Friday, January 5, 2018

Dead Stars

Title: Dead Stars

Author: Paz Marquez-Benitez

Author's Background:Born in 1894 in Lucena City, Quezón, Márquez Benítez authored the first Filipino modern English-language short story, Dead Stars, published in the Philippine Herald in 1925. Born into the prominent Márquez family of Quezón province, she was among the first generation of Filipinos trained in the American education system which used English as the medium of instruction. She graduated high school in Tayabas High School (now, Quezón National High School) and college from the University of the Philippines with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1912. She was a member of the first freshman class of the University of the Philippines, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1912.



Vocabulary:
  • tranquil - free from disturbance; calm.
  • contempt - the feeling that a person or a thing is worthless or beneath consideration.
  • dappled - marked with spots or rounded patches.
  • perfervid - intense and impassioned.
  • insipid - lacking flavor; weak or tasteless.
  • tumultuous - making an uproar or loud, confused noise.
  • recalcitrant - having an obstinately uncooperative attitude towards authority or discipline.
  • shrug - raise (one's shoulders) slightly and momentarily to express doubt, ignorance, or indifference
  • derided - express contempt for; ridicule.
  • drawled - speak in a slow, lazy way with prolonged vowel sounds.
  • desultory - lacking a plan, purpose, or enthusiasm.
  • cessation - the fact or process of ending or being brought to an end.
Characters:
  • Alfredo Salazar - protagonist of the story
  • Esperanza - Fiancee of Alfredo
  • Julia Salas - sister-in-law of judge Del Valle, the one that Alfredo have feelings for
  • Don Julian - Father of Alfredo
  • Carmen - Sister of Alfredo
  • Judge Del Valle - brother-in-law of Julia salas
Exposition: The story starts off where Alfredo hears the conversation of his family about his marriage and why he hasn't married Esperanza, which is his fiancee for four years.

Rising Action: It would be the part where Alfredo is having a conversation with Julia Salas about his affection and feelings towards her, but Alfredo is having this dilemma where he is engaged with Esperanza for four years and don't know if he will follow his heart or his commitment.

Climax: It would be the part where Alfredo and Esperanza had this conversation talking about if they needed to cancel their wedding because of Alfredo's dilemma.

Falling Action: Alfredo and Esperanza still continued their wedding, and after a few years Alfredo went to the town of Julia for a business purpose and ended up seeing and talking to Julia.

Ending: After their conversation Alfredo shakes the hand of Julia, realizing that the feelings that he had for Julia is only a part of his past which died and became only a memory of his past.

Symbolism: The symbolism that i have found in this story is found in the title itself "Dead Stars" this symbolizes the feelings that Alfredo had with Julia, which means that the feelings that he had for her in the past will only stay in the past as a beautiful memory that he can only look at to.

Theme: The theme of the story is about the dilemma of oneself of whether choosing what the heart desires or your commitment.

Lesson: We should always follow our hearts so that we wont have any regrets at the end, we should never force something that is impossible, there are things that you need to let go for the sake of others.

How My Brother Leon Brought Home a Wife

Title: How My Brother Leon Brought Home a Wife

Author: Manuel E. Arguilla 

Author's Background: Manuel Arguilla was Ilocano who wrote in English and best known for his short story “How My Brother Leon Brought Home a Wife” which received first place in the Commonwealth Literary Contest in 1940.Most of his stories depict scenes in Barrio Narebcan, Bauang, La Union, the place where he was born. He earned his Bachelor of Arts in Education in 1933 in the University of the Philippines. He became a member and later on the president of the UP Writers’ Club and editor of the Literary Apprentice of the said university. He got married to Lydia Villanueva, also a writer in English of Ermita, Manila.



Vocabulary:
  • cud - partly digested food returned from the first stomach of ruminants to the mouth for further chewing.
  • tipped - attach to or cover the end or extremity of.
  • waig - stream. a body of water flowing in a channel or watercourse, as a river, rivulet, or brook.
  • reined - check or guide (a horse) by pulling on its reins.
Characters: 
  • Baldo - Narrator, brother of Leon
  • Leon - The husband of Maria
  • Maria - The wife of Leon
  • Labang - the family cow
  • Father - the one who instructed Baldo on what he will do while he is on the road with Leon and Maria.
Setting: Nagrebcan, La Union

Exposition: The story starts off where the narrator introduced His brother Leon and Maria, where he describes Maria and her physical appearance, he also described how his brother Leon is in love with Maria, and that's where their journey begins.

Rising Action: the problem was introduced when Maria was afraid that the father of Leon would not accept her in the family.

Climax: It would have been the part where the three of them arrived at home, and Baldo was called by his father and he asked about their journey and about Labang, he also asked a bit about the wife of his brother Leon. 

Falling Action: It is when Baldo left the room of his father to go take care of Labang and talk to Brother Leon and Maria.

Ending: The story ended where baldo finished talking to Leon and Maria, and describing how Maria smelled like a morning where a papaya just bloomed.

Symbolism: The only symbolism that i have found in the story was the "Journey" itself that the Maria and Leon took before arriving home. This "journey" can symbolize the problems and obstacles that they have to face with their relationship, where a journey can have it's ups and downs through the way, so it means that you and your partner should be prepared with all the sacrifices you have to make in order to succeed in your journey. 

Theme: The theme of the story is about the journey in life, and how it has a lot of obstacles and problems that we should be prepared in facing.

Lesson: The lesson of the story is even though there are a lot of obstacles and problems in life, there is a possible solution especially when you're with the one you love.


Wednesday, January 3, 2018

Visitation of the Gods

Title: Visitation of the Gods

Author: Gilda Cordero-Fernando

Author's Background: Gilda Cordero-Fernando is a writer and publisher from the Philippines. She was born on June 4, 1932 in Manila, has a B.A. from St. Theresa's College-Manila, and an M.A. from the Ateneo de Manila University.



Vocabulary:
  • Transom - the flat surface forming the stern of a boat.
  • assiduous - showing great care and perseverance.
  • tangible - perceptible by touch.
  • bureaucratic - relating to a system of government in which most of the important decisions are taken by state officials rather than by elected representatives.
  • denuded - strip (something) of its covering, possessions, or assets.
  • imperturbable - unable to be upset or excited; calm.
  • ire - anger.
  • shawl - a piece of fabric worn by women over the shoulders or head or wrapped round a baby.
  • jowls - the lower part of a person's or animal's cheek, especially when it is fleshy or drooping.
  • gallantly - in a brave or heroic manner.
  • rigmarole - a lengthy and complicated procedure.
  • aplomb - self-confidence or assurance, especially when in a demanding situation.
  • terpsichorean - relating to dancing.
Characters:
  • mrs. Divinagracia - the harassed home economics instructor
  • mr. Olbes - the principal
  • mr. Buenaflor - leader of the Group two(Industrial Arts)
  • ms. Noel - leader of the fourth group(English instructor)
  • mr. DeDios - Physics instructor
  • mr. Baz - National Language instructor
  • ms. Santos - PE instructor
  • mr. Del Rosario - Military tactics instructor
  • mr. Sawit - the tall stranger, one of the supervisors
  • Leon - a student
Settings: Pagud Lawin High School 

Exposition: The story starts off in Pagud Lawin High School where the principal received  the letter announcing the visitation of the superintendent and the district supervisors for "purposes of inspection and evaluation".  

Rising Action: The conflict of the story was introduced when all the morning class were dismissed and all of the teachers and staff gathered and had a meeting that the Home Economics Building will be the hub of general cleaning, that means that the building should be presentable to the visiting "Gods"

Climax: it would be the part where Ms. Noel and Mr. Sawit had a conversation talking about the visitation of the superintendent and other supervisors, that announcing the visitation a month before defeats the whole purpose of the inspection and evaluation because everything that they're doing is rehearsed or planned at the beginning. 

Falling Action: It would be the part after the Dinner and Mr. Sawit and Ms. Noel finished their conversation. Ms. Noel is cleaning up and she heard the door open, and Leon came in one of the students in high school and she remembered that he wanted to be a lawyer, she realized that if she had left the school no one would properly guide the students, because she cares about the students, so she decided to stay to be able to guide not only Leon but the students of Pagud Lawin.

Ending: The story ended where all the teachers and staff together with the superintendent and supervisors taking a souvenir photo, all of the teachers where at their proper position, even though Ms.Noel was late she ran to take her place in the lowest rung of the hierarchy  with pride and humility.

Symbolism: the biggest symbolism that i have noticed was the "Gods" in the title, this symbolizes the superintendent and the supervisors because the story revolves around how the teachers and staff can make "offerings" to the "Gods". this can also relate to other field of jobs, it may be at an office work, a restaurant and etc. if the owner of that working place received a letter of visitation to a higher rank he or she would do his or her best to make the workplace appealing to them or even give offerings.

Theme: The theme of the story is, we should never forget why we love doing our jobs and what keeps us motivated to work harder.

Lesson: The lesson of the story don't let other people affect the choices you make especially when it is important to you, also you should fight for what you love doing.

Footnote to Youth

Title: Footnote to Youth

Author: Jose Garcia Villa

Author's Background: Jose Garcia Villa was a Filipino poet, literary critic, short story writer, and painter. He was awarded the National Artist of the Philippines title for literature in 1973, as well as the Guggenheim Fellowship in creative writing by Conrad Aiken. He is known to have introduced the "reversed consonance rime scheme" in writing poetry, as well as the extensive use of punctuation marks—especially commas, which made him known as the Comma Poet. He used the penname Doveglion (derived from "Dove, Eagle, Lion"), based on the characters he derived from himself.


Vocabulary:
  • hazy - covered by a haze.
  • climacteric - a critical period or event.
  • furrow - a long, narrow trench made in the ground by a plough, especially for planting seeds or irrigation.
  • insolent - showing a rude and arrogant lack of respect.
  • prod - poke with a finger, foot, or pointed object.
  • virility - 
    (in a man) the quality of having strength, energy, and a strong sex drive; manliness.
  • obliquely - not in a direct way; indirectly.
  • dully - is to do it in a dull manner
  • beckon - make a gesture with the hand, arm, or head to encourage or instruct someone to approach or follow.
  • tremulous - shaking or quivering slightly.
Characters:
  • Dodong - the protagonist, the teenager who wanted to marry at a young age
  • Dodong's Father - the father of Dodong whom he approached for approval
  • Dodong's Mother - the mother of Dodong which helped Teang to give birth
  • Teang - the lover of Dodong
  • Lucio - the other suitor of Teang
  • Blas - the first child of Dodong and Teang
  • Tonia - the lover of Blas

Settings: In the countryside, at their house.

Exposition: the story starts off when describing the time of day, introducing the protagonist of the story, which is Dodong, in the field doing farm work where he is thinking something crucial that can change his whole life and how he can approach his parents about wanting to marry Teang.

Rising Action: the conflict of the story was introduced when Dodong went home from a very tiring day, and ate dinner with his parents, he then told his Father about wanting to marry Teang, but his father told him that he is still very young , but in the end his parents supported him with his decision.

Climax: It is where he's first born child Blas went home, and he told his Father Dodong that he wanted to marry Tonia at a very young age which is eighteen, he wanted to get the permission from his father which had the same problem before.

Falling Action: it is when Dodong told Blas to follow him outside the yard, and agreed to Blas that he could marry Tonia even though he knows the consequences that might happen when marrying at a very young age.

Ending: The Story ended after when Dodong felt sad and sorry for his son Blas, because he truly didn't want Blas to go marry Tonia at a young age, but Dodong was helpless because love must triumph and youth must triumph. 

Symbolism: the Symbolism that I have found was the title itself "Footnote to Youth" Footnote means to add something or information at the end of a note which is to youth, because the story revolves around Dodong which in his youth, but for him he wanted to rush things in life, at a young age he wanted to have a family, not realizing that he could still do a lot of things in life but in the end he was guilty and sad of all of his decisions in life. This could also reflect in reality because this is one of the problems we are facing right now a lot of teenagers are getting married and pregnant because they want to rush things in life.

Theme: The theme of the story is about people at their youth rushing things that should be well thought out first.

Lesson: The lesson of the story is that we should take things slowly and enjoy our youth. Life is short, we should live it to the fullest we shouldn't be rushing crucial things like marriage and sex because the right time will come for that age.

My father Goes to Court

Title: My Father Goes to Court

Author: Carlos Bulosan


Author's Background: Carlos Sampayan Bulosan (c. 1911– September 11, 1956) was a Filipino American author, poet, and activist. A chronicler of the Filipino American experience during the 1930's - early 1950's, he is best remembered for his semi-fictional, semi-autobiographical novel America Is In the Heart (1946) — a staple in American Ethnic Studies and Asian American Studies classes.


Vocabulary: 
  • Waft - pass or cause to pass gently through the air.
  • Glower - have an angry or sullen look on one's face; scowl.
  • Molave - a strong tree
  • Strut - walk with a stiff, erect, and apparently arrogant or conceited gait.

Characters:
  • The Narrator - The son of the poor Father
  • The Father - the one who was accused, poor
  • The Narrator's siblings - The children of the poor father
  • The Richman- The one who accused the poor father 
  • The Richman's Children - Testified for the Richman
  • The Judge - the judge of the court 
Settings: a small town in the island of Luzon and in the court room.

Exposition: The story starts off with the narrator introducing his family, what their life is and why they have to move house because of the flood ruining their farm. The narrator also introduced the richman's family by explaining that they're neighbors.


Rising Action: The conflict in the story was where the richman accused the poor father of stealing the spirit of the wealth and food of their family.

Climax: It would be the part where the poor father's family and the richman's family went to the court to fix their problem.

Falling Action: it is when the poor father examined the richman's children, and took off his straw hat and began filling it with centavo pieces, silver coins and small changes. He went to the other room and sprinkled it on the floor and paid the richman's family through the sound of coins falling.

Ending: The poor Family paid the Richman's family through the sound of coins and laughed with the judge endlessly. 

Symbolism: For me, I think one of the symbolism here in the story is the difference between the two families status in life, it showed how the poor family and rich family lived their life and how different it is, in the story it showed that the poor family is happy and healthy while the rich family is unhappy and unhealthy, which we can relate in real life because we all know that money cant't buy happiness. Another symbolism that i found in the story was the spirit of the wealth and food, and the sound of the coins falling down, the spirit of the food and wealth symbolizes the poor family that they are wealthy in happiness and wealthy in health, while the sound of the coins symbolizes the rich family because they revolves around money.

Theme: The theme of the story is about the status in life and how it can affect the personality of oneself.

Lesson: The lesson of the story is that money can't buy happiness, and that we should be Happy in what ever your status might be in life.

The Rainy Day ( A Poem)

Title: The Rainy Day Poem By: Henry Wadsworth Longfellow Author's Background:  Born on February 27, 1807, in Portland, Maine, Henry ...