Presented By:

Jennifer DT. Dizon

Traditional literature is considered the mother of all literature.

Characteristics of Traditional Fantasy

1. Plot is simple and clear.

2. Plot shows success of the underdog.

3. Characters represent moral choices; the good/evil.

4. Themes are comment on humanity.

5. Reflects the values and customs of culture.

6. Have repetitive element.

7. Involves audience/call of response.

Categories/Forms of Traditional Fantasy

Myths

It relate stories about God’s and Goddesses.

It explains primitive man’s idea of the origin of the universe and the mysteries of natural phenomena.

It is associated with religious rites and beliefs.

Describe the gods of people and other legendary human beings in stories which engage in supernatural powers and elements.

Examples of Local Myths

Bathala or Abba (Ancient Tagalogs)

The highest ranking diety of the Ancient Tagalogs was called Bathala or Abba. And like other divinities, the world over Bathala’s origin was not known. Bathala was said to be the creator of all things- the sea, the sky, the earth and all the vegetation around us. He dwelt in a space called “Kaluwalhatian” or sky. He was said to be compassionate and forever understanding but he was equally unforgiving in his punishment to sinners. His power and goodness were directed to the interests of the people to whom he was the almighty protector.

Tungkung Langit and Alunsina ( Panay-Visayan)

In the beginning, there was nothing and there was everything. From these, there grows two Gods named Tungkung Langit and Alunsina. These two Gods marry and lived in the highest realm of infernal space; the sky. While Tungking Langit is responsible, Alunsina is lazy, jealous and selfish. One day, when Tungkung Langit lost his temper, he send her wife away and took her powers. Several days after, Tungkung Langit became very lonely that he made the sea, the earth, and tilled the grass with trees and flowers. Because he misses Alunsina and want her to come back, he made Alunsina’s crown as the sun, her comb as the moon and her jewels became the stars at night. But despite of this, Alunsina never came back again.

Example of Foreign Myths

The Judgment of Paris (Greek mythology)

Eris whom Peleus and Thetis forgot to invite on their wedding decided to take revenge rather than complain to the bride and groom. At wedding feast, Eris throw a golden apple between three of the goddess attending: Hera, Athena and Aphrodite. Inscribed on the apple were words “ For the Fairest.” These three goddesses began fighting and asked Zeus to judge them but Zeus told them to look for Paris in the Mount Ida for he is the excellent judge of Beauty. Each of them offered him price. Athena offered him victorious in every fight, Hera offered him control of Asia and Aphrodite offered him the worlds beautiful woman as his bride. Not caring about battle, he choses Aphrodite.

Persephone was the beautiful daughter of Zeus and Demeter. She spent most of her days roaming the lands of the earth. Wherever he stopped, flowers would appear and animals would follow her. One day Hades, the Lord of the Underworld was lonely and depressed so he decided to have Persephone. He kidnapped her using his chariot without anyone seeing him. Persephone’s mother started wandering the earth in search for her daughter. She neglect her duties until her daughter was returned to her. All the plants soon began to die. The earth become frozen. Zeus, in fear of losing everything offered ordered Hades to return Persephone but since she had eaten already six pomegranate seeds (food for the dead), Zeus made an agreement that Persephone would stay 6 months with Hades underworld then 6 months with Demeter on Earth.

Abduction of Persephone

(Greek Mythology)

Legends

Stories about miracles, wonders and origin of a person, place or a thing.

•It deals with historical backgrounds.

•It contains religious ideas and carries lessons.

Examples of Local Legends

It tells of a princess who lived in one of the islands of Tawi-Tawi, near Sulu. She fell inlove with their gardener. When her father, the powerful sultan, learned about their love affair, he drove the gardener away. The princess became heartbroken. She prayed that the gardener would come back. She would not stop waiting for him. One day, she requested to God to be transformed into a plant whose flowers would wake up in the night and keep vigil till her lover came back. The plant grew into a bush with white tiny blossoms that emit a very fragrant smell only at night.

The Legend of Dama De Noche (Tawi-Tawi)

The Legend of Mayon Volcano (Bicol)

Once, there was a princess named Daragang Magayon who lived in Bicol. She’s so beautiful. She came from a family that reigns over entire Bicol. Because of her beauty and influence, warriors, Princes and datus from different parts of the country desired to have her as their wife. But Magayon fell inlove with a warrior named Handiongs, a prince came from tribe whose unfortunately the enemy of Magayon’s tribe. Because their family always do everything to separate them, that they came to the point that they fought a bloody tribal war, the two decided to commit suicide together due to so much pain. These two lovers were buried separately. As months passed, tribes saw a volcano is growing in the place were Magayon is buried. They called it Daragang Magayon until it became “Bulkang Mayon.”

Examples of Foreign Legends

Momotaro (Japan Legend)

A long, long time ago in Japan, there was an old man and his wife but they had no children not until one day, while her wife is washing the clothes in a nearby stream, she saw a peach. She waited for his husband to arrived home and they are both surprised because the peach split into two and a sweet boy came out. They called him Momotaro and brought him up with tender loving care. Momotaro grew up strong, powerful and kind. He had became the strongest in the village. But one day, Ogres in Origashima (Ogre’s islands) spread fear among his countrymen. Because of that, he decided to go to Origashima. He used the dumplings given by his parents to give to the three animals he will meet along the way. These 3 helped him to reach Origashima. The Ogres by that time is in the midst of merry making. Together with his three animal friends, they fight the Ogres and when the Ogres are completely overpowered, their leader dropped his knees and promised to Momotaro that he will never trouble human beings again and will return all the treasures to his vilalage. So the brave Momotaro returned to his village happily.

Backbone of the King ( Hawaiian Legend)

Paka’a is a skilled seaman and wise and faithful supporter of his king, but the lies of courtiers cost Pakaa’s lands and the kings to their favor. However, Paka’a possesses a sacred calabash which contains the bones of his grandmother and all the winds of the Hawaiian islands. With the help of the wind and his faithful son Ku-a Paka’a . Paka’a regains his place of favor and the wealth and lands which are rightfully his.

Epics

• A long, narrative poem relating the story of a hero whose life and

adventures are important to the history and culture of people.

•The style of story’s presentation is serious, dignified and objective.

Examples of Local Epics

Biag ni Lam-ang

The tale takes us from Lam-ang’s birth, to his quest for vengeance against his Father’s killers, to his courtship of Ines Cannoyan, then finally to his death (in the belly of the giant fish)and resurrection (in his magical pet rooster and dogs).

Hudhud hi Haliguyon ( Ifugao)

The life of Aliguyon, dealing with his eight year war against Pumbakhayon, which results in the two adversaries gaining respect for each other, until at last, peace is made between two people.

Examples of Foreign Epics

Robinhood

Robin went into forest to hide after he was strongly accused of shooting the king’s deer. His lands was taken way from him. He took refuge in the Sheerwood Forest. Then he organized an outlaw band of heroes. He was joined by Little John, who was really a big fellow; the jolly and fat Friar Truch, Allan a Dale, Will Scarlet, Midge, the Miller’s son and many others. They steal from the rich to help the poor. So Robinhood and his men have a series of adventures.

Fables

•Are stories whose characters are animals and inanimate objects as characters, and these characters behave like humans.

•The story is usually short but full of actions, dialogs, humor and funny situations.

•There is a moral lesson found at the end of the story.

Examples of Local Fables

The Beautiful Butterfly

Once, there was a big butterfly that wanted to show the world how beautiful she was. She was the envy of all the butterflies and dragonflies in the field. And to make the everybody envious even more, she would fly and fly high and low and kiss the flowers in the garden every morning flapping her colorful and magnificent wings gracefully.

Her parents, tell her not to display herself too much in the open cause she might get caught by the children and collectors but then she did not listen to them until one day, she was trapped into a net and a pair of big hands captured her. She was killed and dried and was pasted on a board covered with glass. He wish that the world would see her beauty was granted. She was placed in a frame displayed in a museum.

The Lazy Dog

A group of animals were preparing to go to a nearby rice fields because it was harvest time. It was the custom of the people in the merrymaking. It was to take place after the harvest. One of the animals, the dog, was too lazy to go with the other. He preferred to sleep instead of looking for something to eat. So when the group departed, he just slept. When the group came back, each was full and satisfied. They too, enjoyed the merrymaking and the food. Each of them was also carrying some leftovers. The dog who was now so hungry after a long sleep asked each one of the animals for a little food but nobody wanted to give him even a small piece of meat.

Example of Foreign Fables

The Lion and the Mouse

One day, a lion tired from hunting, lay down to sleep under a tree. A mouse ran over the lion’s face and awakened him. The angry lion was about to crush the mouse with his large paw. The mouse pleaded so earnestly for his life so the lion let him go. Sometime later, the lion was caught in a hunter’s snare. The lion roared and roared and tried to free himself. The mouse hear the lion’s roared and recognized his voice. He ran towards the trap. He gnawed the net that held the lion and set him free. The lion was very grateful and said to himself, “ Sometimes the weakest can help the strongest.”

The Fox and the Crow

A fox saw a crow fly off with a piece of cheese in it beak and settle on a branch of a tree. The fox wanted the cheese for himself. He looked up at the crow and said, “ Good day Mistress Crow. How well you look today! I am sure your voice can surpass that of other birds. Let me just hear your sweet voice so I can call you the “ Queen of Birds.” The crow began to sing. Yhe moment the crow opened her mouth, the cheese fell to the ground. The fox hastily grabbed the cheese. Then he said to the crow, “This is all that I wanted. In exchange for your cheese, I will give you this piece of advice for the future. ”Do not trust flatterers. ”

Thank you for listening