Hercor College
Lawaan, Roxas City
Date: October 10, 2011
Subject Teacher: Mrs. Rexel Rose D. Tolentino
Discussant: Rose Ann Escarnuela
Sheila Mae Escalada
Ernie Duron
Chona Dela Cruz
Literature during the Middle Period
(1930-1960)
Introduction:
The middle period is the time of self-discovery and the rapid growth, some writers call it a period of emergence. Because in this period, the writers were decided to rise or the act or an instance of emerging. There are three (3) groups of writers (1) those who were deeply concerned with social consciousness (2) those who’s main concern was craftsmanship, and (3) those who were determined to explore the local color. In, the year 1939-1960 Philippine literature rapidly improved specially in the areas of essay, short story, poetry and novel.
Body:
The essay during this period, tried to capture Filipino life and culture. Salvador Lopez led the school writers who stressed social consciousness & he expressed his views in “Literature & Society”. Jose Garcia Villa wrote his views in “Art & Literature”. Francisco Icasiano wrote “Horizons from my Nipa Hut” this book contained humorous essay which reveals a deep sympathy for a common tao. Outstanding essayists are: Francisco Avellana, Salvador Lopez, Camilo Osias, Jose Garcia Villa, and Marcelo Gracia de Concepion.
The short story was the most rapid development. During this period, there was shift from romantic idealism to romantic realism. Some writers who contributed are: Manuel Arguilla, Estrella D. Alfon, Francisco Arcellana, Nick Joaquin, NVM Gonzales, Jose Garca Villa, Amador T. Daguio, Edith Tiempo, Edilberto K. Tiempo, Francisco Icasiano, Kerima Polotan Tuvera, Arturo Rotor, Arturo M. Tolentino, Manuel Viray, and Loreto Paras Sulit.
The poetry was slowly developed in 1930’s most poetry was still romantic in character like love, lyrics, but some poet like Jose Garcia Villa was charged with poisoning public morals and offending the state of decent Manila readers when he published “Man Songs”. He was expelled from the University of the Philippines, but British and American critics acclaimed his works. Filipino poets sought selective affinities among western poets. In 1950’s, Jose Del Castillo published “Antiphonal Earth: Coins of Songs. Dominador Billio published “Diplomat and Other Poem” in 1955.Ricardo Demetrio published “No Certain Weather” in 1956. Some poets who contributed are: G. Brue Bunao, Reuben Canoy, Amador T. Daguio, Luis Dato, NVM Gonzales, Rafael Zulueta Da Costa, Abelardo Subido, Edith Tiempo, and Oscar de Zuniga.
The novel during this time was the least cultivated in the country. The two Invaluable novels are Nick Joaquin who wrote “The Woman Who had Two Novels” and Kerima Polotan Tuvera who wrote “The Hand Of Enemy”. The first novel written in 1921 by Zoilo M. Galang was “A Child of Sorrow”. Among the first to write Long Narrative novel were: Zoilo M. Galang, Maximo M. Kalaw, Ernesto Lopez, Felecidad V. Ocampo, Luis Serrano, Felipe Calderon Cortez, and Victoria Lopez Araneta. The winner of the first common wealth literary award for the novel in 1940 was Juan C. Laya and his prize winning novel was “His Native Soil”. He is also a school teacher with a taste for letters. Important writers are: Kerima Polotan Tuvera, Carlos P. Romulo, Stevan Javellana, Nick Joaquin, NVM Gonzales, F. Sionil Jose, Edith Tiempo, Edilberto Tiempo, Celse al Carunungan, and Emigdio Alvarez Enriquez.
Conclusion:
In this period the novel was the least cultivated in the country, the poetry was slowly developed, the essay focus on the Filipino life and culture and the short story was most rapid developed during this period.
