THE LITERARY SCRAPBOOK

THE LITERARY SCRAPBOOK Created By: Joachim Angelo P. Sarigan

American Literature What is American Literature? American Literature is the body of written works produced in the English language or in the United States of America. Like other national literatures, American literature was shaped by the history of the country that produced it. For almost a century and a half, America was merely a group of colonies scattered along the eastern seaboard of the North American continent–colonies from which a few hardy souls tentatively ventured westward. After a successful rebellion against the motherland, America became the United States, a nation. There have been traces of American poetry, drama, fiction, and social and literary criticism from the early 17th century through the turn of the 21st century.

Jennie S. Redling Jennie S. Redling is a recipient of BMI’s Jerry Harrington Musical Theater Award for Outstanding Creative Achievement as a Librettist, the national Stanley Drama Award, and the Arlene R. and William P. Lewis Playwriting Award for Women. Jennie S. Redling has written a well known poem named “Scent”.

SCENT By Jennie S. Redling My fingers Stroke old artwork, Programs I designed once to Align myself with small theater companies Where I, in fact, longed to act, Frail now and filed away atop a closet Unable to disengage, I’ve Allowed them life out of sight But this morning I lightly breathe The scent of sadness and dread arising surprisingly from these leftovers Of that forsaken Time when I was A glass blown to A hair’s breadth Aching for life to Pervade me, or simply consolation Failing to find What sent me searching, I swiftly press the pages Into their folder, to close tight again Against the bite of Fresh, trenchant Memory.

Mexican Literature What is Mexican Literature? Prior to colonization, Mexican books were in scarce supply. The indigenous population had their own system of writing, but its uses were limited to specific purposes. Instead, they tended to rely heavily on the use of oral narration for transmitting ideas and relied on mythology and stories. However, things quickly changed with the arrival of colonizers. European settlers began to write eyewitness accounts analyzing the new land they had discovered. Some of the first books about Mexico were written by conquerors or chroniclers like Alvar Nunez Cabez de Vaca and Bernal Diaz del Castillo. The Mexican Revolution was a fundamental subject and inspiration in the development of modern Mexican novels such as “Como Agua Para Chocolate” and “Los de Abajo”. Mexican writers of the last century are perhaps the most celebrated throughout the history of Mexican literature, with household names such as “Carlos Fuentes”, “Juan Rulfo’s unique representation of the Mexican Revolution in Pedro Paramo”, and “El laberinto de la soledad” by Octavio Paz. Mexico has earned its place in the international literary forefront.

Agustin Cadena Agustin Cadena is a storyteller, poet, author of books for children and young people, essayist and translator. He is a member of the group “El Comite” and editorial advisor of the magazine “El Comite” in 1973. Agustin Cadena has written a story entitled “The Man With His Back Turned”.



Japanese Literature What is Japanese Literature? Japanese literature, the body of written works produced by Japanese authors in Japanese or, in its earliest beginnings, at a time when Japan had no written language, in the Chinese classical language. Both in quantity and quality, Japanese literature ranks as one of the major literatures of the world, comparable in age, richness, and volume to English literature, though its course of development has been quite dissimilar. The surviving works comprise a literary tradition extending from the 7th century CE to the present; during all this time, there was never a “dark age” devoid of literary production. Not only do poetry, the novel, and the drama have long histories in Japan, but some literary genres not so highly esteemed in other countries–including diaries, travel accounts, and books of random thoughts–are also prominent.

Kaori Ekuni Kaori Ekuni is a Japanese author. She was born in Setagaya, Tokyo. Her father is Japanese haiku poet and essayist, Shigeru Ekuni. In Japan, she was dubbed the female Murakami. Her numerous works of fiction have been translated into several languages and published in many different countries, including her novel “Twinkle Twinkle”, which has been translated into English. From 2004 to 2008, her books were continuously in Korea’s top 50 bestsellers list. “Twinkle Twinkle” was a bestseller in 1991.













Italian Literature What is Italian Literature? Italian Literature, the body of written works produced in the Italian language that had its beginning in the 13th century. Until that time nearly all literary work composed in Europe during the Middle Ages was written in Latin. Moreover, it was predominantly practical in nature and produced by writers in ecclesiastical schools. Literature in Italian developed later than literature in French and Provencal, the languages of the north and south of France, respectively. Only small fragments of Italian vernacular verse before the end of the 12th century have been found, and surviving 12th and 13th century verse reflects French and Provencal influence.

Nanni Cagnone Nanni Cagnone is an Italian poet, novelist, essayist, and playwright. He debuted as a poet in 1954 and since then has written several books, mostly poetry but also plays and novels, theoretical essays and aphorisms, from “The Disbaled Youth” to the “The Oslo Lecture”. He is the father of Benedicta Froelich, and is married to Sandra Holt. Currently lives in Bomarzo.