21st Century Literature
What is 21st Century Literature? New literary work created within the last decade. (2000 up to present) Written by contemporary authors. Deals with current themes/issues and reflects a technological culture. Often breaks technological writing rules. Who is 21 st Century Reader? Grew up or honed in using using technology as a primary learning tool. Is capable of navigating and interpreting digital formats and media messages. Emerging Genres Illustrated Novel Story through text and illustrated images
Digi Fiction Literary experience that combines three media: book, movie/video and internet website.
Graphic Novels Narratives in Comic Book Formats
Graphic Genres
Manga Japanese word for comics. “Ameri-Manga”- American artists in Manga Style Shonen- Boy’s Manga Shojo- Girl’s Manga Seinenn- Men’s Manga Josei- Women’s Manga Kodomo- Children’s Manga
Doodle Fiction Hand scribed font and images.
Text-Talk Novels Stories told almost completely in dialogue simulating social network exchanges.
Wattpad
Is an online storytelling community where users post written works such as article stories, fan fiction and poems either through the website or a mobile app.
Facebook Serye” Text/Story Series
Facebook Pages Stories
Adaptations Theater/Play Adaptation The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time (2012) Frankenstein (2011) Girl With Pearl Earring (2008) Classics To Kill A Mockingbird (1990) Romeo and Juliet Film/Movie Adaptation Is the transfer of a written work in whole whole or in part to feature in a film. The most common form of film adaptation is the use of a novel.
Contemporary Authors Bob Ong - Bob Ong is the pseudonym of contemporary Filipino authorknown for using conversational writing technique to create humorous and reflective depictions of Philippine life. The author's actual name and identity is unknown. The pseudonym Bob Ong came about when the author was working as a web developer and a teacher, and he put up the Bobong Pinoy website in hi s spare time. The name roughly translates to "Dumb Filipino," used fondly as a pejorative term. "Although impressed," Bob Ong notes, "my boss would've fired me had he known I was the one behind it." When someone contacted him after mistaking him as an actual person named Bob Ong, his famous pseudonym was born.The site received a People's Choice Philippine Web Award for Weird/Humor in 1998, but was taken down after former President Joseph "Erap" Estrada was ousted after the Second People Power Revolution. There have been occasional confusions between Bob Ong and Chinese-Filipinoauthor Charlson Ong. However, Bob Ong himself refutes this in his account in Stainless Longganisa, saying his surname is not "Ong" and neither is he even Filipino-Chinese. The family name was instead derived from wordplay on the name of his website. The poet Paolo Manalo has also been put forward as Ong, but he has denied this.
Published Works
Year
Title
2001
ABNKKBSNPLAko?!
2002
Bakit Baligtad Magbasa ng Libro ang mga Pilipino?
2003
Ang Paboritong Libro ni Hudas Alamat ng Gubat
2005
Stainless Longganisa
2007
Macarthur
2009
Kapitan Sino
2010
Ang mga Kaibigan ni Mama Susan
2011
Lumayo Ka Nga Sa Akin
2014
Si
ABNKKBSNPLAKo? ABNKKBSNPLAKo?! is told through a series of humorous anecdotes focusing on four phases: primary school, high school, university, and his adult working life. Ong is befuddled by
his introduction to a chaotic, Filipino public school at age five, and deeply scared of terrifying, witch-like first primary teacher, who made a habit of physically lashing out at misbehaving students. As Ong grows older, his troubles with school grow. He skips school to watch movies at the local movie theater. He experiences the traditional teenage scourge of acne, dotingly pursues a pretty girl he refers to as “Special Someone,” and battles his constant foe, math class, all while using his experiences to poke fun at Filipino cultural norms and the Philippines’ deeply underfunded public education system.
Bakit Baliktad Magbasa ng Libro Ang Mga Pilipino Siguro alam mo na kung ano ang afr ichado, kung saan ang Ganges River sa Pilipinas, at kung bakit may mga taong umaakyat ng overpass pero hindi naman tumatawid. Pero alam mo na rin ba kung bakit sa ilalim ng overpass tumatawid ang mga Pilipino? Kung ano ang lasa ng Toning Water? Kung sino sila Ciriaco, Procopio, Espiridiona, Troadio, at Maxima? Kung paano makipagkaibigan sa mga bangaw? Kung ano ang nagpapaalat sa itlog na maalat? Kung ano ang alam ni Claire Danes na hindi mo alam? At kung bakit nagbabasa pa rin ang mga Pilipino kahit sabihan pang "Bawal Basahin ang Nakasulat Dito"? Nang isulat ko ang "ABNKKBSNPLAko?! Mga Kwentong Chalk ni Bob Ong," ipinakilala ko sa mga dating mambabasa ng Bobong Pinoy ang tao sa likod ng nasabing website. Sa wakas, nasagot na rin ang makulit na tanong na "Taga-U.P. ba si Bob Ong?" Yun nga lang, hindi pa rin doon nagtapos ang usapan. Dahil para naman sa mga ngayon pa lang nakabasa ng mga kwentong barbero ni Bob Ong, umikot lang ang t anong sa pinagmulan nito: "Ano ang Bobong Pinoy?"
Naisalin na ang nasabing website sa isang libro. Ang "Bakit Baliktad Magbasa ng Libro ang mga Pilipino?" ay iniaalay namin sa lahat ng mga kababayang handa nang mag-almusal at gustong makatulong... qualified man o hindi! Sa ngalan ng mga manunulat at mga taong dating bumubuo ng Bobong Pinoy, ihinahandog po namin ito sa inyo.
Lumayo Ka Nga Sa Akin In a recent interview with The Philippine Star , Ong explained that the book is "basically all about the ills of mass media that y ou wish would change. It’s mainly ab out, but not limited to, Pinoy movies. It’s the insanity and absurdity of our lives, our concept of entertainment, misplaced values, commercialism, and thoughtless existence as reflected through our abuse of art. It is laughable, but more deplorable.
The book is divided into three "short films", each one pokes fun to a particular genre. Bala Sa Bala, Kamao Sa Kamao, Satsat Sa Satsat- The first film in the trilogy centers around Diego, an action star who wants to take revenge against a group of bad guys, also k nown as "Bandidos" (bandits), after they killed his parents, his wife, Ashley, and everyone who attended their wedding, just a few moments right after they get married at the beginning of the f ilm. As the story unfolds, Diego, being an action star, gets into misadventures and finds himself in trouble-after-trouble. Unfortunately, Divina Tuazon, a famous actress and Diego's new found leading lady , was kidnapped by the Bandidos. Finally, in an abandoned warehouse (a setting where most of Pinoy action films' final scenes takes place), Diego tries to save Divina from the evil hands of Bandido's merciless and heartless leader named "Bos". The plot generally follows themes from classic Filipino action movies, as well as comedy films from early 1980s to 1990s. For example, Diego's sidekicks, Dodoy and Momoy uses slapstick from time to time, a type of comedy which was very popular in the country for the past decades.
Shake, Shaker, Shakest - A middle-class family was forced to enter and stay in a white haunted house for several days after being stranded in an unfamiliar place. The title is play on the Shake, Rattle & Rollf ilm series and the plot is a ludicrous horror film.
Asawa ni Marie - A rags-to-riches story about Marie, a poor girl who has a confusing status in life and love. The plot is similar to Philippine dramas and soap operas, particularly Marimar.
Stainless Longganisa Released in December 2005 by Visprint, it follows the style used in Bob Ong's first three publications: the use of contemporary Filipino language to express the author's views on Filipino culture. Unlike the first three books, however, it mainly deals with literature. According to the blurb, it focuses on [translated from the vernacular]: " ... stories by leaking pens about the importance of reading, reaching your dreams and the correct way of writing.
Elements of Prose Prosus – [L] direct or straightforward Prose
An unmetrical literary genre and is concerned with the presentation of an idea, conce pt, or point of view in a more ordinary language and in a more leisurely manner. anything that is NOT poetry or plays
Types Fiction- a series of imagined facts which illustrate truth about human life Non-fiction- based on facts (oration, chronicle or memoir, history, diary or journal, travelogue, auto- or biography, letter or epistle, anecdote or character sketch) Prose is divided into 2 categories:
short story Definition: Fictional story that can be read in one sitting. Example: “A Rose for Emily,” “The Cask of Amontillado,” or “The Most Dangerous Game
novel Definition: A long prose narrative that must be read in many sittings. Example: To Kill a Mockingbird, The Scarlet Letter, or The Great Gatsby
Elements of Prose
Plot Character Setting Point of View Theme Irony Symbol
Plot
The “framework” or “skeleton” of the story;
A series of related events that are linked together Arrangement may be chronological, Causal, associative, flashback or a combination of each
What Makes Up Plot? 1. Basic Situation (Exposition) - Tells the audience who the characters ar e and introduces the conflict - Acquaints readers with the setting, time, and the opening situation 2. Rising Action - Complications that arise when the characters take steps to resolve their conflicts -The events that develop the conflict; there is a movement in space and a movement in time and for each character involved, each type of se ries is involved 3. Climax: - Most exciting or suspenseful moment when something happens to determine the outcome of the conflict. - It is the high point or the big moment of a story or novel; the point where the forces of the piece of fiction reach their moment of maximum concentration; this also g ives a hint of how the conflict will be resolved. 4. Falling Action: The conflict is in the process of being resolved or “unraveled
Freytag’s Pyramid
Gustav Freytag was a Nineteenth Century German novelist who saw common patterns in the plots of stories and novels and developed a diagram to analyze them. He diagrammed a story's plot using a pyramid like the one shown here:
Character: Revealing Human Nature Character- A person or being in a story that performs the action of the plot. Characterization: The process of revealing the personality of a character in a story. Steps to the Characterization Process A writer can reveal a character in the following ways: 1. Letting up hear the character speak 2. Describing how the character looks & dresses 3. Letting us listen to the character’s inner thoughts and feelings 4. Revealing what other characters in the story think or say about the character 5. Showing us what the character does – how he or she acts *These call on the reader to take the information he or she is given to interpret for himself/herself the kind of character he or she is reading about. This is called INDIRECT CHARACTERIZATION
Types of Characters Dynamic Character: The character changes as a result of the action of the story. (round) Static Character: The character does not change much in the course of the story. (flat) Protagonist: The main character of the story. Can be good or evil Antagonist: The character or force that comes into conflict with the protagonist Can be another person, an animal, a force of nature, society, the character’s own conscience, etc. Archetype: a character whose traits are similar to famous persons in history, literature or in the bible
Setting Defintion: The time and location in which the story takes place Purpose of Setting Gives background information Provides conflict Man vs. Nature, Man vs. Society Can reveal a lot about someone’s character Provides mood or atmosphere Mood- the feeling WE get when we read a story Can paint images for the reader - Images – words that call forth the 5 senses
Theme Definition: The insight about human life that is revealed in a literary work. The “golden thread” woven throughout the story. -The theme is what the author is saying through the story (it’s a deeper truth about reality) - The plot how he says it : it is the story he uses to get this point across
Point of View Definition: The direction from which the writer has chosen to tell the story There are 3 Points of View: 1. First Person: One of the characters tells the story; talks directly to the reader - Uses the pronoun “I,” “me,” “we,” o r “us” 2. Third Person Limited : The narrator will focus on the thoughts & feelings of just one character - Reader experiences the events of the story through the memory and senses of only one character 3. Third-Person Omniscient- “All-knowing” - An all-knowing narrator who refers to all the characters as “he” and “she.” Knows the thoughts and feelings of ALL of the characters. *The narrator is not necessarily the story’s author*
Conflict
Definition- It exists when a character is struggling with something or someone - Could be a number of things: - Another person, an animal, - an inanimate object- a rock, the weather - The character’s own personality
External Conflict- Caused by something OUTSIDE the character - Example: an another character, a river, weather, society - Man vs. Man, Man vs. Nature, Man vs. Society Internal Conflict- Character struggles with some personal quality that is causing trouble - Example: vanity, pride, selfishness, grief - Man vs. Self
Foreshadowing
Definition: Clues about what is going to happen as the story unfolds
Suspense
Definition: Anxiety WE feel about what is going to happen next in the story
Parody
Definition: The imitation of a work of literature, art, or music for amusement or instruction
Satire
Definition: A kind of writing that ridicules human weakness, vice, or folly in order to bring about social reform.
Example: Political cartoons, “A Modest Proposal”
Irony
Definition: An “unexpected twist” in a story - 3 Types of Irony: 1. Verbal: Someone says one thing but means another
- also known as sarcasm 2. Situational: When a reader expects one thing to happen and the opposite occurs 3. Dramatic: When the character in a play thinks one thing is true, but the audience knows better. The audience has inside information that a character does not. - This information usually comes in the form of an aside o r a soliloquy.
Soliloquy
Definition: A character stands alone on stage and addresses the world (audience), giving voice to his innermost thoughts and feelings.
More Elements of Prose Tone: The attitude the writer takes toward the subject of a work, the characters in it, or the audience.
Denotation/Connotation Denotation: Dictionary definition of a word - Example: Mom-Female individual who gives birth and physical care to her offspring. Connotation: Feelings people get from hearing or reading a particular word - Example: Mom-Hug, loving, caring, dries tears, role model 1. DogDenotation: Domesticated, 4-legged canine Connotation: Smelly, fluffy, man’s best friend, playful, loyal, protective 2. FairDenotation: Amusement park which travels; also includes agricultural exhibits Connotation: fun, food, crowded, smelly, carnies
Elements of a Short Story Plot - A series of related events that present and resolve a conflict Exposition and Rising Action Exposition The part of the story, usually near the beginning, in which the characters are introduced, the background is explained, and the setting is described. Rising Action The central part of a story during which various problems arise after a conflict is introduced. •
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Climax, Falling Action and Resolution Climax o The most exciting point in the story, w hen the conflict is decided o Falling Action The action and dialogue following the climax that lead the reader into the story’s end. Resolution o - The conflict is resolved (positively or negatively) and the story is brought to a close - Also know as “Denouement”
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Protagonist MAIN CHARACTER of the story Often, hero or character the audience is supposed to feel most sympathetic for Not always…for example, the main character could be a serial killer. Antagonist primary adversary of the protagonist Sometimes the villain –
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Again, not always. In the previous example, the policeman who is trying to catch the serial killer (who is the main character, and ther efore the protagonist) is the antagonist .
Conflict The Primary struggle between the main character or characters and an adverse character, group or force Internal Conflict A struggle between a character and him/herself External Conflict A struggle between a character and an outside force. Man vs. Man Man vs. Nature Man vs. Supernatural Man vs. Society •
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Complications •
Small problems in addition to the conflict that add interest to the story
Suspense The uncertainty or anxiety that a reader feels about what will happen in a story Foreshadowing Dilemma Mystery Reversal •
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Foreshadowing Clues (real or false) that hint at a story’s outcome Dilemma A character that we care about is in peril or must choose between two dangerous courses of action Mystery •
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The creation of suspense by withholding information or by presenting unusual circumstances
Reversal •
A sudden change in a character’s situation from good to bad or vice versa
Characterization •
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The technique used by a writer to create and reveal the personalities of the characters in a written work. This may be done by: Direct Characterization The author directly states aspects of the character’s personality i.e. He was a grumpy and unfriendly old man, known for his hatred of young children and puppies. Indirect Characterization More common method for most characters, e specially major characters We must infer personality traits from the story –
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Indirect Characterization Indirect Characterization may be accomplished by describing the character’s physical appearance and situation, revealing a characters thoughts, The character’s words or actions, showing the reaction of other characters. Types of Characters •
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Flat Character shows only one trait Round Character Shows many different traits, good and bad Static Character character does not change through the course of the story Dynamic Character character develops and grows during the co urse of the story –
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Setting The time and place in which the action of a narrative occurs The time and place in which the action of a narrative occurs The underlying meaning of a literary work. This differs from the subject in that it involves a statement of opinion about that subject. The theme may be stated or implied. Not every literary work has a theme, and some have more than one Point of View The relationship between the narrator of a story and the characters in it Narrator is NOT the same as author Types of POV: •
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First Person Third Person, Omniscient Third Person, Limited Omniscient Third Person, Objective
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First Person The narrator offers a personal account of t heir own experiences or describes what happens to other characters as the narrator sees it Third Person The narrator stands outside the action (non-participatory) and presents Omniscient (all-knowing) point of view Can see the thoughts & emotions of all (or numerous) characters Limited Omniscient focuses on one character’s thoughts and viewpoints Objective Describes only what can be seen “Reporter style” –
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differences in appearance and reality, or expectations and results, or meaning and intention Dramatic Irony: a contradiction between what a character thinks a nd what the reader or audience knows to be true Situational Irony: an event occurs that directly contradicts the expectations of the characters, readers, or audience Verbal Irony: words are used to suggest the opposite of what is meant (i.e. sarcasm, double-entendre, etc.) –
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Literary Techniques ALLEGORY - An allegory is a work of art, such as a story or painting, in which the characters, images, and/or events act as symbols. The symbolism in an allegory can be interpreted to have a deeper meaning. An author may use allegory to illustrate a moral or spiritual truth, or political or historical situation. There are many common stories that w e tell which have allegorical meanings. These are especially popular in
stories for children, as allegories often me an to teach some lesson or help the audience understand complex ideas and concepts. Stories such as Aesop’s Fables often have morals, and thus are e xamples of allegory. We also use real events that have happened to teach lessons. Here are some stories that have entered into public consciousness that are also allegories:
ALLITERATION - Alliteration is the repetition of the same consonant sounds at the beginning of wor ds that are in close proximity to each other. This repetition of sounds brings attention to the lines in which it is used, and c reates more aural rhythm. In poems, alliteration can also refer to repeated consonant sound in the stresse d syllables of a line. CONSONANCE - Consonance is a literary device in which a consonant sound is repeate d in words that are in close proximity. The repeated sound can appear anywhere in the wor ds, unlike in alliteration where the repeated consonant sound must occur in the stressed part o f the word. Consonance is also a similar concept to assonance, which refers to the repetition of vowel sounds in quick succ ession Difference Between Consonance and Assonance Consonance and assonance are related, yet opposite, poet ic devices. As stated above, consonance refer s to the repetition of consonant sounds in nearby words whereas assonance refers to the repetition of vowel sounds. In both cases it does not matter where in the words the repeated sounds occur. An easy way to remember the difference between the two is that “consonance” begins with a consonant, whereas “assonance” begins with a vowel. Special Cases of Consonance Alliteration: Alliteration is a well-known form of consonance. It refers to the repetition of consonant sounds, but only in the stressed part of a word. For example, “The Wind in the Willows” is an e xample of alliteration because the “w” sound occurs in the stressed part of the words. “The Catcher in the Rye,” on the other hand, is an example of consonance but not of alliteration because the “r” sound is repeated in one unstressed incidence (catcher) and in one stressed incidence (rye).
Sibilance: Sibilance is a special case of consonance because it involves the repetition of consonant sounds, but only of sibilant consonants, i.e., “s,” “sh,” and “z.” One common example of sibilance is the following tongue twister: She sells
seashells by the seashore.
Contrast - Contrast is a rhetorical device through which writers identify differences between two subjects, places, persons, things or ideas. Simply, it is a type o f opposition between two objects highlighted to emphasize their differences. Types of Contrast: Point-by-point Contrast – In this type of contrast, writers deal with a series of features of two subjects, and then present their contrast, discussing all points successively.
Subject-by-subject Contrast – In this type of contrast, a writer first discusses one subject thoroughly and then move on to another
EUPHEMISM - A euphemism is a polite or mild word or e xpression used to refer to something em barrassing, taboo, or unpleasant. Euphemisms are especially common in reference to bodily functions and illegal behavior, and to substitute for curse words. Type of Euphemism: 1. Phonetic modification: We modify strong swear words or words that are not meant to be spoken lightly (i.e., God or Jesus) so that the new phonetic euphemism sounds very similar to the original, but just different e nough so that it’s inoffensive. Modifications may take the case of shortening the word or expression (Jeez, What the); intentional mispronunciations (shoot, shut the front door, dang, fudge); or using an acronym or one lette r to represent the curse word (WTF, B-word, A-hole). TONE - In literature, tone is the attitude or approach that the author takes toward the work’s c entral theme or subject. Works of literature can have many different types of tone, such as humorous, solemn, dista nt, intimate, ironic, arrogant, condescending, sentimental, and so o n. Any emotion that humans can feel can be an example of tone in literature.
Difference Between Tone and Mood Tone and mood are very often confused. While definition of tone is the attitude the author has toward the work, the mood consists of the feelings the work produces in an audience or reader. Thus, the difference can be understood in this way: tone is how the author feels, while mood is how the reader feels.
MOOD - As a literary device, mood is the emotional feeling or atmosphere that a work of literature produces in a reader. All works of literature produce some sort of emotional and psychological effect in the audience; though every reader may respond differently to the same work of literature there is often a sim ilar type of mood produced. For example, in a thriller most readers will feel some sort of suspense, while dramatic novels may produce a sense of sentimentality.
Standards for Quality in Literature •
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ARTISTRY a quality that appeals to our sense of beauty SUGGESTIVENESS - associated with the emotional power of literature that moves us deeply and stirs our feeling and imagination, giving and evoking visions above and beyond the plane of ordinary life and experience SPIRITUAL VALUE - a quality that elevates the spirit by bringing up moral values which make us better persons PERMANENCEa quality that endures, it can be read again and again as each reading gives fresh delights and new insights and opens new worlds of meaning and experience , hence the appeal is lasting UNIVERSALITY a quality that is timeless and timely, forever relevant for it appeals to everyone, anytime and anywhere because it deals with elemental feelings, fundamental truths and universal conditions INTELLECTUAL VALUE a quality that stimulates thoughts and enriches mental life by making us realize fundamental truths about life and human nature STYLE-a quality that shows the peculiar way in which a writer sees life, forms his ideas, and expresses them.
Learning about POETRY Poetry is not: 1. Prose chopped up into lines 2. Sweet, fluffy descriptions 3. Aphorisms that end in rhymes 3. Grand, stuffy language that sounds like something from the 16 th century What are the three most important ingredients of a poem? •
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MUSIC EMOTIONS MAGIC
Elements of Poetry To do this, poets use a variety of specific elements and techniques: 1. Sound Devices 2. Figurative Language 3. Sensory Language
MUSIC – 1. Rhyme: the repetition of sounds at the ends of words, such as pool, rule and fool . 2. Rhythm: the beat created by the pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables: The cat sat on the mat . 3. Repetition: the use of any element of language – a sound, word, phrase, clause or sentence – more than once. 4. Onomatopoeia: the use of words that imitate sounds: crash, bang, hiss, splat . 5. Alliteration: the repetition of consonant sounds in the beginning of wo rds: lovely lonely lights . Figurative Language Figurative language is writing or speech that is not meant to be taken literally. The many types of figurative language are called figures of speech . Writers use three common figures of speech to state ideas in a vivid and imaginative way. 1. Metaphors describe one thing as if it were something else. They often point out a similarity between two unlike things: The snow was a white blanket over the town. 2. Similes use like or as to compare two apparently unlike things and show similarities between the two: She is as slow as a turtle. 3. Personification gives human qualities to something that is nonhuman 4. Synechdoche- naming a part to represent the whole “sail” for the “ship” 5. Metonymy- an attribute of something is made to stand for the thing itself “laurels” for “glory”
Sensory Language appeals to one or more of the five senses – sight,sound, smell, taste, and touch. This language creates word pictures, or images.
Types of Imagery 1. Visual 2. Auditory 3. Olfactory 4. Tactile 5. Gustatory 6. Kinesthetic 7. Organic So,What’s the Point? You ask. 1. We analyze a poem to find the meaning. 2. We look at all of the parts to determine the whole. 3. We pick it apart to see what the poet has hidden for us.
