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.
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