SELF-LEARNING MATERIAL 4
QUARTER 3
English
Grade 8
Name:______________________________________ Date: _____________________
School:______________________________________
Competency: Analyze literature as a mirror to a shared heritage to a shared heritage of
people with diverse background. (Focus: Folk Literature)
RECAPITULATION
DISCUSSION
What is literature?
comes from the Latin word “litteratura” which means “writing formed with letters”
a body of work, either written, oral, or visual, containing imaginative language that
realistically portrays thought, emotions, and experiences of the human condition
a creation of human experiences that tells about people and their world
Why is literature considered as a mirror to a shared heritage to a shared heritage of people
with diverse background?
1. It is because literature is like looking at the mirror of life where man’s experiences,
his innermost feelings and thoughts are reflected.
2. Literature helps us understand not only with the culture of neighboring countries but
also with that of others living very far from us. Therefore, we learn the culture of
people across time and space.
FOLK LITERATURE
- a literary work passed down by word of mouth through the generations
- also known as folklore
TYPES OF FOLK LITERATURE
a. MYTH
- stories that recount and explain the origins of the world and the phenomena of
nature
- use mainly gods and goddesses as characters, with occasional mention of humans,
and the setting is high above earth in the home of the gods
- mirrors human nature and the essence of our sometimes primitive emotions,
instincts, and desires
b. LEGENDS
- a traditional story sometimes popularly regarded as historical but unauthenticated
c. EPICS
- long stories of human adventure and heroism recounted in many episodes, often in
verse
- grounded in mythology, and their characters can be both human and divine
d. FABLES
- simple stories that incorporate characters (typically animals) whose actions teach a
moral lesson or universal truth
e. FOLKTALES
- a story originating in popular culture
- stories that grew out of the lives and imaginations of the people, or folk
- commonly used in learning one’s heritage and that of the others
What is shared heritage?
refers to the common legacy or property transmitted or descended by a group of
individuals to another, acquired from or possessed form various situations in life, such
as wars or invasion of another country
EXAMPLES:
Culture, Customs, Beliefs (Religious/Political), Traditions
What is a diverse background?
refers to different social and ethnic background
known as the differences in the environment in which a group of people lives
How to analyze literature as a mirror to a shared heritage of people with diverse
background?
1. Read the folk literature carefully.
2. Identify what type of folk literature is used.
3. Identify the specific group/race/nationality the character/s used in the literary piece.
a. To what specific group (religious, ethnic, race or nationality) does the person or
do the people used as characters in the story belong?
b. Why do you say so? (Give evidence from the selection to justify your answer.)
4. Discern the shared heritage.
a. What specific behavior that shows the culture, belief or custom of the person or
group of people does the story share with you as a reader?
5. Give your personal reaction.
a. Does your specific group/race/nationality the culture share the same culture,
belief or custom as depicted in the story? Why or Why not?
Example of Analyzing Literature as a Mirror to a Shared Heritage of People with
Diverse Background Using the Guide Questions
Directions: Read the literary piece entitled “Weighing the Elephant”.
1. What type of folk literature is the literary piece?
a. Myth b. Legend c. Epic d. Fable e. Folktale
2. To what specific group of people do the characters in the story belong?
a. Japanese b. Koreans c. Chinese d. Thai e. None of the above
3. What word is used to name the head of China?
a. President b. Prime Minister c. Emperor d. King e. Sultan
4. Based on your answer in Question No. 3, what kind of government does China have
in the story?
a. Monarchy b. Imperialism c. Democracy d. None of the above
5. Do Filipinos have the same government like China?
a. Yes b. No
6. Based on the story, what specific behavior is shown by the boy towards his father?
a. Helpful b. Funny c. Friendly d. Humble
7. Do Filipinos share the same specific behavior towards our parents as what is depicted
in the story?
a. Yes. Like Chinese, Filipinos are family-oriented. Helping one’s parents in finding
solutions to problems is one of their innate personalities.
b. No. Unlike Chinese, Filipinos tend to move away from their parents after 18 years
of living with them. Minding each other’s own business is one of their innate
personalities.
SELF-LEARNING MATERIAL 4
QUARTER 3
English
Grade 8
Name:____________________________________ Date: ________________________
School:___________________________________ Score:________________________
Competency: Analyze literature as a mirror to a shared heritage to a shared heritage of
people with diverse background. (Focus: Folk Literature)
Directions: Read and analyze literature as a mirror to a shared heritage to a shared heritage
of people with diverse background by answering the questions below. Encircle the letter of
the best answer.
1. What type of folk literature is the literary piece?
a. Myth b. Legend c. Epic d. Fable e. Folktale
2. To what specific group of people do the characters in the story belong?
a. Japanese b. Koreans c. Chinese d. Thai e. None of the above
3. What word is used to name the head of Japan?
a. President b. Prime Minister c. Emperor d. King e. Sultan
4. Based on your answer in Question No. 3, what kind of government does Japan have in
the story?
a. Monarchy b. Imperialism c. Democracy d. None of the above
5. Do Filipinos have the same government like Japan?
a. Yes b. No
6. Based on the story, what specific behavior is shown by the people of Japan towards
their government?
a. Obedient b. Truthful c. Stubborn d. Rebellious
7. Based on your answer in Question No. 6, do Filipinos share the same personality with
the people of Japan toward their government?
a. Yes. Like Japanese, Filipinos blindly obey and follow rules set by their own
government regardless if it is good or bad.
b. No. Unlike Japanese, Filipinos constructively obey and follow rules set by their own
government that are set for the common good.
8. Based on the story, what specific behavior is shown by the son towards his mother?
a. Loving b. Funny c. Friendly d. Humble
9. Do Filipinos share the same specific behavior towards our parents as what is depicted
in the story?
a. Yes. Like Japanese, Filipinos love their parents very much to the extent that they
would want to live in the same roof with their parents despite having their own families.
b. No. Unlike Japanese, Filipinos do not love their parents that much that they would
want to have a family of their own and live far away from them.
