Literary Genres (Precolonial Period)

These are well-known stories which were made up in the past to explain natural events or to justify religious beliefs or social customs. These stories revolve in gods and goddesses as well as various mythological creatures.

• Epic

• Legend

• Myth

• Riddle

This is a long narrative poem that recounts the deeds of a legendary or historical hero. The most famous text under this genre is Biag ni Lam-ang.

• Epic

• Legend

• Folk Tale

• Proverbs

This is a narrative that is partly true and partly imaginary about a particular, event, place or natural feature.

• Myth

• Legend

• Folk Tale

• Fable

These are short tales to teach a moral, often with animals or inanimate objects as

characters. Children are very much familiar to the story of “Si Pagong at si Matsing.”

• Fable

• Epic

• Folk Tale

• Tanaga

This is a short poetic form which is a Filipino equivalent of Japanese haiku that expresses insights and lessons on life.

• Riddle

• Chant

• Folk Song

• Tanaga

These are group of words that are repeated over and over again for the purpose

of enchantment. Most of the time, our ancestors have these before conducting a war or starting the hunt for wild animals.

• Riddle

• Chant

• Folk Song

• Proverb

This is a genre compose of short sentence that people often quote, which gives advice or tells you something about life.

• Riddle

• Epic

• Folk Song

• Proverbs

It is a genre of literature in the form of a question, a puzzle, a phrase, or a statement devised to get unexpected or clever answers. Furthermore, it has veiled or double meaning which is done for entertainment.

• Riddle

• Epic

• Folk Song

• Proverbs