SUMULONG COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES

Antipolo City
MIDTERM EXAMINATION IN
SURVEY OF PHILIPPINE LITRATURE

I. Multiple-Choice Test
Directions: Read the questions below then choose the letter of your answer.

1. How did the introduction of English influence Filipino writers during the American Period?
A. It made writing more difficult.
B. It caused a decline in Tagalog literature.
C. It provided new literary forms and styles.
D. It limited their creativity.
○ Correct answer: C. It provided new literary forms and styles.

2. Which literary period in the Philippines is known for the transition from Tagalog to English as a
medium of expression?
A. Pre-colonial Period
B. Spanish Colonial Period
C. Period of Imitation
D. Period of Re-orientation
○ Correct answer: D. Period of Re-orientation

3. How did the experiences of slavery and independence shape Philippine literature?
A. They led to the decline of literary expression.
B. They made literature more focused on romance.
C. They inspired themes of freedom and resilience.
D. They had no impact on literature.
○ Correct answer: C. They inspired themes of freedom and resilience.

4. In what way did the introduction of English influence Filipino writers during the American
Period?
A. It made writing more difficult.
B. It limited their creativity.
C. It provided new literary forms and styles.
D. It caused a decline in Tagalog literature.
○ Correct answer: C. It provided new literary forms and styles.

5. Based on the literary trends during the American colonization, what can be inferred about the
role of education in shaping literature?
A. Education facilitated the introduction of new literary forms.
B. Education discouraged creative expression.
C. Education had no role in shaping literature.
D. Education promoted the use of native languages exclusively.
○ Correct answer: A. Education facilitated the introduction of new literary forms.

6. Which period in Philippine literature is characterized by the transition from Tagalog to English
as a literary medium?
A. Spanish Colonial Period
B. Pre-colonial Period
C. Period of Re-orientation
D. Period of Imitation
○ Correct answer: C. Period of Re-orientation

7. What was the primary literary output during the 'Period of Re-orientation'?
A. Poetry in Tagalog
B. Essays in English
C. Novels in French
D. Short stories in Spanish
○ Correct answer: B. Essays in English

8. Which literary figure is known for the work 'Sursum Corda' published in English?
A. R. McCullough Dick
B. Justo Juliano
C. Rafael Palma
D. Jan F. Salazar
○ Correct answer: B. Justo Juliano

9. What was a notable characteristic of the 'Period of Imitation' in Philippine literature?

A. Writers rejected English as a medium.
B. Writers produced works exclusively in Tagalog.
C. Writers imitated American and British literary styles.
D. Writers focused solely on native themes.
○ Correct answer: C. Writers imitated American and British literary styles.

10. What was a common misconception about the 'Period of Imitation' in Philippine literature?
A. It focused solely on Tagalog literature.
B. It was a time of great originality.
C. It was characterized by a rejection of English.
D. It involved imitation of foreign literary styles.
○ Correct answer: D. It involved imitation of foreign literary styles.

11. What does the term 'differentiation' refer to in the context of Vicente del Fierro's poetry?
A. The process of translating poetry into English.
B. The unique style and themes present in his poems.
C. The comparison of his work to that of other poets.
D. The categorization of poems by subject matter.
○ Correct answer: B. The unique style and themes present in his poems.

12. How did the works of Vicente del Fierro contribute to the understanding of Filipino culture?
A. By focusing on Western themes.
B. By exploring Filipino identity through poetry.
C. By translating Filipino works into English.
D. By promoting Spanish literature.
○ Correct answer: B. By exploring Filipino identity through poetry.
13. What significant contribution did Juan F. Salazar make to Filipino-English literature?
A. He was the first to publish a novel in Filipino-English.
B. He translated classic works into Filipino-English.
C. He established the first Filipino-English newspaper.
D. He wrote extensively about the history of Filipino-English literature.
○ Correct answer: D. He wrote extensively about the history of Filipino-English literature.

14. What can be inferred about the impact of Juan F. Salazar's writings on future Filipino authors?
A. They discouraged the use of English in writing.
B. They focused only on traditional themes.
C. They paved the way for the acceptance of English in Filipino literature.
D. They had little to no influence.
○ Correct answer: C. They paved the way for the acceptance of English in Filipino literature.

15. Which of the following statements about Juan F. Salazar's career is true?
A. He was primarily a novelist.
B. He worked as a journalist for several newspapers.
C. He never left the Philippines for work.
D. He focused solely on poetry.
○ Correct answer: B. He worked as a journalist for several newspapers.

16. In what way did Juan F. Salazar's experiences in America shape his writing?
A. He focused on writing in Spanish.
B. He rejected his Filipino roots.
C. He incorporated his experiences into his understanding of Filipino identity.
D. He wrote exclusively about American culture.
○ Correct answer: C. He incorporated his experiences into his understanding of Filipino identity.

17. Which of the following best describes Jose Ma. Hernandez's most notable work?
A. A romantic novel set in the Philippines.
B. A collection of short stories about Filipino life.
C. A historical drama titled 'Panday Pira'.
D. A biography of a famous Filipino leader.
○ Correct answer: C. A historical drama titled 'Panday Pira'.

18. What was a significant achievement of Jose Ma. Hernandez in 1960?

A. He published his first novel.
B. He won the Palanca Memorial award for 'White Sunday'.
C. He became a prominent politician.
D. He founded a literary magazine.
○ Correct answer: B. He won the Palanca Memorial award for 'White Sunday'.

19. What was a key theme in Jose Ma. Hernandez's play 'White Sunday'?
A. The struggles of colonialism.
B. The importance of family and community.
C. The conflict between tradition and modernity.
D. The beauty of nature.
○ Correct answer: B. The importance of family and community.
20. How did Vicente del Fierro's poetry influence Philippine literature?
A. It consisted of over 200 poems that enriched the literary landscape.
B. It introduced modernist themes to Filipino poetry.
C. It focused solely on romantic themes.
D. It was primarily written in Spanish.
○ Correct answer: A. It consisted of over 200 poems that enriched the literary landscape.

21. How did the mastery of English by Filipino writers by 1925 influence their literary output?
A. It had no significant impact.
B. It caused a decline in local languages.
C. It allowed for greater expression and access to global literature.
D. It limited their creativity.
○ Correct answer: C. It allowed for greater expression and access to global literature.

22. How did Jose Garcia Villa's work contribute to the evolution of poetry in the Philippines?
A. He introduced free verse and unique punctuation.
B. He focused exclusively on traditional forms.
C. He avoided themes of social relevance.
D. He wrote primarily in Tagalog.
○ Correct answer: A. He introduced free verse and unique punctuation.

23. Which period is recognized as the Golden Era of Filipino writing in English?
A. 1925 to 1930
B. 1930 to 1940
C. 1920 to 1925
D. 1940 to 1950
○ Correct answer: B. 1930 to 1940

24. What themes are prevalent in the essays written during the Golden Era of Filipino literature?
A. Historical fiction and fantasy
B. Social issues and national identity
C. Romantic love and adventure
D. Science and technology
○ Correct answer: B. Social issues and national identity

25. What was the significance of Salvador P. Lopez's 'Literature and Society' in the context of
Filipino literature?
A. It was the first novel written in English.
B. It won first prize in the Commonwealth Literary Contest.
C. It focused exclusively on poetry.
D. It was a collection of short stories.
○ Correct answer: B. It won first prize in the Commonwealth Literary Contest.

26. What was the primary focus of Camilo Osias's essays in 'The Filipino Way of Life'?
A. Poetic expressions
B. Fictional narratives
C. Philosophy and psychology of the Philippines
D. Historical events
○ Correct answer: C. Philosophy and psychology of the Philippines

27. Which of the following statements accurately reflects the relationship between the socio-
political context of the Philippines and its literary output during 1925-1941?
A. All literature was censored by the government.
B. Literature focused solely on personal experiences.
C. Literature was entirely disconnected from political issues.
D. Writers often used literature to address social and political themes.
○ Correct answer: D. Writers often used literature to address social and political themes.

28. What was the primary contribution of the Philippine Free Press to Filipino literature during the
1925-1941 period?
A. It published novels exclusively.
B. It offered prizes to Filipino writers in English.
C. It focused solely on poetry.
D. It was a government-sponsored publication.
○ Correct answer: B. It offered prizes to Filipino writers in English.

29. Which literary form did not reach the heights of popularity during the 1925-1941 period
compared to others?
A. Drama
B. Essays
C. Short stories
D. Poetry
○ Correct answer: A. Drama

30. In what way did the establishment of the UP Little Theater influence Filipino drama?
A. It focused on foreign plays only.
B. It discouraged local playwrights.
C. It led to the decline of traditional theater.
D. It provided a venue for playwriting and performance.
○ Correct answer: D. It provided a venue for playwriting and performance.

31. What was one of the primary reasons for the interruption of Philippine literature during the
Japanese occupation?
A. The popularity of foreign literature.
B. The lack of interest in writing.
C. The rise of digital media.
D. The prohibition of English newspapers.
○ Correct answer: D. The prohibition of English newspapers.

32. What was a significant impact of the Japanese occupation on Philippine literature from 1942 to
1945?
A. Literature was exclusively published in English.
B. All forms of poetry were banned.
C. Filipino writers began to write primarily in Filipino.
D. Philippine literature experienced a complete halt.
○ Correct answer: C. Filipino writers began to write primarily in Filipino.

33. Which of the following best explains why many Filipino writers shifted from English to Filipino
during the Japanese occupation?
A. Filipino was considered less sophisticated than English.
B. Japanese prohibitions on English writing forced a shift.
C. There was a lack of interest in English literature.
D. The Japanese encouraged writing in English.
○ Correct answer: B. Japanese prohibitions on English writing forced a shift.

34. Based on the context of the Japanese occupation, what inference can be made about the role
of literature in shaping national identity?
A. Literature provided a voice for resistance and cultural expression.
B. Literature had no impact on national identity.
C. Literature served as a tool for colonial propaganda.
D. Literature was primarily focused on entertainment.
○ Correct answer: A. Literature provided a voice for resistance and cultural expression.

35. During the Japanese occupation, which theme was commonly explored in Filipino poetry?
A. The technological advancements of the era.
B. Nationalism and life in the barrios.
C. The complexities of urban life.
D. The influence of Western literature.
○ Correct answer: B. Nationalism and life in the barrios.

36. How did the Japanese occupation influence the themes of Filipino poetry?
A. It shifted the focus to international issues.
B. It resulted in a decline in poetic expression.
C. It encouraged themes of nationalism and cultural identity.
D. It led to a focus on romantic themes exclusively.
○ Correct answer: C. It encouraged themes of nationalism and cultural identity.

37. Reflecting on the themes of nationalism in poetry during the Japanese occupation, how might
these themes resonate with contemporary Filipino identity?
A. They highlight ongoing struggles for identity and independence.
B. They are irrelevant to modern society.
C. They only focus on historical events.
D. They discourage national pride.
○ Correct answer: A. They highlight ongoing struggles for identity and independence.

38. What are the defining characteristics of a Haiku?

A. A poem that uses complex vocabulary and structure.
B. A poem with four lines and a specific rhyming pattern.
C. A poem consisting of 17 syllables divided into three lines.
D. A poem that tells a story with a clear beginning, middle, and end.
○ Correct answer: C. A poem consisting of 17 syllables divided into three lines.

39. How did Gonzalo K. Flores contribute to Filipino poetry during the Japanese occupation?
A. He exclusively wrote in English.
B. He focused on writing plays only.
C. He was the first noted Filipino poet to write haiku.
D. He was the first to write novels in Filipino.
○ Correct answer: C. He was the first noted Filipino poet to write haiku.

40. What is the primary structural difference between a Haiku and a Tanaga?
A. Tanaga consists of four lines, while Haiku has three lines.
B. Haiku is longer than Tanaga.
C. Tanaga is written in free verse, while Haiku is not.
D. Haiku has a specific rhyming pattern, while Tanaga does not.
○ Correct answer: A. Tanaga consists of four lines, while Haiku has three lines.

II. Essay: Answer the following questions briefly but comprehensively. (10pts each)

1. How can you describe the Period of Re-Orientation?

2. What are the main concepts that became prominent in the Period of Imitation?
3. How can you describe the Period of Self-Discovery and Growth?
4. How did Filipino literature flourish during the Japanese Occupation?

Prepared by: Noted and Approved by:

Reñer G. Aquino, LPT, MAEd Jennifer A. Yadao, LPT, PhD

College Instructor 6 Program Head, General Education