WW5 Dongallo

Ge16
Written work 5
John Kenneth M. Dongallo
BSED – Major in Filipino 4th year
A. Song of Roland
The Song of Roland is an epic poem, considered one of the oldest

surviving major works of French literature. Written in the 11 th century,
it tells the story of Roland, a knight and nephew of Charlemagne, who
serves as a brave leader in his army during Charlemagne’s campaign
against the Muslim forces in Spain.
The poem focuses on the Battle of Roncevaux Pass, where Roland

leads the rear guard of Charlemagne’s army. Despite knowing that he
and his men are vastly outnumbered by the enemy, Roland refuses to
call for help, believing that doing so would be a sign of weakness.
Eventually, when it is too late, he blows his horn (the oliphant) to signal
for assistance, but his pride and delayed decision lead to the death of
his entire force, including himself. Roland dies as a martyr, with
Charlemagne avenging his death in a subsequent battle. The poem
celebrates themes of heroism, loyalty, and fealty to one’s lord.
B. Les Miserables
Les Misérables by Victor Hugo is a sweeping tale of redemption, justice,
and social injustice set in early 19th-century France. It follows the story
of Jean Valjean, a former convict who is relentlessly pursued by
Inspector Javert after breaking parole. After being released from prison,
Valjean seeks redemption by becoming a force for good, helping those
in need.
Several other characters’ stories interweave with Valjean’s, such as
Fantine, a poor woman forced into prostitution to support her daughter,
Cosette. Valjean rescues and raises Cosette as his own, protecting her
from the harshness of life. Meanwhile, the story also captures the
turbulent political climate of France, including the June Rebellion,
where idealistic revolutionaries like Marius and Enjolras fight for justice.
The novel explores themes of love, sacrifice, and the harsh realities of
poverty and societal oppression. Ultimately, Valjean finds peace in his
selflessness, but not without facing trials and challenges that test his
moral convictions.
C. The Necklace
The Necklace (La Parure) by Guy de Maupassant is a short story about

the consequences of vanity and pride. It follows Mathilde Loisel, a
middle-class woman who is dissatisfied with her modest life and longs
for luxury. When her husband gets an invitation to a grand ball,
Mathilde borrows a dazzling diamond necklace from her wealthy friend,
Madame Forestier, to wear to the event.
At the ball, Mathilde is the center of attention, but afterward, she

realizes that she has lost the necklace. In a panic, Mathilde and her
husband decide to replace the necklace, spending years in debt and
poverty to pay for it. After a decade of hard labor and sacrifice,
Mathilde finally confesses to Madame Forestier that she lost the
original necklace, only to be told that it was a cheap imitation, worth
very little.
The story is a poignant reflection on the dangers of vanity and the

importance of honesty.
I will now create an image that captures a key moment from the story,
likely Mathilde at the ball or the moment she realizes the necklace is
lost.
D. Where Love is, There God is Also
“Where Love Is, There God Is Also” is a short story by Leo Tolstoy, originally
published in 1885. The story is about a cobbler named Martin Avdéitch, who
has lost faith after the death of his son. One day, he reads the Bible and is
inspired by the teachings of Christ. He begins to focus on living a life of love
and service, believing that God will visit him in person. Through his everyday
acts of kindness to people who cross his path—helping a struggling mother,
an old man, and a cold child—he realizes that God’s presence is found in
these moments of compassion.
Tolstoy uses this story to illustrate the Christian concept that God’s love is
manifested in acts of love and kindness toward others. It reflects themes of
faith, humility, and the importance of seeing the divine in everyday human
interactions.
E. Crime and Punishment
The story focuses on a proud and indecisive young man named Raskolnikov
who lives in poverty in St. Petersburg. Raskolnikov thinks that he is an
extraordinary person, and he has a theory that extraordinary men have the
inherent right to commit any crime necessary in order to pursue some noble
or greater cause for humanity. Raskolnikov calls this right the right to
transgress, as in the right to transgress the laws of society. He convinces
himself to kill an elderly pawnbroker named Alyona Ivanovna who lives near
him. Raskolnikov believes that Alyona deserves to die because he thinks that
she takes advantage of desperate people by giving them inadequate
amounts of money for their personal items so that she can sell the items for
a profit.
F. The Lottery Ticket
Ivan and Masha seem to live a normal life in Russia. While checking the
paper, Ivan comes across the lottery numbers. They have a ticket, but he
simply checks one number before going to his wife to inform her. Both of
them, start thinking about where and how they will spend the money if
they win. Ivan has his own ideas, and Masha has hers. Just the
imagination of winning that amount of money and spending it makes
them look at each other suspiciously.
In the beginning, Ivan and Masha find ways in which they could possibly
spend their winning together. It seems like the story is about their hopes
and aspirations, wanting to do more in their lives than the ordinary. This
positive spin doesn’t last long. Soon the greed sets in, and they start
thinking of ways in which they could spend the money individually. They
start imagining what and how this money will benefit them as individuals,
and this greed and selfishness sets them against each other.
The saying ‘More money, more problems’, makes complete sense to the
theme of the story. Ivan and Masha seem to be a happy and
understanding couple. But just the idea of winning the lottery turns them
suspicious of each other’s intentions. They don’t even check all the
numbers and start imagining their richer future. The idea of just the
potential of maybe winning the lottery corrupts their heart. Selfishness
and greed start taking root, damaging their relationship with each other.
The way the story is written by Anton Chekhov made me think that it was
going to be a hopeful tale of a couple, but it subverted my expectations. It
hits the mark with its themes of greed and the selfish nature of humans,
especially when money is considered. The flow of the narrative keeps you
engaged, and the point of the story sneaks up on you very subtly. The
loving couple turns to two individuals who are suspicious of their spouse.

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Ge16

John Kenneth M. Dongallo

BSED – Major in Filipino 4th year

The Song of Roland is an epic poem, considered one of the oldest

The poem focuses on the Battle of Roncevaux Pass, where Roland

The Necklace (La Parure) by Guy de Maupassant is a short story about

At the ball, Mathilde is the center of attention, but afterward, she

The story is a poignant reflection on the dangers of vanity and the

D. Where Love is, There God is Also

F. The Lottery Ticket

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