Final -Self-Evaluation

Marcuap, Donna Jane R. May 20, 2011
BSE_English Prof.Zenia Zamora

Self-Evaluation

“Reading helps me be more creative, it helps my imagination and I like the fact that it gives me some quiet time.” Yes indeed, in this subject I have learned new things that have changes different sides of me. Before, I don’t find reading classic novels and movies interesting but now, I engage myself reading more of these classics during my free time. Reading a novel or a story puts me in another world, that’s how I quote it. I admit there are times that I am able to say this, “So many stories assigned to be read…so little time”. Yeah I was a bit disappointed because I really want to analyze and study the stories we are told to read but because we are lacking the time, we aren’t able to fully discover the essence of what we have slightly read but inspite of that I am very thankful to our professor for obliging each and everyone of us to read those good stories. I’ve learned a lot from our professor.
Our summer class came out a bit interesting because of this major subject that have challenge our thinking and mind creativity, and a new thing that I have discovered was that overactive imagination- can be another form of Insomnia. Well sometimes when I was doing my occasional papers I tend to exaggerate my imagination, thinking of things that shouldn’t be in mind. When sleeping time comes and my grandma was to check me if I’m asleep though I’m not a kid she still do that I snuggle under the blanket and pillows and turn on again the lights, why? Because I am trying to finish reading short stories I wasn’t able to read in my free time because of facebook, I can’t keep away my hands from the keyboard. Then when 2:00 a.m. comes there I find myself eating the papers I am reading until my poor little eyes can stay open no longer. Ms. Zamora let us watch classic movies, what I felt is like; I’m having conversation with the best people of the past centuries.
The more exciting part of the subject is the writing of occasional papers, quite challenging but we are enjoying. In using different approaches in criticism, I learned to read beyond, between and beneath the stories. Not just having understanding on it but also having the knowledge how come that story was in that kind of theme and structure. The symbolic matters, I appreciate that all, before I don’t know what does this and that symbolizes but it came up clearer to me after we have discussed the different approaches. My favorite approach is the Marxism and the psychoanalytical approach, I don’t know why but I was able to understand the two, I like deep thinking. I hate the rest of the approaches, because I know in myself that I did not put my best on doing my occasional papers, I always do it while in front of the monitor and doing other things, the tendency is to lose concentration so I felt bad to myself that way. I apologize for that but I really make ways for me to finish my works because I know it’s time bounded and we are to discuss a bit fast to finish the remaining undiscussed approaches.
I have also discover what is being a writer-well it means you can create prose, invoke feelings, carve emotions, channel passion, and create all the havoc you want by the stroke of a pen. I also discovered that voices in your head are normal and day dreaming is mandatory when it comes to writing. I admit that I have late submissions of occasional papers but it’s really hard to think deeply of course with the accompaniment of my imagination. . I have to flip the pages, keep reading and writing, and after some things are done, it’s time to start reading and writing new one for the next occasional paper. Honestly speaking, sometimes I thought of just writing random words and a question will pop up on my mind…would my professor notice it? Then I still can’t do things like that to her. I am having silly ideas in mind too …I wish that I could borrow some magic from Harry Potter and slow down the world for just 5 minutes so I could remember who I am and what bloody day it is!!! So I’m just going to bed and try NOT to think about all the things that must be done tomorrow because I’m fully loaded with things and works. Well it’s the result of tardiness I think. At the end of the day it’s nice to be able to curl up with a good book and relax”, then *sighs*(a relief) and will say “That’s better” gaining knowledge is expensive… reading golden stories are passport (that’s free) to another world, and I can stay there as long as I want to. People ask me why I read so much. My answer is that it takes me away from all of the things happening in my life (problems) to a free place were I can escape. That’s all. I discover a lot of things about me, where am I really interested in and many others I happen not to know in my own but with the help of this subject, there it goes, I changed (I think so).

Donna Jane Marcuap

OP # 8-An Analysis of Jose Maria Sison’s “In the Dark Depths”

Marcuap, Donna Jane R. May 16, 2011
BSE_English OP # 8

An Analysis of Jose Maria Sison’s “In the Dark Depths”
Using Marxism Approach
Prison was surely an unforgettable experience for Sison, and this poem is one of the reflections of his experience there. Jose Maria Sison’s “In the Dark Depths” is covered with various kinds of imagery, the voice of a poet not only set on to write good poetry, but also revolting against cruelty in all its forms. He thus share, in Philippine literary history, a place of injustice.
“In the Dark Depths” he describes his fellow political prisoners’ life. The plainness and calmness of Sison’s words all throughout reveal not just a keen intellect or a liberal understanding for detail, but a deep sincerity and feeling as well. The weight and depth of the poem indeed was unexplainable.
In the 1st & 2nd line of the poem, “the enemy wants to bury us/ in the dark depths of prison” – the enemy of Sison and his co-activist there probably was the Marcos Administration, looking at the state of the Philippines at that time of Majo , it seems to be very crucial and violence surrounds the place, he then said that the enemy wants to bury them in the depths of the prison, more-like in thought also means to never leave them alive inside the prison and bury to death within the depths.
The following lines will take us further, “from the dark depths of the earth/ and the radiant pearl is dived/from the dark depths of the sea/we suffer but we endure”, it tells how they felt inside the prison, their experience behind the bars, without even knowing what’s going to happen to them inside but then from that dark depths, they endure everything the enemy gives sufferings to them.
“And draw up gold and pearl/ from depths of character/formed so long in struggle” he used “gold” and “pearl” as metaphors for what a prisoner becomes after imprisonment, he told there he became a better person and probably a better writer and teacher after he came out of prison. Even while in prison, he became more and more in touch with developments in the country and the world and could get more and more information from outside of prison.
Through the ideology of Jose Maria Sison, capitalism has generated – the structures of thought, feelings and the behavior that maintain its control over society, this poem of him had presented not just a powerful story behind the bars but a workable solution to socioeconomic ills in the regime of Marcos Administration, he somehow open up to his fellowmen what he had suffer but still doesn’t lose hope and become an inspiration to them. The unequal opportunity and many injustice acts given to the people of the society because of the government’s tyranny and cruelty makes up Sison and other activist together with their own opposing views about the administration.
Joma and his fellow political prisoners’ life have been successfully described through poems Joma has made together with what they had reap while in the jail, the poem also tells tat the bars doesn’t become a hindrance for them to connect and know what’s happening outside that bars, they were able to know and be informed of what a prisoner endures inside the jail. As for them, it is not the end though they were place in the dark depths of that jail; it just becomes an advantage for them to freely analyze everything the depths had brought them to.

OP#7- An Analysis of “5 Fables” using Structuralism Approach

Marcuap, Donna Jane R. May 16, 2011
BSE_English OP # 7

An Analysis of “5 Fables” using Structuralism Approach

The predictable character of the fables, their simplicity and brevity, imposed formal constraints on the writers. However, the same qualities of the genre disallowed any narrative structure other than the manifestation of the relationships between actors in the presented World in terms of structuralism identifying the basic oppositions (binary oppositions), thus making the message of the text easily comprehensible for the readers. The idea of the basic oppositions, manifesting themselves at the surface level of the text in various ways and using structuralism I have here the analysis of 5 fables using structuralism.
structure of the Aesopean type of literary fable largely facilitates our task. It is easily observable that this type of the fable presents certain ideas by means of contrasting opposite, polar concepts. If we assume that the opposites are burdened with certain roles, the number of the roles in question is automatically limited to two.

Fable#1 –The Man, the Boy and the Donkey (AESOPS)
The fable has it’s basic opposition or binary opposition, at the end the man carries the donkey on his back instead of the donkey carry them on it’s back, just because no matter what they do, people keep on finding a fault. The forms of binarism are in human thoughts. Relating to the reality this kind of thing really happens. No one enjoys criticism, in the story of the man and his donkey, the man is such a people-pleaser that he alters his behavior to soothe each critic he encounters on the road. This is one example of an inappropriate response to criticism. “You can please some of the people some of the time, but you can’t please all of the people all of the time.” And to attempt to do so would be foolish. The modified narrative function, the man, tries to find solution to what others see as a mistake with their act so they have decided to do what the others are trying to suggest, they ride at the back of the donkey, then another criticism so the man gets down and the boy rides then vice versa at the end the man and the boy carries the donkey in a pole and what they’ve done is such a foolish act they don’t even reach the objective(to please everyone to soothe each critic they encounters on the road) and they failed .

Fable#2-The Foolish Lion and the Clever Rabbit (Panchatantra)

In the title itself, shows the opposition between the characters, wherein the
Clever Rabbit defeated the Strong and Mighty Lion. The form of binarism that is present there through human thought is the reality that intelligence wins over might. The structure of the story ;the modified narrative structure is that the rabbit suggest a solution how they are going to get rid of the greedy Lion(objective) ,the steps taken there to meet the objective is when the rabbit introduce to the Greedy Lion another Lion on the well( the Lion’s reflection only),the rabbit fooled the lion ,the clever rabbit succeeds meeting the objective getting rid of the Lion, the lion jumps on the well there the Lion of course died and the rabbit together with the other animals rejoiced and have lived a peaceful life in the jungle. The metonymy there is that the lion symbolizes the confident greedy people, and the rabbit symbolizes a wise man who overcomes a powerful people through intelligence.

Fable#3-The Old Tiger and the Greedy Traveler (Hitopadesha collection of fable)

This fable was ironic, unlike any other stories on which usually a man should be wiser than the animal, and here a tiger uses intelligence over a traveler. The binary opposition is shown; the Traveler becomes the greedy one being tricked by an Old Tiger. The modified narrative structure of the fable: The objective of the Tiger is to get a meal, and the objective of the traveler is to get the gold bangle the Lion has. The steps taken by the tiger is to use the gold bangle as an allure to someone, there he caught and tricked the traveler, while the traveler only thinks of getting the golden bangle and fooled by the word of the Tiger telling him that he doesn’t interest to eat the traveler he was old and not evil. There success to the Tiger and failure to the traveler, who was eaten by the wise old Tiger.
Fable#4-The Girl Who Married a Snake (Panchatantra)

The story was good, when I looked at the title, I was interested, then as I analyze the structure I see the binary opposition, a woman to an animal. It is indeed ironic it shows mythical features of the snake turning into a handsome man after all the faithful wife of her was grateful that his husband being a snake transform to a handsome human being. The father of the girl promised the father of the snake to betrothed his daughter to his son even without seeing what kind is the son of his friend. There the father succeeds to find a bride for his snake son. And the girl married the snake without turning back and at the end they all rejoiced of the broken curse, by burning the snake’s skin while his son was out as a human during evening they were able to break the curse.

Fable#5–Belling the Cat (AESOPS)

There I have analyzed the structure and have seen the theological sequence of narrative functions, first the process of non-actualization, there a mice had suggest a wise plan, and that is to bell the cat, there the mice explains that when they bell the cat they will be able to hear the bell rang every time the cat is around. They will be alarmed by the bell in the cat. That is what the mice have planned and all applauded and agreed. A question was raised, “whom to bell the cat?” Then the plan was ruined and trashed because no one has taken the risk of belling the cat, failure (objective missed). In reality, it’s certainly one matter to propose something, but it is another matter entirely to desire to carry it out yourself. All of the mice were quite willing to agree to the idea of belling the cat, but, presumably, few would risk the dangers of going about and actually putting the plan into action.

Copyright@donnajaneblossom

O.p. # 6-An Analysis of Aida Rivera-Ford’s “Love in the Cornhusks” Using Feminism Approach

Marcuap, Donna Jane R. May 10, 2011
BSE_Eng O.p. # 6

An Analysis of Aida Rivera-Ford’s “Love in the Cornhusks”
Using Feminism Approach

Women are notable for their bravery. They can resist all the bad things that may happen to them. Even someone close to them died, they are still strong, even though they have problems, and they are still strong. In the story of “Love in the Cornhusks” Tinang finds herself regretting and after a few moments, forgetting everything in the past. I assumed from the text that she was with child (pregnant) before marriage. It was because of being pregnant that she wanted out the man that had the most interest in her, the Bagobo. And in her haste and panic, she had left the home she was tending and then she married the Bagobo, A man whom at first, she did not see as an equal but rather a man who’s social stature was below her, until now. I believe that she had feared what society might have thought of her, a loose woman, promiscuous or perhaps even a whore. Hence she married a man she did not love, but who loved her.

In the story it shows that women are stronger emotionally than men because Amado leaves Tinang because of her illed mother. One example of a brave woman is Tinang, a mother, a wife and a simple woman. She’s a nurturing mother—giving all the needs of her child. She’s courageous to face her motherhood— a very, very hard stage of life. She faced the present and forgot all the mistakes that she did in the past. She may be a servant in the past but she accepts it. And because of her obedience to her Senora, she received a lot of tips and gifts from her. She’s determined in every aspect of life. She crossed a muddy road and assured that her baby is not in danger. She has traditional characteristics of a woman—strong, nurturing, and domestic.

The genre preference is by means of the writer being a female, whom often make open ended stories, at the end of the story, it was not clear if the child was bitten by the snake and what happened to the letter after falling on the cornhusks. The narrative structure, the story somehow skips and flash-forward, then flashback, like when Tinang reminisce the past, where she has suitors and she was luckily serving the kind señora.

The only symbolism I have seen was the snake, which Tinang belileve that it was a warn or a punishment, for thinking again of committing a sin, now to his current husband the Bagobo. The style of the writer was like the other female writers whose logic is in writing with association.

The story is simple, moderate, easy to understand, did not use flowery words and the narration of events were clear. Actually, love in the corn husks portrays the realities of life, from poverty, to making decisions and how a woman’s ego was affected by such unexpected happenings, I see Tinang as a woman who was scared to be defected by people around her if she was not married baring a child already. I don’t really know if it’s the Bagobo’s son or its Amado’s.

After I had read, a reflection awakes me that, I too am like Tinang in the sense that I let too much of myself wander off and thinking that things will fall into place. Sometimes, when I’m having too much fun from all the freedom college life is giving me, I tend to forget my responsibilities and my duties. I neglect school work and instead of studying, I go out and party thinking that I could always catch up. In the end, I get caught up in all the schoolwork I neglected and I end up having such a hard time sorting out the mess I started. If I would have just thought and prioritized my responsibilities first, then I would not be flunking right now. I should be more aware of my surroundings and not let my mind drift away to my personal happy place. I should start making the right choices and if ever I do make a wrong turn, I should be man enough to accept the consequences of my action just like Tinang did with her baby but more importantly; I should have the right state of mind to retrace my steps and have to turn to the right way.

O.p. # 5 -An Analysis of Jesus T. Peralta’s “Sign of the Sea Gulls” Using Mythological and Archetypal Approach

Marcuap, Donna Jane R. May 10, 2011
BSE_Eng O.p. # 5

An Analysis of Jesus T. Peralta’s “Sign of the Sea Gulls”
Using Mythological and Archetypal Approach

The sign of the seagulls shows some historical patterns that tell about the myths of our culture. Using Mythological and Archetypal Approach, I was able to epitomize the archetypes of some characters in the play, also its breadth and depth that take the readers far beyond the historical and aesthetic realms of literary story. I have seen track backs from the beginning of human kind’s oldest rituals and beliefs (myth).

In view regarding the play and the actors within it, many symbolic figures showed up which explains how myth evolves and affect literature today. The cursing of the women indicating the evilness and black auras like witches, while the persona is Simon himself, and the man is the shadow, the man acts as the villain for Simon on which I do not think so, the man seems to be the dark side of Simon, as said in the book, “Psychological Reflections” the shadow is the invisible saurian (reptilian) the tail that the man (Simon) still drags behind him. In the play Simon wonders why wherever he goes, he found the man, he find himself hated by people around him and the man exclaimed “it is because wherever you go, you bring yourself with you. Simon talks to his dark side, it’s just he’s talking to his self, the man that is merely a projection of his confusions and evil side.

The anima (male psyche) was shown in the conversation between the man and Simon, Simon is revealing himself through the anima of the man’s projection. Then the archetypes shown (the motifs and images) there some of these are first the water: mainly, the sea which denotes death and sorrow. In the play, the part wherein the Old Woman mourns for the death of her son whom they believe died at the “sea” because of the Woman’s curse. Then the darkness engulfing the whole city symbolizes chaos it is when the people of the town haunt for Simon. The archetypal woman present there were the terrible mother and the good mother. The terrible mother in the place of the woman who happen to kill her own son because of her grief .Then the good mother is the Old Woman who let Simon be away of the people trying to kill him besides the death of his son.

The Sophia figure there may be Simon’s wife, because of her who serves as the incarnation of inspiration of Simon who is pursuing to make a change and tries to settle things up with regard to his past love and mistakes.

The Woman cursing Simon and the place was presumed to be the witch who casts spells and curse in some myths. Also there Simon is considered as the “sacrificial scapegoat”: the hero/villain with whom the welfare of the tribe or nation is identified, he must die to atone for his sins and restore the land of fruitfulness.

These archetypes clearly explain how myth and other cultural beliefs affect and contribute to literature. The Sign of the Sea Gulls, on its title, well it may be the literal symbolic issue of the sea gulls which is believed by many in the play that when there are Sea Gulls there are fishes. Mysteries showed up that makes the cursing of the woman truthful to the eyes of the people who witnessed the cursing. It still depends on them if they will believe in that “cursing” phenomenon, the suddenly lost of fishes is one of the mystery there and the lost of fishermen in the sea. Finally, in addition to the appearance of the images and motifs in the play, we therefore can tell how we are able to identify myth with literature.

by:

*djrm

OP # 4 “An Analysis of Lilia Pablo Amansec’s “Lover Boy” using Psychological Approach”

Marcuap, Donna Jane R.                                                          April 29, 2011

BSE English                                                                              OP # 4

“An Analysis of Lilia Pablo Amansec’s “Lover Boy” using Psychological Approach”

In using psychological approach we are trying to understand a literary piece beneath the lines. It depends on the person who is going to interpret the whole idea of the text without any abuses and misunderstanding of the psychological approach. Psychological Approach aims to find the forces that motivates the characters and how the unconscious aspects of human psyche affects us, to look for sexual images and its total effect on the work and to analyze how language plays in giving meaning to the text. We never seem to run out of motives, desires, relationships and conversations.

In the story, Rabutnik’s desire for women is repressed because of his serious mother. Thus, culture dictates to him, through his mother-what is must to be and what is not since childhood, because of social taboos imposed upon him, he has to keep the “fantastic display of women’s pictures at the deepest part of his drawer, laying suffocated by  a piece of underwear.” The morality principle (superego) is thus evident, that by this time he possesses the knowledge of moral and ethical wrong doing because of the social taboos attached to it our desires and memory are reserved or repressed. The mother is considered the Superego. His mother served as his conscience and angel who encourages moral judgements in social pressure. Rabutnik tries to cover this up by mocking the women thinking that every girl he saw is having a defect-he is having a defense mechanism, trying to avoid them as possible. This time, the Superego dominates on him, as he tries to lessen his arising sexual desire (which I think every man has) and imposed self control even upon finding his love, True Jade. His thorough respect for True Jade tells that he works under the morality principle (superego), as what is culturally and socially acceptable behavior of a man to a woman is to treat her with regard and not to take chances upon her.

True Jade’s death had serious effects on the psychological outlook of Rabutnik then on. For him, marrying True Jade was the fulfillment of a dream, losing her is like dying, knowing that True Jade eloped and died with her lover eventually destroyed Rabutnik’s self-esteem. This is made evident when he trembles when he saw a beautiful women- an example of ego. The betrayal and death of True Jade has been too traumatic for him to bear that simply by the sight of beautiful women, he goes into convulsion. Seeing beautiful women reminds him of True Jade that triggers his sense of loneliness. Thus, his inability to move on and too much grief over memories were emphasized. Furthermore, he is in denial for he can’t believe that True Jade was false to him and he deprives himself of the chance for finding another true love by holding on too much with these events. Since he never had a chance to obtain what he desired (that is True Jade), he once again resorts to sublimation ;( starting a pilgrimage to places which had known her example: the cemetery,Victoria’s Peak, the Botanical gardens and the Happy Landing Grounds). He finds comfort in the Happy Landing Grounds I think it’s because he feel there that he does not grieve alone, as other people also suffered loss. This, however, increases his loneliness and inability to move forward as he does not strive to forget and put away the sad memories, but on the face of it embracing and accepting them.

The id zone of Rabutnik was developed and improved upon his grief over Jade’s lost (and her betrayal as well). The id which is the storage area of the libido, the source of our psychic energy and our psychosexual desires, gives us our strength because it is always trying to satisfy its hunger for pleasure, that is the start of Rabutnik’s evilness, he consider no rules unlike before that he still has self control with his sexual desires. The situation is changed there without any thoughts of consequences, anxiety, principles, sense and morality he do whatever his sexual desires bring him. This was proven when Rabutnik resorted to Necrophilia, (a sexual attraction with the corpse and having sex with the dead) which is I think was very insane, as he “closed the door whenever I was in the room”, since what he does is certainly taboo, his way of revenge and getting even to True Jade, as he “robbed women of their honor.” His being a necrophiliac could be a result of some unexpected failures there he developed a poor self esteem, and he is fearful of rejection by women and he desires a sexual partner which is incapable of rejecting him. As he was described by Edmund Sanchez in the text, he is the ugliest men he ever sees- tall, oily skinned, with nose like an eagle’s beak and a pair of bulging, disenchanted eyes, defaced by a mouth so small and thin he looked almost mouthless, and disgraced by ill-fitting and ill-smelling clothes; this therefore gives him the feeling of that he can’t find a partner that will be loyal and true to him. Necrophiliacs like Rabutnik I think view corpses as emotionally or physically non-threatening and may be attracted to the fact that corpses cannot reject, disagree, manipulate or abuse him.Rabutnik enjoys the feeling of being in control as the chance of fulfilling his desire is achieved. All his behavior then motivated his sexual libido or sexual energy (the prime psychic force). In having sex with the dead, he developed hallucinations by seeing things which are far from reality (ex: he sees that Little Lady Moon’s mouth opened before him, while she’s in fact, dead).

The rosebud image (which he sees in making love with Little lady Moon) is a yonic symbol suggesting freshness,”the long thrill shot through the loins”stands for intense emotions and desires, same with the “hit me like a lightning (phallic symbol) and a blazing fire. Flying like a bird is a symbol for sexual pleasure, which indicate what he will do to Helen Wang. Meanwhile, the symbol of darkness in Helen’s dream stands for the wild emotions.” Gleaming swords” is also a phallic symbol and is a sexual imager used. The voice of the father is the male power over female in the act, as she surrenders to him, suggesting giving in to the desire of man as well as to her own lust as she is clothed by the intervening sensation. There is however a certain shame that she feels before giving in,” as million eyes watched her through a thorny night” this being the morality principle interfering, that there is guilt and conscience is making its way before committing the “sin.” The pair of bulging like fireballs stands for the intense passion of Rabutnik, as he attempts to fully conquer Helen. The fire flowing through Helen’s veins consuming her means that she was thrilled by the sensation as it overcomes her. Meanwhile, the word “swam in the current liquid of fire” is also a symbol of sexual pleasure as she immerses herself to the intercourse. Infiltration is suggested by the lines “stumbled upon a sword,” which is also a phallic symbol. In feeling the pain sank through her, this suggests the pain a woman felt in doing the act. As Helen was awaken after the act, this symbolizes the sexual pleasure that she feels and it is with sex that she was restored to life. The sexual act, though real, comes to her in form of a dream as she lays unconscious. In Freudian Psychology, it is stated that our repressed desires often manifest in the form of dreams; hence, she has this yearning, longing and wishing for sexual act which is brought from the unconscious to conscious by Rabutnik’s intrusion. It is a symbolic expression of her repressed desires. This is all supported by her continuous devouring of the blazing fire, taking away the cold sensation within her, which as stated by Helen, is something that “she enjoyed strangely.”

Helen’s being back to life awakens the reality principle of Rabutnik. Long after he escaped and stopped committing his sins.The awakening of Helen brings out his ego zone, as there is now a balance between right and wrong and he has now find his way to escape. The Ego comprises that organized part of the personality that includes defensive and perceptual. Conscious awareness resides in the ego, although not all of the operations of the ego are conscious.

This story was a story within a story. Lulu was narrating the story that Edmund Sanches told him, it’s all about Rabutnik and Edmund told Lulu that Rabutnik was his friend and the one who told the weird story of Rabutnik’s tragic romance. Using Psychological Approach we are able to analyze the three psychic zones(id, ego, superego);the three premises and a little of interpretation of the dreams. I enjoy reading this short story with the sense of reading beneath, between and beyond each scenarios in the story.

–donna–

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

OP#3 For Once Then Something -Formalistic Approach

Marcuap, Donna Jane R.                                                                                           April 11, 2011

BS_SE English                                                                                                                  OP # 3

An Analysis of “For Once Then Something”, a poem by Robert Frost, using Formalistic Approach

 

This poem “For Once Then Something” is an example of how Frost found an object or event and moves through metaphor to an attention-grabbing idea.  First, Frost has found a “well”.  He then thinks that his friends and others have (taunted) criticize or tease him for the strange way he looks down the well, because it’s not the normal way of looking down the well.  Most of his friends lean over, peer straight down and try to see as far as possible into the water, hopefully, to the bottom and whatever may lie there.  Frost’s way was different.  He kneels at the curb of the well and tries to look at the water tilted so that the sunlight will allow him to see himself reflected in the pool of water: “2^nd line-Always wrong to light, 3^rd line so never seeing, deeper down in the well than where the water 4^th line-Gives me back in a shining surface picture 5^th line-Me myself in the summer heaven, godlike 6th stanza-Looking out of a wreath of fern and cloud puffs.”  The image appeared “godlike” to him as, reflected behind his face, ferns and cloud puffs(so it seems that it was God-like because the reflection created was like heaven background), a face appearing to look down from the sky, god-like.    Though, Frost seems more spellbound by how the water and sun create the image of him rather than be seduced and fall in love with his own image.

The title symbolizes the singularity of this experience, “For Once, Then, Something.”  This one time, when he just looked for his image in the water on the well, he thought he saw something behind it: “8^th line-I discerned, as I thought, beyond the picture/9^th line-through the picture, a something white, uncertain, /10^th line-Something more of the depths.”  And then he lost it.  A drop of water fell from a fern or leaf? And sent ripples through the water (it falls-the drop of water from the leaf) and this white object, a mere pebble of quartz, was lost to view.  

This is a metaphor for life in this world, a simple similarity.  Most of the existence is further than our understanding, but on circumstance, and for a brief moment, a truth is revealed.  The white piece of quartz, which blurred and disappeared from view immediately because of the rippling water, is used by Frost to metaphorically represent an insight or truth about life.  The singularity and briefness of the moment becomes a metaphor for all such moments of understanding in life.  The title of the poem, then, communicates a kind of frustration with these moments:  “For Once, Then, Something,” which roughly becomes “Then, finally, I saw something and then it was gone.” It is just a moment of watching the reflection of him in the well, I thought so.

The poem does not rhyme.  Frost wrote very short lyric poems without rhyme.  Here, however, he writes 11 syllable lines and ends each line that is; the extra syllable is at the end of the line and is an unaccented one. I don’t know if his poem is really about staring down a well and briefly understand something true about life. I think that this poem is trying to imply that you can’t judge a book by its cover. You have to look deeper and further within yourself or others to understand it completely. A single glance is not enough. Although it is human nature to be satisfied and to trust a distorted and manipulated version of reality, we must attempt to see beyond appearances and illusions and see the reality. Seek the truth. Do not be satisfied with the distortion that is put before you look deeper into what lies before you.

However, the purpose of the poem “ending with the title” could point to that the narrator has returned to his starting position where he still only sees the reflection of himself upon the water. Robert Frost’s “For Once, Then, Something” carefully reflects his process of learning and his philosophy.

 

 

OP#2 An Analysis of “Noli Me Tangere” using Russian Formalism

Marcuap, Donna Jane R.                                                                                            April 14, 2011

BSE English                                                                                                                      OP # 2

An Analysis of “Noli Me Tangere” using Russian Formalism

Noli Me Tangere written by Dr. Jose Rizal is somehow fiction in the sense that the characters were not actual persons, but the story is not less true.  Filipinos did gossip, think, and act that way during those times as exactly said in Noli Me Tangere, this novel is believed to have written using such devices in Russian Formalism. There are flashbacks, flash forwards, defamiliarisation, retardation of the narratives, naturalisation and carnivalisation.

The novel uses baring the device to discover literariness, some flashforwards, like in Chapter XVII (Basilio) wherein Basilio dreamt of his brother Crispin being tortured by the cruel friars. Also in Chapter VIII(Recollection) ,flashbacks where shown, Ibarra reminisce the past he had in San Diego, tracking the old roads but then after so many years almost nothing had change.

Defamiliarisation is also used in Noli Me Tangere, making scenes more alive, using complicated words or such flowery expressions Chapter 49 – (The Voice of the Haunted)

“In the dim light of the candle several human forms became vaguely outlined: men hugging their knees or hiding their heads between them, some lying face downward, some standing, and some turned toward the wall. A blow and a creak were heard, accompanied by curses–the stocks were opened, Doña Consolacion bent forward with the muscles of her neck swelling and her bulging eyes fixed on the half-opened door.” Chapter 57 – (Vae Victis!) Making it to the simplest point Doña Victorina peek in the room where the undressed prisoners chat and been tortured.

“As the sun was sinking below the horizon Ibarra stepped into Elias’s banka at the shore of the lake. The youth looked out of humor.” Chapter 49 – (The Voice of the Haunted). This only means that the sun is setting and Ibarra was ignorant or out of mind when he go with Elias at the boat.

In Chapter 24-B (Elias & Salome) This chapter shows the Retardation of the Narrative, because the story was interrupted, this chapter explains who Elias is in the past and how he met Ibarra. This chapter should come first but Elias was late introduced, revelation of his character is shown at the end.

In Chapter XVI (Sisa), Naturalisation was used, there’s no such woman as martyr as her, her husband Pedro, a drunkard who just go home to sleep and have his meals ,she just let her husband be like that, she doesn’t even get angry ,her brutal husband had used up everything of value that she owned.  Although it was painful not to have his sons with her at home, she put them to work as sacristans, not knowing that the young boys were cruelly maltreated.

While Carnivalization is highly emphasize in the novel , first of all the ruling in the country, Filipinos should have more power on their own land, but in the novel, Filipinos are victims of slavery in the hands of Spaniards and in Chapter XI (The Rulers),it is very ironic that Friars dominates the most, and even those citizens of San Diego pay more respect on Friars ,not with Kapitan Tiago ,not even in Ibarra’s father Don Rafael (who was full of kindness in lending money to the poor ,he doesn’t even ask something to pay him back) but what did his fellow do during his burial ?,only four people came to give sympathy. Also some characters in the story wishes ironically, like Crispin whom wish at the beginning that he should’ve got sick so the friars will send him home and also his brother Basilio. Then Doña Victorina and Don Tiburcio who hides their self behind masks (pretenders).Then Pilosopong Tasiomay be the one character that is distinctly different from the rest.  He is also the character that makes a detached comment on everything that is happening in the country — both good and bad. While Sisa and Maria Clara,both have more heart than brains, and though Sisa escaped into madness early in the story; Maria Clara was a half-crazed nun at the end of the novel.

Marcuap, Donna Jane R. April 14, 2011

BSE English OP # 2

An Analysis of “Noli Me Tangere” using Russian Formalism

Noli Me Tangere written by Dr. Jose Rizal is somehow fiction in the sense that the characters were not actual persons, but the story is not less true.  Filipinos did gossip, think, and act that way during those times as exactly said in Noli Me Tangere, this novel is believed to have written using such devices in Russian Formalism. There are flashbacks, flash forwards, defamiliarisation, retardation of the narratives, naturalisation and carnivalisation.

The novel uses baring the device to discover literariness, some flashforwards, like in Chapter XVII (Basilio) wherein Basilio dreamt of his brother Crispin being tortured by the cruel friars. Also in Chapter VIII(Recollection) ,flashbacks where shown, Ibarra reminisce the past he had in San Diego, tracking the old roads but then after so many years almost nothing had change.

Defamiliarisation is also used in Noli Me Tangere, making scenes more alive, using complicated words or such flowery expressions Chapter 49 – (The Voice of the Haunted)

“In the dim light of the candle several human forms became vaguely outlined: men hugging their knees or hiding their heads between them, some lying face downward, some standing, and some turned toward the wall. A blow and a creak were heard, accompanied by curses–the stocks were opened, Doña Consolacion bent forward with the muscles of her neck swelling and her bulging eyes fixed on the half-opened door.” Chapter 57 – (Vae Victis!) Making it to the simplest point Doña Victorina peek in the room where the undressed prisoners chat and been tortured.

“As the sun was sinking below the horizon Ibarra stepped into Elias’s banka at the shore of the lake. The youth looked out of humor.” Chapter 49 – (The Voice of the Haunted). This only means that the sun is setting and Ibarra was ignorant or out of mind when he go with Elias at the boat.

In Chapter 24-B (Elias & Salome) This chapter shows the Retardation of the Narrative, because the story was interrupted, this chapter explains who Elias is in the past and how he met Ibarra. This chapter should come first but Elias was late introduced, revelation of his character is shown at the end.

In Chapter XVI (Sisa), Naturalisation was used, there’s no such woman as martyr as her, her husband Pedro, a drunkard who just go home to sleep and have his meals ,she just let her husband be like that, she doesn’t even get angry ,her brutal husband had used up everything of value that she owned.  Although it was painful not to have his sons with her at home, she put them to work as sacristans, not knowing that the young boys were cruelly maltreated.

While Carnivalization is highly emphasize in the novel , first of all the ruling in the country, Filipinos should have more power on their own land, but in the novel, Filipinos are victims of slavery in the hands of Spaniards and in Chapter XI (The Rulers),it is very ironic that Friars dominates the most, and even those citizens of San Diego pay more respect on Friars ,not with Kapitan Tiago ,not even in Ibarra’s father Don Rafael (who was full of kindness in lending money to the poor ,he doesn’t even ask something to pay him back) but what did his fellow do during his burial ?,only four people came to give sympathy. Also some characters in the story wishes ironically, like Crispin whom wish at the beginning that he should’ve got sick so the friars will send him home and also his brother Basilio. Then Doña Victorina and Don Tiburcio who hides their self behind masks (pretenders).Then Pilosopong Tasiomay be the one character that is distinctly different from the rest.  He is also the character that makes a detached comment on everything that is happening in the country — both good and bad. While Sisa and Maria Clara,both have more heart than brains, and though Sisa escaped into madness early in the story; Maria Clara was a half-crazed nun at the end of the novel.

azssasasasasasMarcuap, Donna Jane R. April 14, 2011

BSE English OP # 2

An Analysis of “Noli Me Tangere” using Russian Formalism

Noli Me Tangere written by Dr. Jose Rizal is somehow fiction in the sense that the characters were not actual persons, but the story is not less true.  Filipinos did gossip, think, and act that way during those times as exactly said in Noli Me Tangere, this novel is believed to have written using such devices in Russian Formalism. There are flashbacks, flash forwards, defamiliarisation, retardation of the narratives, naturalisation and carnivalisation.

The novel uses baring the device to discover literariness, some flashforwards, like in Chapter XVII (Basilio) wherein Basilio dreamt of his brother Crispin being tortured by the cruel friars. Also in Chapter VIII(Recollection) ,flashbacks where shown, Ibarra reminisce the past he had in San Diego, tracking the old roads but then after so many years almost nothing had change.

Defamiliarisation is also used in Noli Me Tangere, making scenes more alive, using complicated words or such flowery expressions Chapter 49 – (The Voice of the Haunted)

“In the dim light of the candle several human forms became vaguely outlined: men hugging their knees or hiding their heads between them, some lying face downward, some standing, and some turned toward the wall. A blow and a creak were heard, accompanied by curses–the stocks were opened, Doña Consolacion bent forward with the muscles of her neck swelling and her bulging eyes fixed on the half-opened door.” Chapter 57 – (Vae Victis!) Making it to the simplest point Doña Victorina peek in the room where the undressed prisoners chat and been tortured.

“As the sun was sinking below the horizon Ibarra stepped into Elias’s banka at the shore of the lake. The youth looked out of humor.” Chapter 49 – (The Voice of the Haunted). This only means that the sun is setting and Ibarra was ignorant or out of mind when he go with Elias at the boat.

In Chapter 24-B (Elias & Salome) This chapter shows the Retardation of the Narrative, because the story was interrupted, this chapter explains who Elias is in the past and how he met Ibarra. This chapter should come first but Elias was late introduced, revelation of his character is shown at the end.

In Chapter XVI (Sisa), Naturalisation was used, there’s no such woman as martyr as her, her husband Pedro, a drunkard who just go home to sleep and have his meals ,she just let her husband be like that, she doesn’t even get angry ,her brutal husband had used up everything of value that she owned.  Although it was painful not to have his sons with her at home, she put them to work as sacristans, not knowing that the young boys were cruelly maltreated.

While Carnivalization is highly emphasize in the novel , first of all the ruling in the country, Filipinos should have more power on their own land, but in the novel, Filipinos are victims of slavery in the hands of Spaniards and in Chapter XI (The Rulers),it is very ironic that Friars dominates the most, and even those citizens of San Diego pay more respect on Friars ,not with Kapitan Tiago ,not even in Ibarra’s father Don Rafael (who was full of kindness in lending money to the poor ,he doesn’t even ask something to pay him back) but what did his fellow do during his burial ?,only four people came to give sympathy. Also some characters in the story wishes ironically, like Crispin whom wish at the beginning that he should’ve got sick so the friars will send him home and also his brother Basilio. Then Doña Victorina and Don Tiburcio who hides their self behind masks (pretenders).Then Pilosopong Tasiomay be the one character that is distinctly different from the rest.  He is also the character that makes a detached comment on everything that is happening in the country — both good and bad. While Sisa and Maria Clara,both have more heart than brains, and though Sisa escaped into madness early in the story; Maria Clara was a half-crazed nun at the end of the novel.

OP#1-An Analysis of “Antigone” using Classical Approach

Marcuap, Donna Jane R.                                                          April 11, 2011

BSE English                                                                                       OP # 1

 

 

An Analysis of “Antigone” using Classical Approach

This drama of Sophocles “Antigone” has every quality of a fine tragedy. This fascinating story touches me regarding the social, political and religious matters. Many questions in my mind were remained unanswered, and I really want to know the answers, maybe because I did not fully interpret the story in my mind,but then I found Antigone a great story to be studied . After reading the summary and some scenes, I can say that this dramatic piece of work is mimetic; the story was based or imitated in real life situations. From the story itself, it reveals the tyranny of King Creon (who was proclaimed king in his own right after the death of the 2 brothers, Eteocles and Polineices). There is also a scenario where Creon speaks gently to the people and announcing his commands, pretending to be good (just like a politician who make empty promises) Creon seems to be very democrat and just. But as soon as he received the news of Polyneices’ burial, he started changing his words and getting angry, he then reveals his true colors. The violent scenes in Antigone are much like crimes that come everyday. For example, a gang related crime can be compared to one of the many deaths in Antigone. The public views these crimes as normal things because it is usual or just a repetition of doings, nothing new. Most often, violence in the news ignored, are also called “normal”because they are use to it, I believe it. If more people witnessed violence then maybe more actions would be taken to stop it from happening. I think the violence told in Antigone was mild compared to the things we see today on the news they’re wild. The function/ purpose is obviously to teach the relation of the law which has its permit in political authority and the law which has its consent in the private moral principles (Antigone shows it in the story, she stands with her decision of giving her brother rituals until the end.), the relation of the obligations imposed on human beings as citizens, and the obligations imposed on them in the home and as members of families (as a sister of Polyneices). And both these laws presenting themselves in their most decisive form are in nonstop conflict. The style was a high class poetic style of writing (complicated words are used), beyond doubt; it is used to call out vivid mental images and to get readers and viewers to empathize with the main character, Antigone.

 

Now, I was really confused, I want answers; why did Antigone insist on burying her brother and why did Creon forbid that action? (Thus, despite breaking the laws of the gods, Creon holds his power higher than that of God and heavens and enforces his law}.  How did Ismene, Haemon, and Teiresias support her action but also show concern for Creon? How did the chorus support Creon in the first place but also show concern for Antigone? Creon was a relative to Antigone and his brother, but then why it is that Creon did not feel any concern for Polyneices dead body? In this drama, why is Antigone very brave and even sacrifice her life for the burial of a dead brother? Publicly criticizing the king making women more inferior to men, and doesn’t even think that their protest will accomplish nothing. Still I admire her personality the most, she is really admirable and dignified, in reality there’s no such woman like Antigone but we never know, maybe there’s one in a million. I am asking myself if I can do the same thing, but I’m not like her. Maybe the writer has its own purpose for making Antigone’s character like that. Antigone holds her love of family, and respect to the dead, elevated beyond the laws of Creon, whom she believes, has no righteous justification to close I pity Creon too, because he loses everything and he was regretful at the end so I feel like he knew the right thing but he did the wrong thing anyway. I can compare Creon to King Oedipus who also lost his love ones in the end. The correct modality of female response was shown by Ismene when she refuses to help Antigone but then Haimon is persuaded to convey his thoughts regarding Creon due to his strong love for Antigone. Creon says to Haimon, “You’ll never marry her while she lives” I hate this line, how can a father hinder his son’s happiness so… at the end Creon loses his son. The censorship, it still depends on the reader, the good point in it was that Antigone shows reality, many will relate to this drama and will touch readers in different view. Creon is prideful. He is unwilling to admit he might be wrong for not allowing Polynieces to be buried, even though he’s going against their Gods. Lot’s of people today are unwilling to admit when they’re wrong. That’s what I can see and relate with Antigone to the present situation.