ASEAN LITERATURE

LITERATURE
 
 The word literature is derived from the Latin word litera which means letter. It has been defined differently by
various writers.
 
 Because literature deals with ideas, thoughts, and emotions of man, literature can be said to be the story of man.
 
 Man’s love, grief, thoughts, dreams, and aspirations coached in beautiful language is literature.

Brother Azurin
 “Literature expresses the feelings of people to society, to the government, to his surroundings, to his fellowmen,
and to his Divine Creator.”
For Webster, literature is anything that is printed, as long as it is related to the ideas and feelings of people, whether it is
true, or just a product of one’s imagination.
 
WHY DO WE NEED TO STUDY LITERATURE?
 We study literature so we can better appreciate our literary heritage.
 We cannot appreciate something that we do not understand.
 Through a study of our literature, we can trace the rich heritage of ideas handed down to us from our forefathers.
Then we can understand ourselves better and take pride in being a Filipino.
 Above all, as Filipinos, who truly love and take pride in our own culture, we have to manifest our deep concern
for our own literature and this can be done by studying the literature of our country.
 
PHILIPPINE LITERATURE
 
 Our written literature, is about four hundred years old.
 Our writers strove to express their sentiments while struggling with a foreign medium.
 The great mass of literature in English that we have today is, indeed a tribute to what our writers have achieved in
the short span of time. What they have written can compare with some of the best works in the world.
 
LITERATURE AND HISTORY
 
 Literature and history are closely interrelated. In discovering the history of a race, the feelings, aspirations,
customs and traditions of people are sure to be included.
 Events that can be written down are part of true literature. Literature, therefore, is part of history.
 
GENERAL TYPES OF LITERATURE
 
 Literature can generally be divided into two types; prose and poetry.
 
POETRY
 POETRY REFERS TO THOSE EXPRESSIONS IN VERSE, WITH MEASURES, RHYMES, LINE, STANZAS
AND MELODIOUS TONE. STUDENTS WHO DELIGHT IN THE STUDY OF POETRY AND APPRECIATE
POEMS ARE USUALLY THOSE WHO HAVE AWARENESS OF ARTISTIC FEATURES.
 IT HAS A TWO-FOLD FUNCTION: TO DELIGHT AND TO INSTRUCT. IT USUALLY CENTERS ON
COMMENTS AND IDEAS THAT ARE NECESSARY TO HUMAN NEEDS.
 
DIVISIONS AND TYPES OF POETRY
 
LYRIC POETRY
 
 THE UTTERANCE OF THE HUMAN HEART IS IN POETIC FORM. IN EARLIER TIMES, LYRIC POEMS
WERE MEANT TO BE SUNG TO THE ACCOMPANIMENT OF A MUSICAL INSTRUMENT KNOWN AS
THE LYRE.
1. LYRE
 IS A STRINGED MUSICAL INSTRUMENT OF HARP CLASS WHICH WAS USED BY THE ANCIENT
GREEKS.
 THE SUBJECT AND MOODS OF LYRIC POETRY DWELL ON LOVE, DEATH AND GRIEF, RELIGION
AND FEELINGS, THE BEAUTY AND LOVE OF NATURE, ART, THE WORLD OF FANCY AND
IMAGINATION, THE ENVIRONMENT AND OTHERS.
 

IT IS SUBJECTIVE OF THE AUTHOR’S FEELINGS AND THOUGHTS. IT INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING:

 
A. SIMPLE LYRIC
 
 THIS EMBRACES A WIDE VARIETY OF POEMS AND IS CHARACTERIZED BY SUBJECTIVITY,
IMAGINATION, MELODY AND EMOTION.
 
B. SONG
 
 THIS IS A SHORT LYRIC POEM WHICH HAS A SPECIFIC MELODIOUS QUALITY AND IS INTENDED
TO BE SUNG AND CAN BE SET EASILY TO MUSIC. IT CAN EITHER BE RELIGIOUS OR SECULAR.
RELIGIOUS SONGS INCLUDE HYMNS, ANTHEMS AND ORATORIES. SECULAR SONGS DEAL WITH
DIFFERENT THEMES AND EMOTIONS.
C. SONNET
 
 IT IS A LYRIC POEM OF 14 LINES WITH A FORMAL RHYME. IT WAS PERFECTED IN ITALY BY
FRANCESCO PETRARCA IN THE 14TH CENTURY.
 
D. ELEGY
 
 IT IS A POEM EXPRESSING LAMENT OR GRIEF FOR THE DEAD. IT MAY EXPRESS THE PERSONAL
SORROW OF THE AUTHOR OVER A LOSS OF A LOVED ONE OR IT MAY BE A FORM OF MEDITATION
ON DEATH IN GENERAL. IT IS SOLEMN AND SORROWFUL, YET IT CAN SUGGEST HOPE AND FAITH
TO ALLEVIATE SORROW.
E. ODE
 
 THIS IS THE MOST SPLENDID TYPE OF LYRIC POETRY. IT IS EXALTED IN TONE, PROJECTS DEEP
FEELINGS AND EXPRESSES HIGH PRAISE FOR SOME PERSONS, OBJECTS, EVENTS OR IDEAS.
2. NARRATIVE POETRY
 
 IT TELLS A STORY FOLLOWING AN ORDER OF EVENTS. IT INCLUDES THE BALLAD, METRICAL
TALE, METRICAL ROMANCE AND EPIC.
 
BALLAD
 
 IT IS A SHORT SIMPLE NARRATIVE POEM COMPOSED TO BE SUNG, AND IS ORALLY TOLD FROM
ONE GENERATION TO ANOTHER. THE FOLK, PRIMITIVE OR POPULAR BALLADS ARE KINDS OF
BALLADS WHICH WERE WRITTEN ANONYMOUSLY.
 
B. METRICAL ROMANCE
 
 IT IS A LONG RAMBLING LOVE STORY IN VERSE WHICH IS CENTERED AROUND THE
ADVENTURES OF KNIGHTS AND LORDS, AND THEIR ROYAL LADIES DURING THE AGE OF
CHIVALRY. IT IS HEAVILY FLAVORED IN ROMANCE, FANTASTIC EVENTS, SUPERNATURAL
OCCURENCES, MAGIC AND THE IDEALS OF THE MEDIEVAL PERIOD SUCH AS TRUTH, COURAGE,
REVERENCE AND JUSTICE.
 
C. EPIC
 
 THIS IS A LONG, MAJESTIC, NARRATIVE POEM WHICH TELLS THE ADVENTURES OF A
TRADITIONAL HERO AND DEVELOPMENT OF A NATION.
 
3. DRAMATIC POETRY
 
 THIS POETRY HAS ELEMENTS THAT ARE CLOSELY RELATED TO DRAMA BECAUSE IT IS
WRITTEN IN DRAMATIC FORM OR MAKES USE OF A DRAMATIC TECHNIQUE. IT MAY SUGGEST A
STORY BUT MORE EMPHASIS IS PLACED ON THE CHARACTER RATHER THAN THE NARRATION.

EXAMPLES OF DRAMATIC POETRY:

DRAMATIC MONOLOGUE

 THIS IS A COMBINATION OF DRAMA AND POETRY WHICH PRESENTS THE SPEECH OF A

CHARACTER IN A PARTICULAR SITUATION AT A CRITICAL MOMENT. THE SPEAKER ADDRESSES
ONE OR MORE PEOPLE WHO ARE PRESENT AND ARE LISTENING TO THE SPEAKER, BUT WHO
REMAINS SILENT. THE PERSONALITY OF THE SPEAKER, HIS CHARACTER, HIS RELATIONSHIP TO
OTHERS, AND HIS VALUES AND ATTITUDES TOWARDS LIFE ARE INDIRECTLY COLLECTED
FROM HIS MONOLOGUE.
B. THE SOLILOQUY

 THIS IS A PASSAGE SPOKEN BY THE SPEAKER IN A POEM OR BY A CHARACTER IN A PLAY

EXCEPT THAT THERE IS NO ONE PRESENT TO HEAR HIM EXCEPT THE READER OR THE
AUDIENCE.
 THE THOUGHTS EXPRESS THE EMOTIONS DISPLAYED, AND THE REVELATIONS ARE MADE
FREELY WITHOUT INHIBITIONS THAT GIVE DEEP INSIGHTS INTO THE CHARACTER. IT IS OFTEN
USED IN POETIC DRAMAS TO ENRICH, TO MAKE CHARACTERIZATIONS CLEARED AND TO
INFORM THE AUDIENCE ABOUT OTHER DEVELOPMENTS IN THE PLAY.

PROSE (PROSE IS USUALLY CATEGORIZED INTO FICTION AND NONFICTION.)

 IT IS A LITERARY PIECE WHICH IS WRITTEN IN THE FORM OF ORDINARY WRITTEN OR SPOKEN

LANGUAGE AND WITHIN THE COMMON FLOW OF A CONVERSATION. IT IS EASILY
UNDERSTOOD AS COMPARED TO POETRY.
 IN SUBJECT MATTER, PROSE GENERALLY CONCENTRATES ON THE FAMILIAR AND THE
ORDINARY, BUT MAY ALSO DEAL WITH SUBJECTS SUCH AS HEROISM, BEAUTY, LOVE AND
NOBILITY OF SPIRIT.
DIVISIONS AND TYPES OF PROSE
FICTION

 THIS IS DEFINED AS A SERIES OF IMAGINED FACTS WHICH ILLUSTRATES TRUTHS ABOUT

HUMAN LIFE. FICTION IS NOT CONTRARY TO TRUTH AT ALL. INCIDENTS THAT MAY NOT HAVE
HAPPENED IN REAL LIFE AND CHARACTERS THAT MAY NOT ACTUALLY HAVE EXISTED,
COULD BE CREATED BY FICTION TO SHOW WHAT MAY AND CAN HAPPEN, AS LONG AS THE
LAWS OF PROBABILTY AND NECESSITY ARE NOT VIOLATED. IT DOES NOT DEAL WITH WHAT
HAS BEEN DONE, BUT WITH WHAT COULD HAPPEN WITHIN THE BOUNDS OF WHAT IS POSSIBLE
AND PROBABLE.
TYPES OF FICTION
1. SHORT STORY

 THIS IS A BRIEF, ARTISTIC FORM OR PROSE FICTION WHICH IS CENTERED ON A SINGLE MAIN
INCIDENT AND IS INTENDED TO PRODUCE A SINGLE DOMINANT IMPRESSION WHICH MAY BE
SADNESS, SURPRISE, SYMPAHTY, TERROR OR OTHER REACTIONS.
 THE QUALITIES OF A SHORT STORY ARE ECONOMY, COMPRESSION, BREVITY AND EMPHASIS.
2. THE NOVEL

 THIS IS A MORE EXTENSIVE PROSE. THE MODER NOVEL IS A NOVEL OF FICTION WHICH IS
ELASTIC. ITS LENGTH EXTENDS TO HUNDREDS OF PAGES.
 THE LENGTH OF A NOVEL PERMITS A GREATER NUMBER AND A VARIETY OF CHARACTERS, A
MORE COMPLEX PLOT, AND A MORE ELABORATE USE OF THE SETTING.
NONFICTION

 THESE ARE LITERARY WORKS THAT ARE BASED MAINLY ON FACT RATHER THAN ON THE
IMAGINATION, ALTHOUGH THEY MAY CONTAIN FICTIONAL ELEMENTS. EXAMPLES OF THESE
ARE ESSAYS AND BIOGRAPHIES.

THE ESSAY

 THE ESSAY IS A PROSE COMPOSITION OF MODERATE LENGTH, USUALLY EXPOSITORY IN

NATURE, WHICH AIMS TO EXPLAIN AN IDEA, A THEORY, AN IMPRESSION OR A POINT OF VIEW.
 THE ESSAY MAY BE CLASSIFIED AS FORMAL OR INFORMAL.
FORMAL ESSAY

 IT DEALS WITH SERIOUS AND IMPORTANT TOPICS SUCH AS PHILOSOPHY, THEOLOGY,

SCIENCE, POLITIC, MORALITY AND OTHERS. IT IS PRIMARILY ADDRESSED TO THE INTELLECT
OF AN INDIVIDUAL. THE TONE IS OBJECTIVE AND FORMAL. THE STYLE IS CLEAR AND
STRAIGHTFORWARD. IT PRIMARILY AIMS TO TEACH OR TO INSTRUCT.
INFORMAL OR FAMILIAR ESSAY

 THIS MAY DEAL WITH ANY SUBJECT, EVEN THE ORDINARY AND COMMONPLACE. IT
POSSESSES A CHARMING, INTERESTING, AND DISTINCTIVE PURPOSE – TO ENTERTAIN AND
AMUSE. THEREFORE, THE TONE IS LIGHT, FRIENDLY AND OFTENTIMES HUMOROUS LIKE A
PERSON TALKING OT HIS FRIENDS WITH INTEREST AND AFFECTION.
OTHER FORMS OF ESSAY

 THE ESSAY MAY HAVE OTHER FORMS. THE CRITICAL ESSAY SEEKS TO ANALYZE AND
EVALUATE A LITERARY WORK OR ANY OTHER WORK OF ART, THE BIOGRAPHICAL ESSAY
DEALS WITH THE PERSONAL LIFE AND ACHIEVEMENTS OF AN INDIVIDUAL. AN ESSAY OF
TRAVEL INFORMS, AS WELL AS ENTERTAINS, BY ITS PERSONAL TREATMENT OR VARIOUS
EXPERIENCES IN A GIVEN PLACE AND TIME.
DRAMA

 THE WORD DRAMA COMES FROM THE GREEK WORK DRAN WHICH MEANS “TO DO”. IT IS THE
ART OF IMITATION HUMAN ACTION OR A STORY PRESENTED ON STAGE BY ACTORS
IMPERSONATING CHARACTERS IN A GIVEN SITUATION. THE DRAMA INVOLVES THREE
ELEMENTS, THE THEATER, THE ACTORS (AND DIRECTORS), AND THE AUDIENCE.
TRAGEDY

 TRAGEDY IS THE IMITATION OF AN ACTION WHICH IS SERIOUS, COMPLETE AND WITH

CERTAIN MAGNITUDE. ITS LANGUAGE IS EMBELLISHED BY EVERY ARTISTIC ADORNMENT IN
THE FORM OF ACTION WHICH IS NOT NARRATIVE. PITY AND FEAR ARE ITS OUTSTANDING
EMOTIONS.
COMEDY

 COMEDY IS TODAY, AND ALWAYS HAS BEEN, THE MOST POPULAR OF THE DRAMATIC
FORMS. TRUE COMEDY IS REALLY SERIOUS AND FULL OF DEEP MEANING, YET IT IS INFUSED
WITH WIT, SPARKLE, DELICATE SATIRE AND NEW IDEAS. IT INJECTS THOUGHT EVEN WITH
LAUGHTER. USUALLY, THERE ARE NOT MANY INCIDENTS IN A COMEDY.
QUALITIES OF A LITERARY MASTERPIECE
ARTISTRY

 THIS APPEALS TO OUR SENSE OF BEAUTY. A PERSON IS SAID TO BE ARTISTIC IF HE KNOWS

HOW TO APPRECIATE SOMETHING BEAUTIFUL.
INTELLECTUAL VALUE

 A LITERARY WORK STIMULATES THOUGHTS. IT MAKES OUR MENTAL LIFE RICH BY MAKING
US REALIZE THE DIFFERENT FUNDAMENTAL TRUTHS ABOUT LIFE AND HUMAN NATURE.
SUGGESTIVENESS

 THIS IS ASSOCIATED WITH THE EMOTIONAL ASPECT OF LITERATURE. THIS QUALITY MOVES
US DEEPLY AND STIRS OUR IMAGINATION TO WORK ABOVE AND BEYOND THE LEVEL OF
ORDINARY LIFE AND EXPERIENCE.
SPIRITUAL VALUE

 LITERATURE PUTS OUR SPIRITS HIGH BY BRINGING OUT THE UNDERSTANDING OR MORAL
VALUES WHICH WE WILL CHERISH OR PUT INTO PRACTICE, THUS BRINGING US CLOSER TO
OUR MAKER.
PERMANENCE

 A GREAT WORK OF LITERATURE CAN ENDURE THE TEST OF TIME. IT CAN BE READ OVER
AND OVER AGAIN AS EACH READING GIVES FRESH ENJOYMENT.
UNIVERSALITY

 GREAT LITERATURE OBSERVES NO LIMITS. IT APPEALS TO ALL, ANYTIME, ANYWHERE

BECAUSE IT DEALS WITH THE BASIC FEELINGS OF PEOPLE, FUNDAMENTAL TRUTHS AND
UNIVERSAL CONDITIONS.
STYLE

 THIS IS THE UNIQUE WAY IN WHICH THE WRITER VIEWS LIFE, FORMS HIS/HER IDEAS AND
EXPRESSES THEM. GREAT WORKS ARE MARKED BY THEIR LASTING SUBSTANCES AND BY
THEIR DISTINCTIVE STYLES.
PHILIPPINE LITERATURE

 The first Filipino Alphabet is ALIBATA.

 When Spanish occupied the Philippines in the 15th century, it was changed into Roman Alphabet. Spanish
banned the use of Alibata because they believed that it is a work of evil.
 The Spanish fully introduced the Spanish literary language using Spanish terms.
SPANISH COLONIAL PERIOD

 The European literature was brought by the Spaniards and are assimilated in Filipino songs and indigenous
themes.
 The early printing press in the Philippines was monopolized by the Spaniards.
 During Spanish Colonization, Filipinos felt they are being harassed by the Spaniards.
 The Filipinos fought the Spaniards through Propaganda Movement.
LITERATURE UNDER SPANISH COLONIAL PERIOD
ORAL LITERATURE
1. SONGS
 Is a composition for voice or voices, performed by singing (it may be accompanied by musical instruments)
 The lyrics of the songs are typically of a poetic, rhyming nature.
LERON LERON SINTA

 This song depicts humbleness. It is the story of a man who tries to show what he got, to win the heart of his
beloved one.
SARUMBANGGI

 A kundiman which means ‘one night’ or ‘one evening’ in Bicol. A kundiman is a Filipino love song traditionally
sung by a man wooing the woman of his dreams.
2. RELIGIOUS DRAMA

 The religious drama, as setting forth events in the Bible or moral lessons to be drawn from religious teaching is
connected with the service of the Church.
RELIGIOUS DRAMA

 PANUNULUYAN – Tagalog for ‘asking for lodgings’. It is a Philippine Christmas dramatic ritual narrating the
Holy Family’s search for a place to stay in Bethlehem for Jesus Christ’s birth through songs.
ORAL LITERATURE

 DRAMA – is the specific mode of fiction represented in performance. It is an enactment performed by actors on a
stage before an audience, presupposes collaborative modes of production.
WRITTEN LITERATURE
1. POETRY - It has been known to employ meter and rhyme. It is an imaginative awareness of experiences.
FLORANTE AT LAURA

 The story is about love and determination of the Duke Florante and the Princess Laura of Albania while being
pursued by the usurper Count Adolfo.
2. SHORT STORIES – Is a brief work of literature, usually written in narrative prose. A classic definition of a
short story is that one should be able to read it in one sitting.
CONVICT’S TWILIGHT

 The short story revolves around one thing – Freedom. Or more clearly, it seeks to define what freedom is, and
what sense it makes to those who are not free.
RIZAL AND HIS CONTEMPORARIES

 JOSE RIZAL – He is considered one of the national heroes of the Philippines. He was the most prominent
advocate for reform in the Philippines. He was wrongly implicated as the leader of the Katipunan Revolution that
led to his execution in December 30, 1896.
MI ULTIMO ADIOS

 A poem written by Philippine National Hero, Dr. Jose Rizal on the eve of his execution. This poem was one of the
last notes he wrote before his death; another that he had written was found in his shoe but because the text was
illegible, its content remains a mystery.
MARCELO H. DEL PILAR

 He was a celebrated figure in the Philippine Revolution and a leading propagandist for reforms in the Philippines.
Popularly known as Plaridel, he was the editor and co-publisher of La Solidaridad.
DASALAN AT TOCSOHAN

 This is a satire on the friar’s hypocrisy and greed, which consists of parodies. Rizal considers this as a model of
classical prose and an excellent example of Tagalog humor, wit, and sarcasm.
ANDRES BONIFACIO

 He was a founder and the Supremo of the Katipunan movement which sought the independence of the Philippines
from Spanish Colonial Rule and started the Philippine Revolution.
PAG-IBIG SA TINUBUANG LUPA

 This poem was first published in Diariong Tagalog. As the title indicated, the theme is directed to the Filipinos in
order to arouse their spirit of nationalism and self-dependence.
AMERICAN COLONIAL PERIOD

 Philippine literary production during the American Period in the Philippines was spurred by two significant
developments in education in culture.
 One is the introduction of free public instruction for all children of school age.
 Second, the use of English as medium of instruction in all levels.
 Free public education made knowledge and information accessible to a greater number of Filipinos.
LITERATURE UNDER AMERICAN COLONIAL PERIOD
NOVEL – is a long narrative prose that describes fictional characters and events in the form of sequential story.
ROMANTIC POETRY – The dominant theme of romantic poetry: the filtering of natural emotion through the human
mind in order to create art.
SHORT STORY – Is a brief work of literature, usually written in narrative prose.
WE FILIPINOS ARE MILD DRINKERS

 This is a short story written by Alejandro Roces during his freshman year in Arizona State University. He was
well known for his humorous stories. This story is dated back to the 1940s.
VIETNAMESE LITERATURE

 Vietnamese Literature is a literature, both oral and written, created largely by Vietnamese.
 For much of its history, Vietnam was dominated by China and as a result, much of their written work in the earlier
period was in Classical Chinese.
 Along with the borrowed conventions of Chinese literature came Confucianism, Buddhism, and Daoism. These
“Three Religions” grafted themselves, more or less successfully, onto similar, indigenous habits of belief.
FOLK LITERATURE

 The Vietnamese Literature has been rich in folklore and proverbs; tales that have been handed down from
generation to generation, gradually becoming valuable treasures.
VIETNAMESE LITERATURE

 Its literature is rich and it depicts humor and realism. Vietnam Literature came into being at an early date with its
two major components: Folk Literature and Written Literature.
FOLK LITERATURE

 The folk literature always praised beauty, humanism, and the love of goodness, and contributed to the formation
of a national sense.
 It is not only an oral tradition, but a mixing of three media. Hidden – only retained on the memory of folk authors.
Fixed – written. Shown – performed.
 At the present time, all kinds of artistic and folk literature from each ethnic group are being collected and
maintained.
MYTHS – Consists of stories about supernatural beings, heroes, creator gods, and reflect the view point of ancient people
about human life.
CADAO – These are folk poems. It can be loosely translated as “unaccompanied songs”
WRITTEN LITERATURE

 From the 10th century, literary works were written in Han (Classical Chinese) and it held a prim position by the
early 18th century.
 However entering the 20th century, works written in classical Chinese disappeared.
MODERN VIETNAM LITERATURE

 The Vietnamese literary tradition has evolved through multiple events that have marked the country’s history.
New literary movements can usually be observed every ten years but in the last century, Vietnamese literature
underwent several literary transitions.
 Viet Nam’s first home-grown novel was Hoang To “The Unjust Suffering of Hoang To Anh”, written by Tran
Chanh Chieu and published in Sai Gon in 1910.
 Other works quickly followed, including “Who Can Do It?’ 1919” “The Playing of the Wind, 1926” by Ho Bieu
Chanh “Pure Hear, 1925” by Hoang Ngoc Phach (1896-1973) “Watermelon” by Nguyen Trong Thuat and
several short stories by Nguyen Ba Hoc and Pham Duy Ton.
 The beginnings of modern Vietnamese poetry may be traced back to the early years of the twentieth century when
poet Tan Da (1888-1939) began to experiment with irregular verse lengths, signaling the first serious attempt to
break away from the classical model.
 During the 1930s, Tan Da’s pioneering work was taken a step further by the New Poetry Movement which was
established in Ha Noi in 1932 by the Lu.
 In 1975, a small group of contemporary Vietnamese prose writers has already achieved considerable success
internationally.
MYANMAR LITERATURE

 Myanmar was formerly known as Burma, and they call their people Burmese.
 Burmese literature was historically influenced by Indian and Thai cultures, as seen in many works.
 As literature grew more liberal and secular, poetry became the most popular form of literature in Burma.
 The earliest forms of Burmese literature were on stone engravings followed by palm leaves which were used as
papers.
 In 1824, Burma was colonized by British India.
 In 1910, J S Furnivall established the Burma Research Society, which further emboldened the Burmese to protect
their literary and cultural heritage.
 According to Countries and Their Cultures: “The focus of writing within Burmese society was, and to a large
extent still is, focused on writing for theater performances and producing texts relating to Buddhism.”
 Popular novels have similar themes, often involving adventure, espionage, detective work, and romance.
 Short stories, often published in magazines, also enjoy tremendous popularity.
MODERN WRITERS IN BURMA-MYANMAR

 One of the greatest female writers of the Post-colonial period is Journal Kyaw Ma Ma Lay.
 Khin Myo Chit was another important writer, who wrote, among her works, The 13-Carat Diamond (1955),
which was translated into many languages.
 The Prime Minister U Nu himself wrote several politically oriented plays and novels.
BRUNEIAN LITERATURE

 Brunei is officially known as Nation of Brunei, the Abode of Peace. It was colonized by United Kingdom in 1888,
and gained its independence in 1984.
 The Language and Literature Bureau is the country’s main ministry in charge of the promotion and development
of literature and folklore.
 The most popular form of traditional writing is a form of poetry called sajak.
BRUNEIAN LITERATURE

 Two females, Izzati Jamil and Flora Tavu, have published poetry collections; however, all the novels have been
written by men.
 The nation’s most famous piece of traditional literature is the epic poem Sya’ir Awang Simawn, which tells the
story of a cultural hero.
 Dan Brown’s novel Armageddon takes place mainly in Brunei.
 This nation was once renowned for its boat making, weaving, basketry, silversmith and bronze tooling skills.
THAI LITERATURE

 THAILAND, officially the Kingdom of Thailand and formerly known as Siam, is a country at the center of the
Southeast Asian Indochinese peninsula composed of 76 provinces.
 The capital and the largest city is Bangkok.
 The word “Thai” refers to the name of the largest ethnic group in the country.
 Most of imaginative literary works in Thai, before the 19th century, were composed in poetry.
 Prose was reserved for historical records, chronicles, and legal documents.
Sukhothai Period (1238-1377) - The literary works in this period were designed to reaffirm national cultural identity,
political stability, and spiritual values, with the monarchs taking the lead in the promotion of arts, religion and public
administration.
Ayutthaya Period (1350-1767) - This period produced a variety of forms on diverse subjects. New poetic forms were
created, with different rhyme schemes and meters.
Thon Buri Period (1767-1782) - Despite its short period of 15 years, Thon Buri produced Ramakian, a verse drama to
which King Thaksin the Great contributed his poetic talent.
Rattanakosin Period (1782-present) - During this period, there sprang a great wealth of Buddhist literature. The kings
played an important part in promoting and creating literary works.