The Hobbit
J.R.R Tolkien
The Hobbit revolves on the story of Middle Earth, a place that literally means what it says, not purely on the normal realm and not purely on the magical realm. The atmosphere of the place gives us the idea of the real world and the extension of it through bizarre places, things, creatures, and abilities. As we can see in real world, people are divided by races according to Nationality, Culture, skin color, and etc. These are examples we can have in the real world. In the story of the Hobbit, races are divided into races, the elves - the immortals, wisest, and the fairest of all beings, dwarves – great miners and craftsmen of the mountains, the humans, the mortals, common folks, hobbit – gentle folks and happy lot, orcs – the cursed elven beings who serve evil lords, and more. Creatures such as trolls, wargs, fairies, giants are things of myth and imaginations of the human mind. These are creations of real men who have broad minds in arts and literature are applied in this story. Thus, creating a mirror of fantasy and of reality.
Wednesday, November 18, 2015
MARXIST CRITICISM
Pasion de Amor
Pasion de Amor or Passion of Love as translated in the its Spanish language is 2015 Philippine drama television series based on the Spanish-language telenovela Pasion de Gavilanes produced by Telemundo, RTI Producciones and Caracol Television. The story revolves around the Samonte brothers who set out to avenge the death of their only sister. They do this by making Elizondo sisters fall in love with them.
This story is a very common scenario in the Philippine teleserye segments of competing TV stations in the country, revolving around the difference in the social status and social groups of the involved characters. As Marxist literary criticism suggests, ideology and social institution is involved. In the story of the Pasion de Amor, a middle class siblings – the Samontes, and the elite class – the Elizondos. The story revolves the falling in love of the Elizondo father to the Samonte’s only sister. The story goes that the Elizondo father died because of accident, and because of his wife’s anger towards the Samonte sister, she planned on having revenge on the young Samonte by having the girl raped and killed. The Samonte brothers then planned the revenge on the Elizondos after the death of their beloved sister by making the Elizondo sisters fall in love with them. The soap opera is still ongoing, but coming to the conclusion of the drama in the Marxist approach, we can see the oppression of the Samonte sister through the hands of the elite family causing her distress and death. We can see a class struggle between the two opposing party where there was oppression and difficulty on the middle class part and convenience and “do-all-you-can” in the part of the elite class.
Pasion de Amor or Passion of Love as translated in the its Spanish language is 2015 Philippine drama television series based on the Spanish-language telenovela Pasion de Gavilanes produced by Telemundo, RTI Producciones and Caracol Television. The story revolves around the Samonte brothers who set out to avenge the death of their only sister. They do this by making Elizondo sisters fall in love with them.
This story is a very common scenario in the Philippine teleserye segments of competing TV stations in the country, revolving around the difference in the social status and social groups of the involved characters. As Marxist literary criticism suggests, ideology and social institution is involved. In the story of the Pasion de Amor, a middle class siblings – the Samontes, and the elite class – the Elizondos. The story revolves the falling in love of the Elizondo father to the Samonte’s only sister. The story goes that the Elizondo father died because of accident, and because of his wife’s anger towards the Samonte sister, she planned on having revenge on the young Samonte by having the girl raped and killed. The Samonte brothers then planned the revenge on the Elizondos after the death of their beloved sister by making the Elizondo sisters fall in love with them. The soap opera is still ongoing, but coming to the conclusion of the drama in the Marxist approach, we can see the oppression of the Samonte sister through the hands of the elite family causing her distress and death. We can see a class struggle between the two opposing party where there was oppression and difficulty on the middle class part and convenience and “do-all-you-can” in the part of the elite class.
Monday, November 16, 2015
FEMINIST APPROACH
The Virgin
by Kerima Polotan
The story revolves around Miss Mijares, a typical Filipina who finished school, took care of her family and stood as a benefactor, especially to her late mother. This story portrays a woman through the character Miss Mijares. Her thoughts, imaginations, fears, longing, and frustration as a woman were reflected in this short story.
In the feminist approach, I will be using the three words that are most likely to be related to a woman, feminine, feminist, and female. Let’s look at the first word mentioned – feminine. It is the internalization of its standards, meaning, feminine is all woman. In this story, we can see that Miss Mijares had done many things that benefitted her and her family without the aid of male companion, but as we can see as the story goes, she is feminine in the sense she seeks completion with a male partner.
The second word is feminist - it is the protest of the set standard of feminine. Example would be conversation of Miss Mijares and the carpenter where she sarcastically, in my opinion, replied to the carpenter and showed her superior experience with the opposite sex. Also, the time where the carpenter was absent without notice where she reprimanded the person for being absent.
The word female on the other hand was proven in the earlier part of the story, where she took care of business in providing for her family. But she was able to do these things because of the female instinct, the discovery self and her capacities.
The words feminine, feminist, and female were given examples as different phases of the character’s womanhood. But the fact remains that three words mentioned though separated in action and circumstances belonged to a single individual who is a woman.
by Kerima Polotan
The story revolves around Miss Mijares, a typical Filipina who finished school, took care of her family and stood as a benefactor, especially to her late mother. This story portrays a woman through the character Miss Mijares. Her thoughts, imaginations, fears, longing, and frustration as a woman were reflected in this short story.
In the feminist approach, I will be using the three words that are most likely to be related to a woman, feminine, feminist, and female. Let’s look at the first word mentioned – feminine. It is the internalization of its standards, meaning, feminine is all woman. In this story, we can see that Miss Mijares had done many things that benefitted her and her family without the aid of male companion, but as we can see as the story goes, she is feminine in the sense she seeks completion with a male partner.
The second word is feminist - it is the protest of the set standard of feminine. Example would be conversation of Miss Mijares and the carpenter where she sarcastically, in my opinion, replied to the carpenter and showed her superior experience with the opposite sex. Also, the time where the carpenter was absent without notice where she reprimanded the person for being absent.
The word female on the other hand was proven in the earlier part of the story, where she took care of business in providing for her family. But she was able to do these things because of the female instinct, the discovery self and her capacities.
The words feminine, feminist, and female were given examples as different phases of the character’s womanhood. But the fact remains that three words mentioned though separated in action and circumstances belonged to a single individual who is a woman.
PSYCHOLOGICAL APPROACH
HANDS
by Sherwood Anderson
This short story by Anderson is about Wing Biddlebaum, the character being talked about in the story. The story has two setting, Winesburg, Ohio where Wing is currently residing as a worker and in Pennsylvania where his real name was known, Adolph Myers, a teacher who was accused of sexually abusing his male students and was driven out because of false accusations forcing him to change surname and a place to reside.
In the psychoanalytic/psychological approach, had had a psychological trauma and is face with the everyday dilemma in controlling his behavior. We can see in the story that Wing is a “touchy” person, who I inclined to caress his students in the shoulders, head, and certain parts of the body that are not private. This could be related to his id where he acts upon the unconscious and natural reaction of his individuality. These actions, though not harmful yet inspired many of his students, caused many to misinterpret his good intentions. One particular character is the boy who fantasized his teacher’s actions and resorts it to become a reality in the boy’s sphere of unconscious realm, if I understood properly, this state can be taken from the Jungian approach of individuation where the boy’s psychological perspective differed from others by think in think in g that Wing’s action towards him is special, in my opinion. The id can also be seen in the barber, where he reacted to the notion of Wing’s conduct.
The ego which represents repress or control of the id and superego is portrayed by. Biddlebaum’s ego is seen when he is with George William, his only friend in Winesburg. Wing’s actions like beating the wall or table, or stump or fence using his hands puts him at ease that he is able to feel a different sensation of physical pain rather than the urge to touch William. The superego is best seen in the last part where he, Wing, is talking with George. The conversation with George as his friend who needed enlightenment and inspiration triggered his id, ego, and superego but the ego was the victor for Wing chose not to see George as he may fall victim of Biddlebaum’s hands.
The story has many conveying words that may be related to sexual symbols or actions by the use of the character’s hands. This story also gives relation to people who are talented and skilled but lacks the self awareness of the individual’s natural reaction or mannerisms.
by Sherwood Anderson
This short story by Anderson is about Wing Biddlebaum, the character being talked about in the story. The story has two setting, Winesburg, Ohio where Wing is currently residing as a worker and in Pennsylvania where his real name was known, Adolph Myers, a teacher who was accused of sexually abusing his male students and was driven out because of false accusations forcing him to change surname and a place to reside.
In the psychoanalytic/psychological approach, had had a psychological trauma and is face with the everyday dilemma in controlling his behavior. We can see in the story that Wing is a “touchy” person, who I inclined to caress his students in the shoulders, head, and certain parts of the body that are not private. This could be related to his id where he acts upon the unconscious and natural reaction of his individuality. These actions, though not harmful yet inspired many of his students, caused many to misinterpret his good intentions. One particular character is the boy who fantasized his teacher’s actions and resorts it to become a reality in the boy’s sphere of unconscious realm, if I understood properly, this state can be taken from the Jungian approach of individuation where the boy’s psychological perspective differed from others by think in think in g that Wing’s action towards him is special, in my opinion. The id can also be seen in the barber, where he reacted to the notion of Wing’s conduct.
The ego which represents repress or control of the id and superego is portrayed by. Biddlebaum’s ego is seen when he is with George William, his only friend in Winesburg. Wing’s actions like beating the wall or table, or stump or fence using his hands puts him at ease that he is able to feel a different sensation of physical pain rather than the urge to touch William. The superego is best seen in the last part where he, Wing, is talking with George. The conversation with George as his friend who needed enlightenment and inspiration triggered his id, ego, and superego but the ego was the victor for Wing chose not to see George as he may fall victim of Biddlebaum’s hands.
The story has many conveying words that may be related to sexual symbols or actions by the use of the character’s hands. This story also gives relation to people who are talented and skilled but lacks the self awareness of the individual’s natural reaction or mannerisms.
Monday, July 27, 2015
A Formalistic Analysis on Henry Reed's "The Naming of Parts"
Formalistic Analysis
To-day we have
naming of parts. Yesterday,
We had daily
cleaning. And to-morrow morning,
We shall have what
to do after firing. But to-day,
To-day we have naming
of parts. Japonica
Glistens like
coral in all of the neighboring gardens,
And to-day we have
naming of parts.
This is the lower
sling swivel. And this
Is the upper sling
swivel, whose use you will see,
When you are given
your slings. And this is the piling swivel,
Which in your case
you have not got. The branches
Hold in the
gardens their silent, eloquent gestures,
Which in our case
we have not got.
This is the
safety-catch, which is always released
With an easy flick
of the thumb. And please do not let me
See anyone using
his finger. You can do it quite easy
If you have any
strength in your thumb. The blossoms
Are fragile and
motionless, never letting anyone see
Any of them using
their finger.
And this you can
see is the bolt. The purpose of this
Is to open the
breech, as you see. We can slide it
Rapidly backwards
and forwards: we call this
Easing the spring.
And rapidly backwards and forwards
The early bees are
assaulting and fumbling the flowers:
They call it
easing the Spring.
They call it
easing the Spring: it is perfectly easy
If you have any
strength in your thumb: like the bolt,
And the breech,
and the cocking-piece, and the point of balance,
Which in our case
we have not got; and the almond-blossom
Silent in all of
the gardens and the bees going backwards and forwards,
For to-day we have
naming of parts.
The Naming of Parts by Henry Reed was a part of his
work Lessons of the War. Without the
background of the author or even in the military and war, one could not grasp
the poem denotatively. But knowing the basics of this poetry, we can say that
the poem’s setting was in a military training camp were the “naming of parts” (of
a gun) was their subject. We can say that there the one speaking at first was
the instructor, but upon reading the last 2 or 3 lines of the stanzas, the
voice of the speaker changes. Meaning, there are two speakers in this poem
because of the change in mood and way of speaking.
We can simply tell the poem was of two minds, the
instructor who names the part, and maybe one of the soldiers reminiscing or
daydreaming of a place far away. But connotatively, there are some meaning
given in this poem. Reading the poem may give us some other meaning.
Connotatively, it can be said that the “parts” named can be human body parts
and the actions given by the instructor and by the soldier could be the
“activity” of the parts.
Let’s have the part as an example. The “bolt” may
mean a male reproductive body part, and almond blossom is to the female. The
“easing of the Spring” may connote sex, same with “breech” and “the bees going
backwards and forwards”. This poem can be read literally and can connote
meaning to the analysts and to the playful minds as well.
A Formalist Approach on William Blake's "The Sick Rose"
Formalistic Analysis
O rose thou art sick,
The invisible worm,
That flies in the night
In the howling storm
Has found out thy bed
Of crimson joy;
And his dark secret love
Does thy life destroy.
The central character in the poem is the rose of whom
the author is saying was sick. Literally we can picture out a withering flower
with which the cause may be the worm (which depicts death or rot/decay). We can
say, upon seeing the whole poem, that the rose was destroyed by the innate
nature of the worm to feed on the living flower.
However, using the connotative meaning, of which there
can be many, we can see that the central character which is the rose can be
seen assumed as a woman, a girl, damsel, and etc. The woman was on a dilemma because
she is “sick” and something or someone has caused the sickness. The “invisible”
worm can be viewed as an unexpected happening or circumstance or it can be a
person. As mentioned, there many meaning to this poem which is focused on the
dilemma of the woman being talked about, we can say that she is of her young
age as the “crimson joy” expresses gaiety and burning passion of innocence and
youth. This can be viewed as the young woman was taken by illness or that her purity
was robbed by a wicked man because of his “dark secret love”, thus taking her
innocence and ruined her life.
Biographical and Historical Analysis of “A Child’s Sorrow”
Biography of Zoilo M. Galang
Zoilo Galang was born in Bacolor on 27 June 1895 and his young life was spent in that bucolic town, famed for its writers and artists. He went to school at the Bacolor Elementary School and then went to Manila to study at the Escuela de Derecho, the country’s eminent law school where he graduated in 1919. A self-starter, he learned typing and stenography in English and Spanish all by himself. Attracted to the English language, he took special courses at the University of the Philippines in 1925, and then went to Columbia University for further studies in Literature.
He was soon writing books of fiction, biography and philosophy, and his output was prodigious. His early poems saw print on the Kapampangan paper, “E Mangabiran". He authored “A Child of Sorrow”, the first English novel written by a Filipino. This was later made into a movie in 1930. Other notable works include "Nadia", "For Dreams Must Die", "Springtime", "Leaders of the Philippines", "Glimpses of the World", "Life and Success", "Master of Destiny", "Unisophy" and "Barrio Life".
But his greatest opus undoubtedly is the Encyclopedia of the Philippines, which began as a 10 volume set when first printed. Galang himself edited and wrote entries for the book set which covered Philippine literature, biography, commerce and industry, art, education, religion, government, science, history and builders of the new Philippines. The Encyclopedia of the Philippines came with a general information and index.
A second edition, destroyed by fire, was published in 1948. So positive was the response to Galang’s work that the encyclopedia project was expanded to 20 volumes in a later 1949 printing. There has been no new printing since 1958.
Reference:
Summary of the Story
The story of “A Child’s Sorrow” revolves around the main character, Lucio, and intelligent, poetic, and idealist young man who fell in love with Rosa, a beautiful young maiden Lucio met during his vacation.
The story began when Camillo invited Lucio to his barrio to spend his vacation there. There Lucio met Rosa Garcia, a woman of pure innocence and beauty. Lucio fell in love with Rosa and she in turn felt the same way. As vacation days near to an end, both were familiar with each other, and parted with high hopes of them returning to each other’s arm again.
Lucio continued his studies and became known to be an intelligent fellow. Both exchanged letters and postcards, expressing their love for each other. One day, Rosa sent Lucio a letter, inviting him to attend a celebration in her barrio where she would be there also. Lucio was given part of the program to speak, there, Lucio gained disfavored in the eyes of Governor Ismael, and Oscar, Rosa’s conceited suitor. After the celebration, the lovers went and enjoyed the company of each other. And they were engaged.
Few days passed, Oscar wooed Rosas despite the knowledge that she and Lucio are now engaged. Oscar even went to governor Ismael to confide with him the plots he had planned. The governor agreed with the plans of Oscar then, rumors came that Oscar and Rosa where engaged. The problem begins with both in a dilemma between following their parents and pursuing their love for one another.
The latter events formed the ending of the story where both were separated and reunited again. The last part tells the story of the Felipa, Rosa’s mother, and Governor Ismael. That part revealed that Governor Ismael is the legitimate father of Rosa. He asked Felipa to convince Rosa to marry Oscar. As the two are having their conversation, Oscar crept into the room of Rosa and raped her that caused for the inevitable marriage of the two. Lucio’s feeling of sorrow and grief added when his father died. Though receiving consolation from Rosa through a letter, still he felt sorrowful. Months past, Rosa’s unhappiness, grief, and sorrow piled up. Unable to contain her sadness, she tried committing suicide; she became ill and weak to the point of numbering her days. A messenger told Lucio that Rosa needs to see her for one last time. Both lovers meet and saying their last goodbyes, Rosa died smiling in the arms of Lucio. Days after Rosas death, Oscar committed suicide. Lucio lost his mother, lost his mother, and even the love of his life. Truly, he is a child of sorrow.
Historical and Biographical Analysis
Though the novel is a love story, the events and accounts of the author, Zoilo M. Galang, depicts the time where he lives. The dates and the scenarios mentioned in the poem are much like of those that were on the early 1910’s and 1920’s. These events mentioned tell us the situation and the kind of living the people in the time of Galang.
As portrayed, the kind of urban living was given by the author, these urban living can be related to his area where he lived in Bacolor, Pampanga, a town where he grew fond of. The traditional way of living of Filipinos were also portrayed, the way of courtship, relationship, and the kind of living of a typical Filipino or Filipina, and also the kind of traditional romance.
The novel also give us the idea of less Spanish influence, small quotes of Latin phrases were used. Greek Mythological characters were also given; American literature was also present in his novel. This shows also the influence of the American literature and European literature.
This novel also shows the stereotyping in the realm of religion, social status and in the political part of the Philippine society. Also, the novel show the plots of wicked men who use their power and influence to persecute the common people as in the life of Lucio and Rosa. This also shows the kind of morality the Filipino people have in the early 90’s.
Conclusion
The novel took me in the time of Galang as he portrayed well the scenes and events in the novel. He also gave us the kind of thinking of the Filipinos in his time, the moral standards they follow and the kind of system they have. The novel of Zoilo M. Galang can take you to the fresh atmosphere of urban living and the sincerity of youth. He also brought the reminiscing memories of the “good old days” were simple living is upheld as success and contentment.
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