ASEAN LITERATURE – LITR 102
Types of Poetry, Sound Devices, Figurative Devices
Types of Poetry
Lyric Poetry - A poem that is very personal in nature. It expresses the author’s own thoughts, feelings, moods and reflections in musical
language.
The poet may use rhyme, meter, or other literary devices to create a song-like quality.
Historically intended to be sung and accompany musical instrumentation.
 Sonnets have 14 lines usually written in iambic pentameter, which is five pairs of stressed and unstressed syllables.
Shakespearean or English Petrarchan or Italian
 Elegy - This is a lyric poem which expresses lament and mourning of the dead, feeling of grief and melancholy. The theme of
this poem is death
 Ode - This is a poem of noble feeling, expressed with dignity and praises for some persons, objects, events or ideas.
Narrative Poetry - It narrates a story through the use of poetic diction either real or imaginary. This form of poetry describes events in
a vivid way, using some of the elements as short stories, plot characters and dialogue.
 Epic - this is a long and narrative poem that normally tells a story about a hero or an adventure. Epics can be oral stories or
can be poems in written form
 Ballad - Ballad poetry is often based on a legend or a folk tale.
Most ballads are written in four-six stanzas and has a regular rhythms and rhyme schemes. The simplest type of narrative
poetry.
Dramatic Poetry
 The word “drama” implies one or more characters and actions.
 Dramatic poetry aims at involving the readers in an experience or situation, and creates tension, immediacy, expectation and
conflict
 More emphasis on character rather than on narrative
A. Dramatic Monologue
 A combination of drama and poetry
 It presents some line or speech of single character in a particular but complicated situation and sometimes in a dilemma.
B. Oration – This is a formal address elevated in tone and usually delivered on some notable occasion
Sound Devices
 Alliteration- Repetition of beginning consonants sounds.
 Assonance – Repetition of vowel sounds within words or syllables.
Example: Fleet feet weep by sleeping geese.
 Consonance – Repetition of consonant sounds anywhere within the words.
 Onomatopoeia – A word that imitates the sound it represents.
Example: All the dishes fell to the floor with a loud clatter.
 Rhyme – repetition of end sounds in words. ○
 Rhythm - The pattern of beats or stresses in a poem. ○
 Iambic: a rhythm of an unstressed followed by a stressed syllable
Figurative Devices
 A simile compares two different things, using the words “like” or “as” to draw attention to the comparison.
 A metaphor is like a simile, but without connecting words. It simply posits that two separate things are the same.
 Personification is giving human characteristics to nonhuman or abstract things.
 Synecdoche - figure of speech using a word referring to a part of something as a substitute for the word representing the whole
 Hyperbole - Hyperbole is an exaggeration that is created to emphasize a point or bring out a sense of humor.
Myanmar Literature
 Burmese - the mother tongue of the Bamar and official language of Myanmar.
 It is written in a script consisting of circular and semi-circular letters, which comes from the Mon script.

Mon script - The Mon language is a recognized indigenous language in Myanmar as well as a recognized indigenous language
of Thailand.
Literature
 From 15th century up to the 19th century, palm leaf (scratched with the stylus) and fold paper literature became common.
Such work was filled with Buddhist piety and courtly refinement of language. The authors were monks, educated courters and
court poetesses. Prose works during this period were few, mostly Buddhist scriptures and chronicles of kings.
 It was in the form of drama and epistles or missives, written in verse. Works on law and history were written in prose. Many
dramas were written during the 16th to 18th centuries, while in the 19th century, poems, drama, and chronicles were produced.
 Novels were a later development; the first Myanmar novel was an adaptation of Alexander Dumas' The Count of Monte
Cristo, but written in a Myanmar setting.
 Modern Myanmar literature can be said to have had its beginnings in the 1930s when the University of Yangon was founded
and the Department of Myanmar Studies established. There was a new development in literature known as the khitsan
movement whose writers used a simple and direct style that has continued to this day.
 Burmese literature has historically been a very important aspect of Burmese life steeped in the Pali Canon of Buddhism.
Traditionally, Burmese children were educated by monks in monasteries in towns and villages. During British colonial rule,
instruction was formalised and unified, and often bilingual, in both English and Burmese known as Anglo-Vernacular.
Burmese literature played a key role in disseminating nationalism among the Burmese during the colonial era, with writers
such as Thakin Kodaw Hmaing, an outspoken critic of British colonialism in Burma.
Culture of Myanmar
 Myanmar's traditional culture is an amalgam of folk and royal culture.
 The most conspicuous manifestation of Buddhist culture is the magnificent architecture and sculpture of Myanmar's many
temples and monasteries, notably those at Pagan, Mandalay, and Yangon.
 The most popular dramatic form is the pwe, which is performed outdoors.
 Jatakas, the stories of the former lives of the Buddha.
After Reading (Kindergarten Teacher)
Narration:
 Who is telling the story?
The one telling the story seems to be the friend of the kindergarten teacher, who was a lecturer at the University of Yangon and
served as a middle school teacher in his hometown, Taungdwin-gyi where the story took place.
 What point of view is used?
The story was narrated from the first - person point of view.
 Why is he telling the story?
He was telling this story to share to the reader his realizations from what he saw from his “kindergarten teacher” friend. He’d been
way off the mark with his evaluation of “good teaching”
Emotional Appeal:
 How did you feel while reading?
So much respect for the teachers who devote their time and effort to unleash the potentials of their students. It was an everyday
dilemma for them to think of ways that will make the students enjoy the learning process. Being a teacher requires a lot of
effort and patience, especially for a kindergarten teacher
 How does the narrator feel about his kindergarten friend teacher as compared to him who is also a teacher?
The narrator realized that the character of U Nyan Sein is the best example of a good teacher which is different from his
evaluation of “good teaching”. He saw how the students react to the activities and that’s because they enjoy what they are
doing. To make the students enjoy the learning process was the essence of teaching.
New Historicism:
 Can this kind of teacher still be seen in school?
Yes, I believe that there are a lot of teachers like U Nyan Sein nowadays. I, myself had a teacher back in high school who always make
every lesson fun. It is true that if you are enjoying the learning process, it is easier to learn. I hope that more and more teachers will be
like UNyan Sein in the next generations who value and share genuine leanings
Valuing:
1. Does the kindergarten teacher love his pupils? What is your proof?
Yes, it was evident in the story that the kindergarten teacher loves his pupils. It was manifested in his efforts to make them enjoy going
to school first for them to enjoy the learning process as well. Every meeting was interactive so that the students could also express
themselves. He would do that by drawing something on the board and let his students guess what he illustrated
Myanmar Literature - After Reading
 Understanding
 Valuing
 Sound Device
 Poetry type
Brunei Literature – After Reading (story)
 Character Analysis
 Setting
 Culture
After Reading (poem)
 Understanding the Poem
 Valuing
 Elements of Poetry
Brunei
Intro and History
 Brunei was known to be trading with paying tribute to China in the 6th century CE. I then came under Hindu influence for a
time through allegiance to the Majapahit empire, base in Java.
 Brunei duly gained independence January 1, 1984 and an Islamic sultanate was proclaimed.
 The Legislative Council which had become appointed by decree of the sultan in 1970 was suspended and a ministerial form of
government was introduced.
Geography
 Brunei with a population of 444,514 people (as of is located Southeastern Asia and has a land area of 5,765 square km.
 The country borders the South China Sea and shares a border with Sarawak, an eastern Malaysian state which divide Brunei
into two : eastern part and western part. The Temburong District makes up the eastern half while Brunei-Maura, Tutong
and Belait Districts comprise the western half.
Language
Brunei Malay Language
 Brunei Malay (Bahasa Melayu Brunei) or Kedayan (Kedaian) sometimes conflated as Brunei-Kadaian is the national
language of Brunei and lingua France in parts of East Malaysia.
 Standard Malay is the official language of Brunei
 Arabic is the language of the Quran and is used by Islamic scholars in Brunei. The official religion of Brunei is Islam and all
adherents of the faith possess some proficiency in reading and speaking in Arabic.
 Chinese minority of Brunei speak a number of Chinese varieties. Hainanese, Hoisan and Fuchow are the other Chinese
language that are use in Brunei.
 English used as a business and official language and its spoken by a majority of the population in Brunei.
Literature
Literature of Brunei Darussalam
 The Language and Literature Bureau promotes the development of literature and folklore and publishes textbooks in Malay
and English for use in primary and secondary schools.
 Sajak form of poetry which is popular to school children
 Sya’ir Awang Simawn – epic poem, most famous work of traditional literature which recounts the exploits of the culture hero.
CHARACTER ANALYSIS: ABOUT
1. What role does Yasid play in the story? Is it major or minor?
Since Yasid is the focal point of the primary plot and the subject of most of the discussion and interior
reflection in the story, he is a significant character.
2. Who does he interact with? Who is/ are important to Yasid?
Yasid is socializing with his friends who work as laborers in the oil fields, particularly toJamill with whom he had a profound
conversation. Yasid values his coworkers as well. Additionally, an Old Man, as we can tell how much he cares about him.
3. What character is Yasid?
 Flat – Displays few character traits and often does not change in the shole story
 Round – Has a complex trait with distinct personality, background and motive.


Dynamic – Goes through a dramatic change as a character in the fiction
Static – Has a trait which do not change throughout the story, the same from the start to the ed of the story.
I believe Yasid is a main protagonist having complex traits, distinct personality, background and motive.
He showed his physical and mental toughness in the story. Even though he was one of the graveyard fire victims and
experienced vision of the dead old man, he still carried on to go to the graveyard and work at the oilfield by mounting
the derrick.
SETTINGS: About
4. Does the description of the burnt village give you a vivid picture? What words or descriptions help you picture out
the place?
From my point of view, the description of the burnt village gives me a vivid picture of it. It was described that there were two
conflagrations of fire that were seen about a hundred and forty yards from the burnt houses. There was a tiny smoke in the haze
and nothing was left untouched by the flames
5. Is the author good enough in making you understand the story place?
In my opinion, the author did a wonderful job of making the reader better understand the setting of the story since he used
words that helped us imagine the even
Culture
6. What culture of Brunei is shown in the fiction.
The culture of Brunei that was depicted in the novel is how they value and appreciate their work and friendships. They also
showed how they are willing to help in times of disasters. I remember the scene when Jamal asked Yazid to stay in his place to
take a shower and rest.
7. Are there any similarities with the Philippines?
The culture of Brunei has similarities to the Philippines. Like in Brunei, Filipinos are known for their Bayanihan. are known
for their Bayanihan. We can see in the story that Adam offered his house to Yazid in order for him to have a temporary shelter
because his house had already been burned down. While Yazid and Jamal were determined to help in digging the elderly man's
grave