A LOW ART by Margaret Atwood(LITERARY ANALYSIS)

 

Name:Leanie Abig
Grade-Section:11-SMITH
Date: 09/05/18

Title of the Literature: A Low Art
(5-sentenced explanation of the title):
-In the title "A low art" it implies the bottomline of the literature. A literature is an art--- a masterpiece of writing.It is low for it is where other roles,being and worlds are underestimated and unnoticeable---where voices are unheard. The myth " The odyssey " was re-tell by Margaret Atwood through her book "Penelopiad" to give the privilege to explain   the character of Penelope through perspectives  , because  her  roles or part is not crystal clear for others.It is A low Art for it is for those identities  ,covered by the mockery within the art of writing.

Author/Writer: Margaret Atwood

Characters:
      *Protagonist/s:Penelope
      *Antagonist/s:Odysseus, Historians 
Settings:
     *Integral-  Not indicated 
     *Backdrop-
Difficult words in the literature and their definitions:
1.Factoids-an invented fact believed to be true because it appears in print.
2.Plausible-superficially fair,reasonable, or valuable but often specious.
3.Inklings- a slight indication or suggestion;HINT;CLUE.
4.Jeering-to speak or cry out with derision or mockery.
5.Minstrel-one of a class of medieval musical entertainers.
   Aristocrat-one who has the bearing and viewpoint typical of the aristocracy

PLOT:
*Exposition:Penelope , the wife of Odysseus in the literature reveals her perspectives now that she's dead, behind all the history or stories about her husband whom people admire. Realization hits her when she's already dead (meaning invisible)from the other story.
*Rising Action: Stories thrown to her seems degrade her essence as a human being because of the love she had for her husband---(she's a martyr). On the other side, Odysseus was continuously praise.
*Climax: Penelope told how tricky and liar Odysseus is. She reveals the negative side of her husband.
*Falling Action: Penelope chose to remain silent and keep her voice shut for herself.She didn't contradict and let everything flows according to what will happen in the end even it's a mockery for her.
*Dénouement: Penelope (or should I say Margaret Atwood) did a little story-making yet its impact is great.Turning the world upside down by her own story. She owned the stage or floor within the book. And reveal the other side.

 THEME: 

   Explanation (3 sentences-minimum)

* THERE IS ANOTHER STORY BEHIND THE STORY
* The literature reveals the other side of the story wherein it shows the bias made by some historians. The history favoured most men. We shouldn't only stick to one side , for it'll be better if we open our ears to other's side. A biased can influence others to become biased too----and IT IS THREATENING. Don't just let yourself believe from what most people believed. Critical thinking is badly needed.
* LET YOUR VOICE BE HEARD 
* Some voices from the history remained unheard. Margaret Atwood's Penelopiad specifically from the excerpt "A low Art" is a portrayal on how we are going to bring out all the voices within us.Every perspective of an individual is important to complete our puzzled minds.Let your voice be heard and let others know your part.
* INJUSTICE TO WOMEN
* Way back in our history there are many cases from the different part of the country wherein the rights of women are being degraded. In this literature the injustice to women is being portrayed. That men are whom they favoured.
Symbol/s used in the literature and their meanings:
1.Now that I'm dead I know everything- it signifies the reborn and revitalized perspectives from the story done by a writer from which  another writer made a twist. For it seems that Penelope character in the Homers' "The Odyssey" is unacceptable,dead and lame for others. And Margaret turn the spotlight to Penelope's point of view where realizations are shown.
2.Sacks- refers to the stories that people believed into.(It can be rumours)
3.Stick-The injustice thrown to women, the reason why they suffered from muteness of their own voices.
4.Sound like an owl- These represents  a person sounds when he/ she tries to open her ideas to others but it's unpleasant for them and they not might agree with it.For others' ears are closed.
5.Right doors- (in the literature Penelope keep it locked)it signifies the other side of  story that can be a truth. These are the hidden perspectives of Penelope which revealed by Margaret.
Application(impacts) of the literature to the present generation(10 sentences):
-The theme of this literature will open up everyone's mind. This will help present generation to gain insights about the history that they've learned from the past. A unique story was introduced through this literature. Expectedly, that this will serve as a guide for us from what sides we'll take and what we'll choose to believe or withstand against the facade of every story. Literature is influential and can change also the way people think. Written words is powerful as words delivered verbally. Present generation will have ideas to deal with every words they'll hear. They'll will have the courage to let others hear their voices----their hidden perspectives. And give significant about the freedom of expressions. This literature sounds ironic yet it is truly remarkable and motivational to express one's opinions.
Recommendations to the future readers of this literature(5 sentences)
- "A Low Art" is quite interesting and an enlightenment for everyone. For you to be able fully understand the story you need to have ideas about the epic "The Odyssey ", for it is where this literature and the author based for her to create a literary work. A work that reveals the point of view of the other character(Penelope) and turn the epic into more complex yet more insights to get from. I recommend for all the future to open their minds.Do some research. Read between the lines and live with the literature's message.

SILK by Alessandro Barrico (LITERARY ANALYSIS)

 Name:Leanie Abig

Grade-Section:11-ABM
Date: 09/07/18

Title of the Literature: Silk
(5-sentenced explanation of the title):
- The title of the literature signifies the secret affair that the protagonist involved himself to , which slowly unfolds in a narration as beautiful ,smooth and seamless piece of the finest silk. It is based from the description of the book. On the other hand, the silk also signifies the Culture, The  time within  the literature Japan was closed to foreigners for they might influenced them, so this event only implies that they're looking forward for their culture's sake. Through banning silkworm trading  ,how Japan value their culture dominated within the literature.
Author/Writer: Alessandro Barrico

Characters:
      *Protagonist/s:Herve Joncour , Hara Kei
      *Antagonist/s:

Settings:
     *Integral-  Japan
     *Backdrop-

Difficult words in the literature and their definitions:
1.Imperceptibly- not perceptible by a sense or by the mind : extremely slight, gradual, or subtle.
2.Falsetto- an artificially producedsinging voice that overlaps and extends above the range of the fullvoice especially of a tenor.
3.Prudence-the ability to govern and discipline oneself by the use of a reason.
4.Melancholy-an abnormal state attributed to an excess of black bile and characterized by irascibility and depression.
5.Inexorably- not to be persuaded, moved or stopped.

PLOT:
*Exposition: Herve Joncour is a French who travel a long journey to Japan leaving his wife.His intention is to trade and acquire silkworms because ,Herve's village in France encountered a conflict in the silk industry due to an epidemic.He met Hara Kei whom he'll trade and make deal with because that time Japan was closed to foreigners. Trading is dangerous.While having conversations with Hara Kei regarding he's  up to and the trade that will happen, Herve's attention was caught by a Japanese woman resting her head in Hara's lap.  Hara Kei's concubine.
*Rising Action:  Herve's can't help himself but to steal glances towards the Japanese woman and studying her visage. They stare with each other's eyes---seems talking through eye contact. Later on, the woman drink Herve's cup of tea with the exact spot where he drunk and Herve mindlessly studying her gestures.
*Climax: The Japanese woman somewhat touched somewhat part of his heart. In his second return in Japan he wanted to see  that woman again, and of course for the aim to trade for silkworms. Seems there's a special bond between Herve and the Japanese woman even there's the fact that he had a wife waiting for him to come back. He felt love for the woman even there are no exchange or words between them. Herve travel back form Japan to his land with the boxes of silk worm and a piece of paper with the words " Come back or I shall die" coming from the woman.
*Falling Action: For the third time, Herve went to Japan and met a person who help him spy to Hara Kei's business that time.Wherein, China traders also intruded.Unfortunately Hara Kei's caught and killed the person who helped him saying that it's easy in their country to condemn someone  into death and Herve must go back to his place and never return again.
*Dénouement: In the end, Herve stayed with his wife until her death and never returned to Japan.

 THEME:
  
CULTURE DIVERSITY AND  VALUES
 - Every country has their beliefs and cultures. The diversity of culture determines the richness among countries. Treasuring cultures and paying attention to what will create alarming changes is essential. As an alien when you're in a country which is not yours ,you need to respect what they've had even differences are existing.And making yourself familiar with different cultures will do.

IMPORTANCE Of BODY LANGUAGES
    - In communication it is not always the words uttered that we must pay attention to but also we have to consider body languages--- messages that were delivered in non-verbal manner.



Symbol/s used in the literature and their meanings:
1.Cup- symbolizes the intrusions.
2.Silk- represents the culture and the secret affair.
3.Gold- signifies the role of money even in the old generations.

Application(impacts) of the literature to the present generation:
- "Silk" does not only shows the diversity of cultures of two countries  but it also gives us idea about the history that Japan had gone. This literature provides awareness towards other's culture with that they'll have ideas and actions to do when the day comes that they'll be dealing with foreign people. They'll learn to embrace the differences existing from the different places in the world. Broad knowledge and discovery can achieved and revealed while learning the literature patiently. Present generation , they are instrument on how we are going to determined what future is waiting for the next generation. Through the message that this literature want to impart, we will be able to value what culture our country had. Explore something unique that will infuse learnings  and mold us to become a greater person with principles to live with.
-
Recommendations to the future readers of this literature(5 sentences)
-Silk is one of the hardest literature in making it's analysis. Without reading the whole story it'll confuse you more. So, for the future readers you have to challenge yourself in researching information and ideas about the literature. Be patient while discovering the key points toward the main gist. Revealing the history from what the literature based is truly helpful. Most of all, enjoy in exploring the different worlds that this literature will bring you.

LENGUA PARA DIABLO(The Devil Ate My Words) by Merlinda Bobis

LENGUA PARA DIABLO

(Mixed Approach)

Lengua Para Diablo a Spanish line which means the devil ate my words is an excerpt from the the Banana Heart Summers  by the author Merlinda Bobis , an elaborate  literary masterpiece which turns our world into words. “ Painting words was cheaper” says Bobis, who artistically painted our society with words, depicting realities. The author really did a great job not in the way that we’re going  view our society in a negative way but to show what is really the one of the issues that our country facing nowadays ---- poverty among families.

This literature contains numerous figurative or symbolical words and lines which really allow you to ponder what this is really about.  But what really impacts me is that when the girl in the story said “Perhaps, next he should sell his esophagus, then stomach. I would if I had the chance to be that pampered. To know for once what I would never taste”. These lines seems telling that the girl slowly losing her hope in living because of the situation they’re into which makes her think in the way what life is waiting for her as she grows up. The girl was disappointed and seems cursing her father for not fulfilling his promises to give them a life worth to live for.

“The devil ate my words” this  was  the line that the father always uttered. The father felt worthless, because the opportunity was taken away from him , the opportunity of giving his family a prosperous kind of life- comfort, a full stomach, life without their  wretched want. Who was the devil?, In the story  it was the Spanish mestizo employer but in reality these are the people who continuously crumble and stepped into others life turning them into miserable one. For we can’t change the fact that there are still people who are greedy , feeding from other’s downfall which turn them into devil.

“I would be induced to secrets. I would be the “inside girl “, and I could tell you the nature of sated affluence”. The girl is imagining herself in the situation where her father is up to. The last few lines shows the negative impact of having an unfortunate kind of living, with nothing to own and provide ,most especially to the children, for  their environment influenced them in some ways either positive or negative.

Merlinda Bobis is a Filipino-Australian writer , most of  her exceptional  writings are the reflection of realities but in different genre. Her technique in writing is using figurative language and it is generally metaphorical that both confusing and interesting.  Bobis, being a translational writer exploring different culture coloured her work. Bobis was born in Legaspi City in the Philippines , specifically at the foot of the Mt. Mayon, where she wrote also her first writing. Some of her works comprises Philippine culture and maybe this motivate her to wrote such literature excerpt concerning issues in our country that we must not view it in a negative way but a motivation for changes.

The questions bombarded on my mind after learning the literature Lengua Para Diablo are  “ Was there other devil out there, nowadays?” “ Why devil these days exist?”” Why there are still people living in miseries” “Who deserves the blame?” “What other conflicts devil can create in our society? And etc. Actually, this literature gives me ideas  how  to comprehend how the world works, and the seasonings  which makes our world difficult to live on. I really felt bad towards the family’s situation. Even I, can’t imagine myself if someday I’ll be in their shoe. Just seeing others experiencing the taste of poverty breaks my heart into pieces. “Lengua Para Diablo” ,perhaps to others it’s just a story for our lesson but for me it motivates me that later on I’ll strive to make changes in the world where I’m existing. Based from the lines and words of the literature, it comprises negativities yet these are the factors that will trigger us more to think about our roles and what really our worth in this complex and ever changing world. The  literature also tackle about family matters , so for families, let us not focused what are the labels that we have in the family that suffice our roles but we are ought to work together as one.

Poverty one of the barriers in our society needs an attention. Leaders and all Filipinos should take actions in reducing it  through different effective manners. Family , should receive its  worth ,in which it is the basic unit of society that  oblige to do their roles especially parents  who lead  their children.  I can say that devils are everywhere and difficulties are just normal ,so, all we have to do is to prepare and armed ourselves with wisdom and works. Despite of the myriads of questions brought to  me by this excerpt in the literature , for now only one question outstand ,that is “Am I capable of making changes despite of the chaos made by devils?”