Republic of the Philippines

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Region I
Division of Ilocos Sur

12
LESSON TITLE:
PHILIPPINE LITERARY HISTORY
_______________________________________________________

Name of Teacher –Writer: RALPH NICOLE A. SEVILLA

School: TAGUDIN NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL

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 1
1

Hi there! It is the start of the new school year and I am thrilled to bring you to a
whole new world where fantasy and reality meet, that is, the world of literature. In this
self-learning kit, you will be acquainted with the various periods in the Philippine
Literary History. You will be guided by the learning competency with specific objectives
in accomplishing the goals of this kit. Secondly, you will be engaged in a review lesson
or motivation that will spark your background knowledge. There is a short discussion
for you to strengthen the foundation of your background knowledge. Specific examples
will be given as well. Exercises and activities will be presented so you can practice the
skill that you just acquired. You will find a page for the generalization of the topics as
well as the application of the skills and knowledge you learned. Lastly, you will be
assessed on your level of understanding of the lesson. You are given a couple of
weeks to accomplish this learning kit.
Before you start, I have several reminders for you: a) read carefully and
critically; b) answer the activities independently and with quality; c) make use of an
activity notebook for your answers; d) do not write anything on this learning kit; and e)
ask assistance from me if you need help because I am always at your service.
Learning does not only take place at school; learning can happen everywhere.
Now that you are at home, make the most out of your time to do three things – learn,
learn, and learn. Stay safe and happy learning!

Your most essential learning competency is writing a close analysis and

critical interpretation of literary texts and doing an adaptation of these
require from the learner the ability to identify:
a. the geographic, linguistic, and ethnic dimensions of Philippine literary
history from pre-colonial to the contemporary representative texts and
authors from each region (e.g. engage in oral history research with focus
on key personalities from the students’ region/province/town) EN12Lit-Ia-
21; and
b. identify representative texts and authors from each region (e.g. engage
in oral history research with focus on key personalities from the students’
region/province/ town) EN12Lit-Ib-22.

At the end of the lesson, you are expected to:

1. situate the text in the context of the region and the nation
(EN12Lit-Ie-29);
2. value the contributions of local writers to the development of
regional literary traditions (EN12Lit-Ic-23); and
3. appreciate the contributions of the canonical Filipino writers to the
development of national literature through literary analysis
(EN12Lit-Ic-24).

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 Are you familiar with the works of Jose Rizal, Francisco
Balagtas or Pedro Bukaneg? How about the works of William
Shakespeare, Dan Brown or J.K. Rowling? It is time for you to
showcase how voracious reader you are in this background
knowledge checker!

Directions: Name titles of the literary texts that you have read, heard or you are
familiar with using the acronym LITERATURE. Afterwhich, answer the questions that
follow.

L
I
T
E
R
A
T
U
R
E

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 Motivation Questions

1. Among the stories you have read and listed in the previous
activity, which story is your favorite? What part of the story
hooked you the most?
___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________

2. What literary text do you consider as the best representation of Philippine

literature?
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________

3. Name one Ilocano literary text and tell briefly how it represents the Ilocanos.
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________

In the previous activity, you were able to name some of the

recognized literature from the Philippines and the world. Let
us trim down the discussion to Philippine literature. In this
section, you are going to discover how Philippine literary
history transcended from the pre-colonial times to the
contemporary period. By learning our very own literary
history, you will be able to appreciate the transformation of
Philippine literature. Some of the literature are no longer read
at the present time but tracing their origin may bring back the
memories of how and why our ancestors created them.

The diversity and richness of Philippine literature evolved side by side with the
country's history. This can best be appreciated in the context of the country's pre-
colonial cultural traditions and the socio-political histories of its colonial and
contemporary traditions. The average Filipino's unfamiliarity with his indigenous
literature was largely due to what has been impressed upon him: that his country was
"discovered" and, hence, Philippine "history" started only in 1521. So successful were
the efforts of colonialists to blot out the memory of the country's largely oral past that
present-day Filipino writers, artists and journalists are trying to correct this inequity by
recognizing the country's wealth of ethnic traditions and disseminating them in schools
and in the mass media. The rousing of nationalistic pride in the 1960s and 1970s also
helped bring about this change of attitude among a new breed of Filipinos concerned
about the "Filipino identity."1
_____________________________________

1. “The Literary Forms in Philippine Literature”, NCCA, updated November 30, 2011, https://ncca.gov.ph/ about-
culture-and-arts/articles-on-culture-and-arts/

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 PITSTOP #1: What year is recognized as the start of Philippine history?
Do you believe in this claim? Why or why not?
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________

Philippine Literary History

Based on the article of Godinez-Ortega (2011), there are four periods in the Philippine
literature: Pre-colonial, Spanish, American, and Contemporary. Each period showcased
various literary forms that speak of the social, cultural, religious, and even political scenarios
of the country.

Pre-Colonial Times (900-1565)

The literature from pre-colonial Philippines relied on the inspiration from the natural
resources. Moreover, most of the literary forms are orally passed from a generation to another
generation.

1. Folk Speeches. It is a a. Riddles. Central to the riddle is the talinghaga or

traditional literary form that uses metaphor because it "reveals subtle
rhyme and concise wording. resemblances between two unlike objects" and
one's power of observation and wit are put to the
test. The most seminal of these folk speeches is
the riddle which is tigmo in Cebuano, bugtong in
Tagalog, paktakon in Ilongo and patototdon in
Bicol. (e.g. Baboy ko sa pulo, ang balahibo’y
pako/ Sagot: langka)
b. Proverbs or Aphorisms. This folk speech
expresses norms or codes of behavior,
community beliefs or they instill values by offering
nuggets of wisdom in short, rhyming verse.
Photo Courtesy:
https://pixabay.com/illustrations/ cartoon- (e.g. Hangga't makitid ang kumot, matutong
doodle-painting-people-1300891/ mamaluktot.)
2. Folk Song. It pertains to a. Lullabies or Ili-ili (Ilongo)
traditional literary form that is b. Love songs like
meant to be sung. the panawagon and balitao (Ilongo)
c. Harana or serenade (Cebuano)
d. Ambahan, the seven-syllable per line
poem, (Social entertainment song for teaching
the young) of the Mangyans
e. Work songs like
kalusan (Ivatan), soliranin (Tagalog rowing song)
or the mambayu, a Kalinga rice-pounding song
g. Verbal jousts/games like the duplo which is
popular during wakes
h. Drinking songs sung during carousals like the
Photo Courtesy: tagay (Cebuano and Waray)
https://www.sunstar.com.ph/article/1855419/ i. Dirges and lamentations extolling the deeds of
Pampanga/Local-News/Central-Luzon-
music-teachers-complete-folk-song- the dead like the kanogon (Cebuano) or
compendium the Annako (Bontoc)

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 3. Folk Narratives. It is a a. Epic narrates the adventures of a supernatural
traditional literary form that hero like Biag ni Lam-ang (Ilocos), Kudaman
narrates a story. (Palawan), and Tuwaang (Mindanao)
b. Folk Tale are stories passed on through word
or mouth like “The Man with Coconuts” and “The
Man who became a Stone” (Tinguian)
c. Legend narrates the origin of things like the
well-known “Legend of Pinya”.
d. Fables are about animals and these teach
morals like “The Monkey and the Turtle” and
Photo Courtesy: pineliterature.blogspot.com/
2011/04/monkey-and-turtle-bilaan- “The Ant and the Grasshopper”.
version.html

PITSTOP #2: Name at least three literary forms during the pre-colonial period. Choose
one form and write your own example.
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________

The Spanish Colonial Tradition (1565-1898)

The coming of the Spaniards has brought many changes in the Philippines. From
culture to language, Filipinos begin to embrace the Spanish way of life. In literature,
Christianity and hostility against Spaniards are the common themes.

1. Drama. It refers to the

literary form that is meant to a. Komedya is a dramatic work that has a cheerful
be performed in front of an ending.
audience. b. Sinakulo is a play presenting the passion of
Jesus Christ during Lenten season.
c. Sarswela is a play incorporating songs and
depicting relationships of the Filipinos and
sociopolitical and cultural interests.
d. Playlets are very short dramatic presentations.

Photo Courtesy:
https://philnews.ph/2019/04/17/ senakulo-
passion-play-philippines-origin-history/

2. Religious Prose and Poetry. a. Dalit has no fixed meter nor rhyme scheme although
These works are written to a number are written in octosyllabic quatrains and
prescribe proper decorum. have a solemn tone and spiritual subject matter.
b. Pasyon is poetry delivered during Lenten season like
Gaspar Aquino de Belen's "Ang Mahal na Passion ni
Jesu Christong Panginoon natin na tola" (Holy
Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ in Verse).
c. Prose Narratives aimed at instilling Christian values
Photo Courtesy: like Dialogo (dialogue), Ejemplo (exemplum) and
https://www.philstar.com/other- Tratado (Treaty). The most well-known is Modesto de
sections/news-
feature/2014/04/15/1312955/will-pasyon- Castro's "Pagsusulatan ng Dalawang Binibini na si
survive Urbana at si Feliza" (Correspondence between the
Two Maidens Urbana and Feliza).

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 3. Secular Prose and Poetry. a. Romance has themes like languishing but loyal lover,
Secular works features the the elusive, often heartless beloved, the rival. The
emergence of an opulent class leading poets were Jose Corazon de Jesus (Huseng
and the middle class who could Sisiw) and Francisco Balagtas.
avail of a European education. b. Metrical romance, the awit and korido in Tagalog.
The awit is set in dodecasyllabic quatrains (four lines
in each stanza, each line with 10 syllables) like
Florente at Laura, while the korido is in octosyllabic
quatrains (four lines in each stanza, each line with
eight syllables) like Ibong Adarna.
c. Propaganda Prose. It is a literary form that led to the
formation of the Propaganda Movement resulting to
the creation of prose works such as the political
essays and Rizal's two political novels, Noli Me
Tangere and the El Filibusterismo.
Photo Courtesy: d. Short Fiction were published in Spanish in La
https://www.anvilpublishing.com/ shop/text- Vanguardia, El Debate, Renacimiento Filipino,
books/junior-high/ibong-adarna-isang-
koridong-pilipino/
and Nueva Era.
e. Patriotic Prose and Poetry appeared in the
vernacular poems and modern adaptations of works
during the Spanish period and which further
maintained the Spanish tradition.

PITSTOP #3: What is the most common theme of Spanish colonial

literature? Who are the most recognized Filipino writers during this
period?
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________

The American Colonial Period (1898-1946)

The Americans took over the Philippine archipelago. Public education both for men
and women started. The proliferation of the English language in literature is also evident.

A. Free Verse. It is a poem that • Jose Garcia Villa used free verse and
does not have rhyme and meter. espoused the dictum, "Art for art's sake" to the
chagrin of other writers more concerned with
the utilitarian aspect of literature.
• Another maverick in poetry who used free verse
and talked about illicit love in her poetry was
Angela Manalang Gloria.
• The Balagtas tradition persisted until the poet
Alejandro G. Abadilla advocated modernism in
poetry. Abadilla later influenced young poets
who wrote modern verses in the 1960s such as
Virgilio S. Almario, Pedro I. Ricarte and Rolando
Photo Courtesy: https://www.slideshare.net/
macmine10/paradox-51811468 S. Tinio.

B. Modern Short Story. It is a • Short Stories were published in the Philippines

prose that tells a story which can Free Press, the College Folio and Philippines
be read in one sitting. Herald.

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 • Paz Marquez Benitez's "Dead Stars" published
in 1925 was the first successful short story in
English written by a Filipino.
• Arturo B. Rotor and Manuel E. Arguilla showed
exceptional skills in the short story writing.
• Writers in the vernaculars continued to write in
the provinces. Other writers like Lope K. Santos,
Valeriano Hernandez Peña and Patricio Mariano
were writing minimal narratives similar to the
Photo Courtesy: early Tagalog short fiction
https://www.researchgate.net/
figure/Philippines-Free-Press-Cover-28-July-
called dali or pasingaw (sketch).
1947-8_fig1_330195980 • The novel in the vernaculars continued to be
written and serialized in weekly magazines
like Liwayway, Bisaya, Hiligaynon and
Bannawag.

C. Critical Essay. It is a prose • The essay in English became a potent medium

that aims at imparting a from the 1920's to the present.
message to a specific audience. • Some leading essayists were journalists like
Carlos P. Romulo, Jorge Bocobo, and Pura
Santillan Castrence who wrote formal to
humorous to informal essays for the delectation
by Filipinos.
• Among those who wrote criticism developed
during the American period were Ignacio
Manlapaz, Leopoldo Yabes and I.V. Mallari. But
it was Salvador P. Lopez's criticism that grabbed
attention when he won the Commonwealth
Photo Courtesy: https://www.slideshare.net/ Literary Award for the essay in 1940 with his
BUGLAS/philippine-american-literature- "Literature and Society."
72568699

PITSTOP #4: Name at least three significant features of the

American colonial literature. How did it help shape the Philippine
literature at the present time?
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________

The Contemporary Period (1946 to present)

After the second world war, the Filipinos begun to enjoy their absolute freedom.
Writers become more experimental with their writing styles and adopted the modern
ways on how literature are published.

Literary Forms • Poetry, short stories, novellas, novels, and

essays still prosper in the modern period.
• Some of the famous contemporary writers in
Philippine Literature are Lualhati Bautista
(Bata Bata Paano ka Ginawa), Bob Ong
(Lumayo Ka nga Sa Akin), Merlinda Bobis
(White Turtle), and Levi Celerio (Pasko Na
Photo Courtesy: Naman)
https://alchetron.com/Lualhati-Bautista

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 Important Literary Events • The flowering of Philippine literature in the
various languages continue especially with
the appearance of new publications after the
Martial Law years and the resurgence of
committed literature in the 1960s and the
1970s.
• Writers’ workshops here and abroad and the
bulk of literature available via the mass
media including the internet has proliferated.
Photo Courtesy:
https://inigobautista.wordpress.
com/2014/04/08/my-blogsite-at-yahoo-
philippines/
Literary Awards
• Don Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for
Literature, the Philippines Free Press,
Philippine Graphic, Home Life and
Panorama literary awards emerged during
this period. These awards are created to
recognize the Filipinos who have great
contribution to Philippine literature.
Photo Courtesy:
https://tradetraveljournal.com/69th-carlos-
palanca-memorial-awards-literature/

PITSTOP #5: Describe the nature of the Philippine contemporary

literature. What literary forms are thriving in this period?
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________

After studying the periods in Philippine literature, let us look closer to the
canonical authors from Ilocos region, representative authors from the regions, and
some national artists in literature.

Writers from Ilocos Region

Here is the map of Region I or commonly known as Ilocos Region. Manuel
Arguilla is one of the known writers during the American Period. Can you guess which
of the provinces is his hometown?

Photo Courtesy: http://ilocos.neda.gov.ph/regio-1-with-provincial-boundary/

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 It is good to know the famous writers from different parts of the globe and to
recognize the writers nationally. However, local literature is also as important as the
national and world literature. In this section, we are going to discuss some of the
Ilocano writers who helped shape Ilocano literature.

Pedro Bukaneg (1591-1626) and talented. He took lessons in

Biography Latin and Spanish and he also
learned the local languages and
He was a foundling, who Ilocano Isneg.2
shortly after his birth
already floating in a basket Literary Contribution
between Bantay and Vigan
in the Banaoang River was Aside from his epic masterpiece
:
found by an old woman. “Biag ni Lam-ang”, he also
They brought him to the translated religious works of
Bantay Augustiner priest Spanish or Latin language to
who baptized him as Pedro native Ilocano and vice versa. In
Bukaneg. Bukaneg was addition to being author of
blind but appeared during several epic poems, he is also
his upbringing in the known by the nickname of
Augustinian convent smart "Father of the Litratura Ilocana".
3

Photo Courtesy: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Historical_Marker_Pedro_Bukaneg.JPG

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vigan

Leona Florentino (1849-1884) los Reyes at the age of 14. They

Biography had five children together. Their
son Isabelo de los Reyes later
Born to a wealthy and became a Filipino writer, activist
prominent family and senator.4
in Vigan, Ilocos Sur,
Florentino began to write Literary Contribution
her first verses in Ilocano at
:
a young age. Despite her Leona Florentino was a Filipino
potential, she was not poet in the Spanish and Ilocano
allowed to receive a languages. She is considered as
university education the "Mother of Philippine
because of her Women's Literature" and the
gender. Florentino married "Bridge from Oral to Literary
a politician named Elias de Tradition". One of her famous
works is the poem “Nalpay a
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banayoyo
Namnama”. 5
Photo Courtesy: https://www.flickr.com/photos/eazy360/4918805337
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vigan
__________________
2. “Perdo Bukaneg”, Wikipedia, updated April 09, 2020, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pedro_Bucaneg
3.” Biography of Pedro Bukaneg”, The Biography.com, updated 2018, https://thebiography.us/en/bukaneg-pedro
4. “Leona Florentino”, Wikipedia, updated October 10, 2019, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leona_Florentino
5. “Biography of Leona Florentino”, Poem Hunter.com, updated 2020, https://www.poemhunter.com/leona-
florentino/biography/

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 Carlos Bulosan (1913-1956) main themes of his writing.6
Biography
Literary Contribution
Bulosan was born
to Ilocano parents in the He is a Filipino American
Philippines in Binalonan, author, poet, and activist. A
Pangasinan. Most of his chronicler of the Filipino
youth was spent in the American experience during
:
countryside as a farmer. It the 1930s - early 1950s, he is
is during his youth that he best remembered for his semi-
and his family were fictional, semi-autobiographical
economically novel “America is in the
impoverished by the rich Heart” (1946) — a staple in
and political elite, which American Ethnic Studies and
would become one of the Asian American Studies
classes. 7

Photo Courtesy: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Binalonan,_Pangasinan\

https://peoplepill.com/people/carlos-bulosan/

Manuel Arguilla (1911-1944) became a member and later the

Biography president of the U.P. Writer's Club
and editor of the
Most of Arguilla's stories university's Literary Apprentice.8
depict scenes
in Barrio Nagrebcan, Literary Contribution
Baung, La Union, where he
was born. His bond with his He is known for his widely
:
birthplace, forged by his anthologized short story "How My
dealings with the peasant Brother Leon Brought Home a
folk of Ilocos remained Wife," the main story in the
strong even after he moved collection How My Brother Leon
to Manila, where he studied Brought Home a Wife and Other
at the University of the Short Stories, which won first prize
Philippines, finished his BS in the Commonwealth Literary
in Education in 1933, and Contest in 1940.9

Photo Courtesy: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/13770480.Manuel_E_Arguilla

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bauang

___________________________________
6. “Carlos Bulosan”, Wikipedia, updated May 31, 2020, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carlos_Bulosan
7. “Carlos Bulosan”, Wikipedia, updated May 31, 2020, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carlos_Bulosan
8. “Author, Poet, and Worker: The World of Carlos Bulosan”, University of Washingtn, updated 2020,
https://content.lib.washington.edu/exhibits/bulosan/index.html
9. “Manuel Arguilla”, Wikipedia, updated September 28, 2019, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manuel_Arguilla

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 Authors from the Regions10

Hometown Name Title Literary Work

1959 Poet • Salitang Paca-
Laureate of the Versu
Amado M.
Philippines & Nobel • Who’s Who in
Yuzon
Prize for Literature America
nominee

Father of Tagalog
Literature, The
Francisco Prince of Tagalog
• Florante at Laura
Baltazar Poets &
Shakespeare of the
Philippines

Father of Bicolano
Literature and • An Parabareta
Mariano
Father of Visayan (first Bicolano
Perfecto
Literature newspaper)

• Ang Suga (first

Cebuano
newspaper)
• Maming (first
Father of Modern Cebuano
Vicente Sotto
Cebuano Literature published short
story)
• Elena(first
Cebuano stage
play)
• Ang Mga Tunoc
Sang Isa Ca Bulac
(The Thorns of a
Flower)
Most Prolific Writer
Magdalena • Ang Matam-is
in the Hiligaynon
Jalandoni Kong Pagkabata
Language
(My Sweet
Childhood)
• Ang Guitara (The
Guitar)
Photo Courtesy: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/

National Artists in Literature

A “National Artist” is a Filipino citizen who has been given the rank and title of
National Artist in recognition of his or her significant contributions to the development
of Philippine arts and letters. The rank and title of National Artist is conferred by means
of a Presidential Proclamation. It recognizes excellence in the fields of music, dance,
theater, visual arts, literature, film and broadcast arts, and architecture. 11
_______________________________
10. “21st Century Literature from the Philippines and the World”, CD-ROM, Rex Publishing House.
11. “The Order of the National Artists”, Official Gazette, updated 2020, https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/the-order-
of-national-artists/

12
 Here are some of the national artists in literature presented through a
timeline:12.

Name: Amado V. Hernandez

Year Awarded: 1973
Hometown: Tondo, Manila
Literary Work: Luha ng Buwaya

Name: Jose Garcia Villa

Year Awarded: 1973
Hometown: Malate, Manila
Literary Work: Footnote to Youth

Name: Nick Joaquin

Year Awarded: 1976
Hometown: San Juan, Manila
Literary Work: May Day Eve

Name: Carlos P. Romulo

Year Awarded: 1982
Hometown: Camiling, Tarlac
Literary Work: My Brother Americans

Name: Nestor Vicente Madali

Gonzales
Year Awarded: 1997
Hometown: Romblon
Literary Work: Of the Ash-Covered
Loam
Name: Edith Tiempo
Year Awarded: 1999
Hometown: Bayombong, Nueva
Vizcaya
Literary Work: His Native Coast

Name: F. Sionil Jose

Year Awarded: 2001
Hometown: Rosales, Pangasinan
Literary Work: The Feet of Juan
Bacnang

Photo Courtesy: https://ncca.gov.ph/about-culture-and-arts/culture-profile/national-artists-of-the-philippines/

________________________

12. “National Artists of the Philippines”, National Commission on Culture and the Arts, updated 2020,
https://ncca.gov.ph/about-culture-and-arts/culture-profile/national-artists-of-the-philippines/amado-v-hernandez/

13
 Let me show you the representative texts from a national artist, Ilocano writer,
and writer from the regions. Each example is written in various languages that show
you how Philippine literature evolved throughout the years.

Here are some of the literary works from writers across the
country. The texts are all poems which are written in various
languages used in the country. After reading each poem, do
the activity in your activity notebook.

Sample Text 1: Literary Work from a National Artist

Poem 14
From Anchored Angel: Selected Writings
By Jose Garcia Villa13

Did you know?

Jose Garcia villa was known as the “Pope of Greenwich Village” in 1940s New
York City. A proponent of experimentation and invention in poetry, the cerebral poet
introduced the “reversed consonance” – when the last sounded consonants of the last
syllable are reversed for the corresponding rhyme, such as with near and run, and
light and tell.14

In my desire to be Nude
I clothed myself in fore: --
Burned down my walls, my roof,
Burned all these down.

Emerged myself supremely lean

Unsheathed like a holy knife.
With only His Hand to find
To hold me beyond annul.

And found Him found Him found Him

Found the Hand to hold me up!
He held me like a burning poem
And waved me all over the world.

_______________
13. “Jose Garcia Villa”, New York Public Library.com, updated June 28, 2008, https://www.nypl.org/
blog/2008/06/25/jose-garcia-villa#:~:text=Known%20as%20the%20%E2%80%9CPope%20of,and%20a%20y
oung%20Gore%20Vidal.
14. “Four Poems by Jose Garcia Villa”. The Margins.com, updated 2020, https://aaww.org/four-poems-jose-garcia-
villa

14
 Sample Text 2: Literary Work from a Writer across the Regions
Florante at Laura
By Francisco Balagtas15

Did you know?

Francisco Balagtas wrote the poem during his imprisonment. He dedicated it to
his sweetheart Maria Asuncion Rivera, whom he nicknamed “M.A.R.” and is
referenced to as “Se;ya” in the dedication “Kay Selya”. 16

33
Dito hinimatay sa paghihinagpis,
Sumuko ang puso sa dahas ng sakit;
Ulo’y nalungayngay, luha’y bumalisbis,
Kinagagapusang kahoy ay nadilig.

34
Magmula sa yapak hanggang sa ulunan,
Nalimbag ang bangis ng kapighatian;
At ang panibugho’y gumamit ng asal
Ng lalong marhas, lilong kamatayan.

35
Ang kahima’t sinong hindi maramdamin,
Kung ito’y makita’y magmamahabagin
Matipid na luha ay paagusin,
Ang nagparusa ma’y pilit hahapisin.

36
Sukat na ang tingnan ang lugaming anyo
Nitong sa dalita’y hindi makakibo,
Aakaying biglang umiyak ang puso,
Kung wala nang luhang sa mata’y itulo.

37
Gaano ang awang bubugso sa dibdib
Na may karamdamang maanyong tumitig,
Kung ang panambita’t daing ay marinig
Nang mahimasmasan ang tipon ng sakit?

38
Halos buong gubat ay nasasabugan
Ng dinaing-daing na lubhang malumbay,
Na inuulit pa at isnisigaw
Sagot sa malayo niyong alingawngaw

_____________________
15. “Floranted at Laura”, 365 Pinoy Stuff.com, updatd March 22, 2010,https://365greatpinoystuff.wordpress.com/tag/
francisco-balagtas/#:~:text=Balagtas%20wrote%20the%20epic%20during,(%E2%80%9CFor%20Celia%E2%80%9D).
16. “Daing ng Pusong Nagdurusa by Francisco Baltazar”, Kapitbisig.com, updated 2020,
https://www.kapitbisig.com/philippines/florante-at-laura-ni-francisco-baltazar-a-complete-modern-tagalog-version-kabanata-4-
daing-ng- pusong-nagdurusa_1203.html

15
 Sample Text 3: Literary Work from a Writer from Ilocos Region
Nalpay A Namnama
By Leona Florentino17

Did you know?

Florentino’s biography mentions that because of her writings were feminist, she
was shunned by her family, and she lived alone and died at the age of 35. 18

Amangan a ragsac ken talecda

dagiti adda caayanayatda
ta adda piman mangricna
Cadagiti isuamin a asugda
Ni gasatco o nababa
Aoanen ngatat capadana,
ta cunac diac agduadua
ta agdama ngarud nga innac agsagaba.
Ta nupay no agayatac
iti maysa a imnas
aoan lat’ pagripriripac
nga adda pacaibatucag
Ilunodconto ti horas
nga innac pannacayanac
ta mamenribo coma a naseseat
no natayac idin ta nayanacac.
Gagayayec coma a ipalaoag.
ngem bumdeng met toy dilac
a ta maquitac met a sibabatad
ng ani paay ti calac-amac.
Ngem umanayento a liolioac
ti pannacaammon itoy a panagayat,
ta icaric kenca ket isapatac
nga sica aoan sabali ti pacayatac!

_____________________________
17. “Leona Florentino”, Wikipedia, updated October 10, 2019, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leona_Florentino
18. “Nalpay a Namnama by Leona Florentino”, Scribd, updated 2020, https://www.scribd.com/doc/83844774/Nalpay-
a-Namnama

16
 LET’S DO IT!

Directions: Fill in the table with the information asked in each

column. Descriptions of what to be written in each column is
provided. You can support your answer through research. Write
your answer in your activity notebook.

Text Geographical Linguistic Ethnic

*This refers to the *This refers to the *This refers to the
relationship of the language used in cultural origin,
literary text and the writing the literary practices and
place where literature text. manifestations found
was written or where in the literary text.
the story takes place
1. Anchored
Angel:
Selected
Writings
By Jose
Garcia Villa
2. Florante at
Laura
By Francisco
Balagtas
3. Nalpay A
Namnama
By Leona
Florentino

It is time to test your level of understanding in this lesson. There

are three sets of exercises/activities. Make sure to answer each
question correctly. Copy and answer the exercises in your
activity notebook.

A. Recognizing: Match the writer with his/her literary work by placing the letter
of the literary work in the space preceding the name of the writer. (10 Points)
____1. Francisco Baltazar A. Salitang Paca-Versu
____2. Amado M. Yuzon B. Maming
____3. Magdalena Jalandoni C. How My Brother Leon Brought Home a Wife
____4. Vicente Sotto D. Nalpay a Namnama
____5. Jose Garcia Villa E. Luha ng Buwaya
____6. Manuel Estabillo Arguilla F. Biag ni Lam-ang
____7. NVM Gonzales G. May Day Eve
____8. Leona Florentino H. The Bamboo Dancers
____9. Nick Joaquin I. Footnote to Youth
____10. Pedro Bukaneg J. Ang Mga Tunoc Sang Isa Ca Bulac
K. Florante at Laura

17
B. Understanding:
Directions: Summarize the most important events in each of the periods of the literary
history in one to two sentences only. (15 Points)

Criteria for Summarizing

1. Shortens the original text
2. Includes only the most important information
3. Includes only what is in the passage
4. Written in the summary writer's own words

Score Description
15 Attains all four criteria in summarizing
12 Attains three of the criteria in summarizing
9 Attains two of the criteria in summarizing
6 Attains only one of the criteria in summarizing
0 Did not attain any of the criteria in summarizing

Pre-Colonial Period Spanish Period

American Period Contemporary Period

C. Analyzing:
Directions: Choose the letter of the option that corresponds to your answer. Refer to
the poems in the “Examples” section of this self-learning kit. (10 Points)

For items 1-3, refer to Garcia’s Poem

___1. How many stanzas are there in Villa’s poem?
A. two B. three C. four D. five
___2. What is common among the words “nude”, “his”, “him” and “hand” in the poem
in terms of typography?
A. They all mean strength.
B. All words are classified as noun.
C. The first letter of each word is capitalized.
D. The words are intended to be interpreted literally.

18
___3. Which of the following is the most accurate interpretation of the verse: “Found
the Hand to hold me up!”?
A. The persona is asking for help.
B. The persona avoids a pick pocketer.
C. The persona found refuge from God.
D. The persona is looking for someone to raise him up.

For items 4-6, refer to Balagtas’ Poem

____4. What is the overall mood of the poem?
A. annoyance B. guilt C. hatred D. sadness
____5. How many syllables are there in each line?
A. 8 B. 10 C. 12 D. 14
____6. How does the rhyme scheme in stanza 33 vary from stanza 35?
A. Both stanzas have the same rhyme scheme.
B. Only the first and last lines in both stanzas have the same end rhyme.
C. Lines 1 and 3 have the same end rhyme in stanza 33, while all lines have
the same end rhyme in stanza 35.
D. All lines in stanza 33 have the same end rhyme, while lines 1 and 3 have
the same end rhyme in stanza 35.

For items 7-10, refer to Florentino’s Poem

____7. Which among the following verses is the original version of the translation,
“For even I did love the beauty whom I desired”?
A. Ta nupay no agayatac iti maysa a imnas
B. Ilunodconto ti horasnga innac pannacayanac
C. Ni gasatco o nababa aoanen ngatat capadana
D. Cadagiti isuamin a asugda Ni gasatco o nababa
____8. Who is the persona in the poem “Nalpay a Namnama”?
A. a person who hates love
B. a person who curses love
C. a person whose love is not reciprocated
D. a person who does crazy things for the sake of love
____9. “Gayagayec coma a ipalaoag ngem bumdeng met toy dilac” What does the
line imply about the personality of the persona?
A. assertive B. hesitant C. insensitive D. outspoken
____10. What is the best characterization for the persona of the poem?
A. martyr B. optimistic C. radical D. sensitive

19
In this self-learning kit, you are acquainted with various
concepts that are necessary for learning the first competency in
this course. Here is an overview of the essential concepts that
you should remember:
• Philippine Literary History. This tackles the
development of Philippine literature from the pre-colonial
times to contemporary period.
• National Artist in Literature. This is the most
prestigious recognition awarded to a Filipino who
exemplified excellence in literature given by the
government. The very first national artist in literature is
Amado V. Hernandez who was awarded in 1973.
• Ilocano Literature. This is a regional literature by
Ilocano writers manifesting the literary and cultural
traditions of the Ilocanos whether written in Iloco or
Tagalog or English language. The most popular Ilocano
writer is Pedro Bukaneg known for writing the epic “Biag
ni Lam-ang”.
How about you? What are your most significant insights in
this learning kit? Write down your generalizations in your
activity notebook.

20
 To show your appreciation to the diversity and
uniqueness of Philippine literature, research and
nominate three Filipino writers who you think
deserve to be recognized as a National Artist in
Literature. Fill up the given format below.

Name of Writer Place of Origin Famous Work Reason for

Nomination
Example: Laguna Noli Me Tangere He showed the suffering
Jose Rizal of his countrymen and
instigated to fight for the
rights of the Filipinos.
1.

2.

3.

We have reached the last part of this learning kit. The assessment for this
lesson is a literary analysis of Manuel Arguilla’s “How My Brother Leon Brought Home
a Wife”. You will be guided in making a literary analysis through a step-by-step
procedure with lecture and writing activities. Make sure to read the lecture note
carefully and fill up the activity sheets that will serve as your bases or evidences of
your final output. It might look tiresome, but I am telling you, you are going to enjoy
this. Happy reading!

How My Brother Leon Brought Home a Wife

By Manuel Arguilla

She stepped down from the carretela of Ca Celin with a quick, delicate grace. She was
lovely. She was tall. She looked up to my brother with a smile, and her forehead was
on a level with his mouth.
"You are Baldo," she said and placed her hand lightly on my shoulder. Her nails were
long, but they were not painted. She was fragrant like a morning when papayas are in
bloom. And a small dimple appeared momently high on her right cheek. "And this is
Labang of whom I have heard so much." She held the wrist of one hand with the other

21
and looked at Labang, and Labang never stopped chewing his cud. He swallowed and
brought up to his mouth more cud and the sound of his insides was like a drum.
I laid a hand on Labang's massive neck and said to her: "You may scratch his forehead
now."
She hesitated and I saw that her eyes were on the long, curving horns. But she came
and touched Labang's forehead with her long fingers, and Labang never stopped
chewing his cud except that his big eyes half closed. And by and by she was scratching
his forehead very daintily.
My brother Leon put down the two trunks on the grassy side of the road. He paid Ca
Celin twice the usual fare from the station to the edge of Nagrebcan. Then he was
standing beside us, and she turned to him eagerly. I watched Ca Celin, where he stood
in front of his horse, and he ran his fingers through its forelock and could not keep his
eyes away from her. "Maria---" my brother Leon said.
He did not say Maring. He did not say Mayang. I knew then that he had always called
her Maria and that to us all she would be Maria; and in my mind I said 'Maria' and it
was a beautiful name.
"Yes, Noel."
Now where did she get that name? I pondered the matter quietly to myself, thinking
Father might not like it. But it was only the name of my brother Leon said backward
and it sounded much better that way.
"There is Nagrebcan, Maria," my brother Leon said, gesturing widely toward the west.
She moved close to him and slipped her arm through his. And after a while she said
quietly.
"You love Nagrebcan, don't you, Noel?"
Ca Celin drove away hi-yi-ing to his horse loudly. At the bend of the camino real where
the big duhat tree grew, he rattled the handle of his braided rattan whip against the
spokes of the wheel.
We stood alone on the roadside.
The sun was in our eyes, for it was dipping into the bright sea. The sky was wide and
deep and very blue above us: but along the saw-tooth rim of the Katayaghan hills to
the southwest flamed huge masses of clouds. Before us the fields swam in a golden
haze through which floated big purple and red and yellow bubbles when I looked at
the sinking sun. Labang's white coat, which I had washed and brushed that morning
with coconut husk, glistened like beaten cotton under the lamplight and his horns
appeared tipped with fire.

22
He faced the sun and from his mouth came a call so loud and vibrant that the earth
seemed to tremble underfoot. And far away in the middle of the field a cow lowed softly
in answer.
"Hitch him to the cart, Baldo," my brother Leon said, laughing, and she laughed with
him a big uncertainly, and I saw that he had put his arm around her shoulders.
"Why does he make that sound?" she asked. "I have never heard the like of it."
"There is not another like it," my brother Leon said. "I have yet to hear another bull call
like Labang. In all the world there is no other bull like him."
She was smiling at him, and I stopped in the act of tying the sinta across Labang's
neck to the opposite end of the yoke, because her teeth were very white, her eyes
were so full of laughter, and there was the small dimple high up on her right cheek.
"If you continue to talk about him like that, either I shall fall in love with him or become
greatly jealous."
My brother Leon laughed and she laughed and they looked at each other and it
seemed to me there was a world of laughter between them and in them.
I climbed into the cart over the wheel and Labang would have bolted, for he was always
like that, but I kept a firm hold on his rope. He was restless and would not stand still,
so that my brother Leon had to say "Labang" several times. When he was quiet again,
my brother Leon lifted the trunks into the cart, placing the smaller on top.
She looked down once at her high-heeled shoes, then she gave her left hand to my
brother Leon, placed a foot on the hub of the wheel, and in one breath she had swung
up into the cart. Oh, the fragrance of her. But Labang was fairly dancing with
impatience and it was all I could do to keep him from running away.
"Give me the rope, Baldo," my brother Leon said. "Maria, sit down on the hay and hold
on to anything." Then he put a foot on the left shaft and that in stand labang leaped
forward. My brother Leon laughed as he drew himself up to the top of the side of the
cart and made the slack of the rope hiss above the back of labang. The wind whistled
against my cheeks and the rattling of the wheels on the pebbly road echoed in my
ears.
She sat up straight on the bottom of the cart, legs bent together to one side, her skirts
spread over them so that only the toes and heels of her shoes were visible. her eyes
were on my brother Leon's back; I saw the wind on her hair. When Labang slowed
down, my brother Leon handed to me the rope. I knelt on the straw inside the cart and
pulled on the rope until Labang was merely shuffling along, then I made him turn
around.
"What is it you have forgotten now, Baldo?" my brother Leon said.
I did not say anything but tickled with my fingers the rump of Labang; and away we
went---back to where I had unhitched and waited for them. The sun had sunk and

23
down from the wooded sides of the Katayaghan hills shadows were stealing into the
fields. High up overhead the sky burned with many slow fires.
When I sent Labang down the deep cut that would take us to the dry bed of the Waig
which could be used as a path to our place during the dry season, my brother Leon
laid a hand on my shoulder and said sternly:
"Who told you to drive through the fields tonight?"
His hand was heavy on my shoulder, but I did not look at him or utter a word until we
were on the rocky bottom of the Waig.
"Baldo, you fool, answer me before I lay the rope of Labang on you. Why do you follow
the Wait instead of the camino real?"
His fingers bit into my shoulder.
"Father, he told me to follow the Waig tonight, Manong."
Swiftly, his hand fell away from my shoulder and he reached for the rope of Labang.
Then my brother Leon laughed, and he sat back, and laughing still, he said:
"And I suppose Father also told you to hitch Labang to the cart and meet us with him
instead of with Castano and the calesa."
Without waiting for me to answer, he turned to her and said, "Maria, why do you think
Father should do that, now?" He laughed and added, "Have you ever seen so many
stars before?"
I looked back and they were sitting side by side, leaning against the trunks, hands
clasped across knees. Seemingly, but a man's height above the tops of the steep
banks of the Wait, hung the stars. But in the deep gorge the shadows had fallen
heavily, and even the white of Labang's coat was merely a dim, grayish blur. Crickets
chirped from their homes in the cracks in the banks. The thick, unpleasant smell of
dangla bushes and cooling sun-heated earth mingled with the clean, sharp scent of
arrais roots exposed to the night air and of the hay inside the cart.
"Look, Noel, yonder is our star!" Deep surprise and gladness were in her voice. Very
low in the west, almost touching the ragged edge of the bank, was the star, the biggest
and brightest in the sky.
"I have been looking at it," my brother Leon said. "Do you remember how I would tell
you that when you want to see stars you must come to Nagrebcan?"
"Yes, Noel," she said. "Look at it," she murmured, half to herself. "It is so many times
bigger and brighter than it was at Ermita beach."
"The air here is clean, free of dust and smoke."
"So it is, Noel," she said, drawing a long breath.
"Making fun of me, Maria?"

24
She laughed then and they laughed together and she took my brother Leon's hand
and put it against her face.
I stopped Labang, climbed down, and lighted the lantern that hung from the cart
between the wheels.
"Good boy, Baldo," my brother Leon said as I climbed back into the cart, and my heart
sant.
Now the shadows took fright and did not crowd so near. Clumps of andadasi and arrais
flashed into view and quickly disappeared as we passed by. Ahead, the elongated
shadow of Labang bobbled up and down and swayed drunkenly from side to side, for
the lantern rocked jerkily with the cart.
"Have we far to go yet, Noel?" she asked.
"Ask Baldo," my brother Leon said, "we have been neglecting him."
"I am asking you, Baldo," she said.
Without looking back, I answered, picking my words slowly:
"Soon we will get out of the Wait and pass into the fields. After the fields is home---
Manong."
"So near already."
I did not say anything more because I did not know what to make of the tone of her
voice as she said her last words. All the laughter seemed to have gone out of her. I
waited for my brother Leon to say something, but he was not saying anything.
Suddenly he broke out into song and the song was 'Sky Sown with Stars'---the same
that he and Father sang when we cut hay in the fields at night before he went away to
study. He must have taught her the song because she joined him, and her voice flowed
into his like a gentle stream meeting a stronger one. And each time the wheels
encountered a big rock, her voice would catch in her throat, but my brother Leon would
sing on, until, laughing softly, she would join him again.
Then we were climbing out into the fields, and through the spokes of the wheels the
light of the lantern mocked the shadows. Labang quickened his steps. The jolting
became more frequent and painful as we crossed the low dikes.
"But it is so very wide here," she said. The light of the stars broke and scattered the
darkness so that one could see far on every side, though indistinctly.
"You miss the houses, and the cars, and the people and the noise, don't you?" My
brother Leon stopped singing.
"Yes, but in a different way. I am glad they are not here."
With difficulty I turned Labang to the left, for he wanted to go straight on. He was
breathing hard, but I knew he was more thirsty than tired. In a little while we drope up
the grassy side onto the camino real.

25
"---you see," my brother Leon was explaining, "the camino real curves around the foot
of the Katayaghan hills and passes by our house. We drove through the fields
because---but I'll be asking Father as soon as we get home."
"Noel," she said.
"Yes, Maria."
"I am afraid. He may not like me."
"Does that worry you still, Maria?" my brother Leon said. "From the way you talk, he
might be an ogre, for all the world. Except when his leg that was wounded in the
Revolution is troubling him, Father is the mildesttempered, gentlest man I know."
We came to the house of Lacay Julian and I spoke to Labang loudly, but Moning did
not come to the window, so I surmised she must be eating with the rest of her family.
And I thought of the food being made ready at home and my mouth watered. We met
the twins, Urong and Celin, and I said "Hoy!" calling them by name. And they shouted
back and asked if my brother Leon and his wife were with me. And my brother Leon
shouted to them and then told me to make Labang run; their answers were lost in the
noise of the wheels.
I stopped labang on the road before our house and would have gotten down but my
brother Leon took the rope and told me to stay in the cart. He turned Labang into the
open gate and we dashed into our yard. I thought we would crash into the camachile
tree, but my brother Leon reined in Labang in time. There was light downstairs in the
kitchen, and Mother stood in the doorway, and I could see her smiling shyly. My brother
Leon was helping Maria over the wheel. The first words that fell from his lips after he
had kissed Mother's hand were:
"Father... where is he?"
"He is in his room upstairs," Mother said, her face becoming serious. "His leg is
bothering him again."
I did not hear anything more because I had to go back to the cart to unhitch Labang.
But I hardly tied him under the barn when I heard Father calling me. I met my brother
Leon going to bring up the trunks. As I passed through the kitchen, there were Mother
and my sister Aurelia and Maria and it seemed to me they were crying, all of them.
There was no light in Father's room. There was no movement. He sat in the big
armchair by the western window, and a star shone directly through it. He was smoking,
but he removed the roll of tobacco from his mouth when he saw me. He laid it carefully
on the windowsill before speaking.
"Did you meet anybody on the way?" he asked.
"No, Father," I said. "Nobody passes through the Waig at night."
He reached for his roll of tobacco and hithced himself up in the chair.

26
"She is very beautiful, Father."
"Was she afraid of Labang?" My father had not raised his voice, but the room seemed
to resound with it. And again I saw her eyes on the long curving horns and the arm of
my brother Leon around her shoulders.
"No, Father, she was not afraid."
"On the way---"
"She looked at the stars, Father. And Manong Leon sang."
"What did he sing?"
"---Sky Sown with Stars... She sang with him."
He was silent again. I could hear the low voices of Mother and my sister Aurelia
downstairs. There was also the voice of my brother Leon, and I thought that Father's
voice must have been like it when Father was young. He had laid the roll of tobacco
on the windowsill once more. I watched the smoke waver faintly upward from the
lighted end and vanish slowly into the night outside.
The door opened and my brother Leon and Maria came in.
"Have you watered Labang?" Father spoke to me.
I told him that Labang was resting yet under the barn.
"It is time you watered him, my son," my father said.
I looked at Maria and she was lovely. She was tall. Beside my brother Leon, she was
tall and very still. Then I went out, and in the darkened hall the fragrance of her was
like a morning when papayas are in bloom.

27
 Literary Analysis

Literary analysis essay is a critical text that aims to carefully examine and
sometimes evaluate a work of literature or an aspect of a work of literature. As with
any analysis, this requires you to break the subject down into its component parts.
Examining the different elements of a piece of literature is not an end but rather a
process to help you better appreciate and understand the work of literature as a
whole.19

Seven Steps in Writing a Literary Analysis Essay

There are seven steps that you need to remember in order to come up with a
literary analysis essay: 1. Ask questions; 2. Collect evidence; 3. Construct a thesis; 4.
Develop and organize arguments; 5. Write the introduction; 6. Write the body
paragraphs; and 7. Write the conclusion. 20

1. Ask questions
You can start asking basic questions like: What struck you? What confused
you? Did you notice any patterns? or Did you notice any contradictions or ironies?
Your question will guide you to construct the thesis of your essay. Here is a set of
good and bad questions in literary analysis:
Good Questions Bad Questions
“Are Romeo and Juliet’s parents “What happens to Scout in To Kill a
responsible for the deaths of their Mockingbird?”
children?” “What do the other characters in Julius
“Why do pigs keep showing up in Lord Caesar think about Caesar?”
of the Flies?” “How does Hester Prynne in The
“Are Dr. Frankenstein and his monster Scarlet Letter remind me of my sister?”
alike? How?”
Your Own Question (refer to the story):

2. Collect Evidence
There are several elements that you will analyze in your essay, and which you
will offer as evidence to support your arguments. It does not mean you are going to
write all the elements that you can find from the text, choose the prevailing element
that is substantial to the interpretation of the organic meaning of the text.

Ramos and Oliver (2017) presented the basic elements of literature. These
elements will be the basis of the following lecture notes.
.
A. CHARACTER AND CHARACTERIZATION
• Characters are the participants in a work of fiction
• Characterization is how writers present and reveal characters.
__________
19. “How to Write a Literary Analysis Essay”, Bucks.edu, updated 2020,
https://www.bucks.edu/media/bcccmedialibrary/pdf/HOWTOWRITEALITERARYANALYSISESSAY_10.15.07_001.pdf
20. “How to Write Literary Analysis”, Sparksnote.com, updated 2020, https://www.sparknotes.com/writinghelp/how-to-
write-literary-analysis/

28
 E.M. Forster, in his book Aspects of the Novel (1927), defined four basic types of
characters, their qualities, functions and importance for the development of the story.
• Flat or Static Character. It is relatively uncomplicated and often presented as
two-dimensional. They reveal only one or two personalities traits which remain
the same all throughout the story.
• Round or Dynamic. It is a complex figure with different characteristics which
may sufficiently surprise the readers as they undergo changes during the
story.
• Protagonist is the main character around whose life or experience the story
revolves.
• Antagonist is the character who stands in opposition to the protagonist.

Identify the characters in the story. Describe each character briefly and
determine what type of character do they portray.
Character Description Flat or Round (Explain your answer.)
1.

2.

3.

4.

B. POINT OF VIEW
• Point of view is the narrative perspective which describes the position of the
narrator, that is, the character of the storyteller in relation to the story being
told.

Types of POV

1. First Person POV

• The narrator is also a character within the story, so that the narrator reveals
the plot by referring to this viewpoint character with forms of ‘I” or, when
plural, “we”.
• Example: “I could picture it. I have rotten a habit of picturing the bedroom
scenes of my friends…
2. Second Person POV
• The story is revealed through a narrator who refers to the protagonist by using
the second-person personal pronoun, “you”.
• Example: “You walk along between the beds and seek a face less stern and
suffering…”
3. Third Person POV
• The narrator refers to every character as “he”, “she”, “it”, or: ”they”. The
narrator is an unspecified entity or uninvolved person who conveys the story
from the outside.

29
 a. Third Person Omniscient. The narrator has knowledge of all times,
people, places and events, including all characters’ thoughts.

Example: “When he found the eyes of Hester Prynne fastened on his own and
saw the she appeared to recognize him, he slowly…”

b. Third Person Limited

Example: “This Anselmo had been a good guide and he could travel
wonderfully in the mountains. Robert Jordan could walk well…”

Answer the following questions.

1. What is the point of view of the story?

2. How knowledgeable is the narrator about the characters’ thoughts and actions?

C. PLOT
• Plot gives the sequence of significant events that have a direct or indirect
important consequence in the story through the “cause and effect” relationship.

Two Kinds of Plot Patterns

1. Linear Plot
• The plot-line follows a single and chronological flow of event. There are three
major parts to a linear plot.

a. Beginning
o The characters and the setting are introduced.
o The central problem of the story is revealed.
o The main character usually sets a goal to overcome the problem, or the
character may set that creates a problem.
b. Middle
o The main character participates in a series of events to reach the goal
that leads to a resolution of the problem.
c. End
o The main character may or may not reach his/her goal.
o The problem is resolved.

2. Episodic/Nonlinear Plot
• The plot-line includes separate stories or chapters that are linked together by
the same character, setting, or theme. In an episodic plot, there is no overall
beginning, middle, and end to the story as they can be shuffled around and
placed in different orders.

30
 Five Parts of a Plot by Gustav Freytag

1. Exposition: The Beginning

• A fiction needs to have a beginning. It is the start of the story where the
characters are introduced and the setting is established. It is also in this part
that the main problem is presented.

2. Rising Action: Introduction of the Problem or Conflict

• This is the part of the story wherein the writer adds tension and excitement.
The writer must put the lead character in crisis by providing conflict with
oneself, another character, society, etc.

3. Climax: The High Point

• The highest point in the story where the main event happens.

4. Falling Action: Winding Down

• It shows the result of the action or decisions made by the lead character.

5. Denouement
• Also called resolution, the lead character’s conflicts are resolved, all loose
ends are tied up, and the story concludes with either a happy or sad ending.

Answer the following questions:

1. What is the type of plot of the story? Explain your answer.

2. Is there a resolution towards the end of the story? Explain your answer.

D. SETTING
• It initiates the main backdrop of fiction by providing both the historical time
and the geographic location wherein your story takes place.

Answer the following questions:

1. Describe the setting of the story.

2. What emotion or feeling prevails based on the setting of the story?

31
E. CONFLICT
• Conflict creates tension and interest to the plot. It refers to the different drives
and interests of the characters and forces involved in the story. It can be
classified as internal or external.

Types of Conflict
1. Man against man – an external conflict where a character is against another
character.
2. Man against society – the character stands against a man-made institution which
may include prevailing social system such as slavery, discrimination, or even
bullying.
3. Man against nature – the character struggles against forces of nature such as an
animal, a storm, tornado, or snow.
4. Man against self – an internal conflict where the character must come to terms
with his/her own nature. It may include making a choice between two or more paths.

Identify two conflicts in the story.

Type of Conflict Explanation

1.

2.

F. MOOD
• Mood is a literary element that evokes certain feelings or vibe to the story
through words and descriptions. In fiction, mood is responsible in creating an
emotional situation surrounding the characters or events which can be felt by
the readers. It can be developed through the setting, point of view and diction
or the usage of words.
• Textual evidence is a word, sentence, utterance, or speech from a text that
support your claim about the analysis of a text.

Examples
Amusing Calm Ecstatic Peaceful
Angry Cold Fearful Pessimistic
Apologetic Cynical Hateful Relaxed
Blissful Dark Melancholic Restless
Brooding Depressing Nostalgic Sad

Determine the mood of the story by copying textual evidences from the text.
MOOD TEXTUAL EVIDENCES
(phrase or sentence from the story where the element is found)
1.

2.

3.

32
F. THEME
• The theme is the point or idea that is central to a story. A theme can be
summed up in a single word (Thematic Concept) as in love, compassion,
justice, betrayal, friendship, etc. or stated in sentence (Thematic Statement).

Extract the theme of the story. Write the thematic concept on the inner circle,
thematic statement on the middle circle and three textual evidences on the
outermost circle.
Textual Evidences

Thematic Statment

Thematic Concept

3. Construct the Thesis Statement

The thesis statement is the heart of the literary essay, and the bulk of your
paper will be spent trying to prove this claim. A good thesis will be:

a. Arguable. “The Great Gatsby describes New York society in the 1920s” is
not a thesis—it is a fact.
b. Provable through textual evidence. “Hamlet is a confusing but ultimately
very well-written play” is a weak thesis because it offers the writer’s personal
opinion about the book. Yes, it’s arguable, but it’s not a claim that can be
proved or supported with examples taken from the play itself.
c. Surprising. “Both George and Lenny change a great deal in Of Mice and
Men ” is a weak thesis because it’s obvious. A really strong thesis will argue
for a reading of the text that is not immediately apparent.
d. Specific. “Dr. Frankenstein’s monster tells us a lot about the human
condition” is almost a really great thesis statement, but it’s still too vague.
What does the writer mean by “a lot”? How does the monster tell us so much
about the human condition?

Question: In Romeo Good Thesis Statement: “Though Shakespeare defines

and Juliet , which is Romeo and Juliet as ‘star- crossed lovers’ and images of
more powerful in stars and planets appear throughout the play, a closer
shaping the lovers’ examination of that celestial imagery reveals that the stars

33
 story: fate or are merely witnesses to the characters’ foolish activities and
foolishness? not the causes themselves.”

Construct your own thesis statement by answering the question you wrote
earlier.

Question: Good Thesis Statement:

4. Develop and Organize Arguments

If the thesis statement is found in the introduction, your arguments are found
in the body. Arguments are the claims to prove your thesis statement. There are
several ways to organize your arguments.

a. Compare and contrast (e.g. Compare and contrast the characters of

Huck and Jim in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn).
b. Trace (Choose an image—for example, birds, knives, or eyes—and trace
that image throughout Macbeth)
c. Debate (e.g. Is the society depicted in 1984 good for its citizens?)

Choose how you are going to organize your output and explain it.
Organization Explanation:
Technique:

5. Write your introduction

a. Provide necessary context. You can write about a tidbit of the author’s
life, the social condition, culture, etc.
b. Answer the “So what?” question. You should write a hook that will
trigger the reader’s interest.
c. Present your thesis.
d. Indicate the shape of the essay to come. Mention how your ideas are
developed and organized.

6. Write Your Body

a. Begin with a strong topic sentence. It should be representing the content
of your body.
b. Fully and completely develop a single thought. The body should
observe unity of ideas.
c. Discuss the important elements. Include only the most essential.
d. Prove your claim. Make use of textual evidences to support your
arguments.
e. Use transitions effectively. Build a coherent flow of ideas.

34
7. Write Your Conclusion
a. Do more than simply restate the thesis. Avoid redundancy.
b. Synthesize the arguments, not summarize them. Don’t repeat the details
from the introduction and conclusion.
c. Revisit the “So what?” question. Help the readers appreciate the text.
d. Move from the specific to the general. Provide a bigger picture of the text.
e. Stay relevant. Make sure to include only the related ideas.
f. Avoid making overblown closing statements. Avoid clichés, be original.

Additional Reading. You can visit the site (http://web.cocc.edu/cagatucci/classes

/eng104/midtermexamples.htm) for examples of literary analysis of short stories. You
can read in this site the analysis of the following stories:
• Josie Fenner: "The Lord of the Rings" |
• Tonya Flowers: "Chopin's Artistry in 'The Story of an Hour'"
• Melanie Price: "Impressions of Ordinary Life" [on Chekhov's "The Lady with
the Little Dog"]
• Arielle Samuel: "Plot and Character in Maupassant's 'The Necklace'"
• Matthew Welch: "The True Lord of the Rings"
• Fall 2002 Midterm Examples:
Josh Goodall: "The Mystery of the Mastery" [on Chekhov's "The Lady with the
Little Dog"]
• Christalyn Grantier: "Plot vs. Point of View in Chopin's 'Story of An Hour'"
• Jennifer Stewart: "Literary Analysis of Maupassant's 'The Necklace'"
• Ruzha Todorova: "A Cure for Temporary Depression" [on Gilman's "The
Yellow Wallpaper"]
• Sheena Van Landuyt: "Hidden Labyrinth" [on Maupassant's "The Necklace"]
• Anonymous [CC]: [Untitled Essay on Chekhov's "The Lady with the Little
Dog"]

Performance Task:
Directions: Write a literary analysis of Manuel Arguilla’s “How
My Brother Leon Brought Home to Wife” in essay format. Here
is the list of additional mechanics for your output:

• There should be introduction, body, and conclusion written in at least 500

words.
• Your output must be encoded following this format:
o Font: Arial
o Font Size: 12
o Font Color: Black
o Spacing: Single
o Margin: 1 inch in all sides
o Paper Size: Letter
o Orientation: Portrait
o Filename: Section-Name-Literary Analysis (e.g. 12 HUMSS 1-Sevilla,
Ralph Nicole A.-Literary Analysis
• Be guided by the given rubric adopted from Edutopia (2009):

35
 Exceeds Meets Approaching
Outstanding Unacceptable
Expectations Expectations Expectations
(10/9) (2/1)
(8/7) (6/5) (4/3)
Intro/ Introduction Introduction Introduction Introduction or No
Conclusion grabs attention sparks some provides conclusion does introduction
_____ and provides interest and context for not flow with the and/or
meaningful effectively the argument of the conclusion
context to a introduces argument paper o
persuasive reasonable but is Introduction or
argument o argument o obvious conclusion
Conclusion Conclusion and/or contains blanket
effectively restates basic o or vague
restates the arguments, Conclusion statements;
argument, but but uses new restates needs
fresh language language and arguments, development to
and meaningful shows but recycles be effective
insight leaves understanding previous
reader wanting of the big statements
more picture verbatim
Thesis Argument is Thesis Thesis is a Thesis Thesis not
_____ clearly presents a plausible demonstrates evident;
articulated and reasonable argument; misunderstanding thesis is a
persuasive, opinion, contains a of the prompt or fact or plot
contains an argument is legitimate text summary;
original opinion clear and opinion, but thesis not in
focused somewhat correct
broad and position
basic
Topic Topic Topic Topic Topic sentences Topic
Sentences sentences sentences sentences are not linked to sentences
and contribute to the articulate are present the thesis o Topic not evident
Transitions highly precise and make sentences show o Topic
_____ persuasive argument; an misunderstanding sentences
nature of the logically argument or prompt or text are facts or
argument linked to connected summaries
thesis to the
thesis;
however,
ideas are
obvious and
basic
Evidence You have Your Evidence is Evidence chosen Little or no
_____ chosen, for the evidence is present, but does not support evidence
most part, the believable superficial thesis/topic
best evidence and sentences o
to support your convincing Textual evidence
point o and supports is irrelevant
Evidence is your
highly argument
persuasive and
effective in
supporting your
argument
Commentary Creative/original Analysis is Analysis Ideas lack Analysis not
_____ ideas and believable supports development; present
insights; and your misunderstanding simply plot
extensive convincing, a argument, of prompt or text; summary of
commentary, few but ideas illogical analysis
refreshing; goes assertions are obvious argument; does not
beyond obvious may lack and basic

36
 and basic specific address the
commentary examples, but prompt
assertions are
still clearly
connected to
the argument
Style, Sophisticated Effectively Blend Problems with Serious
Vocabulary, vocabulary; blends direct quoted sentence clarity, problems
Sentence sentence quotation with material redundancy; with
Structure variety; explanatory smoothly; some quotes coherence
_____ quotations are words and but stand alone; and
smoothly phrases to sentence some vague sentence
blended introduce the structure sentences; little clarity; most
quotation and lack variety- use of class sentences
facilitate basic and vocabulary or need
narrative flow; obvious; sentence variety revision;
still attempts to most quotes
attempting incorporate stand alone
advanced more and lack
vocabulary advanced introduction/
vocabulary connection
to the paper
Total

A. Books

Datu, Paulyn Alaer, Primier Jan Allen A. Pascua, and Wilchie Dane H. Olayres.
2017. 21st Century Literature from the Philippines and the World. Quezon City:
Cronica Bookhaus.

Serrano, Josephine B, and Milagros G. Lapid. 2009. English Communication Arts

and Skills through World Literature. Quezon City. Phoenix Publishing House,
Inc.

Uychoco, Marikit Tara A. 2016. 21st Century Literature from the Philippines and the
World. Quezon City: Rex Bookstore.

Ramos, John Oliver M., and Junie Mart A. Talisay. 2017. Fundamentals of Creative
Writing. Quezon City: Brilliant Creations Publishing, Inc.

B. CD-ROM

“21st Century Literature from the Philippines and the World”, CD-ROM, Rex
Publishing House.

C. Internet

Bucks. 2020. “How to Write a Literary Analysis Essay”, Bucks.edu, July 10, 2020.
https://www.bucks.edu/media/bcccmedialibrary/pdf/HOWTOWRITEALITERA
RYANALYSISESSAY_10.15.07_001.pdf

37
Edutopia. 2020. “Literary Analysis Rubric”. Edutopia, July 10, 2020.
https://www.edutopia.org/sites/default/files/pdfs/stw/edutopia-stw-yesprep-
rubric-literary-analysis.pdf

Godinez-Ortega, Christine F. 2019. “The Literary Forms in Philippine Literature”.

National Commission for the Culture and the Arts, June 4, 2020.
https://ncca.gov.ph/about-ncca-3/subcommissions/subcommission-on-the-
arts-sca/literary-arts/the-literary-forms-in-philippine-literature/#

Gomez, Purugganan Immanuelle . 2012. “Nalpay a Namnama by Leona Florentino”.

Scribd, June 10, 2020. https://www.scribd.com/doc/83844774/Nalpay-a-
Namnama

Kabit Bisig. 2020. “Daing ng Pusong Nagdurusa by Francisco Baltazar”,

Kapitbisig.com, July 10, 2020. https://www.kapitbisig.com/philippines/florante-
at-laura-ni-francisco-baltazar-a-complete-modern-tagalog-version-kabanata-4-
daing-ng- pusong-nagdurusa_1203.html

KapitBisig. 2020. “Daing ng Pusong Nagdurusa by Francisco Baltazar”. Kapit Bisig,

June 10, 2020. https://www.kapitbisig.com/philippines/florante-at-laura-ni-
francisco-baltazar-a-complete-modern-tagalog-version-kabanata-4-daing-ng-
pusong-nagdurusa_1203.html

NCCA. 2011. “The Literary Forms in Philippine Literature”, NCCA, July 10, 2020,
https://ncca.gov.ph/ about-culture-and-arts/articles-on-culture-and-arts/

NCCA. 2020. “National Artists of the Philippines”, National Commission on Culture

and the Arts, July 10, 2020. https://ncca.gov.ph/about-culture-and-arts/culture-
profile/national-artists-of-the-philippines/amado-v-hernandez/

New York Public Library. 2008. “Jose Garcia Villa”, New York Public Library.com,
July 10, 2020. https://www.nypl.org/ blog/2008/06/25/jose-garcia-
villa#:~:text=Known%20as%20the%20%E2%80%9CPope%20of,and%20a%2
0y oung%20Gore%20Vidal.

Official Gazette. 2020. “The Order of the National Artists”, Official Gazette, July 10,
2020. https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/the-order-of-national-artists/

Pinoy Stuff. 2010. “Floranted at Laura”, 365 Pinoy Stuff.com, July 10,
2020.https://365greatpinoystuff.wordpress.com/tag/ francisco-
balagtas/#:~:text=Balagtas%20wrote%20the%20epic%20during,(%E2%80%9
CFor%20Celia%E2%80%9D).

Poem Hunter. 2020. “Biography of Leona Florentino”, Poem Hunter.com, July 10,
2020. https://www.poemhunter.com/leona-florentino/biography/

Scribd. 2020. “Nalpay a Namnama by Leona Florentino”, Scribd, July 10, 2020.
https://www.scribd.com/doc/83844774/Nalpay-a-Namnama

38
Sparknote. 2020.“How to Write Literary Analysis”, Sparksnote.com, July 10, 2020.
https://www.sparknotes.com/writinghelp/how-to-write-literary-analysis/

The Biography. 2018. “Biogrpahy of Pedro Bukaneg”, The Biography.com, July 10.
2020. https://thebiography.us/en/bukaneg-pedro

The Margins. “Four Poems by Jose Garcia Villa”. The Margins, June 10, 2020.
https://aaww.org/four-poems-jose-garcia-villa/

The Margins. 2020.“Four Poems by Jose Garcia Villa”. The Margins.com, July 10,
2020. https://aaww.org/four-poems-jose-garcia-villa

University of Washington. 2020. “Author, Poet, and Worker: The World of Carlos
Bulosan”, University of Washington, July 10, 2020.
https://content.lib.washington.edu/exhibits/bulosan/index.html

Wikipedia. 2019. “Leona Florentino”, Wikipedia, July 10, 2020.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leona_Florentino

Wikipedia. 2019. “Leona Florentino”, Wikipedia, updated July 10, 2020.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leona_Florentino

Wikipedia. 2019. “Manuel Arguilla”, Wikipedia, July 10, 2020.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manuel_Arguilla

Wikipedia. 2020. “Carlos Bulosan”, Wikipedia July 10, 2020.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carlos_Bulosan

Wikipedia. 2020. “Perdo Bukaneg”, Wikipedia, July 10, 2020.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pedro_Bucaneg

39
 Answers in the subjective tests or open-ended questions, activities, and
performance tasks may vary. The given answers shall serve as the guide and
basis of teachers in checking the outputs of the learners.

MOTIVATION

Luha ng Buwaya
Invictus
The Bread of Salt
El Filibusterismo
Rumpelstiltskin
ABNKKBSNPLAKO
The Smith Who Could Not Go into Hell
Ucle Tom’s Cabin
Raven
Eden

MOTIVATION QUESTIONS
1. My favorite among the literary texts that I mentioned is The Smith Who Could Not
Get into Hell. What I like about the story is how the plot is created. The witty alibis
that the smith said to the devil who was going to fetch him to hell worked out
successfully so he could avoid the devil.

2. Luha ng Buwaya by Amado V. Hernandez truly represents the context of

Philippine literature where members of the middle-class struggle in their employment
and fight for their rights which is very timely.

3. Nalpay a Namnama is the best Ilocano text for me because it embeds the fusion
of local (Ilocano) and foreign (Spanish) languages. This represents the invasion of
Spain in the Philippines which paved way to the development of Philippine history.

SHORT DISCUSSION (PIT STOPS)

1. According to the lecture note, 1521 is said to be the start of Philippine History. For
me, our history started earlier than 1521. We have primitive culture as proven by
artifacts discovered from all over the country.

2. Riddle, proverb, and epic are just some of the literary forms during the pre-colonial
period. This is my sample of a proverb: Ang taong palaging ikinukumpara ang sarili
sa iba ay hindi kailanman makokontento kung ano ang meron siya.

3. The common theme of the literature during the Spanish period is Christianity.
Catholicism is one of the reasons why we had been colonized by Spain.

4. The use of the English language, the proliferation of the vernacular in literature,
and the critical themes are some of the aspects of the American literary history. The

40
influence of the Americans to the Philippines is very evident. English is one of the
official languages alongside Filipino in our country. We have adopted their language
and we used it in political, social, and even creative endeavors.

5. Contemporary literature become more liberal. The use of online platforms as

medium of literature is also a significant change that is observable in modern
literature. Some of the literary forms include blogs which are essays about personal
experiences of the authors which are shared through internet.

Writers from Ilocos Region: La Union

LET’S DO IT!

Text Geographical Linguistic Ethnic

*This refers to the *This refers to the *This refers to the
relationship of the language used in writing cultural origin, practices
literary text and the the literary text. and manifestations
place where literature found in the literary text.
was written or where the
story takes place
Anchored Villa moved to New Villa showed his The cultural practice
Angel: York City. He wrote this command of the English that is shown in the
Selected poem in the US; language. He is one of poem is the Filipinos’
Writings however his Filipino the prolific writers in belief to divine
By Jose roots is still manifested English. Moreover, he intervention. When we
Garcia as evidenced by the used vivid imagery face difficult trials, we
Villa religious allusion of through words to surrender ourselves to
“Him” showing Christian convey his message. God hoping that He will
influence. help us overcome our
problems.
Florante The story took place in Balagtas wrote the Filipinos are emotional.
at Laura Alemanya (Germany). It poem in Filipino. There This is shown in
By shows the influence of is a different rhyme Balagtas’ work. The
Francisco Western culture in the scheme in each stanza. persona is a man
Balagtas Philippines when the However, the number of longing for his love. A
text is written. lines per stanza in commotion of emotions
consistent. is found in the text.

Nalpay A Florentino makes use of It can be observed in The romantic side of

Namnama the Ilocos as the context the poem that there is a the Ilocanos is shown in
By Leona of her masterpiece. combination of Iloco and the text. The poem talks
Florentino Spanish language. about unreciprocated
love, however, the
persona’s devotion to
the one he loves is
highlighted.

41
APPLICATION
Name of Writer Place of Origin Famous Work Reason for
Nomination
1. Bob Ong Quezon City ABNKKBSNPLAKO Bob Ong is one of the
few writers who writes in
a very peculiar style but
managed to provide a
deep impact to the
readers through his
themes.
2. Liwayway Manila Uhaw and Tigang She is a multi-awarded
Arceo na Lupa fiction writer during the
Japanese period. Her
vivid description and
use of metaphor in her
works are
commendable.
3. Amador Loaog City The Wedding Daguio writes his works
Daguio Dance emphasizing the local
culture and tradition of
the Filipinos particularly
the Ilocanos.

ASSESSMENT

1. Ask question
Your Own Question (refer to the story):
Is the relationship between Leon and Maria accepted by Leon’s parents?

2. Collect Evidences

A. Characters
Character Description Flat or Round (Explain your answer.)
1. Leon He is a young Leon is a flat character since her attitude
man who towards Maria and Baldo never changed in the
studied in the stretch of the story.
city and
brought home
a wife
2. Maria Maria is a Maria is also considered as a flat character.
young woman She was expected to act unfavorably towards
from the city her new environment, but she was able to
who became show that she can adapt from the start until the
Leon’s wife. end of the story.

42
 3. Baldo He is Leon’s Baldo is also a flat character. He was a
brother who responsible brother towards Leon and his
fetched them admiration for Maria never changed.
upon arrival to
the barrio.

B. Point of view
1. What is the point of view of the story?
First person point of view is used in the story. It was Baldo’s point of view.

2. How knowledgeable the narrator is about the character’s thoughts and actions?
The narrator just described what he physically experienced and what he saw. He
could not dig deep to the inner attitude and behavior of the characters since he was
just a kid.

C. Plot
1. The story is told in a linear plot. The events were presented chronologically.

2. Yes there is. The parents of Leon challenged Maria if she could survive the life in
the province. Maria was able to prove herself as she was accepted to the room of
Leon’s father which was supposed to be a private room for family members.

D. Setting
1. The setting portrays the province. Fields and farmlands were presented. It is
opposed to the place Maria was used of.

2. Even though the couple showed glee in the early parts of the story, it can be
deemed that they feel anxious towards the reception of Leon’s father for Maria. They
were unsure of the things that he might say when they reach home.

E. Conflict
Type of Conflict Explanation
1. Man vs Man This is between the couple and Leon’s father. The conflict
is “Does Maria deserve to be accepted in their family?” His
father was unsure of Maria as Leon’s wife so he tested if
she could adapt to their lives.

F. Mood
MOOD TEXTUAL EVIDENCES
(phrase or sentence from the story where the element is found)
Anxious 1. "Does that worry you still, Maria?"

2. "Have we far to go yet, Noel?"

3. "From the way you talk, he might be an ogre, for all the world.

43
G. Theme
Textual Evidences
"You miss the houses, and the cars, and the people and the noise, don't you?"
My brother Leon stopped singing.
"Yes, but in a different way. I am glad they are not here."

Thematic Statement

Marriage is a lifetime commitment

to accept and love your partner.

Thematic Concept

Marriage

3. Construct Thesis Statement

Question: Is the Good Thesis Statement: “Maria lived her life differently with
relationship Leon’s and his family, she was challenged by Leon’s father if
between Leon and she could survive in the barrio; Maria survived, and she was
Maria accepted by accepted in the family.”
Leon’s parents?

4. Develop and Organize Arguments

Organization Explanation: I will be enumerating the elements found in the
Technique: story. In each element, I will analyze the textual evidences to
Enumeration support my claim.

PERFORMANCE TASK.
The text below is a sample analysis taken from https://ukadats.wordpress.
com/2016/04/10/a-literary-analysis-on-manuel-e-arguillas-short-story-and-wilfrido-
ma-guererros-one-act-play/. You can use this as a basis to check the outputs of the
learners.

The story “How My Brother Leon Brought Home a Wife” was set during the
1930s in Nagrebcan, Bauang La Union. The place is a province and we know that the
people who are living there would most likely be the farmers. The story is told in the
1st person point of view and this narrator is Baldo, the younger brother of Leon. His
older brother is Noel but named by Maria as Leon. As what Baldo realized: “But it was
only the name of my brother Leon said backward and it sounded much better that
way.” Another major character found in the story is Maria who is the wife of Leon. For
Baldo, her name is “sosyal” and it is obvious that she comes from a city.
The conflict shown in the story is centered between Maria and herself, as well
as the society by which Baldo and Leon lived in. We know that Maria is from a city
while her husband Leon is from a province. Maria is concerned if she’s going to be
accepted or not by Leon’s family despite of her social status. She was even tested if

44
she is worthy to be the wife of Leon. This was seen when Baldo ignored his older
brother’s question about why did they have to go to Waig instead of Camino Real.
I think Maria is a good character in the story. I like Maria not because she’s kind
and lovely, but because she is not the typical “matapobre” as seen in the story. She is
indeed a sympathetic woman. In fact, Maria was a bit anxious because of meeting
Leon and Baldo’s parents for the first time. Maria is worried that she will not be
accepted by Leon’s father because she may not able to adapt their way of living in the
province. However, on their way home, she discovered the differences of the life of
the people lived there and the life in the city where she met and fell in love with Leon.
We can see Maria’s response when Leon asked her: “You miss the houses, and the
cars, and the people and the noise, don’t you?” My brother Leon stopped singing.
“Yes, but in a different way. I am glad they are not here.” I appreciate her the most
simply because she accepted and respected Leon for what he really is. She didn’t care
what Leon’s life back in Nagrebcan. She was a supportive and a loving wife to Leon.
She was so endearing and kind-hearted lady. She was very keen to meet Leon’s
family. It is somewhat discouraging that the rural is different from the city but the closer
they get to the house, Maria still managed to overcome any trials. She admits for
having some fear, but she also shows clearly it did not stop her. I believe that social
status is not a hindrance if you truly love each other.
The first theme of this story is that no matter what it takes to be with the one
you love, you will do anything to be with that person. I know that having a long and
strong relationship with the person you love is seldom nowadays. People tend to love
one another at first but eventually end up being bitter. Well, that kind of relationship is
not a true love after all. If I’m going to apply this significant theme or message to the
life of Filipinos then it can be said that as Filipinos, we are very emotional when we
think of true love. We also care about true love. There are Filipinos who turn to sacrifice
and endure things just to be happy. If you are sacrificing it truly means that you value
and you truly love this person (Adofina et al., 2013). In the story, we can see that Maria
will sacrifice anything just to be happy with Leon, her only love. I can say that this love
is true and genuine. This kind of love then is truly authentic.
Another theme that is portrayed in the story is the saying that “Don’t judge the
book by its cover.” Baldo, when he first saw Maria, was surprised to see that his brother
Leon accompanied a woman who is different from them because of her name, as well
as lovely and beautiful appearance. He said to himself that: “He did not say Maring.
He did not say Mayang. I knew then that he had always called her Maria and that to
us all she would be Maria; and in my mind I said ‘Maria’ and it was a beautiful name.” It
is then obvious for Baldo that Maria came from a city. As a person living in a province,
he has already the belief that people like Maria doesn’t belong to them and is
impossible to adapt their way of living in the province. But despite of the test ordered
by his father, Baldo somehow realized that Maria is also a friend and should be treated
like them knowing that she proved worthy of it.
We can also see Filipino values or traits that are revealed within the story. One
trait is the goal to obtain one’s trust most especially when you want your parents to
have a permission to marry your chosen loved one. Filipino parents are very hard to
impress. It is hard to get their trust as well. But what Maria did in the test that the father
of Baldo and Leon gave to her proved that she really deserved and love Leon. She will
sacrifice anything to be happy and be with her only love. Another value that is revealed
within the story is living a life of contentment. Filipinos who live in the province are very
well known to be simple yet they are contented for what they have. They are happy
with small things and appreciate what they have and how they live life.

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