Abstract
This study explores the philology of marital fidelity through an in-depth literary analysis of Cebuano poetry, examining how literary elements and themes shape the discourse on marriage and fidelity in Cebuano literature. Using a corpus of thirty (30) Cebuano poems, this research applies Eikhenbaum's Formalism (1926), and Fairclough’s Critical Discourse Analysis (1995) to investigate the literary features, as well as the recurring themes that portray marital fidelity. The findings contribute to a deeper understanding of Cebuano literary works and their role in preserving and transmitting values related to marriage and fidelity. The data were in the forms of lines, sentences, and phrases. Thus, the results implied that there were several literary features present in the corpora. The identified literary features include figurative language, imagery, sound devices, and rhetorical devices, and forms of Cebuano poetry. Additionally, the thematic analysis of the Cebuano poems reveals five prominent themes: unwavering devotion to a spouse, recognizing love as a gift from God, longing for a loved one in their absence, making commitment through promises, and reflecting love through nature. Lastly, the results of the study were deemed substantial to the field of poetry and literary studies, as they reinforce the significance of poetry as a powerful medium for expressing emotions, and human experiences. Through analyzing the themes and literary features present in Cebuano poetry, the study highlights the intricate ways in which poetry serves as both an artistic and communicative form. Furthermore, the findings contribute to a deeper understanding of how literature, particularly poetry, preserves and reflects societal beliefs, traditions, and historical contexts. This study also emphasizes the educational value of poetry, demonstrating its role in enhancing language learning, critical thinking, and literary appreciation.
