THE ODYSSEY RETOLD

 

        Odysseus' Adventure began after the fall of Troy. After the 10-year bloodshed, the Greeks finally defeated the Trojans. All thanks to the crafty engineer of the WOODEN HORSE. Victory over the Trojans made Odysseus so proud that he thought he was invincible; that even Poseidon can't stop him from seeing Ithaca again. This blasphemy angered the gods, especially Poseidon.
        They departed from Troy with their head and hearts painted with the images of Home, Ithaca. They reached the Island of Ismarus, the land of the Ciconians. Odysseus and his men set foot on a bountiful island. Odysseus instructed his men to take only what they need. The Ciconians, on the other hand, were not so happy with all the looting going on. So, they attacked the Greeks in their sleep. Those who survived, including Odysseus, hurried back to their ships.
        They sailed on to wander the vast waters. They saw land and this time, they hope there are no more attacks. They were welcomed by hospitable women. They offered them LOTUS to eat. When the men got a taste of the lotus flower, they began to feel good. Too good, actually. They became high. Worse, they forgot all desires of going back home. Odysseus and some of his sober men had to drag those who seem not themselves back to their ships.

        From the land of the comely Lotus-eaters, Odysseus' fleet has found land again. They found a cave, where there was plenty of cheese. They decided to stay there for the night. Then, they heard loud stomps approaching the cave. It was the Cyclops Polyphemus. The men cowered in fear at the sight of the gigantic one-eyed monster. They thought of going out of the cave but Polyphemus closed the cave with a huge rock only he can carry. Odysseus, who introduced himself as "No Man",  courageously offered the cylops wine.  Polyphemus liked the taste of it and asked even more until he got drunk and fell asleep. 

       While the monster was fast asleep, Odysseus ordered his men to help him sharpen a log. Once the log already had a pointed end, they pierced it through the monster's eye. Polyphemus cried in pain. He grabbed some of Odysseus' men and crushed them. He ran towards the cave opening and moved the huge rock that covers it. He called to his brothers and said, "No Man has harmed me!" His brothers hearing this thought Polyphemus was crazy and they just went on with their chores. Odysseus and his men successfully came out of the cave. They ran straight to their ships and sailed away in haste.

        As the ships sailed away, Odysseus shouted to tell Polyphemus of his real name. Polyphemus then, called on to his father, Poseidon, for help. He threw a huge boulder which almost sank Odysseus ship. In addition, Poseidon sent huge waves to Odysseus' journey to express his wrath for what he did to Polyphemus.

        From the Island of the Cyclops, they reached Aeolia, the land of King Aeolus -   keeper of the Winds. When Odysseus came to ask for his help, he gladly summoned all the troublesome winds into the leather bag. He instructed Odysseus never to open it unless they've reached Ithaca. 

       In a long time, they've had a smooth journey and they've almost reached Ithaca when Odysseus' men thought that the leather bag may have contained treasures. When Odysseus fell asleep, they opened the bag releasing all the Winds which caused a tumultuous weather. They were drifted far, faraway from Ithaca.

     They came back to King Aeolus to ask the same favor but the king refused. They sailed away unsure where the waves may drag them to. They reached the country of the Laestrygonians, ruled by Antiphates.  The Laestrygons were giants and cannibals as well. Odysseus' men were devoured as soon as they've  docked. Odysseus seeing the terror that had become of his men ordered to turn his ship away from the island. Odysseus lost his fleet and only his ship was saved. 

        When Odysseus and his crew reached Aeaea, he asked his men to scout the area. Moments later, Eurylochus came back in a hurry as though he'd seen a ghost. He said his comrades were turned into swine by an enchantress.

        Little did they know that it was the land of Circe, a witch who turns men into beasts, Odysseus was determined to rescue his men, so he set on to trek the steep mountains. On his way up, he met Hermes. He warned him about Circe's enchantment. He told Odysseus to eat molly, a poisonous herb, to counter the enchantment.

        Odysseus did as he was told. He drank wine from the cup Circe prepared for him. When he didn't turn into an animal, Circe fell on her knees and begged him to stay if he wants to see his men again. He agreed. Circe did her end of the bargain turning Odysseus' men back to their true form. 

       They feasted, drank, danced and forgot how long they've stayed. When Odysseus realized they've been doing nothing but be drunk, he bade Circe goodbye and readied his men to leave, but she insisted they should stay. Odysseus was persistent, so with a heavy heart, she gave them instructions to go to the underworld to search for the Prophet Teiresias.

        Odysseus followed Circe's instructions as to how to get to the underworld. When they reached the portal, Odysseus slew a sheep and put it's blood in a cup. As he walked into the fiery and dark place of Hades he met souls of the fallen warriors of the Trojan war. He also met his mother, Anticleia, who told him that his wife, Penelope, had remained faithful to him but suitors came flocking his palace. Odysseus was disheartened with the truth that her mother died in grief for the long wait of his homecoming. 

        Odysseus went on and saw Teiresias, who drank the sheep's blood he brought. The prophet foretold that he shall come home in due time and that he shall never harm the OXEN of the Sun. With such news Odysseus carried on with his journey.

        They passed through the Island of the Sirens, whom Circe warned them about. She told them to  cover their ears with beeswax in order not to hear the sirens' melodious voice, which was believed to be fatal. They lived in a meadow surrounded with bones and decaying human bodies. However, Odysseus wanted to hear what the Sirens' songs are about. He told his men to tie him tightly into the ships' mast. When he heard the song he began to desire to jump off the ship and be with the sirens but he was tightly tied. 

        They have passed the isle of the Sirens safely but they must be cautious when they get to the passage between Scylla and Charybdis. Scylla, the twelve-footed monster, devoured six of Odysseus' men. They were so focused on watching out for Scylla that they forgot Charybdis, the whirlpool, which tends to suck ships into the depths of the seas.              However,they were lucky to have escaped the pangs of Charybdis and went on to journey the vastness of uncertainty.

         Uncertainty brought them to see a glimpse of hope. They reached the Island of the Sun. Odysseus very well recalled the warning of Teiresias not to harm the oxen that roam their. He ordered his men never to touch any of the oxen while he was away to pray. At first, the men were determined to follow their masters order but the longer they stayed the hungrier they became. So, they slaughtered an ox to satiate their hunger. 

        Helios, the Sun god, was angered at this sacrilege, so he asked Zeus to punish Odysseus. Zeus then sent a lightning bolt that hit Odysseus ship hurriedly leaving the island. Only Odysseus survived in the unforeseen circumstance.

        Odysseus, dehydrated and unconscious, drifted in the island of the nymph, Calypso. Only women dwelt in the island and Odysseus was the first man they've seen in over a hundred years. Calypso took care and fell madly in love for Odysseus in seven years but Odysseus never really loved her back. His thoughts were of his wife, Penelope. 

       Odysseus, spent most of his time by the shore wondering how he could and when he could ever get to see his home, his wife and his son. The gods took pity on him. Zeus called a gathering of the gods; all came except Poseidon. Zeus ordered that Odysseus must be sent back home and he asked Hermes to deliver the message to Calypso.

Calypso was hesitant but she is nothing compared to the gods, thus she must comply. So she commanded her maidens to build Odysseus a raft and gave him provisions. When the raft was ready, Odysseus set sail.

        Odysseus' voyage away from Ogygia started with a fine weather not until Poseidon decided to send him waves which destroyed his raft and everything in it. Odysseus again, shipwrecked, was washed out to the land of the Phaeacians, ruled by King Alcinous and Queen Acrete. There he met Nausicaa, the princess, who gave him instructions as to how to get to the palace and that he should find the queen, her mother, first.

        It was in Phaeacia that Odysseus retold his adventures. The king, with the queen's advice, agreed to help Odysseus to get home. He ordered his subordinates to prepare a ship to send him to Ithaca.

        With the Phaeacians' help, Odysseus, at long last, came home to Ithaca. He went straight to Eumaeus' house as he was warned by Athena about his wife's suitors. Eumaeus, Odysseus ever loyal swineherd, introduced him Telemachus, Odysseus' son. Odysseus devised a plan on how to enter the palace without being noticed. So he disguised as a beggar.

        Meanwhile in the Palace, Penelope hosted a contest; to string the bow of Odysseus and successfully shoot through 12 axe handles. Whoever wins will be her husband but Penelope knows no one is up to the task because only Odysseus and Odysseus alone can string the bow and shoot through 12  rings of axe handles.

        All the suitors tried in vain. So the beggar (Odysseus) tried to string the bow. At first, they laughed at him but when he successfully did the task they were all terrified. The tension heightened when the beggar transformed into Odysseus himself. After shooting the arrow through 12 axe handles, he shot at the suitors and killed them all.

        Odysseus, Penelope and Telemachus finally lived as a family again, after 20 long years.

First published in 2016

Rama's Journey: A Retelling of the Ramayana

 

Long ago in the kingdom of Ayodhya, there lived a prince named Rama. He was known throughout the land for his wisdom, courage, and kindness. The people admired him, and many believed he would one day become a great king.

Rama lived with his wife, Sita, whom

he loved dearly. He also shared a close bond with his loyal brother, Lakshmana. Their lives were peaceful until a series of events changed their future. Just before Rama was to be crowned king, his stepmother asked the king to fulfill a promise he had made long ago. She requested that her own son become king and that Rama be sent away from the kingdom for fourteen years.

Although the decision saddened him, Rama accepted it without anger. He believed that honoring his father's word was more important than claiming the throne. Sita and Lakshmana chose to accompany him into exile, and together they left the palace and journeyed into the forest. For many years, they lived a simple life among trees, rivers, and mountains. They faced hardships, but they remained united.

One day, their peaceful life was disturbed by Ravana, the powerful king of Lanka. Ravana had heard of Sita's beauty and became determined to take her for himself. Using deception, Ravana lured Rama and Lakshmana away from their shelter. While they were gone, he kidnapped Sita and carried her across the sea to his island kingdom.

When Rama returned and discovered that Sita was missing, he was overcome with grief. Yet he refused to lose hope. Determined to rescue her, he began a long search that would lead him on the greatest adventure of his life.

Along the way, Rama formed an alliance with a kingdom of vanaras, or monkey warriors. Among them was Hanuman, a brave and devoted warrior whose strength and loyalty became legendary. Hanuman volunteered to search for Sita. With a mighty leap, he crossed the ocean and reached Lanka. There he found Sita imprisoned in a beautiful garden guarded by Ravana's soldiers. Hanuman delivered Rama's message and assured Sita that help was on the way. Before leaving, he demonstrated his courage by challenging Ravana's forces and returning safely to Rama with news of Sita's location. Upon hearing Hanuman's report, Rama gathered his allies and prepared for battle. The monkey warriors worked together to build a bridge across the sea so that the army could reach Lanka. Soon, a great war began. Warriors fought bravely on both sides. The conflict tested the courage, loyalty, and determination of everyone involved.

Rama eventually faced Ravana in battle. Ravana was a powerful ruler with many strengths, but his pride and selfish desires had led him down the wrong path. After a fierce struggle, Rama defeated Ravana and brought an end to the war. The people of Lanka were freed from fear, and Sita was finally reunited with her husband. With the fourteen years of exile completed, Rama, Sita, and Lakshmana returned to Ayodhya. The people welcomed them with joy and celebration. Rama was crowned king, and peace returned to the kingdom. His journey became a symbol of courage, loyalty, sacrifice, and the triumph of good over evil.

For generations, people have shared the story of Rama's journey. Through his trials and victories, the Ramayana continues to teach lessons about duty, perseverance, and the importance of doing what is right even in difficult circumstances.

Reference

The Ramayana and Mahabharata translated by Romesh C. Dutt

A Glimpse of ANNE FRANK's Diary

 Anne Frank is one of the personalities in literature among many others that is etched in my memory since high school, though a bit vague, since we didn't really dig in that deep into her work. Or could be I wasn't paying attention that much, or my memory isn't that reliable. Either way, I remember her name and a glimpse of her diary. I remember that my literature teacher told us that she wrote the diary in hiding because it was WORLD WAR 2. 

Now that I have grown into a fully ripe adult, going back into that memory is not enough. So I have to answer the questions running in my head:

1. How old was Anne when she wrote the diary?

    Anne was 13 years old when she wrote her diary onto a checkered notebook gifted to her on her birthday.

2. Why did she address her entries to "Kitty"?

    She wanted her diary to be a friend and not just any piece of paper bound together filled with teenage musings.

3. How did the diary survive and eventually got famous?

    The diary was retrieved by two of the Frank family supporters. They then gave it to Otto Frank, Anne's father, when he finally returned from the concentration camp. Otto then went to extreme lengths to get his daughter's work published.

__________________________________________

Diary Entry: September 21, 1942

"Dear Kitty,

Now that I'm writing to you regularly, I like the idea more and more. 
It's so strange, but when I write, I feel as if I'm talking to a friend, 
a very close friend who understands everything. 

I'm going to start from now on by writing down everything that comes into my head, without worrying about whether it's silly or not. Up until now, I've just written things down as they happened, 
but from today on, I want to write letters. It's much nicer, and it feels 
as if someone is actually listening to me.

Yours, Anne"

                           __________________________________________

 

This specific text is considered part of "Version A" (her original, unedited diary entries)

before she began rewriting it into "Version B" for future publication.

You can learn more about how her father compiled these versions into

the book we read today directly on the

Anne Frank House overview of her complete works

Frank, A. (1995). The diary of a young girl: The definitive edition 

(O. H. Frank & M. Pressler, Eds.; S. Massotty, Trans.). Doubleday. 

(Original work published 1947).

LYRICAL DEVICES IN POETRY

 

        Lyric poems are poems that usually teaches lessons. These poems do not have a specific form - no rhyme scheme; no meter. However, they use devices to give emphasis or to strengthen the message conveyed.

                The poem above by Kalidasa is a perfect example of a lyric poem which uses the lyric devices effectively.

REPETITION OF WORDS IN A LINE

• This device gives emphasis to the word thus, giving the same effect to the idea referred to. When using this device, you must make sure you know when to repeat and when not to; or ruin the fluidity of your poem.

RHYMING WORDS IN A LINE

• Putting rhyming words within a line actually gives weight to hearing. Rhyming words create certain patterns that is inviting to the one who hears it; or even those who are reading.

PARALLELISM

• This device makes use of word structure in a line. This means that two or more lines have the same parts of speech in the same exact order. Refer to the figure above.This technique give the same effect as of the use of "rhyming words within a line".

REPETITION OF LINES

• This technique gives the readers an affirmation to the poem's thesis aside from the concluding effect that it presents.

Points of View

 

Point of view is the mode of narration the author employs. It simply means as to what perspective the author is telling the story from. However, this has become a very taxing topic for students as it may appear as broad if not pointed into the right details. So how do we know? Well, you just have to ask the right question: WHO IS TELLING THE STORY?

Looking at the matrix above, your mind might have been given a bit of clarity now. This information is a very useful tool when you venture into writing. Would you want to be the mysterious, tell-all or the engaging author?

In the first person point of view the storyteller is any one among the main characters in the story. Do you see now why your teacher always asks who the characters are? Well, obviously one of the reasons is this part. Once you have established who the main characters are - and if the story is written in the first person-, then you'd know who's telling the story.

The storyteller in the first person point of view has limited scope. He only tells the story usually based only on the surface of things. No deeper realizations nor a sense of implied/obvious emotional bond to the rest of the characters.

 The first person omniscient is still narrated by any one of the main characters in the story but this time the storyteller notifies the reader what the rest of the characters and himself is thinking; why they're doing it; what he or other characters feel. Because he knows all, the readers know everything in every step of the way.

 The first person observer is narrated by any of the minor characters in the story. The storyteller based his narrative plainly on what he has observed like some sort of a witness. 

HOW WOULD YOU KNOW THEY ARE MINOR CHARACTERS THEN? 

When a character does not take a major role in the story then surely he is a minor character. The main characters are the ones making big actions to make the story happen while the minor characters may not even have a name to begin with. Or if they do have names, sometimes they are but mentioned in the story but is not seen to do movements most of the time.

The second person point of view is easy to identify. Once you've read something so demanding that tells you to do this and that, then that is the second person point of view.

This mode of narration seems peculiar. It is not like any other stories you've read in a normal basis. The author who is the narrator at the same time, wants to engage the reader. The author wants the reader to assume a role which actions direct to the plot. The narrator here is tantamount to that of a director.

The third person point of view is also known as the observer point of view is told in a point of view of a witness but does not include what the characters may think and other intentions.

The storyteller in the third person omniscient is a know-all narrator who tells the readers what the characters think and feel. He divulges reasons for the characters actions and intentions for such.

This matrix uses the STORY OF GUNO AND KOYO; the part when they were caught stealing from the Hadji and went to the dry river bed pretending to swim. This is to show the difference among the points of view.

You can read and listen to the STORY OF GUNO AND KOYO here.

Originally published at jeanillec.blogspot.com

in June of 2020

FEATURES OF LOCAL COLOR IN LITERATURE | AFRO-ASIAN LITERATURE

  

Local color presents distinct characteristics in culture and traditions in a reading text. Reading such literature would give you a glimpse of what used to be or how the characters differ from the usual characters in the American or English literature. In Afro-Asian literature local culture is most rich. Here are the features of local color in literature.

·         Dialect

The use of certain words in the dialect of the origin of the narrative adds credibility and authenticity to the roots of the characters or the setting itself. This proves the setting to be mostly inaccessible.

 

Example

Nai Hah Tong waited patiently for the priest. The only sound he heard was the lonely call of the gecko lizard hiding in a crack of the stucco wall of the wat. He counted the lizard’s croaks nung, song, sam, see, ha, hok, jet. The Gold Harvest Tale from Thailand

 

Here in this text the author uses the Thai counting to validate the setting of the story. This validates the character, Nai Hah Tong, as a Thai who has distinct dialect or language from the rest of the world. Hence, the distinctive plot.

 

·         Mannerisms

The use of certain personality traits distinct to the region which may prove peculiar to the readers.

 

Examples

Bharat made a passionate plea for Rama to return and rule Kosalas but all in vain. Bharat then took Rama’s sandals to place them on the throne as testimony to the people that he was ruling in Rama’s name. The Ramayana Tale from India

 

This trait of taking anything that belongs to a person to testify the latter’s consent is distinct to India especially during that time. This is peculiar particularly that it is the throne of the kingdom that is at stake here and it only took a sandal to prove that the bearer now is king.

 

·         Social Customs

The use of rituals adherence to the old ways which may tend to ignite curiosity among readers. These rituals and customs are mostly related to religion and beliefs. 

 

Examples

“No,” they said “We want to go with you to your people” But Naomi replied, it is better for you to return to your own people. Do I have younger sons who could grow up to be your husband? No, my daughters, return to your parents’ homes, for I am too old to have a husband. And even if that were possible and I become pregnant tonight, and bore sons, would you wait for them to grow up? No, of course not, my daughters: oh, how I grieve for you that the Lord has punished me in a way that injures you.” The Story of Ruth (from Israel)

 

This presents a custom of the old Israel wherein a daughter-in-law is under the care of her mother-in-law when her husband dies. In this case Naomi’s husband died, who was supposed to be head of the family to whom the decision on what befalls on the widowed daughter-in-law when her husband dies. It also presents a possibility of the daughter-in-law to be married to her brother-in-law had there been any living younger brother left to marry when the husband dies. This is another queer experience if you put it in the perspective of the modern world.

 

·         Historical References

The use of significant historical event or characters of the specific region to promote believability to the turn of events in the narrative. These references you have yet to validate the truthfulness or let’s say the part that connects to real events. This may include names or titles that reflect the origin of a time-bound event/occasion known only to a certain place or locale. 

Example

But one morning their sawali door rustled. Then slowly it opened The head of an aliping namamahay –house slave- showed. Magindanao Pearls by Isidro L. Retizos

 

This made a significant reference to Pre-Hispanic Filipino social classes particularly that of the servants not slave, there is a difference. There were two classes of servants back then, the aliping sagigilid and aliping namamahay. The text made mention of an aliping namamahay who is higher in rank than the sagigilid. The aliping namamahay mentioned in this part of the text is the servant in Sinagtala’s household. This also suggest that Sinagtala’s family are free men as they have servants.

    Object

The use of certain objects reflective of their origin from a certain region. For example the use of "jeepney" which is widely used in the Philippines. The use of "chopsticks" in a household would suggest that the family has Asian roots.

"Look well towards the center of the plaza, look across it, and fix your gaze on that small tower of bamboo and nipa that is the belfry of the town. Friar Botod by Graciano Lopez Jaena Translated by Phyllis Tiongco

Commonly nipa was used by the Filipinos in building houses together with bamboo during the Pre-Hispanic period.

Originally published at jeanillec.blogspot.com

in July of 2021

COMPONENTS OF A NARRATIVE PARAGRAPH

 A narrative paragraph tells a story which means the events in  this type of paragraph should be arranged chronologically.  Chronological order presents details or events in the order in which they occur: what happens first, second and so on.

A narrative paragraph must have:

These components are very important in drafting your narrative paragraph. Study the draft below.

Note that the draft tells you that the author of the draft above would be writing a story about local tales.

YOUR TURN

Write a draft of one of the stories you've heard of in your local area. The story must be something that the folks in your community know of very well. You can start by asking your grandparents or your parents about a certain story. Then complete the matrix below.

Now that you already have drafted your narrative paragraph, it is time to write one. Study the example below but always make a reference to the sample draft above for guidance.

The narrative paragraph above is a draft of a probable folktale. Let's see how the components are distributed within the paragraph.

You may read the full-blown story featured above. It is entitled Mystique of Campo: Timo, Guardian of the Putat.

YOUR TURN

Now, write a narrative paragraph using the draft you made. Do remember that there is no exact order as to how the components should be arranged in your paragraph. The order depends on your creativity as the writer. 

You can listen and watch the full-length story.

Originally published at jeanillec.blogspot.com

in 2020

References:

Grammar for Writing. (2009). 

New York: William H. Sadlier, Inc.

Cogtas, J. (2 June 2020). Mystique of Campo: The Tales of Putat. Retrieved

https://www.owupress.com/mystique-of-campo-the-tales-of-putat-1218

Teng, S. A. (4 October 2012). Narrative Paragraph. Retrieved

http://thewindlike.blogspot.com/2012/08/narrative-paragraph.html#.Xv6HmGgzbIV

THE CYCLE OF THE SUN AND THE MOON: A Manobo Folktale

       

 

     A long time ago, only the Sun rode to the sky. His wife, the Moon, stayed at home and tended the children and their farm. The Moon loved their two children and went about her tasks happily - fetching water, gathering gabi leaves, and digging camote for supper.

     One cloudy day when the Sun was home, the Moon had to go to the river for water. She crooned the children to sleep and called to her husband. "Dear husband, I am going to fetch water. Watch over the children, but do not go near them because you know what will happen if you do." And after the warning, she left.

     The Sun looked lovingly at his children. He had never before been able to really know them or even get near them. Overcome with love and affection, he kissed them. To his horror, they shrivelled up before his eyes and crumbled to ashes.

     His anguish was great. He moaned and cried. Suddenly he remembered what his wife had told - not to touch the children! Not knowing what to do, he hid in the forest.

     Soon after this the Moon returned. A water jar was balanced on her head and she carried a bundle of freshly cut gabi leaves in her arms. Laying down the jar and leaves, she turned to look for her children. Wild was her grief to find only ashes where her lovely brown babies had once been.

     Her screams and lamentations reached her husband in the forest, and his pity overcoming his fear, he went home. However, as soon as the Moon saw him, her wailing became louder.

     "My husband, why did you do it? Did I not tell you never to touch or even draw near our children? Why did you disobey me?"

     "I couldn't help kissing them, O wife; they looked so sweet. I have never seen anything so sweet before. Forgive me, O Moon! Forgive me," he begged her.

     But the Moon would not be comforted. Her reproaches increased in intensity. In the end, the Sun got angry.

     "Mang-gad!" he shouted. "Did you say that I disobeyed you? How dare you think that you are superior to me, that you can order me what to do. Mang-gad! Slave! How dare you say that I disobeyed you!"

     "Ai!" she moaned. "I am nothing, nothing at all! Then, my children are nothing too! And with one defiant sweep of her arm, she scattered their ashes out of the house.

     When he returned very late that night, his ill temper was gone. He regretted having shouted at his wife. He found the house dark and empty. His wife had fled, but pinpoints of glimmering light in the distance told him where she was, for he knew the lights were his children following their mother in her flight.

     So started the endless cycle of the Sun chasing the Moon fleeing from the Sun. The Moon is forever with her children, the many tiny lights we call the stars. Now and then a shooting star breaks across the path of the Moon. It is nothing more than an attempt from her husband to make her and their two children return to him. But the Moon speeds away faster, sometimes leaving the sky altogether, with only her star-babies there. This happens when the marks of the gabi leaves on the Moon's face swell, and she remembers the pain and humiliation of her husband's anger when he threw the gabi leaves to her face and called her mang-gad (property) and binotong (slave).

   

Source

Lapid, Milagros and Serrano, Josephine. English Communication Arts and Skills through Philippine Literature 7. 9th ed, Phoenix Publishing House, Inc, 2022.

THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF NARRATIVES

 There are different types of narratives; this blog talks about six types: myth, legend, epic, folktale, fable and short story. This blog also aims to show the distinction among them.

Let us use one story line to transform into the different types of narratives to clearly show the distinction. The creation story below is based from an Igorot story of Creation while the rest are already products of jcogtas's imagination.

This type of narrative revolves around the actions of gods and goddesses and their interactions with mortals which usually result to supernatural events. A myth is often depicted as a story of the ancient world which was usually believed to be true.

CHARACTERISTICS OF A MYTH NARRATIVE:

• mysterious
• explains the existence of the universe and its dwellers
• consists of non-human characters
• set to a previous proto-world: A proto-world describes this one we have now but a different one.
• interplay between worlds
• bends or breaks natural laws

EXAMPLE

Lumawig, the great spirit, made humans out of reeds and distributed them in different parts of the world. He taught them how to live in order to survive.

_____________________________________________________________________________

A legend is about a story of a character who because of his or her experiences and the circumstances around him or her resulted to an important phenomenon. Therefore, it is a story of human actions.

CHARACTERISTICS OF A LEGEND NARRATIVE:

• has a bit of historical truth which include a human hero
• includes beliefs and ideas of culture and even miracles believed to have happened

EXAMPLE

Yamot prayed that Lumawig, the great spirit, would bless him and his wife Tiyang with healthy children. He offered the great spirit his harvest and his best poultry. When it is time for Tiyang to give birth, Yamot was saddened because that day he lost Tiyang and their child. He faced the great spirit Lumawig in anger and mocked him; In return, the great spirit punished Yamot. Lumawig turned Yamot into a very hot body of water no one would want to swim into. Years passed and Yamot had been avoided by people until a very exhausted farmer came to bathe in it. Yamot was outraged so he made the waters really hot and so the farmer took off. The next day the farmer came and brought some eggs then put them into the hot water of Yamot. The eggs were cooked. From then on people flock to Yamot and called him the Yamot spring.

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Folktales are usually about ordinary people and everyday life who may encounter monsters, magical beings, and even trickery.

CHARACTERISTICS OF A FOLKTALE NARRATIVE:

• exaggerated
• orally passed on to generations
• unwise and one-sided characters
• questions are answered before the story ennds
• shorter and simpler plot
• lifts heroes and heroines to higher and more refined levels like being so beautiful and the like

EXAMPLE

Three miles from the Yamot spring was a huge mountain. On your way up you would be greeted by the sounds of bats who dwell in a cave somewhere. Most passersby simply ignored the sound and went on with their journey because it was believed that if you stopped to listen to the bats, you would be led astray and will never find your way home. One day, Batugan, a goatherd,  went to find his goat but he was led to the noisy bats so he followed the sound. He went on walking and walking until he found himself in a dark cave where the bats  live. He was outraged that he couldn't find his goat there. In his anger, he torched the bats who live there. The goddess of the mountain punished him and so he shall endure an endless journey to gather bats once more to replace the ones he killed.

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An epic tells of a story of the past, of a distant time, of mythological characteristic. An epic was originally and generally  told orally.

CHARACTERISTICS OF AN EPIC NARRATIVE:

• plot revolves around a hero with unbelievable stature like almost divine;
• character possesses super human strengths
• setting is vast as it may include the adventures of the characters
• narrator is omniscient; a tell-all
• represents moral ideas

EXAMPLE

Batugan spent most of his lifetime gathering the bats he needed to replace the one's he killed. In his travels he conquered beasts, fell in love, found a family and became a great leader of a prominent tribe. Because he was true to his promise to the goddess of the mountains, he was granted the strength of ten men to help him defend his tribe. With such strength his fame spread all throughout the lands beyond his tribe. Men of high stature came to him and asked for his help against monsters who attacked villages. Batugan never hesitated to help until he became old. When the day of his passing came, the universe bled. His son Mandaragat who was then of a very young age inherited his strength but no father shall be there to train him.

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The purpose of writing fables is to convey a moral lesson. Fables also give readers a chance to laugh at the follies of of the characters which actually represent that of a human being's. They are very helpful in teaching children good lessons based on examples. 

CHARACTERISTICS OF A FABLE NARRATIVE:

• use talking animals as main characters
• personifies actual human characteristics
• short and usually consists only of two to three characters 

EXAMPLE

Batugan's goat, Malaya, went to walk miles away from her master. Malaya was then captured by the bats of the mountain three miles from the Yamot spring when she got inside the cave. Sumpok, the leader of the bats, fell in love with her. Malaya only laughed at him as they are of different species. Their union would be an abomination. However, Sumpok showed dedication and eventually Malaya accepted his love as he had proven worthy. The goddess of the mountain made Malaya into a bat so that she could be with Sumpok.

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A short story is a narrative of interrelated events concerning the conflict and resolution.

CHARACTERISTICS OF A FABLE NARRATIVE:

• mostly revolves around single incident, character or period of time
• readable at one sitting
• mostly shows a decisive moment
• there is often little action

EXAMPLE

In a high-rise condominium lived a prominent family who are of political descent. Tony, a successful businessman, and a loving father ends the day by tucking in his daughters Loren and Mia by telling them stories about Mandaragat, the great conqueror. The story of the great conqueror was written by his late wife, Tanya, who died of cancer.

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Originally published at jeanillec.blogspot.com 

in 2020.

References:

Ashlimann, D.L. (2003). Creation Myths from the Philippines.

 Retrieved from https://www.pitt.edu/~dash/creation-phil.html

Legend. (2015) Retrieved from https://literarydevices.net/legend/

Jagadisan, S.  (2010). Characteristics of a Short Story. Retrieved from 

 https://thelitpath.wordpress.com/2010/11/11/characteristics-of-a-short-story/

Drake, T. Six Elements of the Epic. Retrieved from 

https://webpages.uidaho.edu/engl257/General%20lit/six_elements_of_the_epic.htm