AFRO-ASIAN LITERATURE

Prelim Reviewer
WEEK 1 & 2: AFRO ASIAN LITERATURE Genres
Afro-Asian Literature • playwriting, poems, prose POEMS – about the history
• mirrors not only the customs and traditions of African and culture of the Afro-Asian people. They still express
and Asian countries but also their philosophy of life. their creativity and honor their culture by crafting
• reflection of the storm and the stress of developing beautiful poems such as haikus, ballads or sonnets.
nations seeking a place under the sun.
• refers to the literary output of the various countries and Playwrights
cultures in Africa and Asia. • celebrate their own culture and ancestry by setting
• sign of new and modern times. It also teaches people plays in the past and referencing historical events in
and allow them to learn about different experiences their storylines.
and cultures from all over the world.
• Earlier written documents were based on stories Prose
passed by word of mouth. • used to expose truth, to describe objects, places and
• Literary works handed by mouth from generation to people, to draw a reader deeper into a story.
generation to entertain, educate and remind the Norms
people about their past. • standard or pattern, especially of social behavior, that
is typical or expected of a group.
Asia
• has extremely diverse climates and geographic Culture
features. Climates range from arctic and subarctic in • shared patterns of behaviors and interactions,
Siberia to tropical in southern India and Southeast Asia. cognitive constructs, and affective understanding
• moist across southeast sections, and dry across much that are learned through a process of socialization.
of the interior. • highest degree of culture is embodied within a virtue
• largest daily temperature ranges on Earth occur in of respecting other humans, either as an individual or
western sections of Asia. a part of community.
• The monsoon circulation dominates across southern
and eastern sections, due to the presence of the Norms And Culture: Africa
Himalayas forcing the formation of a thermal low • 300 distinct ethnic groups, 2000 languages
which draws in moisture during the summer. • most genetically diverse people
Southwestern sections of the continent are hot. • world's second largest and second most populous
continent.
Africa • Sense of Community - A popular African proverb
• youngest continent in terms of its population – 50% of comes to mind here to express the African sense of
Africans are 19 years old or younger. community.
• highest child malnutrition rates and lack of schooling • Sense of Good Human Relations - The art of dialogue
rates in the world. and conversation is a cherished value in African
• considered by most paleoanthropologists to be the human people freely discuss their problems and look
oldest inhabited territory on Earth. for suggestions and solutions together.
• largest of the three great southward projections from • Sense of hospitality - The African sense of hospitality is
the largest landmass of the Earth. one of the African values that is still quite alive.
• has 54 countries and it is divided into subregions:
Western Africa – Nigeria Norms And Culture: Asia
Eastern Africa – Ethiopia • support the view of the individual as being a part of a
Northern Africa – Egypt much larger group or family, and place great
Middle Africa – Congo importance on the well- being of the group.
• Family and Education - number of Asian students have
Characteristics of African literature: done conspicuously well in terms of test scores, gifted
• slave narratives • African pride student programs, admissions to prestigious schools,
• protests against • hope for the future academic awards, and in classical music.
• colonization • dissent • Reserve Conformity and Harmony - well-being of the
• calls for independence larger group is most important in Asian culture, great
importance is placed on maintaining harmony.
5 major themes of African literature: • Benevolence and Obligation - Asian societies tend to
• Themes of Colonialism be very hierarchical, in contrast to African culture,
• Liberation where in some cases it is not unusual to consider
• Nationalism teacher and student, or even parent and child as
• Tradition equals.
• Displacement • Loss of face, shame and honor - one of the known
• Rootlessness in African Literature. Asian concepts among others society.
Norms and Culture: General History:
• Afro-Asian countries usually cared for their family first; • With the end of the Civil War in 1865, hundreds of
then they are fond of their social values; and specially, thousands of African Americans newly freed from the
their love for their own country. yoke of slavery in the South began to dream of fuller
• active in celebrating festivals that reflects their own participation in American society, including political
characteristics as an Asian. empowerment, equal economic opportunity, and
• good writers. economic and cultural self-determination.
• talented on different branch of sports and arts that • by the late 1870s, that dream was largely dead, as
they are about to compete worldwide. white supremacy was quickly restored to the
Reconstruction South. White lawmakers on state and
Literature local levels passed strict racial segregation laws
• man’s higher nature and its needs– emotional, known as “Jim Crow laws” that made African
spiritual, intellectual, and creativity. Americans second-class citizens.
• entertains and gives pleasure. • African Americans were able to become landowners,
most were exploited as sharecroppers, a system
2 Main Divisions: designed to keep them poor and powerless.
Prose Poetry • the Ku Klux Klan (KKK) perpetrated lynchings and
Form Written in Written in stanza or conducted campaigns of terror and intimidation to
paragraph form verse form keep African Americans from voting or exercising
Language Expressed in Expressed in other fundamental rights.
ordinary metrical rhythmical
Language and figurative Economy
language • With booming economies across the North and
Appeal To the intellect To the emotion Midwest offering industrial jobs for workers of every
Aim To convince, Stir the imagination
race, many African Americans realized their hopes for
inform, instruct, and set an ideal of
a better standard of living—and a more racially
imitate, and reflect how life should be
tolerant environment—lay outside the South. By the
turn of the 20th century, the Great Migration was
4 Main Literary Genres
underway as hundreds of thousands of African
Non -Fiction Fiction
Americans relocated to cities like Chicago, Los
literary work of “real life” literary work of
narration or exposition imaginative narration, Angeles, Detroit, Philadelphia, and New York.
based on history and either oral or written.
facts. The Great Migration
e.g: e.g: • Between the end of WW I and the mid-1930s, they
• article • fantasy produced one of the most significant eras of cultural
• memoir • folklore expression in the nation’s history—the Harlem
• speech • science fiction Renaissance.
• biography • mystery • Yet this cultural explosion also occurred in Cleveland,
• interview • romance Los Angeles and many cities shaped by the great
migration. Alain Locke, a Harvard-educated writer,
Drama Poetry critic, and teacher who became known as the “dean”
meant to be acted on literary work expressed in of the Harlem Renaissance, described it as a “spiritual
the stage. verse, measure and
coming of age” in which African Americans
rhythm, sound and
transformed “social disillusionment to race pride.”
e.g: imaginative language.
• comedy e.g:
• tradegy • lyric Literature
• narrative • Harlem Renaissance encompassed poetry and prose,
painting and sculpture, jazz and swing, opera and
WEEK 3: THE NEGRO RENAISSANCE dance.
Harlem Renaissance (1920s – 1930s) • What united these diverse art forms was their realistic
• many African-Americans migrated from the South to presentation of what it meant to be black in America,
Northern cities, seeking economic and creative what writer Langston Hughes called an “expression of
opportunities. our individual dark-skinned selves,” as well as a new
• only gained widespread appeal in the 1960s. militancy in asserting their civil and political rights.
• During the four preceding decades, writers had mostly
referred to a "Negro Renaissance." Movement
• Stock Market Crash of 1929 and resulting Great • Harlem was the epicenter of American culture.
Depression • The literature, music, and fashion they created
defined culture and “cool” for blacks and white alike,
in America and around the world.
THE THREE THEORIES USED IN DIGESTING LITERARY PIECES 18. Structuralism – approach to literature that examines
Author Text Reader’s how literary texts arrive at their meanings rather than
Dependent Dependent Dependent the meaning itself.
Theory Theory Theory 19. Queer Criticism – focused its inquiries into natural and
Focuses on the Focuses on the Focuses on the unnatural behavior with respect to homosexual
perspective form, style and perspective and behavior, queer theory expands its focus to
and the structure of the own interpretation encompass any kind of sexual activity or identity that
background of literary text towards the literary falls into normative and deviant categories.
the author. itself. text of the reader
20. Moral-Philosophical Criticism – evaluates a work in
himself.
terms of the ideas and values in relation to particular
ethical, philosophical or religious system.
CRITICISM APPROACHES
1. Literary Criticism – systematic study and evaluation of
WEEK 4: CHARACTERISTICS OF AFRICAN AMERICAN
literary works.
LITERATURE
2. Biographical Criticism – begins with simple but central
African-American Literature
insight that Literature is written by actual people and
• writings by people of African descent living in the
that understanding an author’s life can help readers
United States.
more thoroughly comprehend the work.
• Concern for identity, freedom, and independence.
3. Cultural Criticism - approach to literature that focuses
• Concern with the position in a dominant society.
on the historical as well as social political and
• Use of religious imagery, songs, settings, and the
economic contexts of a work.
dominance of the black church in the Southern black
4. Deconstructionism - critical dismantling of tradition
community.
and traditional modes of thought.
5. Feminist Criticism - approach to literature that seeks to
Characteristics and Themes:
correct and supplement what may be regarded as a
• African American literature - focus on themes of
predominantly made dominated critical perspective
particular interest to Black people,
with a feminist consciousness.
• e.g: the role of African Americans within the larger
6. Formalist Criticism - approach to literature that
American society and issues such as African American
focuses on the formal elements of a work such as its
culture, racism, religion, slavery, freedom, and
language, structure and tone.
equality.
7. Gay and Lesbian - approach to literature that focuses
• constitutes a vital branch of the literature of the
on how homosexuals are represented in literature.
African diaspora, and has both been influenced by
8. Gender Criticism - approach to literature that explore
the great African diasporic heritage.
how ideas about men and women- what is masculine
• Oral culture - rich in poetry, including spirituals, African
and feminine- can be regarded as socially
American gospel music, blues, and rap.
constructed by particular cultures.
• Oral poetry - Christian sermons, which make use of
9. Historical Criticism – approach to literature that uses
deliberate repetition, cadence, and alliteration.
history as means of understanding literary work more
clearly.
EARLY AFRICAN AMERICAN LITERATURE
10. Marxist Criticism - approach to literature that focuses
Poet Phillis Wheatley (1753–84)
on the ideological content of work of Karl Marx.
• Born in Senegal, Africa
11. Mythological Criticism - approach to literature that
• Captured and sold into slavery at the age of 7.
seeks to identify what in work creates deep universal
• Her poetry was praised by many of the leading figures
response in readers, by paying close attention to the
of the American Revolution, including George
hopes, fears and expectations of the entire cultures.
Washington.
12. New Criticism - approach to literature that focuses in
explication - extremely close textual analysis.
Slave Narratives
13. New Historicism – approach to literature that
• subgenre of African American literature that began in
emphasizes the interaction between the historic
the middle of the 19th century.
context of the work and a modern reader’s
• Harriet Beecher Stowe's Uncle Tom's Cabin (1852)
understanding and of the work.
representing the abolitionist view of the evils of slavery
14. Post Colonial Criticism – approach to literature that
• Anti-Tom literature by white, southern writers William
focuses on the study of cultural behavior and
Gilmore Simms represented the pro-slavery viewpoint.
expression in relationship to the colonized word.
15. Psychological Criticism – approach to literature that
Post-Slavery Era
draws upon psychoanalytic theories.
• AA authors continued to write nonfiction works about
16. Sociological Criticism – approach to literature that
the condition of African Americans in the country.
examines social groups, relationship and values as
• Writers: W.E.B. Du Bois (1868–1963), Booker T.
they are manifested in literature.
Washington (1856–1915), Jamaican Marcus Garvey
17. Reader Response Criticism - approach to literature
(1887–1940).
that focuses on the reader rather than the work itself.
Harlem Renaissance (1920-1940) • Tanka - 5 lines poem with 5-7-5-7-7 syllables.
• Based in the African American community in Harlem in • Meiji Restoration (19th century) - Western influences
New York City, existed as a larger flowering of social have penetrated Japanese literature (Abe Kobo
thought and culture—with numerous Black artists, Woman in the Dunes).
musicians, and others producing classic works in fields
from jazz to theater. Korea
• Langston Hughes - one of the most famous writers of • “Land of the Morning Calm” – South Korea
the renaissance. • “The Hermit Kingdom” – North Korea
• Established in 918 by King Taejo of Goryeo dynasty.
Civil Rights Movement Era • Korean - official language of North and South Korea
• Black people left the racism and lack of opportunities • Hangul – Alphabets in South Korea
in the American South and settled in northern cities like • Chosungul – Alphabets in China and North Korea
Chicago, where they found work in factories and other • Early Korean literature was heavily influenced by
sectors of the economy. Shamanism, Buddhism and Confucianism.
• This migration produced a new sense of • Hyangga - Korean writings that were poems
independence in the Black community and • Shijo- new form of poem developed after the Goryeo
contributed to the vibrant Black urban culture seen dynasty. 3-line poem with 14 to 16 syllables each.
during the Harlem Renaissance. • The first printed work of fiction in Korean was John
Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress (Cheonno-yeokjeong).
WEEK 5: EAST ASIAN LITERATURE • Christianity found its way into Korea, having the first
East Asian Literature complete edition of Bible in Korean published in 1910.
• refers to the study of literature of the people in: China,
Japan, and Korea. ELEMENTS OF FICTION
Characters
China • representation of a human being; persons involved in
• oldest civilizations in the world that dates back to the a conflict.
Shang Dynasty in 1765 B.C. China is known as “The Red • Fiction characters:
Dragon” o Protagonist – the principal character in the story.
• Tang Dynasty (618-907) - well-known poets created He usually an admirable character with whom we
landmark works unrivalled elsewhere in the world. usually sympathize or identify.
• Tu Fu - known as a poet-historian for his portrayal of the o Antihero – an inept or otherwise ridiculous
social and political disorders of his time and is also character
noted for his artistry and craftsmanship. o Antagonist – the villain or a character in conflict
• Li Po or Li tai Po - was one of the leading Chinese poets with the hero and is usually less admirable than the
of the 8th century. His writings deal with the good hero; he creates the conflict.
things of life with the pathos of human destiny, love, o Fringe - one who is destroyed by his inner conflict.
friendship, wine, nature, and simple village living. • Dynamic or round character – fully developed
• Wang Wei - excelled in imagery, and his poems often character that recognizes changes with or adjust to
hold a subtle metaphysical flavor testifying to his long the circumstances. (e.g protagonist & antagonist)
study of Buddhism. • Flat character – character who does not grow and
• Mo Yan – work: “Sandalwood Death”. remains the same or a stereo type character of
• Wang Shuo – work: Please Don’t Call Me Human” conventional traits. (e.g evil step mother)
• Foil character – character who points the qualities or
Japan characteristics of another character.
• “Land of the Rising Sun”
• Katakana – basic alphabet in Japan which consists of Setting
47 characters. • locale (place) or period (time) in which the action of
• Earliest writings from ancient Japan are: The Records a short story, play, novel or the motion picture takes
of Ancient Matters in Kojiki (A.D. 712) The Chronicles of place (background of the story.)
Japan or Nihongi (A.D. 720).
• Japanese drama has 3 types: Noh, Bunraku, and Conflict
Kabuki. • struggle or complication involving the characters, the
• Noh Play- national theater of Japan. The oldest opposition of persons or forces upon which the action
surviving form of Japanese theater. depends in drama or fiction.
• Bunraku/ Joruri Play - known as the “Doll Theater” or
the puppet play. 1. Internal Conflict
• Kabuki Play - play of the masses. Less intellectual, • occurs when the protagonist struggles within himself or
more realistic and sensational. herself.
• Haiku - shortest form of Japanese poetry but most • MAN VS. HIMSELF
popular. 3 lines with 5-7-5 syllables.
2. Interpersonal Conflict Classification (Point of View)
• pits the protagonist against someone else • First person - when the main character is telling the
• MAN VS. MAN story. (I)
• Second person - generally only used in instructional
3. External Conflict writing. (You)
• happens when the protagonist is in conflict with the • Third person - when your narrator is not a character in
values of his or her society. the story. (He/she/it)
• MAN VS. FATE
• MAN VS. SOCIETY Main Types of Third Person Pov
• MAN VS. NATURE 1. Third Person Limited: Limited means that the POV is
limited to only one character.
Plot 2. Third Person Multiple: still in the "he/she/it" category,
• a casually related sequence of events which involves but now the narrator can follow multiple characters in
the character in conflict. (Beginning, Middle, Ending) the story.
• the sequence of events is called narrative order. 3. Third Person Omniscient: still uses the "he/she/it"
• chronological order - common type of narrative order. narration but now the narrator knows EVERYTHING.
• flashback occurs when the author narrates an event
that took place before the current time of the story Mood
• time lapse occurs when the story skips a period of time • general feeling or atmosphere that a piece of writing
that seems unusual compared to the rest of the plot. creates within the reader.

• Exposition - introduces the time, place, setting and the Tone

main characters. • written composition, is an attitude of a writer toward a
• Rising Action - unfolds the problems and struggles that subject or an audience.
would be encountered by the main characters • generally conveyed through the choice of words, or
leading to the crisis. the viewpoint of a writer on a particular subject.
• Climax - part where the problem or the conflict is the
highest peak of interest and greatest emotion. Symbolism
• Falling Action - untying of knots or the part that shows • figure of speech where an object, person, or situation
a conflict or a problem is solved. has another meaning other than its literal meaning.
• Denouement - contains the last statement of the story • actions of a character, word, action, or event that
have a deeper meaning in the context of the whole
Qualities Of Plot story.
• Exciting – it should be more exciting than the everyday
reality that surrounds us. Sensory Images (Imagery)
• Good structure – the episodes must be arranged • strategy readers use to think more deeply about a text.
effectively, but the most important element of plot • when a reader combines their schema and the
structure is tying all incidents together, so that one information in the text to create an image in their
leads naturally to another. mind.

Plot Devices Theme

• Flashback – something out of the chronological order: • central topic a text treats.
to reveal information to understand character’s • can be divided into two categories: a work's thematic
nature. concept is what readers "think the work is about" and
• Foreshadowing – a device to give a sign of something its thematic statement being "what the work says
to come its purpose is to create suspense, to keep the about the subject".
readers guessing what will happen then.
• Suspense - this is the feeling of excitement or tension
in the reader’s experiences as the action of the plot
unfolds.
• Surprise Ending - this is an ending that catches the
reader off guard with an unexpected event.
• In medias res – the technique of beginning a story in
the middle of the action, with background information
given later in flashbacks.

Point Of View
• writer’s feeling and attitude toward his subject
• determines who tells the story
• identifies the narrator of the story