The Rainy Day by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

          Born on February 27, 1807, in Portland, Maine, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow became a Harvard scholar versed in several European languages. He was heavily influenced by Romanticism and made a name as a poet and novelist with works like Hyperion, Evangeline, Poems on Slavery and The Song of Hiawatha. He was also known for his translation of Dante’s The Divine Comedy. Longfellow died on March 24, 1882, in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Source: https://www.biography.com/people/henry-wadsworth-longfellow-9385673

The Rainy Day

The day is cold, and dark, and dreary;

It rains, and the wind is never weary;

The vine still clings to the mouldering wall,

But at every gust the dead leaves fall,

And the day is dark and dreary.

My life is cold, and dark, and dreary;

It rains, and the wind is never weary;

My thoughts still cling to the mouldering Past,

But the hopes of youth fall thick in the blast,

And the days are dark and dreary.

Be still, sad heart! and cease repining;

Behind the clouds is the sun still shining;

Thy fate is the common fate of all,

Into each life some rain must fall,

Some days must be dark and dreary.

Short Analysis

        The poem talks about a sad moment in the life of man. The rain symbolizes the sadness that is felt by the speaker. It is implied that he was clinging to a past memory, which made him sad, because it was already a done moment in his life. However, in the last stanza, as mentioned by the lines, the speaker encourages himself to not give up for whenever the rain stops, a rainbow appears. There is always happiness waiting for you after the seemingly endless rain. 

Point of View

         The poem used the first person point of view. 

Figures of Speech

         Personification was used in the first (The vine clings) and last stanza (Be still, sad heart!). The title might also serve as a metaphor for sadness (Rainy Day).

Theme

   

         I believe the theme for this poem is "recovering from sadness" or "Hope or light amidst darkness."

Misery/ To Whom Shall I Tell My Grief? by Anton Chekhov

Anton Chekhov

          Anton Chekhov was born on January 29, 1860, in Taganrog, Russia. Through stories such as "The Steppe" and "The Lady with the Dog," and plays such as The Seagulland Uncle Vanya, the prolific writer emphasized the depths of human nature, the hidden significance of everyday events and the fine line between comedy and tragedy. Chekhov died of tuberculosis on July 15, 1904, in Badenweiler, Germany.

Source: https://www.biography.com/people/anton-chekhov-9245947

Vocabulary
mare- an adult female horse.
hunchbacked- having a back deformed by a sharp forward angle that forms a hump.
kopecks- a monetary unit of Russia and some other countries of the former Soviet Union, equal to one hundredth of a rouble.
epithets- an adjective or phrase expressing a quality or attribute regarded as characteristic of the person or thing mentioned.

Characters
Iona Potapov- main character of the story, a sleigh driver who recently lost his son and wife.
Military Officer- a busy man who rode the sleigh of Iona. He was disinterested with Iona's story.
Three Young Men (One hunchbacked)- (I referred to them collectively since they were similar) They rode Iona's sleigh after attending a party. The hunchbacked one made fun of Iona's clothes and cursed at him.
Young Man- he drank with Iona in the yard.
Mare - Iona's horse.

Setting
The story was set in a twilight evening, somewhere in Russia.

PLOT
Exposition
       Iona was introduced as a sleigh driver who was waiting all day for someone to ride. The mare also appeared in here.

Rising Action
       Iona found customers, his first customer being a military officer, who didn't show compassion or interest when Iona tried to talk about his troubles, and was set on reaching his destination as fast as he can. Saddened by this encounter, Iona waits for another customer.

Climax
       Iona had his second set of customers, three young men who came from a party. The hunchbacked one ridiculed Iona's set of clothes, which Iona responded to positively. They then proceeded to throw curses at him. He tried to tell the story of his son who died, but the hunchbacked one responded that all shall die someday, not showing any sympathy. More of Iona's story was revealed, as he stated that his wife also died. They then rushed him, without trying to listen to Iona's story.

Falling Action
        Returning to the yard, Iona found a young man, to whom he offered a drink. He tried to tell his story to the young man, yet the young man fell asleep. He then tried to recall all of the events that occurred in his life.

Conclusion

         He then took care of his mare. Desperately wanting to tell his grief to someone, he then told his story to the mare, who stayed with him as he told his story.

Symbolism

         I believe that this story represents the current state of our society, where society turns a blind eye to what happens to unfortunate people. They show no compassion for those who are less fortunate, while they indulge in pleasure. Iona was ignored too much, only having a mare to listen to his stories.

         The night and the snow may represent Iona's sadness. He was truly in the dark moments of his life. His wife and son died, and he doesn't have anyone to share the burden to.

Theme

          I believe that the story's theme is "despair and sorrow". His story was filled with sadness and grief. He cannot even share his story to someone. In this story, he was only kept company by a horse, but aside from that horse, he was alone.

Moral

         Do not turn a blind eye to those who suffer.
         Have compassion for the less fortunate.
         Ignore your status in society and help those who are in need.

A Night in the Hills by Paz Marquez Benitez

For information regarding Paz Marquez Benitez, please refer to this post: http://mohamadjoshuanarvajaliterature.blogspot.com/2018/01/dead-stars-by-paz-marquez-benitez_4.html

Vocabulary

azotea- a flat roof or platform on the top of a house or other building.

widowerhood- the fact or state of being a widower.
kaingin- employing a technique of clearing land by slashing and burning underbrush and trees and plowing the ashes under for fertilizer.

clambered- climb or move in an awkward and laborious way

stalwart- loyal, reliable, and hard-working.

Characters

Gerardo Luna- main protagonist of the story, a jewelry store salesman who is middle-aged, and always aspired to go to the forest.
His wife- a woman whose mind is centered on her business.
Ambo- an orchid gatherer, told many stories about the forest to Gerardo
Sotera/Ate Tere- she took care of Ambo and married him off to someone. She manages Ambo's life in a way.
Peregrina- owner of a pawnshop or jewelry store.She may like Ambo.

Setting: 

The first part of the story was held in Intramuros, while the other parts were held in the hills of Laguna.

PLOT

Exposition       Gerardo was introduced as a widower who always aspired to go to the forest, which was beautiful in his dreams.He kept this dream a secret from those around him for they only looked at profitable actions, and they also warned him that going to the forest will be rough on him. His desire was fueled more after hearing stories from Ambo, an orchid gatherer.

Rising Action

       His wife died, and now he was free to go to the forest, which he always dreamed off. He went under the guise of looking at public lands, which Sotera did not agree to. She believed that it was better for Gerardo to marry Peregrina and inherit a pawnshop, which is more profitable than buying land. Nonetheless, he still went and traveled to the hills together with Ambo.

Climax

       Gerardo arrived in the forest, only to realize that it was not as beautiful as what he imagined.Not only that, he also experienced different things which he never knew about the forest, like seeing the aftermaths of kaingin and thirsting for water while being drenched in sweat.

Falling Action       He experienced a lot of uncomfortable experiences.He also remembered and thought about God and his wife, which he remembered unpleasantly. He then realized that the forest wasn't as beautiful as what he thought.

Conclusion

        He went home and met Peregrina. He then decided to ask which was "very very important to him". 

Symbolism
       His whole experience represents the reality of life.There are times where we expect something to be exceptional, only to be left disappointed in the end. The forest represents someones dreams, aspirations, and imagination. It was described as beautiful, but when he experienced going to the forest once, he realized that it was different from what he thought of. It may also be interpreted in this way: there is always more to something. We only think of the beautiful aspect of the forest, without recognizing what are its bad sides.

Theme

       I believe that its theme would be something along the lines of "dreams vs reality".

Moral

       There is always a good and bad side to everything
       There is always more to everything.
       

Dead Stars by Paz Marquez Benitez

     Born to the prominent Marquez family of Quezon Province, Marquez Benitez belonged to the first generation of Filipinos trained in the American educational system. She was a member of the first freshman class of the University of the Philippines, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1912. She taught at the University’s English department from 1916 to 1951, acquiring a reputation as an outstanding teacher. Among her students were Loreto Paras Sulit, Paz Latorena, Bienvenido Santos, Manuel Arguilla, S.P. Lopez and National Artist Francisco Arcellana, who later emphatically declared, “She was the mother of us all!”

     Among ALIWW’s prized exhibits are the journals of Paz Marquez Benitez, which are inscribed in two hard-bound volumes. The entries, written by hand in both pencil and ink, date from 1924 and extend for an as yet undetermined number of years. Of special interest to literary scholars are her notes on the tentative plot and setting of her short story, “Dead Stars.” This story, first published in 1925 and regularly anthologized since, is considered the first modern short story written in English by a Filipino.

(Source: http://rizal.lib.admu.edu.ph/aliww/english_pmbenitez.html)

Vocabulary:

long table - marriage
azotea - a flat roof or platform on the top of a house or other building.

perfervid - intense and impassioned.

tumultuous - making an uproar or loud, confused noise.
recalcitrant - having an obstinately uncooperative attitude towards authority or discipline.(this word was used to describe his hair, so it is possible that his hair is messy.)
desultory - lacking a plan, purpose, or enthusiasm.
filigree - ornamental work of fine (typically gold or silver) wire formed into delicate tracery.


Characters:


Alfredo Salazar - the main character of the story. He was engaged with Esperanza for nearly 4 years. However, he also felt attracted to Julia Salas.
Julia Salas - the sister-in-law of Judge De Valle. She was described as a beautiful and cheerful person, especially when she talked with Alfredo. She may have fallen in love with Alfredo in the story.
Esperanza - The fiance of Alfredo. For four years, she has never been involved in any romantic relationships aside from Alfredo. She was described as someone who shows traces of old age, yet is elegant and not an average woman.
Carmen - The sister of Alfredo
Don Julian - The father of Alfredo
Judge De Valle - brother-in-law of Julia, and a close friend of Don Julian
Donya Adela - sister of Julia. She was described as short and plump.
Calixta - note carrier of Esperanza

Vicente - husband of Carmen (was mentioned when Carmen and Adela were conversing with each other.)

Dionisio - husband of Donya Adela (was also mentioned when Carmen and Adela were conversing with each other.)

Brigida Samuy - the woman that Alfredo was looking for when he went to Sta. Cruz

Setting 

Throughout the story, different places were used, such as the home of Judge de Valle, the home of Don Julian, the coconut plantation, Calle Real, and Calle Luz, which is where Julia lived. We can assume that the story was set during 1925, the time when the story was published. This is because of the usage of words, which shows the influence of Spanish culture to our language.

PLOT

Exposition

This part introduces Alfredo Salazar and his relationship with Esperanza. In the first part of the story, Carmen and Don Julian were talking about how Alfredo was not yet decided in marrying Esperanza, even though they have been engaged for several years. Esperanza would like to have their marriage a month after. Alfredo was then invited once to the house of Judge De Valle, and this is where he meets Julia Salazar

Rising Action

The conflict starts with the interaction of Alfredo and Julia, and how their relationship grows more intimate as time goes by. Their closeness have reached to a point where Alfredo looks forward to visiting Julia than spending time with Esperanza. Alfredo then tries to express his attraction to Julia when Judge de Valle was invited to a coconut plantation by Don Julian. However, Alfredo learned that Julia will be returning to her hometown, and that their meeting in the coconut plantation might be the last. They then say their farewells

Climax

The climax starts when surprisingly, Alfredo saw Julia within the plaza. He approached her, only to learn that Julia discovered his engagement with Esperanza. She then congratulates Alfredo. Alfredo was confused with his own emotions, since he believes that he has fallen in love with Julia, but he cannot ignore that he was engaged with Esperanza. When they parted ways, he overheard Esperanza talking about their note-taker, who was living with a man whom she is not married with. She expresses her disapproval, to which Alfredo tried to refute. However, the argument heated and Esperanza revealed that she actually knew what was happening between Alfredo and Julia. She dared Alfredo to leave her, and Alfredo was made to choose.

Falling Action

Years pass, and it was shown in the story that Alfredo has chosen Esperanza, because he was worried about how the society may view him and Esperanza. However, their relationship was far from perfect. Their relationship was only driven by sense of responsibility, and not by love. Alfredo went to the hometown of Julia for his job as a lawyer. It was seen that he was still imagining a life with Julia. He found out about the home of Julia and went there. 

Ending

When he arrived in Julia's home and saw her, he believed that something was missing (from either her or him). He then realizes after holding her hand that he cannot feel anything anymore, and the he was clinging to a dream that was already lost. With this, he realized that it was already over for the both of them. 

Symbolism

The story "Dead Stars" has made use of a writing style which isn't straight to the point, and uses flowery language to describe something. 

The character of Alfredo represents how men are easily swayed by their emotions. This was shown throughout the story, wherein he had second thoughts about marrying Esperanza just because he met another woman. His indecisiveness due to believing that he fell in love with Julia caused him to ruin another one of his relationships.

Esperanza following the Lady of Sorrows may symbolize what she was feeling throughout the story. As we read the story, it was revealed that Esperanza waited for a long time for Alfredo, yet Alfredo wasn't decided if he will or will not marry Esperanza.  What's more, it was also revealed that she knew about Alfredo and Julia. She may have known for a long time, and yet she never showed her feelings until she confronted Alfredo. These may have caused her a great deal of loneliness, which continued even when she got married to Alfredo. 

"...he had been seeing the light of dead stars, long extinguished, yet seemingly still in their appointed places in the heavens."

I believe that this line represents how both Julia and Alfredo had been clinging to a lost dream. In the story, before he met Julia again, Alfredo was thinking about how his life would have gone if he married Julia. It was also known that Julia did not marry anyone for several years. I believe that this was something that was on his mind even when he got married to Esperanza, yet when he met Julia, he realized that he doesn't feel anything for her anymore. I believe that this was what he thought was missing when he met Julia again: love. And when he realized that he doesn't love her anymore, he already knew that these dreams were over. It was something that he was looking up to, but he never knew that it was already dead. 

The ending was somewhat saddening, since we have realized that while Alfredo had a cold relationship with Esperanza because of what he believes is his love for Julia, he then realizes that this love doesn't exist anymore. It feels like because of his so-called "love" for Julia, he threw his other relationships, only to realize that being with her is already a long lost dream.

Visitation of the Gods by Gilda Cordero-Fernando

Gilda Cordero-Fernando is a multiawarded writer, publisher and cultural icon from the Philippines. She was born in Manila, has a B.A. from St. Theresa’s College-Manila, and an M.A. from the Ateneo de Manila University.

She started off as a writer and was awarded the Palanca Award for Literature several times. She has also written and illustrated children’s books.Her short stories are collected in The Butcher, The Baker and The Candlestick Maker (1962) and A Wilderness of Sweets (1973).

(Source: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3370901.Gilda_Cordero_Fernando)

Vocabulary

• Coronas Largas- a brand of cigarette
• sweepstakes-a form of gambling, especially on horse races, in which all the stakes are divided among the winners.
• conformism- the tendency to adopt the attitudes, behavior, dress, etc, of the group to which one belongs.
• pandemonium- wild and noisy disorder or confusion; uproar.
• insubordination- defiance of authority; refusal to obey orders.

Characters:

• Miss Noel- The main character of the story. A teacher who is beautiful and righteous. She doesn't try to achieve a higher position through getting the favor of her superiors. As a result, she isn't liked by some of the teachers in Pugad Lawin.
• Mr. Olbes- Principal of Pugad Lawin.
• Mrs. Olbes- wife of Mr. Olbes. She was not in good terms with Miss Noel, but after a certain lavatory incident, was able to forgive her.
• Mr. Ampil - former English Supervisor, who is looked up to by Miss Noel for his righteous ways. However, he died prior to the story.

The "Gods"

• Mr. Alava- the superintendent. Mr. Olbes wants to impress him during his inspection in Pugad Lawin.
• Mr. Sawit - the new English Supervisor who replaced Mr. Ampil. He is shown to be someone who doesn't hesitate to use his authority for his personal intentions. He knows Mr. Alava personally.

Minor Characters:

• Mrs. Divinagracia - Home Economics teacher
• Mr. Baz - National Language teacher
• Mr. de Dios - Physics Teacher
• Leon - a student of Miss Noel

PLOT

Exposition

We can see in this part the preparations made by the staff of Pugad Lawin for the upcoming inspection by the "gods". They prepared everything, from the classrooms, to the food, to the lodgings of the supervisors, and even their lesson plans. They made it so that they can impress and get the favor of the supervisors who will be inspecting the place. Miss Noel was also introduced in this part, wherein she was described as someone who is passionate when it comes to work. Due to her attitude, she gained praise and, at the same time, disapproval of her colleagues. The other teachers were also briefly described in this part.

Rising Action

The day of the inspection arrived. Miss Noel found out that the old English supervisor, Mr. Ampil, died, and that he was replaced by a new supervisor, Mr. Sawit. She also learned about the bad attitude of the new supervisor when he mentioned things about the deceased Mr. Ampil, whom Miss Noel deeply respected. They then proceeded with the inspections, which included how the teachers teach the class. Miss Noel's proficiency in her job was shown in this part. After the inspection, the supervisors were given a luxurious dinner, wherein Miss Noel was invited to dance, to which she reluctantly agrees to.

Climax

After the dances, the other supervisors decided to move on to another feast. Miss Noel decided to stay behind. As she was cleaning the venue, she was approached by Mr. Sawit, who asked her about her personal opinion about the inspection. She then mentioned that the inspection was just a farce, since they were given one month to prepare, which wasn't really a good thing. She also mentioned about the wrong that she saw among the supervisors. Mr. Sawit then says that Mr. Olbes may demote her during the reclassification, and that he might stop this if Miss Noel will ignore the wrongdoings during the inspection. She then had doubts about her job, and what she have been working on up to that day.

Falling Action

She continued thinking about her job, and about how she got different job offers. She was then approached by Leon, one of her students. Leon was a student who wants to become a lawyer. She wanted to support his dream in becoming Pugad Lawin's first lawyer. With this, she regained her confidence.


Ending/Conclusion

The story ended with Miss Noel, with her newfound confidence and pride, getting into a picture with the supervisor, and deciding to pursue the career of teaching even if she doesn't get a higher position.


Symbolism

There was a line which goes like this:

"Mr. Sawit's hot trembling hand (the same mighty hand that fathered the 8-A's that made or broke English teachers) found its way swiftly to her waist, and hot on her forehead Miss Noel endured the supreme insult of a wet fatherly kiss.)

Considering how their conversation went in the previous paragraphs, I believe that this action symbolizes how Mr. Sawit tramples on the ideals of Miss Noel. We can see in the story how Miss Noel's ideals are, and how Mr. Sawit hates this. He believes that these ideals won't get you anywhere, and that if you want to rise up the ladder, you need to adapt to the stupid system. This actions is like an insult to what Miss Noel has been working on for the past years, sticking to what she believes is right.

I believe that most people are too concerned with how they appear to others. They would like to get the favor of those around them for their personal satisfaction. They would go as far as showing a fake side of themselves. This story symbolizes how people try to get the favor of their superiors in order to rise up, instead of doing this through their achievements. This applies not only in schools, but even on larger scales, such as a national government. We cannot deny that corruption is one of the biggest problems of our country. This story represents how beautiful a system from the outside looks but is wretched in the inside.

While this story symbolizes some negative things, I also believe that this story also symbolizes hope for those who are passionate in their profession. This story shows that achieving a higher position would not be considered an achievement at all if you weren't able to contribute to the betterment of someone else. This was especially shown when Miss Noel decided that she would like to support the dreams of her students.

Lesson: 

• Never give up on a profession which you are passionate to. 
• Stick to what you believe is right. 
• Do not get eaten by the system. Getting achievements is the best way to climb up, not through favor currying.

How My Brother Leon Brought Home A Wife by Manuel E. Arguilla

     Manuel Estabilla Arguilla (Nagrebcan, June 17, 1911 – beheaded, Manila Chinese Cemetery, August 30, 1944) was an Ilokano writer in English, patriot, and martyr. He is known for his widely anthologized short story "How My Brother Leon Brought Home a Wife," the main story in the collection How My Brother Leon Brought Home a Wife and Other Short Stories, which won first prize in the Commonwealth Literary Contest in 1940. His stories "Midsummer" and "Heat" were published in Tondo, Manila by the Prairie Schooner. Most of Arguilla's stories depict scenes in Barrio Nagrebcan, Bauang, La Union, where he was born. His bond with his birthplace, forged by his dealings with the peasant folk of Ilocos, remained strong even after he moved to Manila, where he studied at the University of the Philippines, finished his BS in Education in 1933, and became a member and later the president of the U.P. Writer's Club and editor of the university's Literary Apprentice.

(Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manuel_Arguilla)

Vocabulary:

jolt-push or shake (someone or something) abruptly and roughly.

andadasi- a herbal plant

Characters:

Baldo - the narrator and brother of Leon. 

Leon/Noel - the brother of Leon. He was the husband of Maria. From what I have read, he is a cheerful and responsible man. He was called Noel by Maria, which is reordering the letters in Leon's name.

Maria - the wife of Leon. She is someone from the city.

Father - The one who instructed Baldo to go through the Waig. In the story, he was thought to be someone scary, but according to Leon, he was the gentlest and mildest tempered man he knows.

Labang - the cow of Baldo

Ca Celin - the man who rode the horse for the transportation of Maria and Leon when they were travelling to the province.

Setting

The story was set in Nagrebcan, Bauang, La Union, which is the also the hometown of the author. The story occurred between the 1930s and 1940s. I believe that this was before the Japanese colonized Philippines. 

PLOT 

Exposition

     The story starts when Leon/Noel arrived in the province with Maria, with Baldo waiting for them. In this part, Baldo described Maria as someone who is exceptionally beautiful. We can also how she is not used to the countryside. We can also see Leon and Maria's interaction with each other, and how Leon takes care of Maria during their trip. 

Rising Action

     The conflict starts when Baldo took a different route from what was planned, and Leon questioned him about it. Baldo admitted that their father ordered him to take this route, with the intention of testing Maria if she is suited to the life in the province. However, Leon took this positively, and instead showed the night view to Maria, which can be seen in their trip.

Climax

     Even though the road was rocky, the couple still found a way to enjoy their trip. Below the night sky, they sang "Sky Sown in Stars". As their trip goes on, the jolting of the cart becomes more violent, which causes Leon to worry if Maria feels uncomfortable and misses the city. However, we can see that Maria doesn't mind that all, and that she is more worried if Leon's father will accept her as the wife of Leon. Leon assured her that his father was a good man.

Falling Action

     When they arrived in their home, Baldo was called by his father. His father asked him if Maria was afraid of Labang, and how she reacted during their trip. Baldo told him that Maria enjoyed the trip.

Ending/Conclusion

     Leon, together with Maria, confronts his father. Baldo was ordered to water Labang, and as he goes out, he again notices the beauty of Maria.

Symbolism

     One of the things I noticed in the story was how Maria was described. She was described as a beautiful girl from the city who married a man from the province. I believe that the first part wherein she was described as beautiful refers to her physical appearance. However, as the story goes on, we can see that she is a kind and loving person, and even though her journey to his husband's home was full of obstacles, she was able to smile with him and enjoy the trip. At the end of the story, I can say that she is beautiful inside out, since she never complained despite being from the city.

     The road which they took to get to Leon's house symbolizes the hardships that a relationship goes through. It might be full of rocks or obstacles which will test how sturdy a relationship is. There will be good times, just like when they were able to see the stars in the night sky, and there will be darkness in their journey. There might even be times where you yourself will not be confident about your relationship. But through each other's support, I believe that you will be able to get through the rocky path.

   
Lesson: 

If you truly love someone, you will be able to surpass anything for him, and accept him for who he/she is. You are able to accept him/her as a whole, and you will love him even if you are tested.

Footnote to Youth by Jose Garcia Villa

   

     Jose Garcia Villa was born in Manila, Philippines, in 1908, and emigrated to the United States in 1929. He received a bachelor’s degree from the University of New Mexico in 1932, then moved to New York for graduate study at Columbia University. Scribner’s published a collection of stories called Footnote to Youth in 1933. In 1933, Villa dedicated himself exclusively to poetry and the experimental opportunities poetry promised. His first collection,Have Come, Am Here, was published in 1942 by Viking, and won the American Academy of Arts and Letters Award. His next book,Volume Two, was published in 1949 by New Directions, where he served as associate editor from 1949-1951. He went on to publish two more volumes of poetry in the United States —Selected Poems and New (1958: McDowell, Obolensky) and Appassionata (1979: King and Cowen) — and a number of books in the Philippines. (Source: http://kaya.com/authors/jose-garcia-villa-jose-garcia-villa-jose-garcia-villa/)

Vocabulary:

• areca nut - The areca nut is the fruit of the areca palm (Areca catechu), which grows in much of the tropical Pacific (Melanesia and Micronesia), Southeast and South Asia, and parts of east Africa. This fruit is commonly referred to as betel nut so it is easily confused with betel (Piper betle) leaves that are often used to wrap it (paan).
• batalan - rear of barrio house for washing and for storage of water. 
• clamor - a loud and confused noise, especially that of people shouting.
• camiseta - shirt
• sawali -   woven split bamboo mats used in the Philippines to construct walls. 
• papag - low bamboo bed.

Characters:

• Dodong- the main character of the story. At the age of seventeen, he decided to marry Teang. He had several children throughout the story. 
• Dodong's Father- In the story, he asked for the permission of his father to marry, to which his father reluctantly agrees to. Dodong's father was shown to be someone who is growing old.
• Dodong's Mother - together with Dodong's father, helped with the birth of Dodong's children.
• Teang- the wife of Dodong. She married Dodong at a very young age.
• Blas- the son of Dodong and Teang. Just like Dodong, he asked his father to allow him to marry at a young age.
• Tona- the sweetheart of Blas.
• Lucio- suitor of Teang, 9 years older than her. 

Setting

The story was set in a remote place, which may be a farmland. Since the story was published in 1933, I will assume that this story was set in the same time, since there were no hints of advanced technology in the story (not like it was needed). The story's events happened in different times, since the story was mostly about Dodong's teenage days until the day when his son turned 18.

PLOT

Exposition

The story starts with Dodong deciding to tell his father about his decision of marrying Teang. He decided to do so because he believes that he is already in the right age to marry someone. After continuing with his daily activities, the night came, and he asked for his father's permission. His father, despite his worries, gave his permission to marry. 

Rising Action

The setting then changes to when Teang was giving birth to their first child (In a few moments he would be a father). At this point of the story, Dodong was starting to realize that his youth has ended, and that there was no going back for his decision. As a result, he was guilty for making Teang and his parents  go through such hardships because of his decisions.

Climax

     As time goes by, Dodong had more children, and he realizes how marriage was not all that easy, and how his dreams during his youth was not fulfilled due to his hasty decision. He realized how he has thrown his youth away, and how he cannot go back to the times where he was able to enjoy his adolescence fully. It was also shown how Teang regrets marrying early, just because there was a suitor older than her which  she wants to avoid.

Falling Action

    The setting changes to when Blas was already 18, and just like his father, decided to marry at a young age. Dodong was worried that his son may suffer the same fate as him, and asks his son if he really must marry. 

Ending

     As much as he wants to oppose his son's decision, Dodong realizes that he cannot stop his son's decision anymore. He then gives his permission, while looking at his son sadly.

Symbolism 

     The sun was mentioned in the beginning. I believe that this symbolizes how Dodong's life was going to be. According to what I searched, the sun rises in the east, and it sets in the west. I believe that the story starts during the sunset. I believe that this symbolizes Dodong's life because of his decision, he will be going through hard times, which may be symbolized by the darkness of night. This may also symbolize the life of a person, which will go through different phases. 

     The part where he jerks his foot to fling the worm into the air might have also symbolized his youth. I believe our youth is something that should be enjoyed, since this is the time where we aren't bound by heavy responsibilities yet. The worm symbolizes these responsibilities, and he was able to shake it off. This may also symbolize him throwing his youthful days away, since he already made a decision to go through a new phase in his life.

   The part where he looks at the moonlight to reflect on what he has done in his life may symbolize him looking at what he lost when he made his decisions. He was looking at the moon, which especially looks bright during the night. He saw how bright it is, yet it is something that he cannot reach.

Lessons

• "Life is not all beer and skittles." Life isn't always about pleasure and fun. 
• Do not be overwhelmed by your emotions. Don't let your heart do all the work, give something more thought since it might be a decision that will change your life. 
• Enjoy your youth as much as possible. This is an important period in your life.

My Father Goes to Court by Carlos Bulosan

     Carlos Sampayan Bulosan (November 24, 1913 – September 11, 1956) was an English-language Filipino novelist and poet who spent most of his life in the United States. His best-known work today is the semi-autobiographical America Is in the Heart, but he first gained fame for his 1943 essay on The Freedom from Want. (Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carlos_Bulosan)

Vocabulary

• condemn - express complete disapproval of; censure.
• anaemic - lacking in colour, spirit, or vitality.
• molave - a large Philippine timber tree
• presidencia - the office and function of president
• waft - pass or cause to pass gently through the air.
• strut - walk with a stiff, erect, and apparently arrogant or conceited gait.
• glower - have an angry or sullen look on one's face; scowl.

Characters:

• The Narrator - he is one of the children of the farmer/farm owner.
• The Father/Farmer(?)/Farm Owner - the father of the narrator. Since it was mentioned in the story that he owned a farm, I might refer to him as the farmer or farm owner, to avoid confusion.
• Mother- the wife of the Farmer/Farm Owner.
• The Children of the Farmer (?) - the siblings of the narrator. They were referred to as strong, robust, and cheerful. They were accused of stealing the spirit of the food which was prepared for the rich man's children.
• The Rich Man- the neighbor of the narrator when they moved to town. Described as someone who is not sociable, especially to those who has a lower status in life than him. It is implied in the story that he is also stupid. He accused the family of the narrator of stealing the spirit of the food which his servants prepared. 
• The Judge - the one who is in charge of the case filed by the rich man. He was described as someone who is old-looking.
• The Rich Man's Children- described as thin, anaemic, and pale.
• Servants of the Rich Man- the ones who are preparing food for the rich man's family.

Minor Characters:

• Rich Man's Lawyer
• Spectators

Setting

     The story was set several years after 1918, in a town (the town's name wasn't mentioned in the story). The events occurred in their neighborhood, and the trial was held in a court in their locality. I believe that the story occurred in a period wherein the influence of Spain is still seen, because of the use of a Spanish word which refers to their local government, yet the story was already set during the American colonization.

PLOT

Exposition

     The narrator tells the story of how they moved into a town after getting ther farm destroyed by a flood. They moved near the house of a rich man, who doesn't interact with his neighbors much. The children of the farmer/farm owner were described as cheerful and playful. Their cheerfulness was especially seen  whenever the servants of the rich man are cooking, since they were already satisfied with just smelling and listening to the sizzles and aroma of the food.

Rising Action

     The conflict starts when the children of the farmer/farm owner grew up to be healthy, while the children of the rich man were pale, despite the difference of status in life. The rich man was seen observing the family of the farmer/farm owner, and he ordered his servants to shut all windows and doors in their house. However, this doesn't stop the aroma from going out of their house.

Climax 

     The problem starts when the rich man filed a complaint against the family of the narrator for stealing the spirit of his wealth and food. When the day of the trial arrived, the rich man came, looking old and weak, and the rest of his family, in the same bad situation he is in. The trial starts with the judge asking the farmer questions regarding the complaint, and the farmer cross-examined the children of the rich man. Learning of their "logical" reasons, he then proceeded to give them an equal payment for what they stole.

Falling Action

     The farmer collected coins from his family, and went to another room which is near the courtroom. He shook the coins, which made an audible sound, even from where the rich man was. The farmer then confirms if the rich man and his children heard the coins shaking, and after they confirmed that they heard it, the farmer then says that they are paid.

Ending/Conclusion

     The rich man fell to the floor, and the case was dismissed. The judge then went down to talk with the farmer, and the judge, the farmer, his family, and the spectators laughed hard.

Symbolism

     The tall house of the rich man refers to his status in life. He is rich and was able to live a luxurious life. It also symbolizes his attitude, for he looks down on others because of their status. I think that the reason why he was able to file a complaint that stupid was because he was underestimating the farmer's wits and knowledge. The tall house may also symbolize how rich people try to keep away from those who are poor, which is also seen in the modern society.

      It was mentioned in the story that the rich man looked down to the children of the farmer. They were seen as happy, healthy, and cheerful despite their average status in life. I think that this symbolizes the happiness that we achieve in life. We can achieve happiness in life even without wealth. There are also times when we have reached the top, only to lose sight of what is really important to us. I believe that even with the wealth he has, the rich man was not able to achieve happiness.

     The rich man's complaints about other people stealing the spirit of his wealth and food may symbolize greed, since he was trying to contain everything, even the smell, to his family only. This shows just how some rich people in our society tries to take everything for themselves, not leaving any for those below them.

      Overall, I believe that this story's theme is absurdity. We can see how the rich man blamed the narrator's family because of an illogical reason. This was also shown in the ending. I am assuming that they were laughing at how stupid the whole case was, and how the father resolved it with an equally absurd yet wise way of solving the whole problem.

Lesson: 

• Be careful when accusing others without logical basis. 
• In the pursuit of happiness, material wealth is irrelevant.