa.
Si MEGAN YOUNG nang manalo
Nagbunyi ang Pilipino
May dala sanang asenso
Magkakapag-asa tayo.
Nagkagyera sa Mindanao
Kaban ng bayan ninakaw
Sa Bagyo’y daming pumanaw
MISS WORLD, salamat sa araw.
(Reproduced by permission of Frank Rivera)
What is likely the purpose of the writer in writing MEGAN YOUNG and
MISS WORLD in capital letters?
1 To emphasize that Megan Young’s victory in Miss World is flashy but
irrelevant. 2 To emphasize that Megan Young’s victory is a beacon of hope.
3 To emphasize that Megan Young’s victory is more important than any
news. 4 To emphasize that Megan Young is Miss World.
10. A Textula (2013)
by Frank G. Rivera
Bayang mahilig sa ganda
Inuuna ang postura
Walang laman ang bituka
Kundi gasgas na pag-asa.
(Reproduced by permission of Frank Rivera)
How does the persona regard his fellow countrymen?

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 Questions:
1. Which of these works is written in Middle English?
1 The Merchant of Venice 2 The Importance of Being Earnest 3
Songs of Innocence and of Experience 4 The Canterbury Tales
2. Which Victorian writer is known for his dramatic monologues?
1 Robert Browning 2 Alfred Lord Tennyson 3 Oscar Wilde 4 Charles
Dickens
3. Which period is the golden age of lyric poetry?
1 Victorian Period 2 Twentieth Century Period 3 Romantic Period 4
Elizabethan Period
4. In what language is Beowulf written? __________________
5. Which writers use the stream of consciousness technique in their
works?
. 1 William Butler Yeats 2 Virginia Woolf 3 Thomas Stearns Eliot 4
James Joyce
6. Which plays are written by the “Bard of Avon”?
1 Hamlet 2 King Lear 3 Macbeth 4 The Importance of Being Earnest
7. Arrange the literary periods of English literature chronologically.

8. Beowulf (An Excerpt)

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 LO, praise of the prowess of people-kings When in eternal lines to Time thou grow’st.
of spear-armed Danes, in days long sped, So long as men can breathe, or eyes can see,
we have heard, and what honor the athelings won! So long lives this, and this gives life to thee.
Oft Scyld the Scefing from squadroned foes, What does the pronoun this refer to in the last line of the sonnet?
from many a tribe, the mead-bench tore, 1 the person being addressed by the speaker 2 the speaker 3 summertime 4
awing the earls. Since erst he lay the sonnet itself
friendless, a foundling, fate repaid him:
for he waxed under welkin, in wealth he throve, till before him the
folk, both far and near,
American Literature
who house by the whale-path, heard his mandate, gave him gifts: a
good king he!
To him an heir was afterward born,
a son in his halls, whom heaven sent
to favor the folk, feeling their woe
that erst they had lacked an earl for leader
so long a while; the Lord endowed him,
the Wielder of Wonder, with world’s renown.
Famed was this Beowulf: far flew the boast of him, son of Scyld, in
the Scandian lands.
The word whale-path is an example of a kenning. What does it refer to?
1 dry land 2 a road 3 a whale 4 the sea
9. My Last Duchess (An Excerpt)
By Robert Browning
That’s my last Duchess painted on the wall,
Looking as if she were alive. I call
That piece a wonder, now: Frà Pandolf’s hands
Worked busily a day, and there she stands.
Whose voice does the poet assume in his work?
1 the poet himself 2 the duke 3 the duchess 4 the painting
10.Sonnet 18
By William Shakespeare
Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day?
Thou art more lovely and more temperate.
Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May,
And summer’s lease hath all too short a date.
Sometime too hot the eye of heaven shines,
And often is his gold complexion dimmed;
And every fair from fair sometime declines,
By chance, or nature’s changing course, untrimmed;
But thy eternal summer shall not fade,
Nor lose possession of that fair thou ow’st,
Nor shall death brag thou wand’rest in his shade,

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 3. Which of these writers was known for the poem
“Thanatopsis”?
1 Anne Sexton 2 William Cullen Bryant 3 E. E. Cummings 4
Emily Dickinson
4. Group the works of fiction according to the period in which they
were published.

5. Group the poets according to the period in which they became

known.

6. Which statements describe the writing style of the author?

The Killers (An Excerpt)

Questions:
By Ernest Hemingway
1. Who wrote the first detective story? _________________
2. Which of these writers wrote symbolical tales?
The door of Henry's lunch-room opened and two men came in. They
1 Washington Irving 2 Nathaniel Hawthorne 3 Sherwood sat down at the counter.
Anderson 4 Ernest Hemingway "What's yours?" George asked them.
"I don't know," one of the men said.

43 | 21st Century Literature from Philippines and the World

 "What do you want to eat, Al?”
“I don't know," said Al.
"I don't know what I want to eat."
Outside it was getting dark. The streetlight came on outside the
window. The two men at the counter read the menu. From the
other end of the counter Nick Adams watched them. He had been
talking to George when they came in.
"I'll have a roast pork tenderloin with apple sauce and mashed
potato," the first man said.
"It isn't ready yet."
"What the hell do you put it on the card for?"
"That's the dinner," George explained. "You can get that at six
o'clock."
George looked at the clock on the wall behind the counter.
"It's five o'clock."
"The clock says twenty minutes past five," the second man said.
"It's twenty minutes past."
"Oh, to hell with the clock," the first man said.
"What have you got to eat?"
"I can give you any kind of sandwiches," George said. "You can have
ham and eggs, bacon and eggs, liver and bacon, or a steak."

1 The writing is packed with details. 2 The sentences are short and simple. 3
The dialogues are very brief. 4 The tone is direct.

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