Second

Quarte
r
Lesson 1
 Chinese
Exploring
Literature
Zǎo ān/ Zǎoshang hǎo - Good morning
wǔ ān – Good afternoon
ni hao – Hello
lao shi- Teacher
Greetings in Chinese follow a simple
format noun + greetings
All Chinese varieties or languages are tonal
languages.
China is a cultural region, an ancient civilization, and, depending on
perspective, a national or multinational entity extending over a large
area in East Asia. In 1949, when major combat ended in the Chinese
Civil War, two political entities emerged having the term China in
their names:

1. The People's Republic of China (PROC), commonly known as

China 中国 that has control over mainland China and the largely
self-governing territories of Hong Kong (since 1997) and Macau
(since 1999).
2. The Republic of China (ROC), commonly known as Taiwan that
has control over the islands of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen, and
Matsu.
1. Confucianism-It is a Chinese ethical and philosophical system
developed from the teachings of the Chinese philosopher
Confucius. It is a complex system of moral, social, political,
philosophical, and quasi-religious thought that has had a
tremendous influence on the culture of the people of China.
2. Taoism - It refers to a variety of related philosophical and
religious traditions that have had notable influenced on the
Chinese. It followed the teaching of the great Lao Tzu that man
could find happiness if he possesses Humility, Calmness, and
Patience.
3. Buddhism - It is a religion and philosophy encompassing a variety
of traditions, beliefs, and practices, largely based on teachings
attributed to Siddhartha Gautama commonly known as the Buddha
"the awakened one", and is classified as foreign Taoism by most
Chinese.
Does Chinese Writing have
an alphabet?
The Chinese language is written
using Chinese characters or 漢字
  (hànzì). 
These are logograms or single
characters that represent entire
syllables, entire words or entire
units of meaning.
As logogrammatical writing systems evolve, the
logograms often become so reduced or stylized
that their meaning is no longer immediately
obvious from their appearance.
China Character

漢 (hàn)

字  (zì)

漢字 
Chinese Character
There are two different systems for writing
Chinese characters

• The traditional characters
• The simplified characters
Simplified characters are used in the People’s
Republic of China and Singapore and traditional
characters are used in Taiwan, Hong Kong and
Macau because they were not under Chinese rule
when the simplified characters were introduced.
 Chinese
Exploring
Literature
• First recorded about 5, 000 Years ago.
• The Chinese language origin is lost.
• It is monosyllabic
• The number of words in the Chinese language
is very limited
• There is great difference between written and
oral language
• In spoken vocabulary has considerably fewer
than written.
• Chinese writing does not represent the sounds
of the words.
Example

Banana
ba na na
Does Chinese Writing have
an alphabet?
Chinese writing is different. It has no
alphabet; it consists of 50, 000
characters.
• It is made up of ideographs.
• Pictographs are characters that look very
similar to the word they describe
• Ideograms, on the other hand are known as
‘indirect characters’ and are often symbolic
characters depicting abstract concepts.
A logogram is a related term to an ideogram.
As nouns the difference between ideogram and logogram
is that ideogram is a symbol that represents the idea of something without
indicating the sequence of sounds used to pronounce it examples include
numerals, many Chinese characters, traffic signs, and graphic symbols such
as while a logogram is a character or symbol that represents a word or phrase
(eg a character of the Chinese writing system).
214 signs instead of 26
letters
The oldest specimens of Chinese
writing extant are inscriptions on bones and
tortoise shells dating back to the last three
centuries of the Shang dynasty (18th–12th
centuries BCE) and recording divinations
performed at the royal capital.
The earliest Chinese literature dates back to 1000
B.C. It recognizes five books, called the Five
Classics.
• The book of Changes
• The book of History
• The book of Rites
• The book of Odes
• The Spring and Autumn Annals
In poetry the four greatest Chinese Poets lived
during the Tang Dynasty (A.D. 678 – 907)

• Wang Wei
• Li-Po
• To-Fu
• Pu-Chu-I
Chinese Plays resemble European Opera,
combining singing and dancing with dialogue.
• 1800’s when many European missionaries and
traders traveled to China.
• I949, the Chinese communist came to power
after a long civil war.
• Peasants
• Soldiers, and
• Workers
Cultural Revolution (1966 – 1976)
Cultural Revolution (1966 – 1976)

Organized by Mao Zedong; (Chairman of the Chinese

Communist Party)

a radical sociopolitical movement in China characterized by

the increased role of the military, the removal of political
opponents, restructuring of the educational system
In 1989, Chinese university students and other
citizens demanded greater democracy and led
demonstrations in Beijing's Tiananmen Square.
The major literary and intellectual fashions of today’s China
have grown out of the "Cultural Fever" of the 1980s. The
1990s, however, have witnessed an even greater variety of
styles, themes, and gen res, as well as a somewhat greater
interest in China's past, and a spate of nationalistically
inspired works. The writings of the '90s also seem to reflect
less of a self-conscious debt to foreign authors-perhaps in
reaction to the massive importation of Western literary and
cultural theories in the previous decade.
QUIZ#1
Directions: Identify what is being described.

1. It refers to the intellectual and cultural movement.

2. The university students expressed their demonstration in
what place in China?
3. What year does the demonstration happen?
4. Who headed the Cultural Revolution in the year 1966 –
1976?
5. To what opera does Chinese opera resembles?
Directions: Enumerate what is being asked in every
items.

1-4: Who are the four greatest Chinese Poets?

5-6: What are the two types of Chinese writing?
7-8: What are the two parties that emerged after the Civil war in
China?
9-13: Give the five classic books of the Chinese.
14-15: Give at least two(2) prominent religion in China.
Listening Activity
1. Who kept track of all the writers in China?

2. What stories served to emphasize important cultural values

such as the proper treatment of the dead & honoring one's
fellow citizens?

3. What are the earliest works in China?

4. Who is the God of Literature in China?

5. Why does Han Yu was considered to be the Shakespeare of

China'
The Chinese were especially
concerned with ghosts because the
appearance of someone who had
died meant that the living had
somehow failed them, usually by
improper honor in burial, and the
dead would haunt the living until
the wrong was righted. 
Before Listening
1. Take note of the purpose of the activity.
2. Predict what is the story all about.
3. Take note of the background knowledge your
teacher is tapping.
While Listening
1. Confirm your predictions.
2. Decide what is important to understand.
3. Write down your apprehensions or
uncertainties.
After Listening
1. Validate your comprehension.
2. Assess whether the strategies you used are
suitable.
3. Learn from the listening activity and modify
your strategies if necessary.
4. Seek help if necessary.
Quiz #2
1. What is the other name of Wen Chang?
a. Wendi c. Wenwan
b. Chang’e d. Wende

2. What is the name of the script known to Chinese during c. 1600-1000 BCE.
a. Dazhuan c. Xiaozhuan
b. Jiaguwen d. Lishu

3. What is the very popular myth during Han Dynasty?

a. Queen Mother of the West
b. Queen Mother of the East
c. Queen Mother of the South
d. Queen Mother of the North
4. What pushes the Han administration to commission shrines of the Queen
mother?
a. Popularity of Myth that eventually grew into a cult
b. To worship as a legitimate faith
c. To value literature
d. To express gratitude

5. It became widespread during the Tang Dynasty under the second emperor
Taizong which made books more available to people.
e. The invention of the Printing press
f. The creation of woodblock printing
g. Existence of Publishing house
h. The propagation of oral literature
6. What is the title of the poem that entered the public school curriculum and
students had to memorize in part or in full to pass exams?
a. Song of Everlasting Sorrow
b. The Classics of History
c. The Spring and Autumn Annals
d. The Analects of Confucius

7. Who is the greatest prose master of the Tang Dynasty?

e. Wen Wang c. Luo Guanzhong
f. Han Yu d. Shi Nai’an

8. What was Han Yu’s advocate?

g. Confucian values c. Taoism’s values
h. Buddhist values d. Catholic values
9. Who was a polymath of the Sung Dynasty?
a. Shen Kuo c. Wen Chang
b. Wu Cheng'en d. Shi Nai’an

10. Who is the author of Journey to the West?

a. Shen Kuo c. Wen Chang
b. Wu Cheng'en d. Shi Nai’an

11-15: Enumerate the Chinese philosophers whose works became available to Tang
Dynasty onward.
1. What is the other name of Wen Chang?
a. Wendi c. Wenwan
b. Chang’e d. Wende

2. What is the name of the script known to Chinese during c. 1600-1000 BCE.
a. Dazhuan c. Xiaozhuan
b. Jiaguwen d. Lishu

3. What is the very popular myth during Han Dynasty?

a. Queen Mother of the West
b. Queen Mother of the East
c. Queen Mother of the South
d. Queen Mother of the North
4. What pushes the Han administration to commission shrines of the Queen
mother?
a. Popularity of Myth that eventually grew into a cult
b. To worship as a legitimate faith
c. To value literature
d. To express gratitude

5. It became widespread during the Tang Dynasty under the second emperor
Taizong which made books more available to people.
e. The invention of the Printing press
f. The creation of woodblock printing
g. Existence of Publishing house
h. The propagation of oral literature
6. What is the title of the poem that entered the public school curriculum and
students had to memorize in part or in full to pass exams?
a. Song of Everlasting Sorrow
b. The Classics of History
c. The Spring and Autumn Annals
d. The Analects of Confucius

7. Who is the greatest prose master of the Tang Dynasty?

e. Wen Wang c. Luo Guanzhong
f. Han Yu d. Shi Nai’an

8. What was Han Yu’s advocate?

g. Confucian values c. Taoism’s values
h. Buddhist values d. Catholic values
9. Who was a polymath of the Sung Dynasty?
a. Shen Kuo c. Wen Chang
b. Wu Cheng'en d. Shi Nai’an

10. Who is the author of Journey to the West?

a. Shen Kuo c. Wen Chang
b. Wu Cheng'en d. Shi Nai’an

11-15: Enumerate the Chinese philosophers whose works became available to Tang
Dynasty onward.
Confucius Lao-Tzu Teng Shih
Mo Ti Mencius
 Determining the Tone and Mood of the Speaker or
Characters in the Text Listened to

Facial expressions, gestures, and other body movements help

to communicate and clarify what someone says.
 Determining the Tone and Mood of the Speaker or
Characters in the Text Listened to

Tone is a word used to describe the writer's feelings or

attitude toward his/her subject.
Ex. This is a lovely gift, Dad and Mom!
Happiness
 Writing a Paragraph
When you write a sentence, you separate the words.

Canyoureadthiseasilyandatonce?

Again, this is done to make reading easier. Sentences are grouped into paragraphs
and each grouping is marked with indentions. When you look at the page of a
book, the first thing you notice is the indention of the paragraphs. If the
paragraphs are very long, you may think that the selection is dry and not
interesting. This is one reason why a book with dialogue is more likely to appeal
to you first glance.
Why a page of printed matter is divided into
paragraphs?
The paragraph marks the divisions between the thought
units of the whole composition. If you have a number of
things to say about a subject, break the composition into
paragraph units.
Suppose you want to write a composition on a trip to Israel. This
subject can be logically divided into the following paragraphs or
subtopics.

1. Preparation for the trip

2. The actual flight
3. Arrival in Israel
4. Activities there
5. Return home

A paragraph must always be thought of as a little composition.

 A Visit to a Fishpond

Have you ever tasted a milkfish with its belly thick with fat? Or crab heavy with rich,
dark yellow fat? Or oysters soft and melting in your mouth?
If you visit a typical fishpond, you will find it a very interesting place. Here, fishes are
raised just like farm crops. The fishponds are rectangular bodies of water connected to one
another by control gates that can be raised or lowered. By means of these gates, the fishpond
owner can flood and drain the ponds just as a farmer floods and drains the fields of rice
paddies.
Milkfish are plentiful in these ponds. To prepare these. ponds, they are first drained one
by one. Then they are cleaned thoroughly. Next soft moss and algae are spread along the
bottom, and water plants are introduced. These will provide food for the fish. The ponds are
then filled with water. The fry are released in the water by the thousands.
It takes about six months for the milkfish to grow to maturity. After six months, the fish
are caught and sold in the markets where homemakers eagerly buy them.
What was the first step of your composition?
What was the first step of your composition?

How do you develop a topic sentence?

Two kinds of topic sentences “Explicit” and
“Implied”.
Some well-organized paragraphs do not contain a topic sentence
at all. Instead of being directly stated, the main idea is implied in
the content of the paragraph. Read the following example:

“Heaving herself up the stairs, Luella had to pause for breath several times. She let out a
wheeze as she sat down heavily in the wooden rocking chair. Tao approached her
cautiously as if she might crumble at the slightest touch. He studied her face, like
parchment; stretched across the bones so finely he could almost see right through the skin
to the decaying muscle underneath. Luella smiled a toothless grin.”

This technique is often used in descriptive or narrative writing.

Avoid using implied topic sentences in an informational document.
Readers often lose patience if they are unable to quickly grasp what the
writer is trying to say. The clearest and most efficient way to
communicate in an informational document is to position the topic
sentence at the beginning of the paragraph.
Explicit describes something that is very clear and without
vagueness or ambiguity.
 Identifying and Developing the Topic Sentence
The paragraph is the foundation of composition and the sentence is the
foundation of the paragraph. Every good paragraph must develop only one
main thought. The sentence that expresses this kernel idea is called the topic
sentence.

Not all paragraphs contain a topic sentence that is actually stated in the
paragraph. Quite often the topic sentence is merely implied. This means that
although the topic sentence is not actually found in the paragraph, the reader
may easily formulate it after reading the paragraph.
 To escape persecution by the Nazis in the 1930s, about three million Jews
came to settle in Israel, a land of only about 8,000 square miles. They found
an empty wasteland of dry sand and swamp. The task of converting this bad
land to green fields was left entirely to the initiative of its leaders and to the
industry and cooperation of their followers. Their motto was: We build
together. Another motto was: From each according to his means, to each
according to his needs. Cooperative villages, called kibbutzim (singular
kibbutz), were organized and are at present scattered all over Israel.

What is the topic sentence?

To escape persecution by the Nazis in the 1930s, three million Jews settled in Israel and converted the
empty wasteland and swamp into prosperous village cooperatives called kibbutzim.
We Filipinos are over 100,000,000 strong. We live in a land blessed with a
sunny climate where a large variety of crops can easily be grown. Our land is
fertile; our rivers teem with fish; our mountains are rich with mineral deposits
of all kinds. We are considered one of the most versatile and intelligent
peoples in Asia. There is no reason why we cannot develop our natural
resources and be self-sufficient.

What is the topic sentence?

Topic sentence formulated: We Filipinos, living in a land blessed with a good

climate and rich in natural resources, should be self-sufficient.
 Writing a Unified Paragraph
A good paragraph has a central idea developed by the sentences in it. The
central idea, the details of which the other sentences supply, provides the
basic unity of the paragraph.
Having clarified the picture you want to project, make a list of the items you might use
in your paragraph. Your list might run like this:
1. a clear blue sky
2. heavy clouds racing across the sky shore
3. the waters rolling toward the
4. the rippling waters of the sea
5. mud holes everywhere
6. the flooded fields.
7. the shimmering sands
8. trees bending to the strong wind
9. a warm, summer breeze 10. light, fleecy clouds.
Activity
The topic sentence is given. Which of the sentences given after the topic
sentence support it, and which do not? Circle those that support it and cross
out those that do not.

1. Topic sentence: Getting on the honor roll is not easy.

a. It requires hard work.
b. Nanding is on the honor roll.
c. One must study very hard..
d. One must develop good study habits.
e. I envy Nanding when see his name on the honor roll.
f. Nanding is my friend.
g. I am proud of him.
h. One must be attentive during the recitation.
i. I wish I could be as smart as he is.
2. Topic sentence: It was a hard-fought game.

a. The two teams were well-matched.

b. I saw the game with my father.
c. My sister wanted to go with us.
d. My father would not let her.
e. The game seesawed dangerously several times.
f. There was a big crowd.
g. I cheered my team enthusiastically.
h. With three minutes to go, the score was tied.
i. I grew hoarse from shouting.
j. When the buzzer ending the game went off, our team had won.
3. Topic sentence: Everything in my bedroom was in order.

a. I worked hard all morning.

b. The bed cover lay smoothly over the bed.
c. The floor was spic and span.
d. The pillows were arranged neatly.
e. Some friends were coming to see me.
f. The wastebasket contained a few soiled pieces of paper.
g. The dressing table had received special
h. All the articles on it were arranged in neat rows.
i. A vase on the dresser had a few fresh roses care.
j. A red rose had fallen to the floor.
4. Topic sentence: Celia didn't want to play with us.

a. She said that she had a lot of things to do.

b. Celia generally joins us in our play every day.
c. She is a very lively person.
d. She would have a test the next day.
e. She always wants to study well for a test.
f. We spent some time coaxing her to play with us.
g. When Celia says no, she means it.
Developing the Topic Sentence

The following ways may be used to develop a topic sentence: a. by giving

details
b. by giving examples
c. by cause and effect
d. by comparison or contrast
 Great Chinese Philosophers

Confucius Lao Tzu

Lao Tzu, pronounced (lou'dzu'), is the name
given to the father of Taoism and the author
of the book called "Tao Te Ching" or the
Way and Its Power. The Tao Te Ching
contains Lao Tzu's words of wisdom.

Lao Tzu
Taoism

Is a religion developed from Taoist philosophy. It stresses

freedom from desires, simplicity of lifestyle, and understanding
the way of the universe. Taoism is derived from Tao, which
means “Path” or "Way." For the early Chinese, the Tao referred
to the force that controlled the universe.
 Water
Lao Tzu
The best men is like water;
Water benefits all things
In government, he loves peace;
And does not compete with them.
In business affairs, he loves ability;
It dwells in the lowly places that all disdain,
In his actions, he loves choosing the right time;
Wherein if comes near to the Tao.
It is because he does not contend
In his dwelling, he loves the lowly earth;
That he is without reproach
In his relations with others, he loves kindness;
In his words, he loves sincerity;
 Figures of Speech
A figure of speech is a literary device used to create a special
effect or feeling by making some type of interesting or creative
comparison.
Some common types of figures of speech are simile, metaphor,
personification, and hyperbole.
 Simile
Comparison of two unlike things using like or as.

Example: The Chinese are like ants who work day and night.

Example: “She looks like you”

Not a Simile
(simple comparison)
 Metaphor

Makes a comparison by directly relating one

thing to another unrelated thing.
Examples:
Life is a highway.
Her eyes were diamonds.
He is a shining star
 Personification

A literary device that gives human

characteristics to nonhuman things or
inanimate objects.

Example:
Lightning danced across the sky.
The wind howled in the night.
 Hyperbole

Exaggeration or overstatement not meant to

be taken literally

Example:
“I'm so hungry, I could eat a horse”
“I've seen this movie a hundred times”
“It cost an arm and a leg.”
 Litotes

Takes place when double negatives are used for

emphasis. intended to be a form of understatement
by using negation to express the contrary
meaning.

Example:
“He isn't the brightest bulb in the box.”
“You are not unlike your father, who was very persistent.”
(Meaning, he was like the father.)
Confucius Confucius is one of the truly great men
that China has produced. The word Confucius is
the Westernized form of his name, which is
Kung Futze, Kung being his proper name, Fu
signifying revered, and tze signifying teacher.
The Analects or collected sayings of
Confucius were compiled by his followers long
after his death.
In all his teachings, Confucius emphasized
the importance of moral conduct. He tried to
teach his followers to become true gentlemen,
by which he meant morally and spiritually
superior men.
Confucianism

The philosophical ideas taught by Confucius led to the

development of Confucianism, a system of beliefs observed by
most Chinese and concerned particularly with moral behavior.
The Analects of Confucius, a collection of Confucian sayings,
contain the truth about social relations between and among
family members or friends.
 Selections from the Analects of Confucius
1. The superior man understands what is right; the inferior man
understands what will sell.
2. The superior man loves his soul; the inferior man loves his property.
3. The superior man blames himself; the inferior man blames others.
4. To know what you know and know what you don't know is the
characteristic of one who knows.
5. Do not worry about people not knowing you, but strive to be worth
knowing.
6. A man who has committed a mistake and does not correct it is
committing another mistake.
7. Reading without thinking gives one a disorderly mind; thinking
without reading makes one es one flighty.
8. When a country is in order, it is a shame to be poor and a common
man; when a country is in chaos, it is a shame to be rich and an official.
9. To repay evil with kindness ss is a sign of a generous character; to repay
kindness with evil is the sign of a criminal.
10. A man who has a beautiful soul always has some beautiful things to
say, but a man who says beautiful things does not necessarily have a
beautiful soul.
Activity: Work with a partner and reflect on the
Analects of Confucius. Select two of your
favorite analects and answer question 1 below
as well is the questions corresponding to your
chosen analects.
1. What are the greatest contributions of Confucius to the world?
2. Analect #1: What is Confucius's message to businessmen in relation to wanting to earn
money?
3. Analect #2: If a man loves his soul, how must he act?
4. Analect # 3: What is the importance of taking responsibility for one's actions and mistakes?
5. Analect #4: Is there any person who knows everything? Why? Why not?
6. Analect #5: Does popularity guarantee true friendship? Why? Why not?
7. Analect #6: Why should a person correct his/her mistakes?
8. Analect #7: How important is learning by reading and thinking?
9. Analect #8: What is the importance of ensuring that you and others live with dignity in the
world? Why do greed and selfishness not have a place in society?
10. Analect #9: Do you agree that it is better to repay cruelty with kindness? Why is revenge not
advisable?
11. Analect #10: Why is a man who says beautiful things not always a genuinely nice person?
Explain your answer.
Scanning Text for
Logical Connectors
Scanning refers to the kind of reading where people
look for specific words or phrases in order to answer
given questions. To do this, you must read fast and
know exactly what you are looking for.
You will know if it is a narrative, a story, or a
process text if you find connectors like first, next,
then, and lastly.
When you see lots of adjectives and adverbs, you are
dealing with a descriptive text.

When you see words like “this means” you are dealing
with a definition/explanation paragraph.
When can you say that the text you’re reading to is a
descriptive text?

When you see a lot of adjectives and adverbs.

When can you say that the text you’re reading is a
definition?

When you see words like "this means," and "de-fined as," you
are dealing with a definition/explanation paragraph.
China the Red Dragon
1. China is our nearest neighbor in East Asia. The name
China was originally Ch'in. The country is huge; it has the
world's largest population and is the third largest in area.
Only Russia and Canada have more territory. China calls
herself the "Red Dragon" because, in Chinese tradition and
art, the dragon is the ancient symbol of power, fertility, and
well-being. Red to the Chinese is also the color of good
luck.

1. What words show that this paragraph is a description of China?

What makes it also a comparison?
2. China consists of China proper, Mongolia, Manchuria,
and Sinkiang. Since the country is so large, the climate is
varied and the crops produced by the people are of a
wonderful variety. Northern China has cold winters and
Southern China has very hot summers. In most places, the
soil is fertile and the people cultivate rice, corn, wheat,
millet, barley, soybeans, and peanuts. The country is also
rich in natural resources, such as different minerals.

2. What words show that this paragraph explains what China is and
what it has?
3. China consists of China proper, Mongolia, Manchuria,
and Sinkiang. Since the country is so large, the climate is
varied and the crops produced by the people are of a
wonderful variety. Northern China has cold winters and
Southern China has very hot summers. In most places, the
soil is fertile and the people cultivate rice, corn, wheat,
millet, barley, soybeans, and peanuts. The country is also
rich in natural resources, such as different minerals.

2. What words show that this paragraph explains what China is and
what it has?
1. China is our nearest neighbor in East Asia. The name
China was originally Ch'in. The country is huge; it has the
world's largest population and is the third largest in area.
Only Russia and Canada have more territory. China calls
herself the "Red Dragon" because, in Chinese tradition and
art, the dragon is the ancient symbol of power, fertility, and
well-being. Red to the Chinese is also the color of good
luck.

1. What words show that this paragraph is a description of China?

What makes it also a comparison?
2. China consists of China proper, Mongolia, Manchuria,
and Sinkiang. Since the country is so large, the climate is
varied and the crops produced by the people are of a
wonderful variety. Northern China has cold winters and
Southern China has very hot summers. In most places, the
soil is fertile and the people cultivate rice, corn, wheat,
millet, barley, soybeans, and peanuts. The country is also
rich in natural resources, such as different minerals.

2. What words show that this paragraph explains what China is and
what it has?
Writing a Composition

Writing is based upon two things;

1. What you want to say
2. How you say it

Robert Louis Stevenson

Scottish novelist, essayist, poet,
and travel writer.
 Robert Louis Stevenson
Scottish novelist, essayist, poet, and travel
writer.
How does a habit of reading help
develop one’s ability to write?
Choosing a Subject

Choose a subject that you like based on your experience, direct

or indirect.
• Direct experiences are those that happen to you, the things you
have felt and known firsthand.
• Indirect experiences are those you hear from others or read
about, the things you have felt and know from secondhand
information.
The best type of experience is direct, personal experience.
Choosing a Subject

Consider your audience.

• Who will read the composition?
• Not all subjects are interesting to everybody
• In general, people like to read about things familiar to
them.
• Once you have selected your subject, narrow it down.
Remember these pointers:

1. Choose a subject familiar or interesting to you.

2. Have a definite purpose.
3. Make your composition interesting to others.
Assigning a Title to a Composition

The title of a composition is like a promise that the writer

gives the reader.
A title is not a subject or a topic.
It is something more specific, and it serves a definite purpose.
It is like the advertisement we find in the papers. It should
attract and hold the readers' attention.
A good title should be short, interesting, easy to remember,
and arouse curiosity.
Interesting Beginnings

• One secret of good writing, therefore, is to arouse the

reader's interest at the very start.
• The unusual catches attention.
Delivering an Entertainment Speech

The primary purpose of an entertainment speech is for the

audience to enjoy the presentation. The speaker aims to make
the audience relax, smile, or even laugh.
• The research work is lighter.
• However, the challenge is in self-preparation.
Using Nonverbal Cues in an Entertaining Speech

• Listening to a humorous or entertaining speech allows us to

enjoy ourselves.
• Among the things that you can use are nonverbal cues, like
smiling, making funny faces, and even gesturing with your
hands.
• Often, comedians and comediennes exaggerate for effect,
so you can choose to extend your arms wide as you are
delivering your entertaining speech.
 Lesson 3

Read the story of the “Soul of the

Great Bell”
 Distinguishing the Types of Irony

The irony is a figure of speech in which words are used to

express something that is different from the actual
meaning or, at times, is the exact opposite of its intended
meaning.
 Verbal Irony

Verbal irony is when a character or person says one thing but

means the complete opposite. Ironic statements are used to convey a
meaning that is exactly the opposite of the literal meaning.

Most types of verbal irony can be classified as either overstatement

or understatement.
 Verbal Irony

Example:
"Once done with your very important video game, let's spend some
relaxation time solving these math problems, okay?" Mom said.
 Situational Irony

Situational irony is when the complete opposite of what is expected

occurs. The audience (readers, listeners, or viewers) are certain
about the ending but the opposite situation happens
 Situational Irony

Example:

The fire station burns down while the firemen are out
on a call.
 Dramatic Irony

Dramatic irony is when a character believes

something and the opposite is true.
 Dramatic Irony

Example:

1. Suspense is created when a character enters a house and the

audience knows that the killer is in it.
2. Emotions are elicited when a character plays nice and kind
to another while the audience knows that the character is
planning to kill the person.
Imperial rule

• rule by an emperor or empress

• Imperialism is the state policy, practice, or advocacy of
extending power and dominion, especially by direct territorial
acquisition or by gaining political and economic control of
other territories and peoples.

Shih Ching or Book of Odes

• Compiled by Confucius, Shih
ching or “Book of Odes” is a
collection of 305 poems, dating
from 1000 to 600 BC. 
• Includes refined folk songs,
ritualistic poems, dynastic
legends and hymns for ancestral
temples.
• All were intended to be sung
She went up the mountain to pluck wild herbs;
She came down the mountain and met her former husband.
She knelt down and asked her former husband,
"What do you find your new wife like?“
"My new wife, although her talk is clever,
Cannot charm me as my old wife could.
In beauty of face there is not much to choose,
But in usefulness, they are not all alike.
"My new wife comes in from the road to meet me;
My old wife always came down from her tower.
My old wife was good at plain sewing,
My new wife is clever at embroidering silk.
Of silk embroidery one can do an inch a day;
Of plain sewing, more than five feet.
Putting her silk by the side of her sewing,
I see that the new will not compare with the old."
 Understanding Symbolism in Literature

Symbolism is the art or practice of using conventional or traditional objects and signs
as a method of revealing or suggesting ideas, ideals, truths, or otherwise intangible
states.

Archetypal- recurrent as a symbol or motif in literature, art, or mythology.

1. Water
a. Sea the mother of all life, spiritual mystery
and infinity; death and rebirth; timelessness and
eternity; the unconscious.
b. Rivers: death and rebirth (baptism); the
flowing of time into eternity, transitional phases
of the life cycle, incarnations of deities.
2. Sun (fire and sky are closely related): creative energy; law in nature:
consciousness (thinking. enlightenment, wisdom, spiritual vision); father
principle (moon and earth tend to be associated with female or mother
principle); passage of time and life
a. Rising sun, birth, creation, enlightenment.
b. Setting sun: death.
3. Colors

a) Red: blood, sacrifice, violent passion, disorder

b) Green: growth, sensation, hope, fertility, in ironical context may be
associated with death and decay
c) Blue: usually highly positive, associated with truth, religious feeling,
spiritual purity, security
d)White, highly multivalent; signifying in its positive aspects light, purity, innocence,
and timelessness; signifying in its negative aspects, death, terror, the supernatural, and
the blinding truth of an inscrutable cosmic mystery as in “The Whiteness of the Whale”
chapter in Moby Dick
e)Black (darkness): chaos, mystery, the unknown, death, primal wisdom, the
unconscious, evil, melancholy
4. Circle (sphere): wholeness, unity

a. Mandala (a geometric figure based upon the squaring of a circle around a unifying
center; the desire for spiritual unity and psychic integration. In classical forms
features the juxtaposition of the triangle, the square, and the circle with their
numerical equivalents of three, four, and seven.
b. Egg (oval): the mystery of life and the forces of generation
c. Yang-Yin- the Chinese symbol representing the union of opposite forces of the Yang
(masculine principle: light, activity, the conscious mind) and the Yin (the feminine
principle: darkness, passivity, and the unconscious mind).
d. Ouroboros: the ancient symbol of a snake biting its own tail, signifying the eternal
cycle of life, primordial unconsciousness, the unity of opposing forces (as in Yang-
Yin).
Mandala
desire for spiritual unity and
psychic integration
Yang-Yin
union of opposite forces of
the Yang and the Yin
Ouroboros
signifying the eternal cycle of life
5. Serpent (snake or worm):
symbol of energy and pure force (cf. libido); evil, corruption, sensuality; destruction;
mystery; wisdom; the unconscious.

6. Numbers
a) Three: light; spiritual awareness and unity (cf. The Holy Trinity); the male principle.
b) Four: associated with the circle, life cycle, four seasons; female principle, earth,
nature; four elements (earth, air, fire, water).
c) Seven: the most potent of all symbolic numbers – signifying the union of three and
four, the complement of the cycle, the perfect order.
7. Woman archetype (Great Mother- the mysteries of life, death, and
transformation)

a) The Good Mother (positive aspects of the Earth Mother): associated with the life
principle, birth, warmth, nourishment, protection, fertility, growth, abundance (for
example, Demeter, Ceres)
b) The Terrible Mother: the witch, sorceress, siren, whore, femme fatale associated
with sensuality, sexual orgies, fear, danger, darkness, dismemberment, emasculation,
and death; the unconscious in its terrifying aspects.
c) The Soul Mate: the Sophia figure, Holy Mother, the princess or “beautiful lady” –
incarnation of inspiration and spiritual fulfillment (cf. Jungian anima)
Carl Jung described the animus as the unconscious
masculine side of a woman, and the anima as the
unconscious feminine side of a man, each transcending
the personal psyche.
8. The Wise Old Man (savior, redeemer, guru):

the personification of the spiritual principle, the representing knowledge, reflection,

insight, wisdom, cleverness, and intuition on the one hand, and on the other hand, moral
qualities such as goodwill and readiness to help, which make his “spiritual” character
sufficiently “plain."
9. Garden: paradise; innocence; unspoiled beauty
(especially feminine); fertility.
10. Tree: denotes life of the cosmos; its growth,
proliferation, generative and regenerative processes. It
stands for inexhaustible life, and is, therefore, equivalent
to immortality.
11. Desert: spiritual acridity; death; nihilism,
hopelessness.
B. Archetypal Motifs or Patterns
1. Creation: perhaps the most fundamental of all archetypal motifs – virtually every
mythology is built on some account of how the Cosmos, Nature, and Man were
brought into existence by some supernatural Being or Beings.

2. Immortality: another fundamental archetype, generally taking one of two basic

narrative forms:
a) Escape from time: “Return to Paradise, the state of timeless bliss enjoyed by man
before his tragic Fall into corruption and mortality.
b) Mystical submersion into cyclical time: the theme of endless death and regeneration –
man achieves a kind of immortality by submitting the vast,
mysterious rhythm of Nature’s eternal cycle, particularly the cycle of the seasons.
3. Hero archetypes (archetypes of transformation and redemption):
a) The quest: the hero (savior, deliver) undertakes some long journey during which he
must perform impossible tasks, battle with monsters, solve unanswerable riddles,
and overcome insurmountable obstacles to save the kingdom and, perhaps, marry the
princess.
b) Initiation: the hero undergoes a series of excruciating ordeals in passing from
ignorance and immaturity to social and spiritual adulthood, that, is in achieving
maturity and becoming a full-fledged member of his social group. The initiation
most commonly consists of three distinct phases: (1) separation, (2)
transformation, and (3) return. Like the quest, this is a variation of the death-and-
rebirth archetype.
c) The sacrificial scapegoat: the hero, with whom the welfare of the tribe or nation is
identified, must die to atone for the people’s sins and restore the land to fruitfulness.
Examples of heroes: Moses, Hercules, Siegried, Luke Skywalker, and Arthur
1. the hero is the child of distinguished parents, usually the son of a king.
2. His origin is preceded by difficulties such as prolonged barrenness, or secret
intercourse of due to external prohibition or obstacles.
3. During or before the pregnancy, there is a prophecy in the form of an oracle,
cautioning against his birth, and usually threatening danger to the father (or his
representative).
4. As a rule, he is surrendered to the water, often in a box of some sort.
5. He is then saved by animals, or by lowly people (shepherds, for instance), and is
suckled by animals or a humble woman – literally or figuratively.
6. After he has grown up, he finds his distinguished parents, in highly versatile fashion.
7. He takes revenge on his father, on the one hand, and is acknowledged on the other
8. Finally, he achieves rank and honors.
C. Archetypes as Genres
In addition to appearing as images and motifs, archetypes may be found in even more
complex combinations as genres that conform with the significant phases of the seasonal
cycle

The correspondent genres for the four seasons follow:

a) The mythos of spring: comedy.
b) The mythos of summer: romance.
c) The mythos of fall: tragedy.
d) The mythos of winter: irony.
 Three Chinese Poets
1. Tao Chien (365-427)
Tao Chien is still considered one of the finest Chinese poets. He is one of the first
masters of the shih, a rigid poetic form consisting of beautiful verses that appeal to the
emotions.
• Nature Poetry

2. Li-Po/Li Tai Po
One of the leading Chinese poets of the eighth century. His writings deal with the good
things in life and with the path of human destiny. With striking vividness, they speak of
love, friendship, wine, nature, and simple village living.
• The River Merchant’s Wife: A Letter
3. Po-Chu-I
A well-known Chinese poet who represented the classical tradition in Chinese literature,
politics, and morality. He was a public official who was inspired by a strong social
conscience, making his verses rather didactic and satirical as he chastised the
warmongers, corrupt politicians, and troublemakers. His poems are sturdy, however, and
their subject matter is as good in the twentieth century as it was in the ninth.
• Buying Flowers
Exploring Japanese Literatur
Lesson 4
 Japan: Land of the Rising Sun
Japan is called the "land of the rising sun" because
from China it appears that the sun rises from the
direction of Japan. The Japanese people call their
country "Nippon" or "Nihon," which literally
translated means "source of the sun."
 Japan: Land of the Rising Sun
Japanese literature is one of the major bodies of
Oriental literature. It is less voluminous than
Chinese literature, but is comparable to Arabic,
Persian, and Indian literatures. It covers the period
from the fifth century A.D. to the present.
• Poems and odes to the gods were composed in the early Japanese language
before the art of writing was known in Japan.

• During the first centuries of writing in Japan, the spoken language and
written language were identical.

• There soon grew differences between colloquial Japanese and the literary
idioms.

• In Japanese writing at present, Chinese characters occupy the most important

places. But for the most part, the desires, feelings, and concerns of everyday
life and all that lie deeper in the human heart are expressed in native words.
• The written language, therefore, consists mainly of characters borrowed from
the Chinese.

• To read and write, the student must learn several thousand separate
characters.

• But, Japan has developed a basic alphabet of only forty-seven characters.

Katakana
• From 1400 to 1500 the military came into power, and education
was denied to everyone except the priests.
• In 1600 the modern period of general culture began.
• The people responded enthusiastically to the policy of general
education.
• Reading became a very popular pastime.
• A large proportion of the literary works in Japan was written by
women.
• The earliest Japanese literary work is the
Kojiki (Records of Ancient Matters).

• The next important creative work was the

Nihongi (Chronicles of Japan).

These two books are the oldest in the language.

Every town and village has its historical records. Even family
records are carefully copied from one generation to the next.
Memorial stones are among the striking sights along the highways
in every town and village and temple yard. These memorials honor
some noted scholar, ruler, or hero.
Every town and village has its historical records. Even family
records are carefully copied from one generation to the next.
Memorial stones are among the striking sights along the highways
in every town and village and temple yard. These memorials honor
some noted scholar, ruler, or hero.
Japanese Drama
• The drama is a favorite form of entertainment.
• Popular plays are generally about history and tradition or the
lives and adventures of gods and heroes.
• The setting is always in Japan. The plays are very lengthy.
• Three types of drama have been developed in Japan: the Noh
play, the Joruri or puppet play, and the Kabuki play.
 • The national theater of Japan.
• In the past it was a play reserved
for the nobility, and the audience
dressed themselves in
ceremonial robes.
• Legend says that the Noh has its
origin in dance and that this
dance was invented by the gods.
Noh play
form of theater involving music, dance and
drama, originating in the 14th century. 
Noh—its name derived from nō, meaning
“talent” or “skill”
The all-important Sun goddess hid herself in the rock
cave of heaven, causing universal darkness. So the other
gods invented a dance that one of them performed on
top of an inverted tub, and the Sun goddess came out to
see what was causing the noise. The sound produced by
the dancer stamping on the wooden floor is still an
important part of the play.
Popularized and formalized by a man Noh theater is structured around song and
named Zeami during the Muromachi dance. Movement is slow, language is
Period (1333-1573). poetic, tone is monotonous, and costumes
During the Tokugawa Period (1603- are rich and heavy. Plots are usually drawn
1867), the shogunate made noh its from legend, history, literature and
official ceremonial art and issued contemporary events. Themes often relate
regulations for its governance. Noh to dreams, supernatural worlds, ghosts and
thus became increasingly standardized, spirits.
with an emphasis on tradition rather
than innovation.
• Shite - the leading character. Depending on the play, the shite may act as a holy
old man, a deity, a demon, a spirit or a living man. His movements express
various moods.
• Waki - the supporting actor. The waki plays roles such as a priest, monk or
samurai. In contrast to the shite, the waki always portrays living people.
• Hayashi - the musicians. Four musicians provide accompaniment for the
performance with a flute (fue), shoulder drum (kotsuzumi), hip drum (otsuzumi)
and stick drum (taiko).
• Jiutai - the chorus. The chorus sits to the left of the stage and assists the shite in
the narration of the story.
• Koken - stage attendants. Dressed in black, the stage attendants are not part of
the play but assist the performers in various ways, such as handing them props.
 The puppet play (or doll theater) is
very popular. The puppets are
beautifully made and lifelike in
size. The strings are expertly
manipulated and the dia- logue
realistically interpreted.
Jōruri are performed by one or
more chanters (tayū). One of the
world’s most highly developed
forms of narrative music
Joruri or puppet play
 Kabuki play
the play for the masses. It is less
intellectual and more realistic,
even sensational.

Okuni’s Kabuki was the first

dramatic entertainment of any
importance that was designed for
the tastes of the common people
in Japan.