21ST CENTURY LITERATURE

2. Reading, understanding, and appreciating stories,
poems, essays or any other forms of literature may
sometimes be challenging for you. This can be
influenced by many factors. It could be your lack of
knowledge about the topic or author’s background,
your inability to understand the words used in the
text, your lack of time to spend for reading, or simply
your negative attitude towards reading itself.

3. In order for you to understand and appreciate
a literary text, you should know some useful
techniques and strategies. These techniques
refer to your ability to interpret the
biographical, linguistic, and sociocultural
contexts which give more meaning and
impact to a reading selection

4. BIOGRAPHICAL CONTEXTS
Before you read someone’s work, you have to
learn some background information about the
author’s life, including his or her educational
background, professional background, or
socioeconomic background, which directly or
indirectly influence his or her literary work. .

5. EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND
As you read about the life of the author, you will also have a glimpse of his
or her educational attainment and academic achievements. Some authors
may have earned the highest educational degree while others may have
dropped out of school for their own reasons. For example, Amador T.
Daguio, a Filipino writer and poet during the pre-war Philippines whose
notable works include “Wedding Dance”, “Man of Earth” and “Hudhud Hi
Aliguyon” finished Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy, Master of Arts in
English, and Bachelor of Laws. Nick Joaquin who was best known for his
short stories and novels in the English language, on the other hand,
dropped out of school when he was in third year high school because he
felt that the classroom was too confined for him and that he learned more
outside of it.

6. Socioeconomic Background
As you read about the author’s life, you will also find out about his or
her family. You will know about his or her family background and other
significant childhood and adulthood experiences. For example, Nick
Joaquin lived with his parents and siblings in a two-story residential
and commercial building on Herran Street, Paco, 14 Manila. He was
said to have an extremely happy childhood. He and his siblings were
tutored in Spanish and piano and were encouraged to have an interest
in the arts. The Joaquin home communicated in Spanish and heard
mass regularly.

8. 1. Why does Andrea have to be at the Internet café?
2. Why does she hate the strong scent of air fresheners?
3. Why is there a need for her to hasten up and make use of
her time?
4. How much does she need to pay for PC and Internet use?
Do you think she has enough money for it?
5. Based on the preceding questions, what do you think is
the socioeconomic
status of the author of the story? Cite evidence from the text.

10. 1. Why does Andrea have to be at the Internet café?
2. Why does she hate the strong scent of air fresheners?
3. Why is there a need for her to hasten up and make use of
her time?
4. How much does she need to pay for PC and Internet use?
Do you think she has enough money for it?
5. Based on the preceding questions, what do you think is
the socioeconomic
status of the author of the story? Cite evidence from the text.

11. LINGUISTIC
CONTEXT

12. Reading through a linguistic context means you have to
focus on the language used in the literary text and how it is
used to convey meaning. Knowing how words interplay in a
piece of literature will help you understand and appreciate it
more. Pay careful attention to sentence structures, grammar
patterns, and vocabulary used in the text. To ensure
accurate interpretation of the linguistic contexts in a literary
piece, use the three levels of comprehension, namely literal,
inferential, and evaluative.

13. Literal comprehension simply means
reading the lines. As your read a text, take
note of specific details that relate to who,
what, when, where, why, and how
questions. These details are literally found
or written in the text.

14. Inferential comprehension, on the other hand, refers to
reading between the lines. This means you have to
determine the meaning of certain words and expressions
within the text not by using the dictionary, but by using
context clues. Context clues are surrounding words and
phrases in the text that are used to give meaning to
unfamiliar words and phrases such as idiomatic expressions
and figures of speech. Having the ability to read through
context clues makes reading more fun and interesting.

15. Evaluative comprehension takes your imagination
outside of the text. It enables you to make
generalizations, form new conclusions, or make
judgments about certain issues presented explicitly
or implicitly in the text. This level of comprehension
develops your critical thinking. To reach this level,
you have to go through the literal and inferential
levels first.

17. SOCIOCULTURAL CONTEXT
In reading using the sociocultural context, you must focus on
understanding the social, economic, political and cultural forces
affecting the literary work. It combines social and cultural elements
that are significant in understanding and appreciating a work of
literature. Consider the following questions in analyzing the
sociocultural context embedded in the literary piece.
• How does the literary piece depict society?
• With what societal issues is it concerned?
• Does the work describe real events, or some that are strikingly
similar to real events?

18. SOCIOCULTURAL CONTEXT
In reading using the sociocultural context, you must focus on
understanding the social, economic, political and cultural forces
affecting the literary work. It combines social and cultural elements
that are significant in understanding and appreciating a work of
literature. Consider the following questions in analyzing the
sociocultural context embedded in the literary piece.
• How does the literary piece depict society?
• With what societal issues is it concerned?
• Does the work describe real events, or some that are strikingly
similar to real events?

20. 1. What is Andrea’s purpose for going to the
Internet café?
2. What past or present societal issue among
Filipino women is depicted in the story?
3. How does the Philippine society view this
issue? Is it something that is widely practiced
and accepted?
4. What is your own opinion about the issue?