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Introduction To Literature: English 2

This document provides an introduction to a module on literature. It outlines the learning objectives and outcomes, which include defining different genres of literature like poetry, fiction, drama, and essays. It also lists the instructional materials and references needed. The discussion section begins by defining literature and explaining why people read it. It notes literature appeals to our higher nature and enriches our lives. The discussion distinguishes between prose and poetry, and provides the main divisions of literature.

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0% found this document useful (1 vote)

520 views

Introduction To Literature: English 2

Uploaded by

Ellysa Ysabel Del Rosario

Available Formats

Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

You are on page 1/ 53

WESTERN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

ENGLISH 2

Introduction to Literature
A Modular Approach

General Education

Irene J. Sodoysodoy

Instructor

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Hello everyone! Welcome to this module. This is your instructor speaking.

Are you ready to face your first challenge? Kindly read what I have
prepared for you. Follow the instructions and you‘ll find yourself more learned
than before. Don‘t worry, I‘ll guide you. I hope you enjoy as you go along!

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

At the end of this module, you should be able to:

1. define literature; 13. name the elements and types of

2. determine the important concepts essay;
about literature; 14. write an essay
3. differentiate the main man division 15. read essays
of literature; 16. scan important information
4. define poetry; 17. identify and Classify the marks of an
5. identify elements of poetry; educated man;
6. distinguish types of poetry; 18. define fiction;
7. read the selections; 19. give the elements and types of
8. identify elements of poetry present in fiction;
the selection; 20. list types of characters;
9. identify the type of poetry the 21. recognize types of conflict and plot;
selection belongs to; 22. distinguish points of view;
10. reflect on the message of the
selection; 23. plot diagram the selection;
11. explain essay as a type of literature 24. define drama; and
12. recognize parts of an essay; 25. enumerate types of drama.

LEARNING OUTCOMES

Upon completion of this module you should have:

1. defined literature; 5. identified elements of poetry;

2. determined the important concepts 6. distinguished types of poetry;
about literature; 7. read the selections;
3. differentiated the two man division 8. identified elements of poetry present
of literature; and in the selection;
4. defined poetry;

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9. identified the type of poetry the 17. identified and Classified the marks of
selection belongs; an educated man;
10. reflected on the message of the 18. defined fiction;
selection 19. given the elements and types of
11. explained essay as a type of fiction;
literature; 20. listed types of characters;
12. recognized parts of an essay; 21. recognized types of conflict and
13. named the elements and types of plot;
essay; 22. distinguished points of view;
14. written an essay;
15. read essays; 23. plotted diagram the selection;
16. scanned important information 24. defined drama; and
25. enumerated types of drama.

INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS

For this module, you are provided with the following;

1. A handout to read from which you are expected to take notes of the salient points
of discussion
2. Additional lecture material found in the Google Classroom classwork.

To accomplish the following activity for this module, you need the following:

1. Internet
2. Book references
3. Dictionary

LIST OF LEARNING SUPPORT AND REFERENCES

1. Web References
a. shorturl.at/BOR37 j. shorturl.at/bpGIQ
b. shorturl.at/hkqzQ
c. shorturl.at/fuzGH
d. shorturl.at/ceLP8
e. shorturl.at/cDFIW
f. shorturl.at/vBNS8
g. shorturl.at/gkIQT
h. shorturl.at/elEN4
i. shorturl.at/doACK

Introduction to Literature Page 3

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DISCUSSION

Module 1
I know you are
excited to learn new
An Introduction to Literature
knowledge but hold your
horses for now. Let us start
with the-―must-know‖. This Welcome to the world of literature. In this world, we
will give you better will read varied selections and experience a
understanding on the multitudinous variety of characters, thoughts and
background of literature. ideas, feelings and emotions, and life experiences
as we travel through time and space to different
places, eras, cultures and societies.

But before reading the literary texts that we have in store for you, we need to know some
basic things about this literary world and experience what we are about to enter. What
kind of world is it? Is it similar to or any different from the real world we live in? How
different? Why do we read literature? What do we get from it?

Is our life made any better for reading literature? Are we any better for it? How and why
are we and our lives enriched by our experience of literature?

Let us begin with among the best definitions of literature.

Literature (origin of term- litera which means letter) deals with ideas, thoughts and emotions
of man- thus it can be said that literature is the story of man. (Kahayon, 1998, p 5-7);
Literature comes from the French phase ―belles-letters‖ which means beautiful writing.
(Baritugo, et al. 2004). Literature refers to artistic expression of significant human experience
using the medium of language.

Literature, in its broadest sense, is everything that has ever been written. According to
Garcia, the best way to understand human
nature fully and to know a nation completely is
to study it. In this way, we learn the innermost
feelings and thoughts of people- the most real
part of themselves, thus we gain understanding
not only of others, but more importantly of
ourselves and life itself. Literature appeals to
man‘s higher nature and its needs- emotional,

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spiritual, intellectual, and creative. Like all other forms of art (i.e., music, dance, painting,
sculpture, theatre and architecture), literature entertains and gives pleasure; it fires the
imagination and arouses noble emotions and it enriches man by enabling him to reflect on
life and by filling him with new ideas. It offers us an experience in which we should
participate as we read and test what we read by our own experience. It does not yield
much unless we bring something of ourselves to it.

Why do people read literature? We read for various reasons which may be for information,
for amusement, for higher and keener pleasure, for cultural upliftment and for discovery of
broader dimensions in life.

The ability to judge good literature is based on the application of certain recognizable
standards of good literature. Great literature is distinguishable by the following qualities:
(Garcia, 1993, p.3)

a. Artistry – when a literary work appeals to our sense of beauty;

b. Intellectual value- when it stimulates thought and enriches our mental life by making
us realize the fundamental truths about life and human nature;
c. Suggestiveness- the quality associated with the emotional power of literature, such
that it should move us deeply and stir our creative imagination, giving and evoking
vision above and beyond the plane of ordinary life and experience;
d. Spiritual value- when a literary piece elevates the spirit by bringing out moral values
which make us better persons
e. Permanence- when a great literary work endures- it can be read again and again
as each reading gives fresh delight and new insights and open new worlds of
meaning and experience; and
f. Universality- when a great literature is timeless and timely- forever relevant in terms of
its theme and conditions.

All literature falls under two main divisions:

Prose Poetry
Form Written in paragraph form Witten in stanza form

Language Expressed in ordinary language Expressed in metrical,

rhythmical and figurative
language
Appeal To the intellect To the emotion

Aim To convince, inform, instruct, imitate Stir the imagination and set
and reflect an ideal of how life should be

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ASSESSMENT

In the activity, you will be made to visit the internet or consult a

book.
Familiarize yourselves with the data because most of these will
be coming out in your major exam.

A. Below are the common examples of prose. Give a short definition and example title
for each.
1. Anecdote___________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
2. Autobiography-_____________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
3. Biography-__________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
4. Character Sketch-___________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
5. Diary-_______________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
6. Essay-_______________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
7. Eulogy-______________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
8. Journal-_____________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
9. Letter-______________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
10. Novel-______________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
11. Parable- ____________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
12. Parody- ____________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
13. Philosophy- _________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
14. Prose Drama- _______________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
15. Short Story- _________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________

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B. Differentiate the following:

1. Novel vs Short Story

_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
2. Biography vs Autobiography
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
3. Fable vs Parable
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________

C. Direction: Answer the following questions about poetry.

1. What is your favorite nursery rhyme? Do you still recall the lyrics?
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
2. Cite lines of your favorite nursery rhyme.
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
3. Why do you like that song?
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
4. Give three titles of poems and the author that you are familiar of.
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________

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ACTIVITY
Direction: Answer the following in handwritten form on a short bond paper. The date of
submission will be announced by your teacher. (34 pts.) (Recorded)

1. In not less than 300 words, explain the importance of literature in your daily life.
(20 pts.) Criteria: Content- 10 Grammar- 5 Organization-5

2. In your opinion, which is better to read: prose or poetry? Answer in not less than five
sentences. (10 pts)
Criteria: Content- 5 Grammar- 3 Organization-2
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________

3. Identify each of the following literary work as either prose or poetry. (4 pts)

a. HarryPotter by J.K. Rowling _________________________

b. Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare _________________________
c. Ibong Adarna byJose dela Cruz _________________________
d. Snow White and the Seven Dwarves _________________________

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That‘s a quick preview of

literature but that‘s only the
tip of the iceberg. I know Module 2
some of you like to read
during your spare time while
some do not. I hope what
you‘ve read gave you
knowledge on literature in Poetry
general.
Emily Dickinson, an American poet, once wrote:
But there‘s more! In this
module, you will be
This is my letter to the world,
introduced to one genre of
That never wrote to me,-
literature which is poetry.
Are you ready to discover
She wrote many letters to the world- her poems.
additional and interesting
Through these poems, she chose to share with her
information? Let‘s go!
many readers her intimate thoughts and feelings and
her day-to-day observations.

To start with, among the oldest literatures were in the form of songs, chants and prayers.
Poetry is derived from the Greek word ―poesis‖ meaning ―making or creating‖. Poetry is a
kind of language that says it more intensely than ordinary language does. Apparently, we
have to remember the following things about poetry:

 Poetry is a concentrated thought.

 Poetry is a kind of word-music.
 Poetry answers our demands for music.
 Poetry is observation plus imagination.
 Poetry is as varied as the nature of man- unique in some sense along with man‘s
eccentricities yet clings if appreciated or if deeply imbibed by the reader.

Some of the best definitions of poetry:

 Gemino Abad contends that ―A poem is a meaningful organization of words.‖

 T.S. Eliot categorized poetry as ―The fusion of two poles of mind, emotion and
thought.‖
 Manuel Viray states that ―Poetry is the union of thoughts and feelings.‖
 William Wadsworth says, ―Poetry is the spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings
recorded in tranquility.‖
 Edgar Allan Poe thinks, ―It is the rhythmic creation of beauty.‖
 Percy B. Shelly thinks, ―It is the record of the best and happiest moments of the
happiest and best minds.‖

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 Jaime G. Ang posits, ―Poetry is the ‗essence‘ of the creative imagination of man.‖

A poet is someone who sees something extraordinary even in the most common things and
who shares this perception with the reader. The poet may employ rhyme or rhythm or
choose to write in free verse. Her poem may tell a story (narrative) or express a feeling
(lyric).

Elements of Poetry

1. Sense- is revealed through the meaning of words, images and symbols.

a. Diction- denotative and connotative meanings/symbols.
b. Images and sense impression-sight, sound, smell, taste, touch, motion, and
emotion.
c. Figure of speech- simile, metaphor, personification, apostrophe, metonymy, etc.
2. Sound- is the result of combination of elements.
a. Tone color- alliteration, assonance, consonance, rhyme, repetition, anaphora.
b. Rhythm- ordered recurrent alteration of strong and weak elements in the flow of
the sound and silence: duple, triple, running or common rhyme.
c. Meter- stress, duration or number of syllables per line, fixed metrical pattern or a
verse form.
d. Rhyme scheme- formal arrangement of rhymes In stanza or the whole poem.
3. Structure- refers to arrangement of words, and lines to fit together and the
organization of parts to form a whole.
a. Word order- natural and natural arrangement of words.
b. Ellipsis- omitting some words for economy and effect.
c. Punctuation- abundance and lack of punctuation marks.
d. Shape- contextual and visual designs: jumps, omission of spaces, capitalization,
lower case.

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ASSESSMENT

In this part, you will be made to visit the internet or consult a book as
what you did in the previous module. Again, take note and remember the
data because most of these will be coming out in your major exam.

A. There are two major types of poetry: Narrative and Lyric Poetry. Define the sub-types of
poetry.
1. Differentiate Narrative Poetry from Lyric Poetry
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
Narrative Poetry
a. Epic-______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________+____
b. Metrical Romance-_________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
c. Metrical Tale-_______________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
d. Ballad-_____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
e. Popular Ballad-_____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
f. Modern or Artistic-__________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
g. Metrical Allegory-___________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
Lyric Poetry
a. Ode-_______________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
b. Elegy-______________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
c. Song-_______________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
d. Corridos-____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
e. Sonnet- ____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________

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Lesson 1

Connotation and Denotation are two principal methods of describing the meanings of
words. Connotation refers to the wide array of positive and negative associations that most
words naturally carry with them, whereas denotation is the precise, literal definition of a
word that might be found in a dictionary.

Connotation and denotation are not two separate things/signs. They are two
aspects/ elements of a sign, and the connotative meanings of a word exist
together with the denotative meanings -Connotation represents the various
social overtones, cultural implications, or emotional meanings associated with a
sign. − Denotation represents the explicit or referential meaning of a sign.
Denotation refers to the literal meaning of a word, the ‗dictionary definition.‘

For example, the name ‗Hollywood‘ connotes such things as glitz, glamour, tinsel,
celebrity, and dreams of stardom. At the same time, the name ‗Hollywood‘
denotes an area of Los Angeles known worldwide as the center of the American
movie industry.

ASSESSMENT
Direction: Provide the denotation and connotation of the words below.

Denotation Connotation
1. Ant

2. Confident

3. Dove

4. Flower

5. Green

6. Light

7. Mirror

8. Rainbow

9. Relaxed

10. Shadow

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ASSESSMENT
The Arrow and the Song

BY HENRY WADSWORTH LONGFELLOW

I shot an arrow into the air,

It fell to earth, I knew not where; Long, long afterward, in an oak
For, so swiftly it flew, the sight I found the arrow, still unbroke;
Could not follow it in its flight. And the song, from beginning to
end,
I breathed a song into the air, I found again in the heart of a
It fell to earth, I knew not where; friend.
For who has sight so keen and
strong That it can follow the flight
of song?

Now, let‘s test your comprehension skill on this poem. You may visit the
internet to answer the set of questions. Have fun!

Directions: Read and understand the message of the poem. Answer the questions that
follow.

1. How many stanzas are there in the selection?

3. What do you call a stanza of two lines? Three? Four and five?
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
4. What is the end rhyme scheme of the selection? (further readings on
https://literarydevices.net/rhyme-scheme/)
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
5. What type of poetry does the selection belong to?
_________________________________________________________________________________
6. Give the denotation and connation of the term ―arrow‖ in the first stanza.
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________

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7. Give the denotation and connation of the term ―song‖ in the second stanza.
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
8. What is the message of the poem?
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________

Lesson 2

Figures of Speech

A figure of speech is a word or phrase that possesses a separate meaning from its literal
definition.

In truth, there is wealth in these literary tools of the English language. Figures of speech lend
themselves particularly well to literature and poetry. They also pack a punch in speeches
and movie lines. Indeed, these tools abound in nearly every corner of life. But, let's start out
by exploring some of the most common figures of speech.

1. Alliteration- is the repetition of the beginning sounds of neighboring words.

Example: She sells seashells.

2. Anaphora- is a technique where several phrases or verses begin with the same word
or words.
Example: I came, I saw, I conquered. - Julius Caesar

3. Assonance- is the repetition of vowel sounds (not just letters) in words that are close
together. The sounds don't have to be at the beginning of the word.
Examples:
A - For the rare and radiant maiden whom the angels named Lenore. (Poe)
E - Therefore, all seasons shall be sweet to thee. (Coleridge)

4. Hyperbole- uses exaggeration for emphasis or effect.

Examples
I've told you to stop a thousand times.
That must have cost a billion dollars.

5. Personification -gives human qualities to non-living things or ideas.

Examples
The flowers nodded.
The snowflakes danced.

6. Simile -a comparison between two unlike things using the words "like" or "as."
Examples:

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As slippery as an eel.
Like peas in a pod
As blind as a bat

7. Irony- use of words to convey the opposite of their literal meaning. Also, a statement
or situation where the meaning is contradicted by the appearance or presentation
of the idea.

Example: "Oh, I love spending big bucks," said my dad, a notorious penny pincher.

8. Onomatopoeia- The use of words that imitate the sounds associated with the
objects or actions they refer to.
Example: The clap of thunder went bang and scared my poor dog.

9. Oxymoron- A figure of speech in which incongruous or contradictory terms appear

side by side.
Example: silent scream, living dead

10. Paradox- statement that appears to contradict itself.

Example: "This is the beginning of the end," said Eeyore, always the pessimist.

ASSESSMENT
Direction: Name the figure of speech is used in each of the following statements. Write your
answer before the number. (Recorded 15pts)

________1. Nick needed new notebooks.

________2. Fred fried frogs' legs on Friday.
________3. We shall not flag or fail. We shall go on to the end... we shall never
surrender. - Winston Churchill
________4. Uncertain rustling of each purple curtain.
________5. I could do this forever.
________6. She's older than dirt.
________7. "My love is like a red rose..."
________8. He is a lion.
________9. The wind wrapped its icy fingers around my body.
________10. The boat was tossed like a cork on the waves.
________11. The clang of the bell woke the sleeping dog.
________12. Life is a roller coaster.
________13. Ker-blam went the door as the wind blew it closed.
________14. I must be cruel only to be kind.
________15. I close my eyes so I can see.

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ACTIVITY

Direction: Compose a poem of three stanzas with four lines each. The poem should revolve
around the theme on ―Surviving Life Amidst the Pandemic‖. The following elements of
poetry should be present in the poem you are about to compose: Rhyme Scheme, ellipses,
punctuation and figures of speech. Then, explain your poem in not less than three
sentences. (Recorded)

Criteria: (30pts) Title-2 Relevance- 10 Elements of Poetry- 8 Creativity-5 Explanation-5

_____________________________________________________ Explanation here:

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Lesson 3

Reading Journey

ON WORK

Kahlil Gibran - 1883-1931

Kahlil Gibran, known in Arabic as Gibran Khalil Gibran, was born January 6, 1883, in Bsharri,
Lebanon, which at the time was part of Syria and part of the Ottoman Empire. He was the
youngest son of Khalil Sa’d Jubran, a tax collector eventually imprisoned for
embezzlement, and Kamila Jubran, whose father was a clergyman in the Maronite
Christian Church.
In 1885 Gibran immigrated with his mother and siblings to the United States, where they
settled in the large Syrian and Lebanese community in Boston, Massachusetts. It was there
that Gibran learned English and enrolled in art classes. His mother supported the family as a
seamstress and by peddling linens.
Gibran was active in a New York-based Arab-
American literary group called the Pen League,
whose members promoted writing in Arabic
and English. Throughout his life he would publish
nine books in Arabic and eight in English, which
ruminate on love, longing, and death, and
explore religious themes.
He died of cirrhosis of the liver on April 10, 1931,
in New York City.

Then a ploughman said, Speak to us of Work.

And he answered, saying:
You work that you may keep pace with the earth and the soul of the earth.
For to be idle is to become a stranger unto the seasons, and to step out of life‘s
procession, that marches in majesty and proud submission towards the infinite.

When you work you are a flute through whose heart the whispering of the hours turns
to music.
Which of you would be a reed, dumb and silent, when all else sings together in
unison?

Always you have been told that work is a curse and labour a misfortune.
But I say to you that when you work you fulfil a part of earth‘s furthest dream,
assigned to you when the dream was born,
And in keeping yourself with labour you are in truth loving life,
And to love life through labour is to be intimate with life‘s inmost secret.

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But if you in your pain call birth an affliction and the support of the flesh a curse
written upon your brow, then I answer that naught but the sweat of your brow shall
wash away that which is written.

You have been told also that life is darkness, and in your weariness you echo what
was said by the weary.
And I say that life is indeed darkness save when there is urge,
And all urge is blind save when there is knowledge,
And all knowledge is vain save when there is work,
And all work is empty save when there is love;
And when you work with love you bind yourself to yourself, and to one another, and
to God.

And what is it to work with love?

It is to weave the cloth with threads drawn from your heart, even as if your beloved
were to wear that cloth.
It is to build a house with affection, even as if your beloved were to dwell in that
house.
It is to sow seeds with tenderness and reap the harvest with joy, even as if your
beloved were to eat the fruit.
It is to charge all things you fashion with a breath of your own spirit,
And to know that all the blessed dead are standing about you and watching.

Often have I heard you say, as if speaking in sleep, ―He who works in marble, and
finds the shape of his own soul in the stone, is nobler than he who ploughs the soil.
And he who seizes the rainbow to lay it on a cloth in the likeness of man, is more than
he who makes the sandals for our feet.‖
But I say, not in sleep but in the overwakefulness of noontide, that the wind speaks
not more sweetly to the giant oaks than to the least of all the blades of grass;
And he alone is great who turns the voice of the wind into a song made sweeter by
his own loving.

Work is love made visible.

And if you cannot work with love but only with distaste, it is better that you should
leave your work and sit at the gate of the temple and take alms of those who work with
joy.
For if you bake bread with indifference, you bake a bitter bread that feeds but half
man‘s hunger.
And if you grudge the crushing of the grapes, your grudge distils a poison in the
wine.
And if you sing though as angels, and love not the singing, you muffle man‘s ears to
the voices of the day and the voices of the night.

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ASSESSMENT

Direction: Answer the following comprehension questions.

1. How do you perceive work? A responsibility or freedom? Why

2. What is your understanding of ―For to be idle is to become a stranger unto the

seasons‖?
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________

3. Do you agree with the author that work is love made visible? Why?
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________

4. Cite your favorite line in the poem and explain your understanding of it.
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________

5. What has the poem taught you about work?

6. What is your message to your fellow students who, like you, will most probably land
themselves on a job in the future?

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Lesson 4

This poem, nominated for Best Poem of 2006, was written by an African Kid

When I Born, I Black

When I grow up, I Black
When I go in sun, I Black
When I sick, I Black, and
When I die, I still Black
And U White fella,
When u born, u pink
When u grow up, u white
When u go in sun, u red
When u cold, u blue
When u Scared, u yellow
When u sick, u green, and
When u die, u gray
And
You calling me colored??

ASSESSMENT
A. Directions: Answer the following comprehension questions.

1. Who is the speaker in the poem?

_________________________________________________________________________________
2. What elements of poetry are used in the selection?
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
3. What is the speaker trying to convey?
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
4. What is the message of the poem?
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
5. As an individual, have you experienced being in the situation just like the speaker?
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________

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A. In the space provided, illustrate/draw your understanding of the poem. Write a short
explanation. (Recorded)

Criteria: (25pts) Creativty-10 Originality-5 Neatness-5 Explanation-5

Explanation:

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Welcome to the third module

which deals with the most Module 3
common literary genre the
essay! I‘m glad you reached
this stage.
ESSAY
In the previous lessons, you
learned about poetry and read
examples of poem. You were
We are here for another literary genre of) called the
also made to write your original
Essay. How is this genre different from short story or a
poem and you nailed it.
poem? Do you recall the essays that you‘ve read
I‘m sure you‘ll do good here, that made an impact in your life?
too. Let‘s keep going!
An essay is a prose composition of moderate length
usually expository in nature, which aims to explain or
clear up an idea, a theory, an expression or point of view. It is the most popular form of
literature.

It is often considered synonymous with a story or a paper or an article. Essays can be formal
as well as informal. Formal essays are generally academic in nature and tackle serious
topics. You will be focusing on informal essays which are more personal and often have
humorous elements.

The essay has three elements such as:

1. Theme and Content- what is the main point of the essay.

 Trivial, common place, unusual, controversial
 Appraise, criticize, expand, comment, lament, celebrate
 Human nature, social conditions, manners, politics, attitudes, art
 Creating a single impression or producing a single effect with the work
 Present ideas, describe events, interpret experiences
2. From and Structure- how ideas ordered to achieve a single effect?
 Unity of expression, coherence and cohesion
 Orderly, systematic, logical manner
 Three basic parts: introduction, body, conclusion
 Two major patterns: inductive and deductive
3. Language and Style- what makes the essay literary?
 Mode or tone, attitude, sensibility of the essayist.
 Whimsical, humorous, matter-of-fact, satirical, serious, optimistic
 Diction of choice of topics, personal bias or attitude.

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Types of Essays

The type of essay will depend on what the writer wants to convey to his reader. There are
broadly four types of essays namely:

1. Narrative Essays: This is when the writer is narrating an incident or story through the
essay. So these are in the first person. The aim when writing narrative essays is to involve
the reader in them as if they were right there when it was happening. So make them as
vivid and real as possible. One way to make this possible is to follow the principle of
‗show, don‘t tell‘. So you must involve the reader in the story.

2. Descriptive Essays: Here the writer will describe a place, an object, an event or maybe
even a memory. But it is not just plainly describing things. The writer must paint a picture
through his words. One clever way to do that is to evoke the senses of the reader. Do
not only rely on sight but also involve the other senses of smell, touch, sound etc.
A descriptive essay when done well will make the reader feel the emotions the writer
was feeling at the moment.

3. Expository Essays: In such an essay a writer presents a balanced study of a topic. To

write such an essay, the writer must have real and extensive knowledge about the
subject. There is no scope for the writer‘s feelings or emotions in an expository essay. It is
completely based on facts, statistics, examples etc. There are sub-types here like
contrast essays, cause and effect essays etc.

4. Persuasive Essays: Here the purpose of the essay is to get the reader to your side of the
argument. A persuasive essay is not just a presentation of facts but an attempt to
convince the reader of the writer‘s point of view. Both sides of the argument have to
presented in these essays. But the ultimate aim is to persuade the readers that the
writer‘s argument carries more weight.

Format of an Essay

Now there is no rigid format of an essay. It is a creative process so it should not be confined
within boundaries. However, there is a basic structure that is generally followed while
writing essays. So let us take a look at the general structure of an essay.

Introduction

This is the first paragraph of your essay. This is where the writer introduces his topic for the
very first time. You can give a very brief synopsis of your essay in the introductory
paragraph. Some paragraph writing skills can be a help here. Generally, it is not very long,
about 4-6 lines.

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There is plenty of scopes to get creative in the introduction of essays. This will ensure that
you hook the reader, i.e. draw and keep his attention. So to do so you can start with a
quote or a proverb. Sometimes you can even start with a definition. Another interesting
strategy to engage with your reader is to start with a question.

Body

This is the main crux of your essays. The body is the meat of your essay sandwiched
between the introduction and the conclusion. So the most vital and important content of
the essay will be here. This need not be confined to one paragraph. It can extend to two or
more paragraphs according to the content.

Usually, we have a lot of information to provide in the body. And the mistakes writers
generally make is to go about it in a haphazard manner which leaves the reader
confused. So it is important to organize your thoughts and content. Write the information in
a systematic flow so that the reader can comprehend. So, for example, you were narrating
an incident. The best manner to do this would be to go in a chronological order.

Conclusion

This is the last paragraph of the essay. Sometimes a conclusion will just mirror the
introductory paragraph but make sure the words and syntax are different. A conclusion is
also a great place to sum up a story or an argument. You can round up your essay by
providing some moral or wrapping up a story. Make sure you complete your essays with the
conclusion, leave no hanging threads.

Tips for Essay Writing

 Give your essays an interesting and

appropriate title. It will help draw the
attention of the reader and pique their
curiosity
 Keep it between 300-500 words. This is the ideal length, you can take creative license
to increase or decrease it
 Keep your language simple and crisp. Unnecessary complicated and difficult words
break the flow of the sentence.
 Do not make grammar mistakes, use correct punctuation and spellings. If this is not
done it will distract the reader from the content
 Before beginning the essay organize your thought and plot a rough draft. This way you
can ensure the story will flow and not be an unorganized mess.

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ASSESSMENT

Direction: Write a narrative essay about your first day in school at WIT. (Recorded)

Criteria: (30 pts) Title- 5pts Format- 5 pts Content-10pts Organization- 5pts Grammar- 5pts

____________________________

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Lesson 1

READING JOURNEY

The Marks of an Educated Man

Nicholas Murray Butler (from the Columbia Spectator)

(April 2, 1862-December 7, 1947) He was an educator and university president; an adviser

to seven presidents and friend of statesmen in foreign nations; recipient of decorations
from fifteen foreign governments and of honorary degrees from thirty-seven colleges and
universities; a member of more than fifty learned societies and twenty clubs; the author of
a small library of books, pamphlets, reports, and speeches; an international traveler who
crossed the Atlantic at least a hundred times; a national leader of the Republican Party; an
advocate of peace and the embodiment of the ‘international mind’ that he frequently
spoke about. He was called Nicholas Miraculous Butler by his good friend Theodore
Roosevelt; the epithet was so perfect that, once uttered, it could not be forgotten

1. A question often asked is: ―What are the 3. The first of these is correctness and
marks of an educated man?‖ it is plain precision in the use of the mother tongue.
that one may gain no inconsiderable The quite shocking slovenliness and the
body of learning in some special field of vulgarity of much of the spoken English, as
knowledge without at the same time well as not a little of the written English,
acquiring those habits and traits which are which one hears and sees proves beyond
marks of an educated gentleman. A peradventure that years of attendance
reasonable amount of learning must of upon schools and colleges that are
course accompany an education, but, thought to be respectable have
after all, that amount need not be so very produced no impression. When one hears
great in any field. An education will make English well spoken, with pure diction,
its mark and find its evidences in certain correct pronunciation, and an almost
traits, characteristics and capacities unconscious choice of the right word, he
which have to be acquired by patient recognizes it at once. How much easier
endeavor, by following good example, he finds it to imitate English of the other
and by receiving discipline and sound sort!
instruction. 4. The second and indispensable trait of the
2. These traits or characteristics may be educated man is refined and gentle
variously described and classified, but manners, which are themselves the
among them are five that should always expression of fixed habits of thought at
stand out clearly enough to be seen by action. ―Manners maketh man,‖ wrote
men. William of Wykeham over his gates at
Winchester and at Oxford. He pointed to

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a great truth. When manners are more or less contented interest and
superficial, artificial and forced, no matter activity. The whole present-day
what their form, they had bad manners movement for adult education is a
When, however, they are the natural systematic and definite attempt to keep
expression of fixed habits of thought and human beings growing long after they
action, and they reveal a refined and have left school and college, and
cultivated nature, they are good therefore, to help educate them.
manners. There are certain things that 7. A fifth trait of the educated man is his
gentleman do not do them simply possession of efficiency, or the power to
because they are bad manners. The do. The mere visionary dreamer, however
gentleman instinctively knows the charming or however wise, lacks
difference between those things which he something which an education requires.
may and should do and those things The power to do may be exercised in any
which he may not and should not do. one of the thousand ways, but when it
5. The third trait of the educated man is the clearly shows itself, that is evidence that
power and habit of reflection. Human the period of discipline of study and of
beings for the most part live wholly on the companionship with parents and teacher
surface of life. They do not look beneath has not been in vain.
the surface or far beyond the present 8. Given these five characteristics, one has
moment and that part of the future which the outline of an educated man. The
is quickly to follow it. They do not read outline may be filled in by scholarship, by
those works of prose of reflection and literary power, by mechanical skills, by
introduce that power and habit in others. professional zeal and capacity, b business
When one reflects long enough to ask the competence, or by social and political
question how?, he is on the way to leadership. So long as the framework or
knowing something about science. When outline is there, the content may be pretty
he reflects long enough to question why?, much what you will, assuming, of course,
he may, if he persists, even become a that the fundamental elements of the
philosopher. great tradition which is civilization, and is
outstanding records and achievements in
6. A fourth trait of the educated man is the human personality, in letters, in science, in
power of growth. He continues to grow the fine arts and in human institutions, are
and develop from birth to his dying day. all presen
His interests expand, his contacts multiply,
his knowledge increases, and his
reflection becomes deeper and wider. It
would appear to be true that not many
human beings, even those who have had
a school and college education, continue
to grow after they are twenty-four or
twenty-five years of age. By that time it is
usual to settle down to life on a level of

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ASSESSMENT
Direction: Match the italicized word in each phrase in column A with the correct dictionary
meaning in column B.

A B

1. Patient endeavor a. A considerate idea, expressed in writing

or speech

2. beyond peradventure b. earnest and industrious effort

3. cultivated nature c. competent and reliable

4. prose of reflection d. uncertainty or doubt

5. visionary dreamer e. acquired or developed skill

6. professional zeal f. great enthusiasm or energy for cause

7. sound instruction g. trained intellectually, morally and socially

8. educated man h. elegant and cultured

9. refined manner i. absolutely necessary

10. Indispensable trait j. thinking about or planning the future with

imagination or wisdom.

ACTIVITY

Scanning for Information

Direction: Find the paragraph that tells or shows the description of an educated man
according to Nicholas Murray Butller . The first one is done for you.

Paragraph 1 1. One‘s habits and traits are the marks of an educated man.

________1. An educated man continues to develop and grow from birth to

his dying day.
________2. The choice of words of one person signifies the number of years
of attendance upon school and colleges
________3. Good manners simply show how refined and educated you
are.

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________4. An educated man has the power and habit of reflection.

________5. The gentleman instinctively knows the difference between
good and bad manners.
________6. An educated man has the power to do well and to think wisely.
________7. An educated man tries to expand his interests, multiply his
contacts and increase his knowledge.
________8. An educated man reflects long enough to ask question to know
something.
________9. An educated man knows the superficial, artificial and forced
manners.

ASSESSMENT

A. Direction: Below is a table that enumerates the general qualities of an educated man
according to Murray-Butler. Fill in the second column with the specific and concrete acts
of an educated man as espoused by Murray-Burton in his essay ―The Marks of an Educated
Man‖. (30 pts)

Characteristics of an Educated Man Description (4pts each)

a. Precise in the use of mother tongue

b. Refined and gentle in manners

c. Has the power and habit of reflection

d. Has the power of growth

e. Possesses efficiency or the power to

B. Briefly but adequately answer the following questions:

1. What is the significance of education to your life and to your community? (5pts)
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________

2. In your own opinion, how would you describe an educated man?(5pts)

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True Essence of Success

Shiela E. Mendoza

Once in our life we fantasize about having lots

of money, owning a big mansion, being the
president of the company, and running our
own business. People, indeed, have
unsatisfied desires. We are not content with
just being extraordinary good looking, we
want something with the highest standard. We
have thousands of wishes, hopes, yearnings,
cravings and longings in life. We dream to
become the richest…we hope to become
famous…we are thrilled with power and
successful life… flight that rounded the Eiffel Tower. But his
fame and success were never enough. He
How would you define success? Is it when you
was believed to have committed suicide by
have a lucrative career, mansion, luxury car
hanging himself when he became ill and
and lots of money? What are you going to do
depressed due to his multiple sclerosis.
if you have millions? Would you buy stuff to
pamper yourself? Would you travel around If we hope for a beautiful face, voice and
the world? Would you enjoy the cuisine by fame, Yukiko Okada had them all. She was a
famous chefs in exquisite restaurants? Well, Japanese idol singer in the early 1980. She
would you really be content having those had millions of fans and was ranked as the
things in life? Would you really be happy and 17th most important female in the history. She
satisfied? even won Star Tanjo and had a number of hit
singles. Ahhh…We would probably dream to
Kurt Cobain could have anything he wanted.
be like her. No one could say she was
He was an American songwriter and musician
unhappy and lonely with her socio-economic
and the lead singer and guitarist of the
status because she maintained being stoical.
popular rock band Nirvana. It was truly
But on April 8, 1986, she was found with a
imperceptible that a famous man was
slashed wrist in her gas-filled apartment while
struggling with heroin addiction and
crouching in a closet and crying. After two
depression. On April 8, 1994, Cobain was
hours she jumped to her death from the
found dead at his home in Seattle and
seven-story Sum Music Agency Building. Her
believed to commit suicide by a self-inflicted
death has remained mind-boggling until now.
wound in the head.
No one could even give the reason for what
If we aspire for financial success and she did.
accomplishment in life, then Alberto Santos
If we wish to be the most influential, powerful
Dumont had them. He was the heir of a
man in our country, then Dipendra Bir Bikram
prosperous coffee producer family in Brazil
Shah obtained that. He was a member of the
and a pioneer I aviation. He built and flew the
opulent Nepalese Royal Family who briefly
first practical and dirigible balloons and
becomes the King of Nepal from June 1 to
became famous when he won the Deutsch
June 4, 2001. He shot and killed ten people
de la Meurthe prize on October 19, 1901 on a

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and wounded five others when he drank in Atkinson, New Hampshire. He died from the
heavily and misbehaved with guest. Several smoke of two charcoal grills he lit inside his
members of his family at the Narayanhity sealed bathroom. It was found out that the
Royal Palace died including King Birendra real cause of his death was carbon monoxide
and Queen Aiswarya. After killing ten people poisoning. He left a suicide note pinned to his
he shot himself in the head and died three shirt that read ―Mr. Brad Delp. Je uis une ame
days later. His death is the comeuppance of solitaire.‖ – I am a lonely soul!
his wrongs and violence. (www.listzblog.com)

If we yearn for intelligence and wisdom, Success, indeed, is difficult to define. People
Bernard Spilsbury possessed that. He was a have different perceptions about it. It may
famous English pathologist and detective. He refer to the accomplishment of a specific
was also a master of forensic science. He thing or the attainment of fame, money or
worked as a Home Office pathologist. But his social status. Others may define success as an
accomplishments never made him smug. It obtainment of their dreams and ambition. But
was found out that he was suffering from many of us fail to understand the true
depression that led him to commit suicide by meaning of success because we always
gas in his laboratory in December 1947. compare ourselves to others who are better
than us or who have more than we do till we
If we long to be known globally, then Freddie end up unhappy and unsatisfied.
Mills made it. He was the world light
heavyweight boxing champion from 1948 to The biggest mistake we people commit is to
1950. He finished his career with 76 wins, 18 force ourselves to get all our desires without
losses and 7 draws. He might have had a reflecting about our life. This is the reason why
sophisticated lifestyle until one day, he was there is always a feeling of poignant anxiety
found dead- with a shot in the head in his car. within us even if we already obtain what we
It was found out that the angle of the bullet want in life. The best way for us to feel the true
was consistent with a self-inflicted wound- he essence of success is through nurturing our
committed suicide. His brawn was not really inner essence. We should give importance to
enough for him to be satisfied. our life, and our values. From there, we will
learn to be proud of our skills and abilities.
Brad Delp, an American musician, was a man Above all we should put God in our entire
to be envied. He obtained fame and endeavor. It is through God that we will be
recognition everyone wants. He was best forever happy and satisfied.
known as the lead vocalist of the rock band
from Boston, Massachusetts that gained Thus, we can only feel the satisfaction if we
success and fame during the 1970s and 1980s. will learn to appreciate ourselves. Let us focus
Boston sold over 31 million records in the on our Being not on Having… we are still poor
United States alone. Only a goofy would if we are unsatisfied. We are still miserable if
never appreciate his successful life and we never feel content. And we are still useless
achievements. Until one day, he was found by if we are wretched despite everything we
his fiancée Pamela Sullivan dead in his home have.

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ACTIVITY
Direction: Fill in the blanks with the correct meaning of the underlined words.

1. I admire my classmate who grew up and lived in America, He speaks impeccable

English. How I wish I could also ________ my grammar.
2. That poignant scene kills me a lot, It truly ___________ my feelings and emotions.
3. Will you please stop acting so goofy? You are educated. Don‘t act like a
______________.
4. Her death has remained mind-bogging until now. The investigators are still
____________ about his death.
5. He works so hard to have a brawn body. His _____ helps a lot in carrying all my
baggage.
6. A person who has no self-confidence finds it difficult to be smug. You can only be
__________ if you will learn to believe in yourself.
7. He finally received his comeuppance for his misbehavior. Everything that we do
here on earth has a corresponding ___________.
8. People admire her a lot because she can still smile even if she‘s mad. She‘s truly
stoical. We should remain _____despite all the pains and sufferings we went through.
9. We all missed his imperceptible signal, the reason why we failed to win the game. It
is truly hard to ________ him since there were so many people beside him.
10. She‘s hoping to marry an opulent widow. Since she belongs to a poor family, she has
dreamed of giving comfort and _______ to her family.

ACTIVITY

A. Direction: Fill in the grid with vital information you picked up from your reading of
Mendoza‘s essay. You earn one point for each correct information. (10 pts)

Famous Personality Achievements Tragic Downfall

Kurt Cobain 1. Committed suicide by a
self-inflicted wound on his
head.

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2. Lead vocalist of a famous 3.

Boston Massachusetts
Freddie Mills 4. 5.

Yukiko Okada 6. Jumped to her death

from seven-story building.

Alberto Santos Dumont 7. Committed suicide

Dipendra Bir Bikram He became the King of Nepal 8.

Bernard Spilsbury 9. 10.

B. Direction: Briefly but adequately answer the questions below. (20 pts)

1. Describe man‘s perception about success according to Mendoza.(5pts)

3. What to you are the manifestations of a successful person? How do you tell whether
a person is successful or not? Provide concrete descriptions of these kinds of
persons.

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That‘s it for the Essays! Congratulations for making it to this point. Are
you ready for yet another new learning? I hope you still have the energy
for these. Just hang in there because it will all be worth it.

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Module 4
Let‘s now proceed to another
literary genre which is the Fiction.
Have you been waiting for this Fiction
part? I know you like reading short
stories and novels. We‘ll, they
belong in here. You will be reading
Fiction is literature created from the
short stories that are very timely
imagination, not presented as fact, though
and relevant even in our time.
it may be based on a true story or situation.
The types of literature in the
fiction genre include the novel and short
story. Mysteries, science fiction, romance,
fantasy, chick lit, crime thrillers are all fiction genres. Examples of classic fiction include To
Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens, 1984 by George
Orwell and Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. So, how does fiction differs from non-
fiction? Nonfiction refers to literature based in on fact. It is the broadest category of
literature. The Nonfiction Department has books and videos in many categories including
biography, business, cooking, health and fitness, pets, crafts, home decorating, languages,
travel, home improvement, religion, art and music, history, self-help, true crime, science
and humor. We also have a section of popular and award-winning documentary DVDs.

As discussed in module 1, short story is a piece of prose fiction that can be read in one
sitting and that it focuses on a self-contained incident or series of linked incidents, with the
intent of evoking a "single effect" or mood. The short story is a crafted form in its own right.
Novel on the other hand is a relatively long work of narrative fiction, normally written in
prose form, and which is typically published as a book.

Elements of Fiction

1. Setting- Setting is a description of where and when the story takes place. In a short
story there are fewer settings compared to a novel. The time is more limited. Ask
yourself the following questions to obtain a detailed description of a story‘s setting:

 How is the setting created? Consider geography, weather, time of day, social
conditions, etc.
 What role does setting play in the story? Is it an important part of the plot or
theme? Or is it just a backdrop against which the action takes place?
 Does the setting change? If so, how?
Study the time period, which is also part of the setting, and ask yourself the
following:

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 When was the story written?

 Does it take place in the present, the past, or the future?
 How does the time period affect the language, atmosphere or social
circumstances of the short story?

2. Characters- refer to those involved, may they be persons or animals and objects
personified that make a story happen. As you probably know, the most important
role in any story is the protagonist (which we will discuss in the succeeding parts of
this module). This means all other roles stem from their relationship to the protagonist.
Basically, these varying types of characters define how they interact and affect one
another.

Types of Characters
a. Dynamic or Developing Character
A dynamic character also known as ―Round Character‖ is someone who changes
throughout the story. This may be a good change or a bad one, but their motivations,
desires, or even their personality changes due to something in the story. This is usually a
permanent change and shows how the character has learned and developed over time
in the story.

b. Flat or Static Character

A flat character is the opposite of a dynamic character. A flat character doesn‘t change
much or doesn‘t change at all throughout the story. Their personality and/or background
aren‘t revealed well and we only know a handful of traits about them.

Others:

1. Protagonist- the hero/heroine in a story

2. Antagonist- a foil to the protagonist
3. Deuteragonist- second in importance
4. Fringe- one who is destroyed by his inner conflict
5. Typical or minor characters
3. Conflict - also called tension is usually the heart of the short story and is related to
the main character. In a short story there is usually one main struggle.

Types of Conflict

 "Man vs. Self" is the only true version of internal conflict you will find in literature. In
this mode, the conflict takes place within the mind of the main character, and
often involves the character making a decision between right or wrong, or other
mixed emotions. However, this struggle could also exist in the form of a character
battling mental illness.

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 "Man vs. Man" is probably the most common form of external conflict, and is also
known as interpersonal conflict. This mode lies at the heart of all dramatic arts and
places the struggle directly between the protagonist and the antagonist --
otherwise known as the good guy and the bad guy. In a man vs. man conflict, the
protagonist wants something, and the antagonist obstructs the protagonist from
getting what he wants.

This mode of external conflict occurs when the protagonist is placed at odds with a
government or cultural tradition. This type of conflict applies to societal norms as
well. For example, if a child gets in trouble with his parents for sneaking out of the
house at night, he is in conflict with the societal tradition that children are expected
to obey their parents.

 "Man vs. Nature" pits the main character against the forces of nature -- in the form of
a natural disaster or a similarly dangerous situation -- and is often associated with
literary naturalism, which hinges on the idea that nature is indifferent to humanity.
Stephen Crane's short story, "The Open Boat," is a prime example, and demonstrates
that the sea can cause shipwrecks easily and without regard for humanity.

4. Plot- Plot is a sequence of events in a story that force a character to make

increasingly difficult decisions, driving the story toward a climactic event and
resolution.

The 5 Elements of Plot

1. Exposition
This is introduction where characters are
introduced, the setting is established,
and the primary conflict is begun.
Often, the exposition of a story only lasts
for a few chapters because readers are
eager to dive into the conflict of the
story.

2. Rising Action
The rising action normally begins with an inciting incident, or a moment that sets the
story into action. As it progresses, there will be multiple moments of conflict that
escalate and create tension as the story moves toward the climax.

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Think of it as the portion of a roller coaster where you‘re climbing up to the peak.
You want the story to continue building up until you, as the reader, is ready to reach
the point where everything comes crashing down.

3. Climax
The climax is the peak of tension, plot, and character in the story. It‘s the moment
the reader has been waiting for.
Often, this is the point in the story that everything changes, or where the main
character is forced to make a life-altering decision. It should be the point where the
reader is unsure where the story is going to go next. To use our roller coaster
analogy, imagine you‘re at the top of the peak and everything stops: what‘s going
to happen? A great climax will leave the readers with this feeling, forcing them to
keep reading until the end.

4. Falling Action/Denouement
This is the time when conflicts and subplots are resolved This is also where any
conflicts that arose as a result of the climax can start being resolved.

5. Resolution
Finally, the resolution is the end the story where the final loose ends are tied up to
bring the story to its happy or tragic ending. Or, if the story is a series, this would be
the time for a cliffhanger that will leave readers eager for the next installment!

5. Point of View- Point of view (POV) is what

the character or narrator telling the story can
see (his or her perspective). The author chooses
―who‖ is to tell the story by determining the
point of view. Depending on who the narrator
is, he/she will be standing at one point and
seeing the action. This viewpoint will give the
narrator a partial or whole view of events as
they happen. Many stories have
the protagonist telling the story, while in others, the narrator may be another character or
an outside viewer, a narrator who is not in the story at all. The narrator should not be

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confused with the author, who is the writer of the story and whose opinions may not be
those written into the narrative.

Types of Point of View

1. First person: This is the viewpoint where we are seeing events through the eyes of
the character telling the story.
2. Second person: In second person, the narrator is speaking to YOU. This isn‘t very
common in fiction, unless the narrator is trying to talk to the reader personally. We
see second-person point of view mostly in poems, speeches, instructional writing,
and persuasive articles.
3. Third person: With third-person point of view, the narrator is describing what‘s seen,
but as a spectator. If the narrator is a character in the story, then we are reading
what he or she observes as the story unfolds. This narrator has three possible
perspectives.
 Limited – In limited third-person, the narrator sees only what‘s in front of
him/her, a spectator of events as they unfold and is unable to read any other
character‘s mind.
 Omniscient – An omniscient narrator sees all, much as an all knowing god of
some kind. He or she sees what each character is doing and can see into
each character‘s mind. This is common with an external character, who is
standing above, watching the action below (think of a person with a crystal
ball, peering in).
 Limited Omniscient – The limited omniscient third-person narrator can only see
into one character‘s mind. He/she might see other events happening, but
only knows the reasons of one character‘s actions in the story.

6. Theme- the theme is the underlying message that the writer would like to get across.
Maybe it's a theme of bravery, perseverance, or undying love.

7. Mood- is the general feeling or atmosphere that a piece of writing creates within the
reader. Mood is produced most effectively through the use of setting, theme, voice and
tone.

That‘s it for the most basic information about fiction. Remember

them as you navigate your way through these succeeding Reading
Journeys.

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Lesson 1

Reading Journey

Footnote to Youth

by Jose Garcia Villa

The sun was salmon and hazy in the west. Dodong interests. Dodong started homeward, thinking how
thought to himself he would tell his father about he would break his news to his father. He wanted
Teang when he got home, after he had unhitched to marry, Dodong did. He was seventeen, he had
the carabao from the plow, and let it to its shed pimples on his face, the down on his upper lip
and fed it. He was hesitant about saying it, but he already was dark-these meant he was no longer a
wanted his father to know. What he had to say boy. He was growing into a man--he was a man.
was of serious import as it would mark a Dodong felt insolent and big at the thought of it
climacteric in his life. Dodong finally decided to although he was by nature low in statue. Thinking
tell it, at a thought came to him his father might himself a man grown Dodong felt he could do
refuse to consider it. His father was silent hard- anything. He walked faster, prodded by the
working farmer who chewed areca nut, which he thought of his virility. A small angled stone bled his
had learned to do from his mother, Dodong's foot, but he dismissed it cursorily. He lifted his leg
grandmother. I will tell it to him. I will tell it to him. and looked at the hurt toe and then went on
The ground was broken up into many fresh walking. In the cool sundown he thought wild you
wounds and fragrant with a sweetish earthy smell. dreams of himself and Teang. Teang, his girl. She
Many slender soft worms emerged from the had a small brown face and small black eyes and
furrows and then burrowed again deeper into the straightglossy hair. How desirable she was to him.
soil. A short colorless worm marched blindly to She made him dream even during the day.
Dodong's foot and crawled calmly over it. Dodong tensed with desire and looked at the
Dodong go tickled and jerked his foot, flinging the muscles of his arms. Dirty. This field work was
worm into the air. Dodong did not bother to look healthy, invigorating but it begrimed you,
where it fell, but thought of his age, seventeen, smudged you terribly. He turned back the way he
and he said to himself he was not young any had come, then marched obliquely to a creek.
more. Dodong unhitched the carabao leisurely Dodong stripped himself and laid his clothes, a
and gave it a healthy tap on the hip. The beast gray undershirt and red kundiman shorts, on the
turned its head to look at him with dumb faithful grass. The he went into the water, wet his body
eyes. Dodong gave it a slight push and the animal over, and rubbed at it vigorously. He was not long
walked alongside him to its shed. He placed in bathing, then he marched homeward again.
bundles of grass before it land the carabao The bath made him feel cool. It was dusk when he
began to eat. Dodong looked at it without reached home. The petroleum lamp on the ceiling

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already was lighted and the low unvarnished looked at him silently and stopped sucking the
square table was set for supper. His parents and broken tooth. The silence became intense and
he sat down on the floor around the table to eat. cruel, and Dodong wished his father would suck
They had fried fresh-water fish, rice, bananas, and that troublous tooth again. Dodong was
caked sugar. Dodong ate fish and rice, but didnot uncomfortable and then became angry because
partake of the fruit. The bananas were overripe his father kept looking at him without uttering
and when one held them they felt more fluid than anything.
solid. Dodong broke off a piece of the cakes "I will marry Teang," Dodong repeated. "I will marry
sugar, dipped it in his glass of water and ate it. He Teang." His father kept gazing at him in inflexible
got another piece and wanted some more, but silence and Dodong fidgeted on his seat. "I asked
he thought of leaving the remainder for his her last night to marry me and she said...yes. I
parents. Dodong's mother removed the dishes want your permission. I... want... it...." There was
when they were through and went out to the impatient clamor in his voice, an exacting protest
batalan to wash them. She walked with slow at this coldness, this indifference. Dodong looked
careful steps and Dodong wanted to help her at his father sourly. He cracked his knuckles one by
carry the dishes out, but he was tired and now felt one, and the little sounds it made broke dully the
lazy. He wished as he looked at her that he had a night stillness. "Must you marry, Dodong?" Dodong
sister who could help his mother in the housework. resented his father's questions; his father himself
He pitied her, doing all the housework alone. His had married. Dodong made a quick impassioned
father remained in the room, sucking a diseased easy in his mind about selfishness, but later he got
tooth. It was paining him again, Dodong knew. confused. "You are very young, Dodong." "I'm...
Dodong had told him often and again to let the seventeen." "That's very young to get married at."
town dentist pull it out, but he was afraid, his father "I... I want to marry...Teang's good girl." "Tell your
was. He did not tell that to Dodong, but Dodong mother," his father said. "You tell her, tatay."
guessed it. Afterward Dodong himself thought that "Dodong, you tell your inay." "You tell her." "All right,
if he had a decayed tooth he would be afraid to Dodong." "You will let me marry Teang?"
go to the dentist; he would not be any bolder than "Son, if that is your wish... of course..." There was a
his father. Dodong said while his mother was out strange helpless light in his father's eyes. Dodong
that he was going to marry Teang. There it was did not read it, too absorbed was he in himself.
out, what he had to say, and over which he had Dodong was immensely glad he had asserted
done so much thinking. He had said it without any himself. He lost his resentment for his father. For a
effort at all and without self-consciousness. while he even felt sorry for him about the diseased
Dodong felt relieved and looked at his father tooth. Then he confined his mind to dreaming of
expectantly. A decrescent moon outside shed its Teang and himself. Sweet young dream....
feeble light into the window, graying the still black Dodong stood in the sweltering noon heat,
temples of his father. His father looked old now. "I sweating profusely, so that his camiseta was
am going to marry Teang," Dodong said.His father damp. He was still like a tree and his thoughts were

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confused. His mother had told him not to leave the did not want to come up and stayed in the sun.
house, but he had left. He had wanted to get out "Dodong. Dodong." "I'll... come up." Dodong
of it without clear reason at all. He was afraid, he traced tremulous steps on the dry parched yard.
felt. Afraid of the house. It had seemed to cage He ascended the bamboo steps slowly. His heart
him, to compares his thoughts with severe tyranny. pounded mercilessly in him. Within, he avoided his
Afraid also of Teang. Teang was giving birth in the parents eyes. He walked ahead of them so that
house; she gave screams that chilled his blood. He they should not see his face. He felt guilty and
did not want her to scream like that, he seemed to untrue. He felt like crying. His eyes smarted and his
be rebuking him. He began to wonder madly if the chest wanted to burst. He wanted to turn back, to
process of childbirth was really painful. Some go back to the yard. He wanted somebody to
women, when they gave birth, did not cry. In a punish him. His father thrust his hand in his and
few moments he would be a father. "Father, gripped it gently. "Son," his father said. And his
father," he whispered the word with awe, with mother: "Dodong..." How kind were their voices.
strangeness. He was young, he realized now, They flowed into him, making him strong. "Teang?"
contradicting himself of nine months Dodong said. "She's sleeping. But you go in..." His
comfortable... "Your son," people would soon be father led him into the small sawali room. Dodong
telling him. "Your son, Dodong." Dodong felt tired saw Teang, his girl wife, asleep on the papag with
standing. He sat down on a saw horse with his feet her black hair soft around her face. He did not
close together. He looked at his callused toes. want her to look that pale... Dodong wanted to
Suppose he had ten children... What made him touch her, to push away that stray wisp of hair that
think that? What was the matter with him? God! touched her lips, but again that feeling of
He heard his mother's voice from the house: embarrassment came over him and before his
"Come up, Dodong. It is over." Of a sudden he felt parents he did not want to be demonstrative. The
terribly embarrassed as he looked at her. hilot was wrapping the child, Dodong heart it cry.
Somehow he was ashamed to his mother of his The thin voice pierced him queerly. He could not
youthful paternity. It made him feel guilty, as if he control the swelling of happiness in him. You give
had taken something no properly his. He dropped him to me. You give him to me," Dodong said. * * *
his eyes and pretended to dust dirt off his Blas was not Dodong's child. Many more children
kundiman shorts. "Dodong," his mother called came. For six successive years a new child came
again. "Dodong." He turned to look again and this along. Dodong did not want any more children,
time saw his father beside his mother. "It is a boy," but they came. It seemed the coming of children
his father said. He beckoned Dodong to come up. could not be helped. Dodong got angry with
Dodong felt more embarrassed and did not move. himself sometimes. Teang did not complain, but
What a moment for him. His parents' eyes seemed the bearing of children told on her. She was
to pierce him through and he felt limp. He wanted shapeless and thin now, even if she was young.
to hide from them, to run away. "Dodong, you There was interminable work to be done. Cooking.
come up. You come up," he mother said. Dodong Laundering. The house. The children. She cried

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sometimes, wishing she had not married. She did better go to sleep. It is late," Dodong said. Blas
not tell Dodong this, not wishing him to dislike her. raised himself on his elbow and muttered
Yet she wished she had not married. Not even something in a low fluttering voice. Dodong did
Dodong, whom she loved. There has been not answer and tried to sleep. "Itay ...," Blas called
another suitor, Lucio, older than Dodong by nine softly. Dodong stirred and asked him what it was. "I
years, and that was why she had chosen Dodong. am going to marry Tona.
Young Dodong. Seventeen. Lucio had married She accepted me tonight." Dodong lay on the red
another after her marriage to Dodong, but he was pillow without moving. "Itay, you think it over."
childless until now. She wondered if she had Dodong lay silent. "I love Tona and... I want her."
married Lucio, would she have borne him children. Dodong rose from his mat and told Blas to follow
Maybe not either. That was a better lot. But she him. They descended to the yard, where
loved Dodong... Dodong whom life had made everything was still and quiet. The moonlight was
ugly. One night, as he lay beside his wife, he roe cold and white. "You want to marry Tona,"
and went out of the house. He stood in the Dodong said. He did not want Blas to marry yet.
moonlight, tired and querulous. He wanted to ask Blas was very young. The life that would follow
questions and somebody to answer him. He marriage would be heard... "Yes." "Must you
wanted to be wise about many things. One of marry?" Blas's voice stilled with resentment. "I will
them was why life did not fulfill all of Youth's marry Tona." Dodong kept silent, hurt. "You have
dreams. Why it must be so. objections, Itay?" Blas asked acridly. "Son... n-
Why one was forsaken... after Love. Dodong none..." (But truly, God, I don't want Blas to marry
would not find the answer. Maybe the question yet... not yet. I don't want Blas to marry yet....) But
was not to be answered. It must be so to make he was helpless. He could not do anything. Youth
Youth. Youth. Youth must be dreamfully sweet. must triumph... now. Love must triumph... now.
Dreamfully sweet. Dodong returned to the house Afterwards... it will be life. As long ago Youth and
humiliated by himself. He had wanted to know a Love did triumph for Dodong... and then Life.
little wisdom but was denied it. * * * When Blas was Dodong looked wistfully at his young son in the
eighteen he came home one night very flustered moonlight. He felt extremely sad and sorry for him.
and happy. It was late at night and Teang and the
other children were asleep. Dodong heard Blas's
steps, for he could not sleep well for nights. He
watched Blas undress in the dark and lie down
softly. Blas was restless on his mat and could not
sleep. Dodong called his name and asked why he
did not sleep. Blas said he could not sleep. "You

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ASSESSMENT

Direction: Answer the following:

1. Identify the setting of time and place in the selection.

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2. List the characters in the story and identify the type of character they are.
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3. Identify the point of view applied in the selection.
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4. Identify the type of conflict.
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5. Give the theme of the selection.
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6. Summarize the story in not more than 8 sentences.
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ACTIVITY
Direction: Answer the questions based on your understanding of the story. You earn
five points for every item. (30 pts)

1. Find out the meaning of footnote. What could ‗a footnote to youth‘ possibly mean? Do
you think the title is appropriate to the story? Would there be a better title for the story?
What would that title be?
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2. Which part of the story do you like and which do you not like? Explain your answer.
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3. If you were Dodong at 17 years old, would you have done the same thing he had
done? Eplain your answer.
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4. If you were Dodong‘s father, what would you have done best to prevent your son from
marrying at a very early age? Explain your answer.
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5. What do you think is the story trying to tell us?
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6. Now that you have determined the message of the story, what can you tell your fellow
youths about love and life in general?)
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Lesson 2

Reading Journey

Scent of Apples

Bienvenido N. Santos

When I arrived in Kalamazoo it was October

and the war was still on. Gold and silver stars
hung on pennants above silent windows of
white and brick-red cottages. In a backyard
an old man burned leaves and twigs while a
gray-haired woman sat on the porch, her red
hands quiet on her lap, watching the smoke
rising above the elms, both of them thinking
the same thought perhaps, about a tall,
grinning boy with his blue eyes and flying hair,
who went out to war: where could he be now
this month when leaves were turning into gold
and the fragrance of gathered apples was in Islands and that you're going to talk, I come
the wind? right away."
It was a cold night when I left my room at the Earlier that night I had addressed a college
hotel for a usual speaking engagement. I crowd, mostly women. It appeared they
walked but a little way. A heavy wind coming wanted me to talk about my country, they
up from Lake Michigan was icy on the face. If wanted me to tell them things about it
felt like winter straying early in the northern because my country had become a lost
woodlands. Under the lampposts the leaves country. Everywhere in the land the enemy
shone like bronze. And they rolled on the stalked. Over it a great silence hung, and their
pavements like the ghost feet of a thousand boys were there, unheard from, or they were
autumns long dead, long before the boys left on their way to some little known island on the
for faraway lands without great icy winds and Pacific, young boys all, hardly men, thinking of
promise of winter early in the air, lands without harvest moons and the smell of forest fire.
apple trees, the singing and the gold! It was not hard talking about our own people. I
It was the same night I met Celestino Fabia, knew them well and I loved them. And they
"just a Filipino farmer" as he called himself, who seemed so far away during those terrible years
had a farm about thirty miles east of that I must have spoken of them with a little
Kalamazoo. fervor, a little nostalgia.
"You came all that way on a night like this just In the open forum that followed, the audience
to hear me talk?" wanted to know whether there was much
"I've seen no Filipino for so many years now," he difference between our women and the
answered quickly. "So when I saw your name in American women. I tried to answer the
the papers where it says you come from the

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question as best I could, saying, among other Now I knew what I was going to say.
things, that I did not know that much about "Well," I began, "it will interest you to know that
American women, except that they looked our women have changed--but definitely! The
friendly, but differences or similarities in inner change, however, has been on the outside
qualities such as naturally belonged to the only. Inside, here," pointing to the heart, "they
heart or to the mind, I could only speak about are the same as they were twenty years ago.
with vagueness. God-fearing, faithful, modest, and nice."
While I was trying to explain away the fact that The man was visibly moved. "I'm very happy,
it was not easy to make comparisons, a man sir," he said, in the manner of one who, having
rose from the rear of the hall, wanting to say stakes on the land, had found no cause to
something. In the distance, he looked slight regret one's sentimental investment.
and old and very brown. Even before he After this, everything that was said and done in
spoke, I knew that he was, like me, a Filipino. that hall that night seemed like an anti-climax,
"I'm a Filipino," he began, loud and clear, in a and later, as we walked outside, he gave me
voice that seemed used to wide open spaces, his name and told me of his farm thirty miles
"I'm just a Filipino farmer out in the country." He east of the city.
waved his hand toward the door. "I left the We had stopped at the main entrance to the
Philippines more than twenty years ago and hotel lobby. We had not talked very much on
have never been back. Never will perhaps. I the way. As a matter of fact, we were never
want to find out, sir, are our Filipino women the alone. Kindly American friends talked to us,
same like they were twenty years ago?" asked us questions, said goodnight. So now I
As he sat down, the hall filled with voices, asked him whether he cared to step into the
hushed and intrigued. I weighed my answer lobby with me and talk.
carefully. I did not want to tell a lie yet I did not "No, thank you," he said, "you are tired. And I
want to say anything that would seem don't want to stay out too late."
platitudinous, insincere. But more important "Yes, you live very far."
than these considerations, it seemed to me "I got a car," he said, "besides . . . "
that moment as I looked towards my Now he smiled, he truly smiled. All night I had
countryman, I must give him an answer that been watching his face and I wondered when
would not make him so unhappy. Surely, all he was going to smile.
these years, he must have held on to certain "Will you do me a favor, please," he continued
ideals, certain beliefs, even illusions peculiar to smiling almost sweetly. "I want you to have
the exile. dinner with my family out in the country. I'd call
"First," I said as the voices gradually died down for you tomorrow afternoon, then drive you
and every eye seemed upon me, "First, tell me back. Will that be alright?"
what our women were like twenty years ago." "Of course," I said. "I'd love to meet your family."
The man stood to answer. "Yes," he said, "you're I was leaving Kalamazoo for Muncie, Indiana,
too young . . . Twenty years ago our women in two days. There was plenty of time.
were nice, they were modest, they wore their "You will make my wife very happy," he said.
hair long, they dressed proper and went for no "You flatter me."
monkey business. They were natural, they went "Honest. She'll be very happy. Ruth is a country
to church regular, and they were faithful." He girl and hasn't met many Filipinos. I mean
had spoken slowly, and now in what seemed Filipinos younger than I, cleaner looking. We're
like an afterthought, added, "It's the men who just poor farmer folk, you know, and we don't
ain't." get to town very often. Roger, that's my boy,

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he goes to school in town. A bus takes him "Yes, those are apple trees," he replied. "Do you
early in the morning and he's back in the like apples? I got lots of 'em. I got an apple
afternoon. He's nice boy." orchard, I'll show you."
"I bet he is," I agreed. "I've seen the children of All the beauty of the afternoon seemed in the
some of the boys by their American wives and distance, on the hills, in the dull soft sky.
the boys are tall, taller than their father, and "Those trees are beautiful on the hills," I said.
very good looking." "Autumn's a lovely season. The trees are getting
"Roger, he'd be tall. You'll like him." ready to die, and they show their colors,
Then he said goodbye and I waved to him as proud-like."
he disappeared in the darkness. "No such thing in our own country," I said.
The next day he came, at about three in the That remark seemed unkind, I realized later. It
afternoon. There was a mild, ineffectual sun touched him off on a long deserted tangent,
shining, and it was not too cold. He was but ever there perhaps. How many times did
wearing an old brown tweed jacket and lonely mind take unpleasant detours away
worsted trousers to match. His shoes were from the familiar winding lanes towards home
polished, and although the green of his tie for fear of this, the remembered hurt, the long
seemed faded, a colored shirt hardly lost youth, the grim shadows of the years; how
accentuated it. He looked younger than he many times indeed, only the exile knows.
appeared the night before now that he was It was a rugged road we were traveling and
clean shaven and seemed ready to go to a the car made so much noise that I could not
party. He was grinning as we met. hear everything he said, but I understood him.
"Oh, Ruth can't believe it," he kept repeating as He was telling his story for the first time in many
he led me to his car--a nondescript thing in years. He was remembering his own youth. He
faded black that had known better days and was thinking of home. In these odd moments
many hands. "I says to her, I'm bringing you a there seemed no cause for fear no cause at
first class Filipino, and she says, aw, go away, all, no pain. That would come later. In the night
quit kidding, there's no such thing as first class perhaps. Or lonely on the farm under the
Filipino. But Roger, that's my boy, he believed apple trees.
me immediately. What's he like, daddy, he In this old Visayan town, the streets are narrow
asks. Oh, you will see, I says, he's first class. Like and dirty and strewn with coral shells. You have
you daddy? No, no, I laugh at him, your daddy been there? You could not have missed our
ain't first class. Aw, but you are, daddy, he says. house, it was the biggest in town, one of the
So you can see what a nice boy he is, so oldest, ours was a big family. The house stood
innocent. Then Ruth starts griping about the right on the edge of the street. A door opened
house, but the house is a mess, she says. True heavily and you enter a dark hall leading to
it's a mess, it's always a mess, but you don't the stairs. There is the smell of chickens roosting
mind, do you? We're poor folks, you know. on the low-topped walls, there is the familiar
The trip seemed interminable. We passed sound they make and you grope your way up
through narrow lanes and disappeared into a massive staircase, the bannisters smooth
thickets, and came out on barren land upon the trembling hand. Such nights, they are
overgrown with weeds in places. All around no better than the days, windows are closed
were dead leaves and dry earth. In the against the sun; they close heavily.
distance were apple trees. Mother sits in her corner looking very white and
"Aren't those apple trees?" I asked wanting to sick. This was her world, her domain. In all these
be sure. years, I cannot remember the sound of her

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voice. Father was different. He moved about. red with labor, how ugly! She was no longer
He shouted. He ranted. He lived in the past young and her smile was pathetic.
and talked of honor as though it were the only As we stepped inside and the door closed
thing. behind us, immediately I was aware of the
I was born in that house. I grew up there into a familiar scent of apples. The room was bare
pampered brat. I was mean. One day I broke except for a few ancient pieces of second-
their hearts. I saw mother cry wordlessly as hand furniture. In the middle of the room stood
father heaped his curses upon me and drove a stove to keep the family warm in winter. The
me out of the house, the gate closing heavily walls were bare. Over the dining table hung a
after me. And my brothers and sisters took up lamp yet unlighted.
my father's hate for me and multiplied it Ruth got busy with the drinks. She kept coming
numberless times in their own broken hearts. I in and out of a rear room that must have been
was no good. the kitchen and soon the table was heavy with
But sometimes, you know, I miss that house, the food, fried chicken legs and rice, and green
roosting chickens on the low-topped walls. I peas and corn on the ear. Even as we ate,
miss my brothers and sisters, Mother sitting in Ruth kept standing, and going to the kitchen
her chair, looking like a pale ghost in a corner for more food. Roger ate like a little
of the room. I would remember the great live gentleman.
posts, massive tree trunks from the forests. Leafy "Isn't he nice looking?" his father asked.
plants grew on the sides, buds pointing "You are a handsome boy, Roger," I said.
downwards, wilted and died before they could The boy smiled at me. You look like Daddy," he
become flowers. As they fell on the floor, father said.
bent to pick them and throw them out into the Afterwards I noticed an old picture leaning on
coral streets. His hands were strong. I have the top of a dresser and stood to pick it up. It
kissed these hands . . . many times, many times. was yellow and soiled with many fingerings.
Finally we rounded a deep curve and The faded figure of a woman in Philippine dress
suddenly came upon a shanty, all but ready to could yet be distinguished although the face
crumble in a heap on the ground, its plastered had become a blur.
walls were rotting away, the floor was hardly a "Your . . . " I began.
foot from the ground. I thought of the cottages "I don't know who she is," Fabia hastened to
of the poor colored folk in the south, the hovels say. "I picked that picture many years ago in a
of the poor everywhere in the land. This one room on La Salle street in Chicago. I have
stood all by itself as though by common often wondered who she is."
consent all the folk that used to live here had "The face wasn't a blur in the beginning?"
decided to say away, despising it, ashamed of "Oh, no. It was a young face and good."
it. Even the lovely season could not color it with Ruth came with a plate full of apples.
beauty. "Ah," I cried, picking out a ripe one. "I've been
A dog barked loudly as we approached. A fat thinking where all the scent of apples came
blonde woman stood at the door with a little from. The room is full of it."
boy by her side. Roger seemed newly "I'll show you," said Fabia.
scrubbed. He hardly took his eyes off me. Ruth He showed me a backroom, not very big. It
had a clean apron around her shapeless waist. was half-full of apples.
Now as she shook my hands in sincere delight I "Every day," he explained, "I take some of them
noticed shamefacedly (that I should notice) to town to sell to the groceries. Prices have
how rough her hands were, how coarse and been low. I've been losing on the trips."

Introduction to Literature Page 49

WESTERN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

"These apples will spoil," I said. Before nightfall, he took me back to the hotel.
"We'll feed them to the pigs." Ruth and Roger stood at the door holding
Then he showed me around the farm. It was hands and smiling at me. From inside the room
twilight now and the apple trees stood bare of the shanty, a low light flickered. I had a last
against a glowing western sky. In apple glimpse of the apple trees in the orchard under
blossom time it must be lovely here. But what the darkened sky as Fabia backed up the car.
about wintertime? And soon we were on our way back to town.
One day, according to Fabia, a few years The dog had started barking. We could hear it
ago, before Roger was born, he had an attack for some time, until finally, we could not hear it
of acute appendicitis. It was deep winter. The anymore, and all was darkness around us,
snow lay heavy everywhere. Ruth was except where the headlamps revealed a
pregnant and none too well herself. At first she stretch of road leading somewhere.
did not know what to do. She bundled him in Fabia did not talk this time. I didn't seem to
warm clothing and put him on a cot near the have anything to say myself. But when finally
stove. She shoveled the snow from their front we came to the hotel and I got down, Fabia
door and practically carried the suffering man said, "Well, I guess I won't be seeing you again."
on her shoulders, dragging him through the It was dimly lighted in front of the hotel and I
newly made path towards the road where could hardly see Fabia's face. Without getting
they waited for the U.S. Mail car to pass. off the car, he moved to where I had sat, and I
Meanwhile snowflakes poured all over them saw him extend his hand. I gripped it.
and she kept rubbing the man's arms and legs "Tell Ruth and Roger," I said, "I love them."
as she herself nearly froze to death. He dropped my hand quickly. "They'll be
"Go back to the house, Ruth!" her husband waiting for me now," he said.
cried, "you'll freeze to death." "Look," I said, not knowing why I said it, "one of
But she clung to him wordlessly. Even as she these days, very soon, I hope, I'll be going
massaged his arms and legs, her tears rolled home. I could go to your town."
down her cheeks. "I won't leave you," she "No," he said softly, sounding very much
repeated. defeated but brave, "Thanks a lot. But, you see,
Finally the U.S. Mail car arrived. The mailman, nobody would remember me now."
who knew them well, helped them board the Then he started the car, and as it moved
car, and, without stopping on his usual route, away, he waved his hand.
took the sick man and his wife direct to the "Goodbye," I said, waving back into the
nearest hospital. darkness. And suddenly the night was cold like
Ruth stayed in the hospital with Fabia. She slept winter straying early in these northern
in a corridor outside the patients' ward and in woodlands.
the day time helped in scrubbing the floor and I hurried inside. There was a train the next
washing the dishes and cleaning the men's morning that left for Muncie, Indiana, at a
things. They didn't have enough money and quarter after eight.
Ruth was willing to work like a slave.
"Ruth's a nice girl," said Fabia, "like our own
Filipino women."

Introduction to Literature Page 50

WESTERN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

ACTIVITY
Direction: Express your answers briefly.

1. Who is the speaker in the selection?

2. In two to three sentences, what is the selection all about?

3. Why do you think is the selection titled Scent of Apples? Could the scent of apples
have any symbolic representation to any of the characters or the events that
transpired in the story? Discuss your answer.
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________

4. What do you think is the theme of the selection? Why do you think so?
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________

Introduction to Literature Page 51

WESTERN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

ACTIVITY

Direction: Identify the elements of plot in the story of Scent of Apples by writing briefly the
significant events in the box that corresponds to the element of the plot. (25 pts)

Introduction to Literature Page 52

WESTERN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

Lesson 3

Drama

In literature, a drama is the portrayal of fictional or non-fictional events through the

performance of written dialog (either prose or poetry). Dramas can be performed on stage,
on film, or the radio. Dramas are typically called plays, and their creators are known as
―playwrights‖ or ―dramatists.‖

Types of Drama

Dramatic performances are generally classified into specific categories according to

the mood, tone, and actions depicted in the plot. Some popular types of drama
include:

 Comedy: Lighter in tone, comedies are intended to make the audience laugh and
usually come to a happy ending. Comedies place offbeat characters in unusual
situations causing them to do and say funny things. Comedy can also be sarcastic in
nature, poking fun at serious topics. There are also several sub-genres of comedy,
including romantic comedy, sentimental comedy, a comedy of manners, and tragic
comedy—plays in which the characters take on tragedy with humor in bringing serious
situations to happy endings.
 Tragedy: Based on darker themes, tragedies portray serious subjects like death, disaster,
and human suffering in a dignified and thought-provoking way. Rarely enjoying happy
endings, characters in tragedies, like Shakespeare's Hamlet, are often burdened by
tragic character flaws that ultimately lead to their demise.
 Farce: Featuring exaggerated or absurd forms of comedy, a farce is a nonsensical
genre of drama in which characters intentionally overact and engage in slapstick or
physical humor. Examples of farce include the play Waiting for Godot by Samuel
Beckett and the hit 1980 movie Airplane!, written by Jim Abrahams.
 Melodrama: An exaggerated form of drama, melodramas depict classic one-
dimensional characters such as heroes, heroines, and villains dealing with sensational,
romantic, and often perilous situations. Sometimes called ―tearjerkers,‖ examples of
melodramas include the play The Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Williams and the
classic movie of love during the Civil War, Gone With the Wind, based on Margaret
Mitchell‘s novel.
 Opera: This versatile genre of drama combines theater, dialogue, music, and dance to
tell grand stories of tragedy or comedy. Since characters express their feelings and
intentions through song rather than dialogue, performers must be both skilled actors and
singers. The decidedly tragic La Bohème, by Giacomo Puccini, and the bawdy
comedy Falstaff, by Giuseppe Verdi are classic examples of opera.
 Docudrama: A relatively new genre, docudramas are dramatic portrayals of historic
events or non-fictional situations. More often presented in movies and television than in
live theater, popular examples of docudramas include the movies Apollo 13 and 12
Years a Slave, based on the autobiography written by Solomon Northup.

Introduction to Literature Page 53

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