SESSION 10: LITERATURE SESSION 3 – AFRO-ASIAN LITERATURE, PHILIPPINE

LITERATURE, CHILD AND ADOLESCENT LITERATURE, CONTEMPORARY

LITERATURE

CONTEMPORARY LITERATURE

HARRY POTTER BY JK ROWLING (CONTEMPORARY AND ADULT LIT)

 Book 1: Sorcerer’s Stone
 Book 2: Chamber of Secrets
 Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban
 Book 4: Goblet of Fire
 Book 5: Order of the Phoenix
 Book 6: Half-blood Prince
 Book 7: Deathly Hallows

THE HUNGER GAMES BY SUZANNE COLLINS (DYSTOPIAN GENRE)

 Catching Fire
 Mocking Jay
 The Capitol
o Panem
 District 12
1. Kathniss Everdeen
2. Primrose Everdeen
3. Peeta Mellark

In the dystopian nation of Panem, 16-year-old Katniss Everdeen

volunteers to take her sister Prim’s place in the annual Hunger Games, a
televised fight to the death among 24 teens. Representing District 12,
Katniss enters the Games with Peeta Mellark, who confesses his love for
her.
To survive, Katniss pretends to return Peeta’s feelings, winning public
sympathy. They both outlast the other tributes and threaten to die together
rather than kill each other — forcing the Capitol to crown them co-victors.
Their defiance sparks hope and rebellion.

Katniss and Peeta return home but soon learn that their defiance has inspired
rebellions in the districts. President Snow sees them as a threat. For the
75th Hunger Games (the "Quarter Quell"), past victors must compete
again. Katniss and Peeta are forced back into the arena. Katniss allies with
other victors, including Finnick Odair and Johanna Mason. A secret plan to
overthrow the Capitol unfolds, and Katniss is rescued by rebels from District
13, while Peeta is captured by the Capitol. The revolution has begun.

Katniss becomes the "Mockingjay", the symbol of the rebellion. As war

rages, she struggles with trauma, leadership pressure, and her feelings for
Peeta (now brainwashed) and Gale. She joins a team to assassinate
President Snow in the Capitol. After much loss — including the death of her
sister Prim — Katniss realizes that rebel leader President Coin is also
corrupt. She kills Coin instead of Snow. The war ends. Peeta recovers, and
Katniss returns to District 12, where they eventually find peace and start a
family.

DIVERGENT BY VERONICA ROTH

 Amity – The Peaceful
 Abnegation – The Selfless
 Dauntless – The Brave
 Candor – The Honest
 Erudite = The Intelligent

CHARACTERS:
1. Tris Prior (Beatrice Prior) – The brave main character who chooses the
Dauntless faction and discovers she is Divergent (fits into more than
one faction).
2. Four (Tobias Eaton) – Tris's instructor and love interest. Strong, quiet,
and also Divergent. He has a troubled past in Abnegation.

Abnegation (Selflessness)
1. Andrew Prior – Tris’s father; a respected Abnegation leader.
2. Natalie Prior – Tris’s mother; originally from Dauntless, secretly
Divergent.
3. Marcus Eaton – Tobias’s abusive father and a leader in Abnegation.
Dauntless (Bravery)
1. Eric – A cruel Dauntless leader; supports Erudite's takeover.
2. Christina – Tris’s close friend; originally from Candor.
3. Will – Another friend of Tris from Erudite; kind and curious.
4. Al – A fellow initiate who struggles emotionally in Dauntless.
5. Peter – Aggressive and competitive Dauntless initiate.
6. Zeke – Four’s friend; cheerful and loyal.
Erudite (Knowledge)
1. Jeanine Matthews – Cold and manipulative leader of Erudite; the main
antagonist who wants to control society and eliminate Divergents.

1. Caleb Prior – Tris’s brother; chooses Erudite and gets caught between
loyalty and logic.
2. Tori Wu – Dauntless member who gives Tris her aptitude test and warns
her about being Divergent.
3. Max – Another Dauntless leader working with Jeanine.

At age 16, Beatrice "Tris" Prior must choose a faction. Though born into
Abnegation, she chooses Dauntless after learning she is Divergent —
someone who doesn’t fit into just one faction. This makes her a threat to the
rigid societal system.

As Tris trains to survive Dauntless initiation, she uncovers a conspiracy led

by Erudite to use Dauntless as soldiers to overthrow Abnegation. With the
help of Four, her instructor and love interest, Tris fights back, exposing the
dark secrets of the faction system and embracing her Divergence.

WE ATE THE CHILDREN LAST BY YANN MARTEL

CHARACTERS
1. The Narrator – An unnamed observer who describes the events of the
story. They present the events in a calm, factual tone, despite the horrific
developments.
2. The First Patient – A man who receives the first pig-organ transplant (a
pig's digestive system). After the surgery, he develops pig-like behavior,
including rooting through garbage.
3. The Wife – The first patient’s wife. She reports his strange behavior post-
surgery and becomes concerned about his dehumanization.
4. Doctors/Scientists – Unnamed medical professionals who develop and
promote the organ transplant procedure. They represent the blind pursuit
of scientific progress without ethical reflection.
5. Government & Media Figures – Politicians, reporters, and officials who
initially celebrate the transplant as a miracle cure but later struggle with
the moral and social consequences.
6. The General Public – Citizens who also undergo the transplant and
eventually become feral, forming violent groups and triggering social
collapse.
7. The Children – Referenced in the title and the story's shocking ending.
They symbolize innocence lost and the ultimate horror of the situation—
cannibalism becomes normalized.
In this darkly satirical short story, scientists discover that transplanting
pig organs into humans (xenotransplantation) can cure major illnesses like
cancer. A major breakthrough comes when a pig's digestive system is
transplanted into a human, giving recipients the ability to process waste
more efficiently — eventually, even consuming garbage.

However, things quickly spiral out of control. People with pig digestive
systems begin craving rotten food, trash, and eventually human flesh.
Society descends into chaos as this new behavior spreads and cannibalism
becomes rampant. In a chilling climax, the story ends with the haunting
image that people have literally started eating their own children.

WHITE TEETH BY ZADIE SMITH (Contemporary Lit)

The novel takes place primarily in London, spanning from World War II to
the late 1990s. It examines how colonialism, war, migration, and
multiculturalism shape families and individuals over time.

1. Archie Jones – A working-class Englishman with a mundane life. He

attempts suicide on New Year’s Day 1975 but is saved and ends up
marrying a much younger Jamaican woman, Clara Bowden.
2. Clara Bowden – A former Jehovah’s Witness, daughter of a devout
Jamaican mother, who distances herself from her religious upbringing.
3. Samad Iqbal – Archie’s Bangladeshi Muslim best friend from the war. A
man torn between religious tradition and modern British life.
4. Alsana Begum – Samad’s arranged wife, strong-willed and often bitterly
funny.
5. Magid and Millat – Samad’s twin sons. Magid is sent to Bangladesh to
be raised traditionally, but ironically returns more Westernized. Millat
stays in London and joins an Islamic fundamentalist group.
6. Irie Jones – Archie and Clara’s mixed-race daughter who struggles with
her racial identity and sense of belonging.
7. The Chalfens – A white, middle-class, intellectual family. Their son
Joshua becomes friends with Irie and Millat, but the family represents
liberal elitism and meddling in others' lives.

Archie and Samad meet during World War II while serving in the British Army.
They bond over their shared experience, but Samad becomes obsessed with
preserving his cultural and religious identity.

Archie marries Clara, and Samad marries Alsana. Both couples have children:

 Archie and Clara have Irie.

 Samad and Alsana have twins, Magid and Millat.

Samad, fearing his sons will lose their Muslim values in Western society,
secretly sends Magid to Bangladesh for a "proper" upbringing. However,
Millat, who remains in London, becomes rebellious, falls into gang life, and
later joins an Islamic fundamentalist group called KEVIN (Keepers of the
Eternal and Victorious Islamic Nation).

Ironically, Magid, raised abroad, becomes an atheist and a geneticist,

showing how Samad’s plan backfires.

As the children grow up, Irie grapples with her identity, self-worth, and
heritage. She becomes close to Millat and Joshua Chalfen, developing
romantic feelings for Millat. The Chalfen family, with their smug liberal
values, try to "mentor" the kids, often in patronizing ways. Joshua rebels by
joining an animal rights group targeting a science lab where Magid is
working on a controversial genetic experiment.
Irie, seeking roots, visits her Jamaican grandmother and eventually begins a
path of independence and self-acceptance.

The story builds to a chaotic event: Dr. Perret, a Nazi-linked geneticist, is

showcasing the FutureMouse, a genetically modified mouse whose life path
has been scientifically pre-determined.
All the major characters converge at the exhibition:

 Millat, representing radical faith, plans to assassinate Perret.

 Joshua and animal rights activists attempt to sabotage the
experiment.
 Magid is there as the face of science and secularism.
 Irie, Archie, and others are caught in the chaos.

In a moment of panic, Archie saves the day, tackling Millat. The mouse
escapes its enclosure — a symbolic act of unpredictability and freedom.

The novel ends on a note of ambiguity and possibility. Irie moves forward
with her life, likely pregnant with either Millat’s or Magid’s child, but
unconcerned with defining it. The story closes with the idea that life can’t
be fully controlled or explained by science, religion, or tradition — it
unfolds unpredictably, like the mouse running free.

 Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie – We Should All Be Feminists

 Julian Barnes – The Sense of an Ending
 Explorations of memory, identity, and subjectivity of truth.
 Sally Rooney – Normal People
 Characters explore the complexities of modern relationships and the
impact of society and economic backgrounds on people’s lives.
 Leslie Jamison – Collection of essays that explore the intricacies of
empathy, pain, and connections to others in an age of technological and
emotional detachment
 Claudia Rankine – Racism, Black Nationalism
 Roxane Gay – Feminism (short stories, memoirs, essays)
 Rupi Kaur – Feminist Poetry

CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENT LITERATURE

Book Formats for Children and Adolescent Literature

 Pictures Books
 Books with illustrations and lesser texts
 Ex. The Little House, Harold and the Purple Crayon, Mike Mulligan and
his Steam Shovel, Good Night, Moon
 Transitional Books
 Smaller than picture books or regular books, limited to 250 words or
less, easy-to-read books
 Ex. The Cat in the Hat (Dr. Seuss), Little Bear, Frog and Toad are Best
Friends
 Graphic Novels
 Novels that are illustrated and written as comic books in style
 Ex. Adventures of Tintin, Diary of a Wimpy Kid (Jeff Kinney),
Babymouse: Heartbreaker, Big Nate, Dying to Meet You: 43 Old
Cemetery Road, Lost and Found, Smile
 Chapter Books
 Juvenile or junior books
 Ex. Holes, The Secret Garden, The Giver, Harry Potter, A Series of
Unfortunate Events, James and the Giant Peach (Roald Dahl), Charlie
and the Chocolate Factory (Roald Dahl)
 Verse Novels
 Children and adolescent novel written in verse
 Ex. Leave Taking, Dragon Fly Song, Brown Girl Dreaming, Forget Me Not
(story about a girl with Tourette syndrome who attended school and
tried to be normal), Enchanted Air: Two Cultures, Two Wings: A Memoir

HISTORY OF CHILDREN’S LITERATURE

CLASSICAL PERIOD [500 BC TO 400AD]
 Oral story telling
 Adventures of Hercules, Aesop’s Fables, Iliad and Odyssey
 Most classic literary writers focused on truth and beauty
 Examples:
1. The Goose that Laid the Golden Eggs (Aesop)
 A farmer and his wife own a magical goose that lays one golden egg
each day. At first, they are delighted and grow rich. But soon, their
greed gets the better of them. Wanting to get all the gold at once,
they kill the goose — only to find that it is just like any other goose
inside. They lose their source of wealth forever.
2. The Lion and the Mouse by Aesop
 The Lion and the Mouse by Aesop is a short fable that teaches the
value of kindness and how even the smallest creatures can help the
mighty. In the story, a lion spares the life of a tiny mouse who had
accidentally disturbed him. Later, the lion is caught in a hunter’s
net. The mouse returns and gnaws through the ropes, freeing the
lion. The lion learns that even someone small can make a big
difference.
3. The Fox and the Stork by Aesop
 The Fox and the Stork by Aesop is a fable about treating others as
you would like to be treated. In the story, a fox invites a stork to
 dinner and serves soup in a shallow dish, which the stork cannot eat
with its long beak. Later, the stork returns the invitation and serves
food in a tall jar, which only it can eat from. The fox realizes how it
feels to be mocked and goes home hungry.
4. The Hare and the Tortoise (Aesop)
 In the story, a hare mocks a slow-moving tortoise and challenges
him to a race. Confident he will win easily, the hare races ahead but
stops to rest. Meanwhile, the steady and determined tortoise keeps
moving and eventually wins the race.
5. The Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing by Aesop
 The Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing by Aesop is a fable about
deception and its consequences. In the story, a wolf disguises
himself in a sheep’s skin to sneak into a flock and eat the sheep
without being noticed. However, his plan backfires when the
shepherd, mistaking him for a real sheep, kills him for dinner.
6. The Fox and the Grapes by Aesop
 In the story, a hungry fox sees a bunch of juicy grapes hanging
high on a vine. He jumps and jumps but cannot reach them.
Frustrated, he walks away, saying the grapes were probably sour
anyway.
7. The Frogs who Desired a King by Aesop
 In the story, a group of frogs living freely in a pond ask Zeus to
send them a king. Zeus first sends a log, which the frogs mock for
doing nothing. Displeased, they ask for a more powerful ruler. This
time, Zeus sends a stork (or sometimes a heron), who eats them
one by one.
8. The Shepherd Boy and the Wolf by Aesop
 In the story, a young shepherd boy repeatedly cries “Wolf!” as
a joke, tricking nearby villagers into thinking a wolf is attacking his
flock. When a real wolf finally appears and the boy cries for help, no
one believes him, and the wolf eats the sheep.
MEDIEVAL PERIOD [478 AD TO 14TH CENTURY]
 Religious, highly biblical or romantic with embedded realism and fantasy
 Used bible stories to spread catholic teaching
 Examples:
o Noah, Cain and Abel, Adam and Eve, Tower of Babel
o King Arthur and the Round Table, Roland, Cid

RENAISSANCE PERIOD (14TH TO 16TH CENTURY)

 Intellectual and spiritual development
 Johannes Guttenberg
 Mass Education, Chapbooks, Hornbooks
 Examples:
o The Books Named the Governor
o The Schoolmaster
o Book of Martyrs

BATTLEDORES (17TH, 18TH CENTURY)

 Cardboard/wooden tablets used to teach children alphabet and numbers

18TH CENTURY
 Social classes became distorted
 Books were made to teach children or emphasize morals
 John Newberry (Father of Children’s Literature) wrote moralistic tales that
reflected children’s characteristics
 Folktales
 o Tales of Mother Goose by Charles Perrault [Histories on Contes de
temps passe]
 Fairy Tales
o Sleeping Beauty o The Nightingale
o Cinderella o The Steadfast Soldier
o Little Red Riding Hood o Emperor’s New Clothes
o Beauty and the Beast o The Red Shoes
o Arabian Nights o The Snow Queen
o Princess and the Pea o Thumbelina
o The Little Mermaid o The Ugly Duckling
 Little Pretty Pocketbooks by John Newberry
o First child’s book for the appreciation of children

 Hans Christian Andersen

o Great Master of the Literary Fairy Tale
 Examples:
1. Sleeping Beauty (Charles Perrault / Grimm’s)
 A king and queen long for a child and are blessed with a beautiful
baby girl, Briar Rose. At her christening, twelve wise women (fairies)
are invited, each bestowing a gift upon the child. However, a
thirteenth fairy, who was not invited, arrives in anger and curses the
princess: on her fifteenth birthday, she will prick her finger on a
spindle and die. One of the kind fairies softens the curse so that
instead of death, Briar Rose will fall into a deep sleep for 100 years.
Despite efforts to protect her, the curse is fulfilled when she pricks
her finger on a spindle in a tower. The entire castle falls asleep with
her. A thick hedge of thorns grows around the castle, hiding it from
the world. After 100 years, a prince hears the legend of the sleeping
princess and braves the thorns. The hedge parts for him, and he
finds Briar Rose. When he kisses her, she awakens, as does the
 entire castle. The prince and Briar Rose fall in love, marry, and live
happily ever after.

2. Rapunzel (Grimm’s)
 A poor couple lives next to a sorceress’s walled garden. When the
pregnant wife craves the plant called rapunzel (a type of
lettuce), the husband sneaks in to steal some. He's caught by the
sorceress, who demands their baby in exchange for mercy. When
the child is born, the sorceress takes her and names her Rapunzel.
As Rapunzel grows up, the sorceress locks her in a tower with no
doors, only a window at the top. To visit, the sorceress calls out,
“Rapunzel, Rapunzel, let down your hair,” and climbs her long
golden braid.

One day, a prince hears Rapunzel singing from the tower. He

imitates the sorceress’s call and climbs up. They fall in love and
plan to escape. But the sorceress discovers the plan, cuts off
Rapunzel’s hair, and banishes her to the wilderness. She tricks the
prince with the cut braid and throws him from the tower, blinding
him. After wandering for years, the blind prince finds Rapunzel
again. Her tears heal his eyes, and they return to his kingdom,
living happily ever after.

3. The Adventures of Tom Thumb (Charles Perrault / Grimm’s /

Richard Johnson)
 First Picture book printed in English
 Tom Thumb is a tiny boy, no bigger than his father’s thumb, born
to a poor couple who long for a child. Despite his small size, Tom is
clever, brave, and resourceful. His adventures begin when he sets
off into the world to seek his fortune, often using his size to his
advantage. In some versions, Tom hides in mouse holes, gets
 swallowed by a cow, or is eaten by a giant, but always finds a
way to outwit his enemies and escape. He travels inside people's
pockets, pies, and animals, and sometimes becomes a favorite at
court or wins his way back home to his loving parents. Though tiny,
Tom shows that intelligence and courage are more important
than size. His story is filled with humor, fantasy, and clever
tricks, making it one of the most beloved European folk tales.

4. Snow White by the Brothers Grimm

 Once upon a time, a queen wishes for a child with skin as white
as snow, lips as red as blood, and hair as black as ebony. Her
wish comes true, and she gives birth to Snow White. After the
queen dies, the king remarries a vain and wicked stepmother,
who owns a magic mirror that tells her she is the fairest of them
all—until one day, the mirror names Snow White. Jealous, the
queen orders a huntsman to kill Snow White, but he takes pity and
lets her go. Snow White flees into the forest and finds a cottage
belonging to seven dwarfs, who take her in. The evil queen
discovers Snow White is alive and tries to kill her three times—first
with a lace bodice, then a poisoned comb, and finally a
poisoned apple, which puts Snow White into a death-like sleep.
The dwarfs place her in a glass coffin. One day, a prince finds her
and falls in love. When his servants jostle the coffin while carrying it,
the piece of apple dislodges from Snow White’s throat, and she
awakens. The prince and Snow White marry, and the wicked queen
meets a gruesome end at their wedding.

5. Rumpelstiltskin by the Brothers Grimm

 A poor miller, trying to impress the king, falsely claims that his
daughter can spin straw into gold. The greedy king summons the
girl and demands she prove it—or face death. Locked in a room with
 straw, the girl despairs until a mysterious little man appears and
offers to spin the straw into gold in exchange for a gift. She gives
him her necklace, then her ring, and finally promises her first-
born child if he helps her a third time. The king is so impressed
that he marries her. When their child is born, the little man returns
to claim his reward. Devastated, the queen begs to keep her baby.
The little man agrees to release her from the bargain—if she can
guess his name within three days. After many failed guesses, a
messenger overhears the man singing his name,
Rumpelstiltskin, in the forest. When the queen says the name, he
is furious and vanishes forever, sometimes stomping himself into
the ground or tearing himself in two.

6. Cinderella by Charles Perrault / Brothers Grimm

 Cinderella is a kind and obedient girl who suffers under her cruel
stepmother and stepsisters after her mother's death. She is
forced to do all the housework and sleeps in the ashes, which is how
she gets her name.

Instead of a fairy godmother, Cinderella prays at her mother's

grave, and a magical tree grows there. A white bird from the
tree grants her wishes. When the king holds a ball to find a bride
for his son, Cinderella is forbidden to go. But with the bird’s help,
she receives three beautiful dresses over three nights and goes
to the ball in secret.

The prince is enchanted by her, but she escapes each night. On the
final night, the prince coats the stairs with pitch, and
Cinderella’s golden slipper gets stuck. He uses it to find her, and
although the stepsisters mutilate their feet trying to fit into the
shoe, the prince eventually discovers the true bride is Cinderella.
 At her wedding, the stepsisters' eyes are pecked out by birds
as punishment for their cruelty.

7. The Little Red Riding Hood by Brothers Grimm

 Little Red Riding Hood is a sweet young girl who wears a red
cloak made by her grandmother. One day, her mother sends her
through the forest to bring food to her sick grandmother, warning
her not to stray from the path.

On the way, she meets a cunning wolf, who tricks her into revealing
where her grandmother lives. The wolf reaches the house first,
swallows the grandmother whole, and disguises himself in her
clothes. When Red Riding Hood arrives, she is surprised by her
“grandmother’s” odd appearance — leading to the famous
exchange: “What big eyes you have!”

The wolf then eats Red Riding Hood too. In the Grimm version, a
passing huntsman comes to the rescue. He cuts open the wolf’s
belly, freeing both the girl and her grandmother. They fill the wolf’s
belly with stones, and when he wakes up, he collapses and dies.

8. Hansel and Gretel by the Grimm Brothers

 Hansel and Gretel are the children of a poor woodcutter. When a
famine strikes, their wicked stepmother convinces their father to
abandon them in the forest. Overhearing the plan, Hansel drops
pebbles to leave a trail back home. They return safely, but are
soon abandoned again—this time Hansel uses breadcrumbs, which
birds eat.
 Lost and hungry, the children discover a house made of candy
and gingerbread, owned by a wicked witch who lures them
inside. She locks Hansel in a cage to fatten him up, planning to
eat him, while forcing Gretel to do chores.

Gretel tricks the witch by pretending not to understand how to

check the oven. When the witch leans in to demonstrate, Gretel
pushes her in, killing her. The siblings escape with the witch’s
treasure and find their way home. Their stepmother has died, and
they live happily ever after with their father.

9. Pinocchio by Carlo Collodi

 The story begins when Mastro Antonio, a carpenter, gives a piece
of magical talking wood to Geppetto, a poor woodcarver who
dreams of having a son. Geppetto carves the wood into a puppet
and names him Pinocchio. To Geppetto’s surprise, the puppet
comes to life, but Pinocchio quickly becomes mischievous and
disobedient.

As soon as he can walk, Pinocchio runs away. He refuses to go to

school and sells his schoolbooks to attend a puppet show. There, he
meets Mangiafuoco (Fire-Eater), the puppet master, who at first
wants to burn Pinocchio for firewood, but eventually takes pity on
him and gives him five gold coins.

On the way home, Pinocchio is tricked by two swindlers, the Fox

and the Cat, who pretend to be lame and blind. They convince him
to bury his coins in the Field of Miracles, claiming it will grow into
a tree of gold. When Pinocchio follows their advice, they rob him.
 Throughout the story, Pinocchio encounters various characters who
try to guide or deceive him. The Talking Cricket warns him to
behave, but Pinocchio initially ignores him. The Blue Fairy becomes
a mother figure, helping him recover from illness and encouraging
him to be good. Every time Pinocchio lies, his nose grows longer,
a magical punishment for dishonesty.

Pinocchio also suffers many hardships: he is nearly hanged by the

Fox and the Cat, turned into a donkey after skipping school to go to
Toyland (Pleasure Island), and sold to a circus. Later, while trying
to escape, he is injured and eventually swallowed by a giant sea
creature (a shark or whale)—inside which he finds Geppetto,
who had gone searching for him.

They escape together, and Pinocchio, moved by love and guilt,

finally changes his ways. He works hard, studies, and begins to
care for others. Because of his transformation and maturity, the
Blue Fairy rewards him by turning him into a real human boy.

VICTORIAN AGE [1837 – 1901]

 Rise of modern fantasy
 Golden age of Children’s Literature
 Alice in Wonderland, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, Treasure Island,
Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Little Women, The Wonderful Wizard of
Oz, The Wide, Wide World
 Examples:

EDWARDIAN AGE [1901 – 1915]

 A child is central to childhood
 Children’s literature became more subjective
 The Tale of Peter Rabbit, The Phoenix and the Carpet, Peter Pan, A Wind in
the Willows, A Little Princess, Secret Garden, Cautionary Tales For Children
 Examples:
1. Five Children and It By Edith Nesbit
 Five Children and It follows the adventures of five siblings—Cyril,
Anthea, Robert, Jane, and their baby brother, known as the
Lamb—who are sent to live in the English countryside while their
parents are away. One day while digging in a gravel pit, they
discover a strange creature: a Psammead, or sand-fairy. The
Psammead is ancient, grumpy, and capable of granting one wish
per day, though the magic only lasts until sunset.

The children are thrilled and begin making wishes, hoping to

improve their lives or have exciting adventures. However, every
wish they make comes with unintended consequences, turning
delight into chaos.

 Their first wish—to be “as beautiful as the day”—leads to their

servants failing to recognize them and chasing them out of the
house.
 When they wish for wealth, they receive gold coins, but
shopkeepers reject them as counterfeit, and they are nearly
arrested.
 A wish for wings allows them to fly but ends in them being
stranded on a church roof.
 Wishing to be adults results in them facing adult responsibilities
and dangers they’re not ready for.
 In another wish, they end up causing a siege on their house with
rampaging knights from the past.
  Even their wish for the baby Lamb to be loved by all leads to
chaos, as strangers try to carry him away.

Each wish teaches the children about the complexity of life and the
downsides of trying to escape their reality. Despite the magical
adventures, they begin to long for normalcy.

Eventually, after many mishaps, the children wish to undo all the
wishes and for things to go back to the way they were. The
Psammead grants their final request, erasing the memory of the
wishes from everyone except the children. Though the magic ends,
the siblings are wiser and more grateful for their ordinary lives.
Their bond strengthens, and they carry with them the lessons
learned from their extraordinary summer.

2. The Win in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame

 The Wind in the Willows follows the adventures of four animal
friends living along the Riverbank:
 Mole, who is shy and curious
 Rat (or Ratty), who is sociable and loves boating
 Toad, who is wealthy, impulsive, and reckless
 Badger, who is wise, reclusive, and protective

The story begins when Mole leaves his underground home and
meets Rat, who introduces him to the pleasures of river life. They
become close friends and soon meet Toad, whose latest obsession
—a motorcar—leads to a series of wild and disastrous adventures.

Toad’s reckless behavior lands him in jail, but he escapes with the
help of a clever jailer's daughter. While he’s away, his grand
 home, Toad Hall, is taken over by weasels and stoats from the
Wild Wood.

With the help of Mole, Rat, and Badger, Toad regains his home in
a cunning and brave battle. Over time, Toad begins to change,
becoming more humble thanks to the loyalty and guidance of his
friends.

3. Peter Pan by J. M. Barrie

 Peter Pan is the magical story of Peter, a mischievous, ageless boy
who can fly and lives in Neverland, a fantastical island where
children never grow up. One night, Peter visits the Darling family
nursery in London and meets Wendy, John, and Michael. With the
help of Tinker Bell, his tiny fairy companion, Peter teaches them to
fly and takes them to Neverland.

There, the children encounter Lost Boys, mermaids, Indians, and

dangerous pirates led by the villainous Captain Hook, who is
obsessed with defeating Peter. Hook’s hand was cut off by Peter and
fed to a crocodile, which now follows Hook everywhere, hoping to
eat the rest of him.

In Neverland, Wendy becomes a mother figure to the Lost Boys,

while Peter battles pirates and rescues his friends. Eventually,
Wendy and her brothers miss home and decide to return to London.
Peter, who fears growing up, refuses to join them.

In the end, Peter remains in Neverland, forever a boy, while the Darling
children return to the real world, remembering their magical
adventure.
 4. The Tale of Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter
 The Tale of Peter Rabbit tells the story of a mischievous young
rabbit named Peter who lives with his mother and siblings—Flopsy,
Mopsy, and Cottontail—in a burrow under a big tree.

While his well-behaved siblings gather food, Peter disobeys his

mother and sneaks into Mr. McGregor’s garden, where he eats
vegetables like lettuce, French beans, and radishes. But Peter is
soon spotted by Mr. McGregor, who chases him around the garden.

Peter loses his shoes and jacket during the escape and has several
close calls, hiding in a watering can and getting tangled in a
gooseberry net. Eventually, he manages to escape and returns
home—tired, scared, and sick.

As a result of his misadventure, Peter is put to bed with chamomile

tea, while his obedient siblings enjoy a nice supper of bread, milk,
and blackberries.

20TH CENTURY
 Era of fantasy writing
 Known for the production of picture books and personification of toy
animals
 Winnie-the-pooh = personification of toy animals
 The Story of Doctor Dolittle, Whose Little House in Big Woods, Mary
Poppins, The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, The Hobbit, The Lord of
the Rings, The Charlotte Web
 New Realism gave birth to a more liberal approach resulting in:
o James and the Giant Peach o The Witches
o Charlie and the Chocolate o Fantastic Mr. Fox
Factory o Matilda
 o Are You There, God? o Harry Potter
o Margaret o The Giver
o It’s Me, Deannie o Holes
o Blubbler o His Dark Materials

 Examples:
1. Winnie The Pooh by A.A. Milne
CHARACTERS:
1. Christopher Robin – a kind, imaginative boy
2. Piglet – a small, timid but brave pig
3. Eeyore – a gloomy but lovable donkey
4. Tigger – a bouncy, energetic tiger
5. Rabbit – organized and sometimes bossy
6. Owl – wise, though sometimes long-winded
7. Kanga and Roo – a caring mother kangaroo and her curious baby

Each chapter follows light-hearted adventures like Pooh getting stuck

in Rabbit's hole after eating too much honey, or Piglet trying to be
brave during a flood. The stories explore themes of friendship,
imagination, kindness, and curiosity, often centered around simple
but meaningful events.

Though the characters are animals, they reflect real emotions and
personalities, making the tales relatable and warm. Christopher
Robin acts as a guiding figure and is always there to help his friends
when needed.

2. The Story of Doctor Dolittle by Hugh Lofting

 The Story of Doctor Dolittle follows Doctor John Dolittle, a kind and
eccentric physician who lives in the English village of Puddleby-on-the-
Marsh. He prefers animals over people, and after learning how to
speak the languages of animals (thanks to his parrot, Polynesia),
he becomes a veterinarian.

As word of his gift spreads, animals from far and wide come to him for
help. One day, he receives a call for aid from Africa, where monkeys
are suffering from a mysterious disease. Doctor Dolittle sets sail with a
group of his animal companions, including Polynesia, Dab-Dab the
duck, Jip the dog, and Chee-Chee the monkey.

On his journey, he faces many challenges: a dangerous pirate attack,

getting imprisoned by the king of Jolliginki, and navigating
through uncharted lands. Despite the hardships, he cures the sick
monkeys and is hailed as a hero.

On the return journey, he rescues a rare two-headed animal called the

Pushmi-Pullyu, which later brings him fame and fortune back home.
With his newfound success, Doctor Dolittle continues to live happily,
surrounded by his beloved animal friends.

3. The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis

During World War II, four siblings—Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy
Pevensie—are sent to live in a country house to escape the London
bombings. While exploring, Lucy discovers a magical wardrobe that
leads to the land of Narnia, a place where it is always winter but never
Christmas, ruled by the evil White Witch.

Lucy meets a faun named Mr. Tumnus, who explains the Witch’s cruel
rule. Though Lucy returns and tells her siblings, only Edmund follows
 her back at first—and he secretly meets the Witch, who tempts him
with magical Turkish Delight and promises of power if he brings his
siblings to her.

Eventually, all four children enter Narnia. They learn from talking
animals and creatures that the great lion Aslan, the true king of
Narnia, has returned. Aslan gathers forces to defeat the Witch and end
her reign. Meanwhile, Edmund is rescued after being captured by the
Witch, but she demands his life because of his betrayal.

Aslan sacrifices himself in Edmund’s place, fulfilling an ancient law,

but is resurrected due to a deeper magic tied to innocence and love.
With Aslan’s help, the children lead a battle against the Witch, defeat
her, and restore peace to Narnia.

The children become kings and queens and rule for years before
returning to their world—discovering that no time has passed at all.

4. Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White

Charlotte’s Web tells the touching story of an unlikely friendship
between a pig named Wilbur and a clever spider named Charlotte.

Wilbur is the runt of a litter and is nearly killed by Mr. Arable, but his
daughter Fern saves him and raises him. When Wilbur grows too big,
he’s moved to her uncle’s barn, where he feels lonely until he meets
Charlotte, a wise and kind gray barn spider.

Wilbur later learns that he’s being raised for slaughter, and he’s
devastated. To save him, Charlotte comes up with a plan: she spins
words into her web, like “Some Pig,” “Terrific,” and “Radiant,” to
convince the humans that Wilbur is special.
 Her plan works—people are amazed, and Wilbur becomes famous. He’s
taken to the county fair, where Charlotte spins her final message:
“Humble.” Wilbur wins a special prize, which ensures his life will be
spared.

Sadly, Charlotte grows weak and dies at the fairgrounds after laying
her eggs. Wilbur is heartbroken but carries her egg sac home, where
her children hatch in the spring. Though most leave, a few stay behind,
and Wilbur cherishes the memory of his dear friend.

5. The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein

The Giving Tree is a simple yet deeply emotional story about the
relationship between a boy and a tree. As a young child, the boy
plays joyfully around the tree—climbing her trunk, swinging from
her branches, and eating her apples. The tree loves the boy very
much and is happy when he is near.

As the boy grows older, he visits the tree less often and begins to ask
for things to make him happy. Each time, the tree selflessly gives
parts of herself to help:

 She gives her apples for him to sell.

 She offers her branches so he can build a house.
 She allows him to cut down her trunk to make a boat.

After giving so much, the tree becomes just a stump. Many years
later, the boy—now an old man—returns. The tree, having nothing left
to give, offers her stump as a seat, which is all the man needs. The
tree is happy once more.
6. The Big Umbrella by Amy June Bates
The Big Umbrella is a gentle, heartwarming picture book that
celebrates inclusion, kindness, and acceptance. The story begins with a
big, red umbrella by the front door. It’s friendly, welcoming, and always
ready to offer shelter—no matter the weather.

As people begin to gather under it—tall people, short people, hairy

people, and those with big smiles or frowns—the umbrella magically
grows wider and wider, making room for everyone. Even when it seems
full, there is always space for more.

The story emphasizes that no one is ever left out, and that kindness
has no limits. The umbrella becomes a symbol of community,
reminding us that we all belong, no matter how different we are.

7. The Hobbit by John Ronald Reuel Tolkien

The Hobbit follows the journey of Bilbo Baggins, a quiet and comfort-
loving hobbit from the peaceful land of the Shire. His life changes when
the wizard Gandalf and thirteen dwarves, led by Thorin Oakenshield,
invite him on a quest to reclaim the dwarves' lost homeland of Erebor
and its treasure, which is guarded by the fearsome dragon Smaug.

Though reluctant at first, Bilbo joins the adventure. Along the way, they
face trolls, goblins, giant spiders, elves, and dangerous forests. In one
pivotal moment, Bilbo encounters Gollum in a dark cave and wins a
mysterious magic ring that grants him invisibility—this ring later
becomes central in The Lord of the Rings.

Bilbo gradually proves himself brave and clever, especially when he

sneaks into Smaug's lair and discovers the dragon's weak spot. After
Smaug is killed by Bard the Bowman, the dwarves reclaim the Lonely
 Mountain. However, greed and pride lead to conflict over the treasure,
resulting in the Battle of the Five Armies.

Thorin dies in battle, but before his death, he makes peace with Bilbo.
With the quest complete, Bilbo returns home to the Shire—forever
changed, wiser, and no longer just a simple hobbit.

8. The Lorax by Dr. Seuss

The Lorax is a powerful rhyming story about environmental
responsibility and the consequences of greed. It’s told by a mysterious
figure called the Once-ler, who recounts how he came to a once-
beautiful forest filled with Truffula Trees, Bar-ba-loots, Swomee-Swans,
and Humming-Fish.

The Once-ler begins cutting down the Truffula Trees to make Thneeds,
a product he believes “everyone needs.” As his business grows, he
builds a factory and chops down more trees, disrupting the natural
habitat and polluting the air and water.

The Lorax, a small mustached creature, appears from the trees and
speaks for the environment, warning the Once-ler about the damage
he’s causing. But the Once-ler ignores him until it's too late: all the
trees are gone, the animals leave, and the factory shuts down.

Now, the land is barren and silent. The Once-ler, filled with regret,
gives a young visitor the last Truffula seed and urges them to "plant a
new Truffula. Treat it with care..."—reminding them that “unless
someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get
better. It’s not.”

9. The Cat in the Hat by Dr. Seuss

 The Cat in the Hat tells the story of two children, Sally and her
unnamed brother, who are stuck indoors on a cold, rainy day, feeling
bored and restless. Suddenly, their dull afternoon turns chaotic when a
tall, mischievous cat wearing a red-and-white striped hat appears at
their door.

The Cat in the Hat brings along wild and messy fun, performing tricks
and balancing objects. He’s joined by two playful creatures named
Thing 1 and Thing 2, who create even more mayhem as they zoom
around the house.

The children’s pet fish acts as the voice of reason, warning them that
their mother wouldn't approve of this trouble. Just before the children’s
mother returns home, the Cat miraculously cleans up all the mess and
disappears.

In the end, the narrator (the boy) asks readers:

“What would YOU do if your mother asked you?”—leaving the story
with a playful question about honesty and responsibility.

10. Russian Fable – The Scorpion and the Frog

In this classic Russian fable, a scorpion wants to cross a river but
cannot swim. He asks a frog to carry him across on its back. The frog
hesitates, fearing the scorpion will sting and kill him during the journey.

The scorpion promises not to sting, reasoning, “If I sting you, we’ll both
drown.” Convinced by the logic, the frog agrees and begins swimming
across the river with the scorpion on his back. But midway across, the
scorpion stings the frog.
 As they both begin to drown, the shocked frog gasps, “Why did you do
that?” The scorpion replies, “I couldn’t help it. It’s in my nature.”
ADOLESCENT LITERATURE
The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
The Fault in Our Stars follows the poignant love story of Hazel Grace
Lancaster, a 16-year-old girl living with terminal thyroid cancer, and
Augustus "Gus" Waters, a witty and charming 17-year-old cancer
survivor who lost a leg to osteosarcoma.

The two meet at a cancer support group and quickly form a deep
connection over shared humor, love for literature, and the emotional
weight of living with illness. They bond especially over Hazel’s favorite
novel, An Imperial Affliction, and become determined to track down its
reclusive author, Peter Van Houten, to find out what happens after the
book’s abrupt ending.

Their journey takes them to Amsterdam, where they meet Van Houten,
only to be disappointed by his bitterness. However, the trip strengthens
their relationship. During their time together, Hazel and Augustus fall in
love—despite the looming shadow of their illnesses.

The story takes a heartbreaking turn when Gus reveals that his cancer has
returned and is terminal. He dies shortly afterward, leaving Hazel
devastated but forever changed by the experience.

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

Set in the racially segregated town of Maycomb, Alabama during the
1930s, To Kill a Mockingbird is told through the eyes of Scout Finch, a
young girl growing up with her older brother Jem and their widowed
father, Atticus Finch. Scout and Jem spend much of their time playing and
 obsessing over their mysterious neighbor, Boo Radley, who never leaves
his house and is the subject of town rumors.

The heart of the story centers on Atticus, a principled lawyer, who defends
Tom Robinson, a Black man falsely accused of raping a white woman,
Mayella Ewell. Despite clear evidence of Tom’s innocence, the all-white
jury convicts him, exposing the deep racism and injustice in their
community. Tom later dies trying to escape prison.

Meanwhile, the children's understanding of morality and justice matures.

They learn from their father's quiet strength, and their views of Boo
Radley evolve—he ultimately saves Scout and Jem from an attack by
Mayella's vengeful father, Bob Ewell. In the end, Boo turns out to be a
quiet, protective figure, not the monster they once feared.

PHILIPPINES NATIONAL CHILDREN’S BOOK DAY – JULY 3

RENAISSANCE – ROMAN AND GREEK LIT WERE REINTRODUCED

SESSION 10 PART 2: AFRO-ASIAN LITERATURE, PHILIPPINE

LITERATURE
INDIA
INDIAN LITERATURE
VEDIC PERIOD
 Named after the Vedas, a period when the Vedas were transformed into
writing
 Vedas – Knowledge; sacred hymns; cornerstone of Aryan culture
 4 Vedas
o Rig veda – oldest veda “praise knowledge”
o Sama veda – music, dance, chants
o Yajur veda – ritual offering mantras, book of prayers
 o Atharva Veda – magic and charms
 Aranyakas – rituals, observances
 Brahmanas – commentaries on said rituals
 Samhitas – benedictions, prayers, mantras
 Upanishdas,- philosophical narratives and dialogues
EPIC AND BUDDHIST AGE
 Time when Ramayana and Mahabharata were written
 Dhammapada (collection of sayings of Buddha in verse) is most like
written during this age.

CLASSICAL PERIOD
 From Maurya Empire in the 3 rd century BCE and the end of the Gupta
Empire in the 6th century CE
 Sanskrit (perfect speech) was the literary language
 Panchatantra (Fables of Bidpai) was popular
 Gupta Empire – Golden Age of Indian Literature

MEDIEVAL AND MODERN PERIOD

Ramayana (Life of Rama) by Valmiki
 24,000 couplets
CHARACTERS:
1. Rama – The hero; a prince of Ayodhya and an avatar of Lord Vishnu.

2. Sita – Rama’s devoted wife, known for her purity and strength.
3. Lakshmana – Rama’s loyal younger brother who goes with him into exile.
4. Hanuman – A monkey god and loyal devotee of Rama; helps rescue Sita.
5. Ravana – The ten-headed demon king of Lanka who kidnaps Sita.
6. Dasharatha – King of Ayodhya and father of Rama, Lakshmana, Bharata,
and Shatrughna.
7. Kaikeyi – Dasharatha’s wife and Bharata’s mother; asks for Rama’s exile.
8. Bharata – Rama’s brother who stays loyal and rules as Rama’s
representative.
9. Shatrughna – Twin brother of Lakshmana; loyal and brave.
10. Sugriva – King of the monkey tribe; helps Rama in the war against
Ravana.
11. Vali – Sugriva’s brother and rival; later defeated by Rama.
12. Angada – Son of Vali; a brave warrior who helps Rama.
13. Jambavan – Wise bear king who advises and fights with Rama.
14. Mandodari – Ravana’s noble and wise wife.
15. Vibhishana – Ravana’s good brother who joins Rama.
16. Kumbhakarna – Ravana’s giant brother who sleeps for months but
fights in the war.
17. Indrajit (Meghnad) – Ravana’s powerful son who uses magical
weapons.
18. Shurpanakha – Ravana’s sister; she wants to marry Rama and causes
trouble.

19. Valmiki – The sage who wrote the Ramayana and shelters Sita later in
the story.
20. Ahalya – A woman cursed to be a stone; Rama frees her with his
touch.
21. Guha – A boatman and friend of Rama who helps him cross the river.
22. Sabari – An old woman and devotee who waits years to meet Rama.
23. Agastya – A wise sage who gives Rama weapons and guidance.
24. Vibhishana – Ravana’s good brother who joins Rama’s side.

Rama is born to King Dasharatha and Queen Kausalya in the city of

Ayodhya. Dasharatha’s other wives, Kaikeyi and Sumitra, bear Bharata,
and the twins Lakshmana and Shatrughna. Rama is the eldest and most
beloved prince. As a young man, Rama wins the hand of Sita, princess of
Mithila, by lifting and stringing the divine bow of Shiva. As Dasharatha
prepares to crown Rama as king, Kaikeyi, manipulated by her maid
Manthara, reminds Dasharatha of a promise: she demands that her son
Bharata be crowned and Rama be exiled for 14 years. Heartbroken but
bound by honor, Dasharatha agrees. Rama accepts his exile calmly, and Sita
and Lakshmana insist on accompanying him into the forest.

The trio lives peacefully in the forest, encountering sages and demons.
During this time, the demoness Shurpanakha, sister of Ravana, proposes
marriage to Rama and is rejected. Enraged, she attacks Sita and is mutilated
by Lakshmana. Shurpanakha convinces Ravana, the powerful demon king
of Lanka, to take revenge. Ravana plots to kidnap Sita. He lures Rama and
Lakshmana away from their hut using a golden deer (a demon in disguise).
While they are gone, Ravana abducts Sita and flies her to Lanka in his
chariot. Despite Sita's resistance, he places her in his garden, guarded by
demonesses.

Rama and Lakshmana search for Sita and meet Hanuman, a divine monkey
with immense strength and loyalty, and his king Sugriva. Rama helps
Sugriva reclaim his throne, and in return, Sugriva’s army aids Rama.
Hanuman leaps across the ocean to Lanka, finds Sita, gives her Rama’s ring,
and assures her of rescue. Rama builds a bridge (Rama Setu) to Lanka
with the help of the vanaras. A massive battle ensues between Rama’s forces
and Ravana’s army. Ravana’s brother Vibhishana defects and joins Rama.
After a fierce war, Rama kills Ravana using a divine weapon. Sita is rescued
but must prove her chastity by undergoing a trial by fire (Agni Pariksha)
—which she passes unharmed.

With their exile over, Rama, Sita, and Lakshmana return to Ayodhya.
Bharata, who had ruled as regent with Rama’s sandals on the throne, joyfully
welcomes them back. Rama is crowned king of Ayodhya, beginning a
golden age of peace and justice known as Rama Rajya.
 Mahabharata by Vyasa
 100,000 couplets divided into 18 parvanshow
CHARACTERS:
The Pandavas (5 Brothers – Heroes)
1. Yudhishthira – Eldest brother; known for truthfulness and righteousness.
2. Bhima – Second brother; very strong and fearless warrior.
3. Arjuna – Third brother; a great archer and student of Krishna.
4. Nakula – Twin; skilled swordsman and horse expert.
5. Sahadeva – Twin; wise, known for his knowledge of stars and cows

Other Key Allies of the Pandavas

1. Draupadi – Wife of all five Pandavas; strong-willed and central to the
story.
2. Krishna – God and Arjuna’s charioteer; advisor, friend, and divine guide.
3. Kunti – Mother of the Pandavas.
4. Panchali (another name for Draupadi) – Daughter of King Drupada.
5. Abhimanyu – Arjuna’s brave son who dies in the war.
6. Ghatotkacha – Bhima’s giant son with a rakshasa (demoness) wife.
7. Virata & Drupada – Kings allied with the Pandavas.

The Kauravas (100 Brothers – Rivals)

1. Duryodhana – Eldest Kaurava and main enemy of the Pandavas.
2. Dushasana – Second Kaurava; insults Draupadi in court.
3. Shakuni – Uncle of the Kauravas; manipulative and cunning.
4. Dhritarashtra – Blind king and father of the Kauravas.
5. Gandhari – Mother of the Kauravas; blindfolded herself for life.

Other Important Warriors

1. Karna – Secret eldest brother of the Pandavas, but loyal to Duryodhana.
2. Bhishma – Grand-uncle to both Pandavas and Kauravas; a mighty warrior.
3. Drona – Teacher of both sides in warfare; loyal to the Kauravas.
4. Ashwatthama – Drona’s son; powerful but reckless.
5. Kripacharya – A wise teacher and warrior.

Divine and Mythical Characters

1. Vyasa – Sage and author of the Mahābhārata; also the grandfather of
both sides.
2. Shiva & Vishnu – Gods referenced throughout the story.
3. Indra – King of gods and Arjuna’s divine father.
4. Surya – Sun god and Karna’s father.
5. Yama – God of death and Yudhishthira’s divine father.
6. Vayu – Wind god and Bhima’s father.
7. Ashwini Twins – Divine doctors; fathers of Nakula and Sahadeva.

SUMMARY:
The Mahabharata, one of the two great Indian epics (along with the
Ramayana), is a vast and complex narrative composed by the sage
Vyasa. It tells the story of a dynastic struggle between two branches
of the Kuru royal family—the righteous Pandavas and the ambitious
Kauravas—culminating in the great war of Kurukshetra. The five
Pandava brothers—Yudhishthira (the eldest and most virtuous),
Bhima (strong and fearless), Arjuna (a master archer), and the twins
Nakula and Sahadeva—are born of divine parentage. They are raised
alongside their cousins, the hundred Kaurava brothers led by the
jealous and cunning Duryodhana. Despite the Pandavas’ virtues, they
are repeatedly wronged by the Kauravas, culminating in a rigged
game of dice where Yudhishthira loses his kingdom, wealth, brothers,
and even their wife Draupadi, who is publicly humiliated.

After thirteen years of exile, the Pandavas demand their rightful

share of the kingdom, but Duryodhana refuses, leading to the 18-day
 war of Kurukshetra. Many noble warriors, including their teacher
Drona, grandsire Bhishma, and the tragic hero Karna (secretly the
eldest Pandava, though loyal to the Kauravas), take part in the bloody
battle. Before the war begins, Lord Krishna, who serves as Arjuna’s
charioteer, delivers the Bhagavad Gita, a spiritual and philosophical
discourse on duty, righteousness, and the nature of life. In the end, the
Pandavas win, but at a great cost—nearly all the warriors on both sides
are dead, including all of the Kauravas.

Yudhishthira becomes king, but is burdened by the destruction and

moral weight of war. After ruling wisely, the Pandavas eventually
renounce the throne and embark on a spiritual journey toward the
Himalayas, seeking liberation. Only Yudhishthira reaches the gates of
heaven, tested along the way for his unwavering commitment to truth
and dharma. The Mahabharata spans philosophical, moral, and
devotional themes, exploring complex human dilemmas, and remains a
profound text on ethics, karma, fate, and the human condition.

The Little Clay Art (Mricchakatika) by Shudraka

CHARACTERS:
1. Chārudatta – A kind and poor man who used to be rich; the main hero.
2. Vasantasenā – A rich and kind courtesan who loves Chārudatta.
3. Samsthānaka – A bad and jealous man who wants Vasantasenā for
himself.
4. Rohasena – Chārudatta’s little son who plays with a clay toy cart.
5. Maitreya – Chārudatta’s funny and loyal friend.
6. Sharvilaka – A thief who steals to help the woman he loves.
7. Madanikā – Vasantasenā’s maid; in love with Sharvilaka.
8. Aryaka – A nobleman in prison who later becomes king.
9. Sthāvaraka – Samsthānaka’s servant.
10. Kumbhīlaka – Vasantasenā’s servant.
11. Judge/Guards – Minor characters who appear during the trial.

SUMMARY:
Cārudatta is a generous young brahmin who, through his charitable
contributions to unlucky friends and the general public welfare, has
severely impoverished himself and his family. Though deserted by
most of his friends and embarrassed by deteriorating living conditions,
he has maintained his reputation in Ujjayini as an honest and upright
man with a rare gift of wisdom and many important men continue to
seek his counsel.

Though happily married and the recent father of a young son,

Rohasena, Cārudatta is enamored of Vasantasenā, a courtesan of great
wealth and reputation. At a chance encounter at the temple
of Kāma she returns his affection, though the matter is complicated
when Vasantasenā finds herself pursued by Samsthānaka, a half-mad
brother-in-law of King Pālaka, and his retinue. When the men threaten
violence, Vasantasenā flees, seeking safety with Cārudatta. Their love
blossoms following the clandestine meeting, and the courtesan
entrusts her new lover with a casket of jewelry in an attempt to ensure
a future meeting.
Her plan is thwarted, however, when a thief, Sarvilaka, enters
Cārudatta’s home and steals the jewels in an elaborate scheme to buy
the freedom of his lover, Madanikā, who is Vasantasenā’s slave and
confidante. The courtesan recognizes the jewelry, but she accepts the
payment anyway and frees Madanikā to marry. She then attempts to
contact Cārudatta and inform him of the situation, but before she can
make contact he panics and sends Vasantasenā a rare pearl necklace
that had belonged to his wife, a gift in great excess of the value of the
stolen jewelry. In recognition of this, Cārudatta's friend, Maitreya,
cautions the Brahmin against further association, fearing that
Vasantasenā is, at worst, scheming to take from Cārudatta the few
possessions he still has and, at best, a good-intentioned bastion of bad
luck and disaster.

Refusing to take this advice, Cārudatta makes Vasantasenā his

mistress and she eventually meets his young son. During the
encounter, the boy is distressed because he has recently enjoyed
playing with a friend's toy cart of solid gold and no longer wants his
own clay cart that his nurse has made for him. Taking pity on him in his
sadness, Vasantasenā fills his little clay cart with her own jewelry,
heaping his humble toy with a mound of gold before departing to meet
Cārudatta in a park outside the city for a day’s outing. There she
enters a fine carriage, but soon discovers that she is in
a gharry belonging to Samsthānaka, who remains enraged by her
previous affront and is madly jealous of the love and favor she shows
to Cārudatta. Unable to persuade his henchmen to kill her,
Samsthānaka sends his retinue away and proceeds to strangle
Vasantasenā and hide her body beneath a pile of leaves. Still seeking
vengeance, he promptly accuses Cārudatta of the crime.

Though Cārudatta proclaims his innocence, his presence in the park

along with his son's possession of Vasantasenā's jewels implicate the
poverty-stricken man, and he is found guilty and condemned to death
by King Pālaka. Unbeknownst to all, however, the body identified as
Vasantasenā’s was actually another woman. Vasantasenā had been
revived and befriended by a Buddhist monk who nursed her back to
health in a nearby village.

Just as Cārudatta faces execution, Vasantasenā appears and, seeing

the excited crowd, intervenes in time to save him from execution and
his wife from throwing herself onto the funeral pyre. Together the three
 declare themselves a family. Reaching the courts, Vasantasenā tells the
story of her near death and, following her testimony, Samsthānaka is
arrested and the good Prince Āryaka deposes the wicked King Pālaka.
His first acts as the newly declared sovereign is to restore Cārudatta’s
fortune and make him the king of Kusavati . Following this good will,
Cārudatta demonstrates in the final act his enduring virtue and charity,
appealing to the King for pardon on behalf of Samsthānaka who is
subsequently declared free. And the Buddhist monk who saved the life
of Vasantasenā is made the chief of all Vihars. Vasantasena is given the
title of a wife. Everybody is happy, nobody has any grouse.

AFRICA
AFRICAN LITERATURE
The Poor Christ of Bomba by Mongo Beti

CHARACTERS:
1. Denis – The 16-year-old narrator and Father Drumont’s assistant. He
begins naive but slowly becomes aware of the contradictions in the
mission.
2. Father Drumont – A French Catholic priest leading the Bomba mission.
He is strict and idealistic but blind to the impact of his actions on the local
people.
3. Sister Marie-Martine – A nun at the mission who outwardly upholds
religious values but is secretly involved in a sexual relationship,
highlighting moral hypocrisy.
4. Raphael – A local catechist who teaches Christianity but still engages
with traditional African customs in secret.
5. Zachariah – Another catechist who serves the mission but also
represents the cultural split between imposed religion and local traditions.
6. Catherine – A young African woman living at the mission. She becomes
pregnant, revealing the moral double standards and failed attempts to
 control female sexuality. Her situation becomes a turning point for Denis’s
understanding of the mission's flaws.
7. Ndjem & Kidi – Local villagers whose interactions with the mission reflect
how the community outwardly conforms to Christian rules while
maintaining cultural practices.
8. Father Leclerc – Another missionary priest mentioned in the story. He
supports the Church’s work but is also part of the colonial system.
9. Local Women at the Mission – Other unnamed girls like Catherine,
brought to the mission for protection and moral training, but whose
presence reveals the gendered control exercised by the missionaries.

SUMMARY:
The Poor Christ of Bomba (originally published in 1956) is a satirical
and powerful postcolonial novel by Cameroonian author Mongo
Beti. Set in colonial Cameroon during the 1930s, the story explores
the conflict between European Christian missionaries and
African traditions, exposing the hypocrisy of colonialism and
religion.

The novel is narrated by Denis, a naïve 16-year-old boy who serves

as the houseboy and assistant to Father Drumont, a French Catholic
missionary. Father Drumont is on a mission to “civilize” and convert
the local African population to Christianity through strict discipline and
religious rituals. He believes in eradicating African customs, particularly
those related to polygamy and sexuality, which he sees as immoral.
As Denis accompanies Father Drumont on a journey to nearby villages, he
begins to observe inconsistencies in the missionary’s behavior and the
failure of Christian teachings to take root in the local culture. The
villagers often comply outwardly with the Church’s demands while secretly
maintaining their traditions.
 Eventually, the hypocrisy is laid bare: while Father Drumont
preaches virtue, others in the mission—including the supposedly pious
Sister Marie-Martine—are engaged in scandalous behavior. Denis
gradually becomes disillusioned as he witnesses moral corruption,
cultural destruction, and the arrogance of colonial authority
disguised as religious salvation.

AFRICAN POETRY
 Paris in the Snow swings between assimilation of French, European
culture or negritude, intensified by the poet’s catholic piety.
 Totem by Leopold Senghor shows the eternal linkage of the living with
the dead
 Letters to Martha by Dennis Brutus is the poet’s most famous
collection that speaks of the humiliation, the despondency, the indignity
of prison life
 Train Journey by Dennis Brutus reflects the poet’s social commitment
as he reacts to the poverty around him amidst material progress
especially and acutely felt by the innocent victims, the children
 Africa by David Diop is a poem that achieves its impact by a series of
climactic sentences and rhetorical questions

Africa by David Dip

 It tells about the state of Africa which is War town and
Underdeveloped
Africa, my Africa
Africa of proud warriors
In ancestral savanna
Africa of whom my grandmother sings
 Train Journey by Dennis Brutus
Along the miles of steel
That span my land
Threadbare children stand
Knees ostrich bulbous on their needy
Legs, their empty hungry hands
Lifted as if in prayer

Telephone Conversation by Wole Soyinka

The price seemed reasonable, location
Indifferent. The landlady swore she lived
Off premises. Nothing remained
But self-confession. "Madam," I warned,
"I hate a wasted journey--I am African."
Silence. Silenced transmission of
Pressurized good-breeding. Voice, when it came,
Lipstick coated, long gold-rolled
Cigarette-holder pipped. Caught I was foully.
"HOW DARK?" . . . I had not misheard . . . "ARE YOU LIGHT
OR VERY DARK?" Button B, Button A.* Stench
Of rancid breath of public hide-and-speak.
Red booth. Red pillar box. Red double-tiered
Omnibus squelching tar. It was real! Shamed
By ill-mannered silence, surrender
Pushed dumbfounded to beg simplification.
Considerate she was, varying the emphasis--
"ARE YOU DARK? OR VERY LIGHT?" Revelation came.
"You mean--like plain or milk chocolate?"
Her assent was clinical, crushing in its light
Impersonality. Rapidly, wave-length adjusted,
I chose. "West African sepia"--and as afterthought,
"Down in my passport." Silence for spectroscopic
Flight of fancy, till truthfulness clanged her accent
Hard on the mouthpiece. "WHAT'S THAT?" conceding
"DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT IS." "Like brunette."
"THAT'S DARK, ISN'T IT?" "Not altogether.
Facially, I am brunette, but, madam, you should see
The rest of me. Palm of my hand, soles of my feet
Are a peroxide blond. Friction, caused--
Foolishly, madam--by sitting down, has turned
My bottom raven black--One moment, madam!"--sensing
Her receiver rearing on the thunderclap
About my ears--"Madam," I pleaded, "wouldn't you rather
See for yourself?"

CHINESE
CHINESE LITERARY PERIODS
Xia Dynasty (Xia Chao)
 Legendary dynasty

Shang Dynasty (Shang Chao)

 Historical records were preserved in the form of oracle bones and bronze
wares
 Oracle bones (jia gu wen) – earliest style of Chinese writing, pictographs
on turtle shells
 Nature was inhabited by gods and goddesses
Zhou Dynasty (Zhou Chao)
 “Tian Ming” – mandate of heaven
 “Chun Qiu Zhan Guo” – Spring and Autumn and Warring States Periods
 Emergence of Taoism, Confucianism, etc.
 Warring states: Zhao, Yan, Qi, Qin, Han Chu, Wei

Qin Dynasty (Qin Chao)

 Literary tragedy
 Legalism (unification of central government)
 From Kings (Wang) to “Huang di” (Emperor)
 Philosophers were killed
 Terracotta warriors

Han Dynasty (Han Chao)

 Restoration of Confucianism
 Historical Records by Sima Qian
 Invention of writing paper by Cai Lun
 Glorious era of Chinese history
 THREE KINGDOMS PERIOD – subject of the book “San Guo Yan Yi”
(Romance of the Three Kingdoms)
 JIN CHAO – civil war (Northern China = war, people moved to Nanjing)
 NORTHERN AND SOUTHERN DYNASTIES PERIOD – Buddhism increased

Sui Dynasty (Sui Chao)

 Unified dynasty, CSE
Tang Dynasty
 Poets Li Bai (romanticist) and Du fu (realist)
 Expanded CSE, merit-based political system
Song Dynasty
 Weak military, less restrictive
 Invention of movable type
 Travel literature, landscape paintings

Five Confucian Classics Four Books

1. Book of Changes 1. The Analects of Confucius
2. Record of Rites 2. The Doctrine of the Mean
3. Classic Poetry 3. Mencius
4. The Spring and Autumn Annals 4. The Great Learning
5. The Classic of History

Yuan Dynasty
 Mongols
 Shadow puppet plays (in vernacular language)
 Operatic theatre

Ming Empire
 Period of novels
 Journey to the West (monk who went to India during his period of
isolation)

Qing Dynasty (Manchus)

 Last Chinese dynasty
 Western culture influenced the educated ones to study abroad
Sun Yat-sen
 Led the revolution to end Chinese dynasties

The Answer by Bei Dao – slavery as a pressing concern

JAPAN
The Tale of Genji by Murasaki Shikibu
 World’s first true novel
 First modern novel
 First psychological novel

CHARACTERS:
1. Hikaru Genji – The "Shining Prince," son of the Emperor and central
character. Handsome, refined, and a romantic figure.
2. Kiritsubo Consort – Genji’s mother; a low-ranking concubine deeply
loved by the Emperor but disliked by other courtiers.
3. Emperor Kiritsubo – Genji’s father; deeply mourns the loss of Kiritsubo
Consort and later marries Fujitsubo.
4. Fujitsubo – Step-mother of Genji, whom he secretly loves. She bears
Genji’s son, who later becomes emperor.
5. Lady Aoi (Aoi no Ue) – Genji’s first legal wife and daughter of a powerful
minister. Their marriage is cold; she dies after childbirth.
6. Yugiri – Son of Genji and Lady Aoi; becomes a respected courtier.
7. Lady Murasaki – Genji’s most beloved companion, whom he raises and
later marries. She resembles Fujitsubo and becomes his emotional center.
8. Rokujo Lady (Lady Rokujo) – A proud and noble woman who becomes
Genji’s lover. Her jealousy causes spiritual possessions of Genji’s other
lovers.
9. Utsusemi – A married woman Genji tries to seduce; she resists him,
representing moral strength.
10. Oborozukiyo – Fujitsubo’s niece and Genji’s secret lover. Their affair
leads to political trouble.
11. Akashi Lady – Daughter of a monk; bears Genji’s only daughter, the
future Empress Akashi.
12. Lady Suetsumuhana – A noblewoman with little beauty but gentle
character; Genji courts her briefly.
13. Hanachirusato – A calm and modest lady Genji has a child with, living
in his residence.
14. Tamakazura – Raised by Genji, believed to be his daughter but is
actually To no Chujo’s. She becomes an object of many suitors’ affection.
15. To no Chujo – Genji’s close friend and later rival; Lady Aoi’s brother.
They share romantic and political competition.
16. Kokiden Lady – High-ranking consort of the emperor and Genji’s
political enemy. Her son later becomes Emperor Suzaku.
17. Emperor Suzaku – Son of Kokiden; becomes emperor and exiles Genji
for a time.
18. Emperor Reizei – Son of Genji and Fujitsubo, but publicly recognized as
the former emperor’s child.
19. Kashiwagi – Son of To no Chujo; falls in love with Genji’s daughter and
fathers Kaoru in secret.
20. Kaoru – Son of Kashiwagi and Genji’s daughter. Raised as Genji’s
grandson. Gentle, philosophical, and central to the Uji chapters.
21. Niou – Handsome and passionate prince; Genji’s great-nephew and
Kaoru’s rival in love.
22. Oigimi – Eldest daughter of Prince Hachi no Miya; pursued by Kaoru but
dies from emotional stress.
23. Nakanokimi – Younger sister of Oigimi; marries Niou.
24. Ukifune – Half-sister of Oigimi and Nakanokimi. Loved by both Kaoru
and Niou. Attempts suicide due to emotional conflict but survives and
becomes a nun.
25. Prince Hachi no Miya – Father of Oigimi, Nakanokimi, and Ukifune. A
devout and reclusive noble.

26. Genji’s Nurse and Attendants – Loyal servants who assist and raise
Murasaki and other women in the palace.
27. Tamakazura’s Suitors – Many noblemen pursue Tamakazura, including
Higekuro and others, adding to Genji’s household drama.

Story of the Aged Mother by Matsuo Basho

CHARACTERS:
1. The Aged Mother – A wise, loving old woman.
2. The Son – A kind and obedient young farmer. Deeply loves his mother
and hides her in the mountains instead of abandoning her. Later, he
follows her advice, which saves the village.
3. The Governor / Ruler – A harsh leader who declares that all old people
must be left to die to remove the "useless." After witnessing the wisdom
of the aged mother, he changes his mind and revokes the cruel law.

SUMMARY:
In a region of ancient Japan, a cruel ruler issues a law that all elderly
people must be abandoned to die, believing they are no longer useful to
society. A poor farmer, deeply devoted to his aged mother, is heartbroken
by the law but follows the order. He carries his mother up a mountain to
leave her there.

As they climb, the mother quietly breaks twigs and drops them along
the path. When the son reaches the top, ready to leave her, she tells him
about the twigs—so he can find his way back. Touched by her wisdom and
love, he decides to hide her in a safe place at home instead of abandoning
her.
Later, the ruler challenges the villagers with a difficult task that no one can
solve—except the old mother. Her wisdom saves the village, and when
the ruler learns she was the one who solved the problem, he realizes the
value of the elderly. He cancels the cruel law, and the mother lives
peacefully with her son.

Say It With Flowers by Toshio Mori

CHARACTERS:
1. Teruo – The main character. A young Japanese-American boy who takes a
summer job at a flower shop.
2. Mr. Sasaki – The owner of the flower shop where Teruo works. Business-
minded and practical.
3. Miss Snyder – A customer at the flower shop. She wants to buy flowers
to apologize to a friend.
4. Other Shop Workers / Customers (briefly mentioned) - Co-workers
and shoppers who provide background to the flower shop setting, but are
not central to the story.

SUMMARY:
The story follows Teruo, a young Japanese-American boy who takes a
summer job at a flower shop. The shop owner, Mr. Sasaki, teaches him
how to sell flowers persuasively, encouraging him to appeal to customers’
emotions to boost sales.

However, Teruo begins to feel uncomfortable using sales tricks, especially

when he realizes that flowers should express real feelings, not just be
sold for money. When a customer, Miss Snyder, comes in to buy flowers to
say sorry to a friend, Teruo gently helps her choose flowers that truly match
her feelings—not just the most expensive ones.
In the end, Teruo chooses honesty and sincerity over salesmanship. His
quiet resistance to pressure shows the importance of being true to oneself
and the value of genuine emotion over business.

In a Grove by Ryonosuke Akutagawa

CHARACTERS:
1. Tajōmaru – A well-known bandit. Confesses to killing the samurai and
assaulting his wife, but his story contradicts others. Claims the wife asked
him to fight the samurai for her love.
2. Takehiro – A samurai who is found dead in the grove. Appears
posthumously through a medium to tell his own version of how he died.
3. Masago – Takehiro’s young wife. Claims she killed her husband out of
shame and despair, though her story is also inconsistent.
4. The Woodcutter – Found the body in the grove. Says he saw the crime
but initially withholds the full truth. His final account contradicts the others.
5. The Priest – Saw Takehiro and Masago before the crime. Describes them
as a respectful couple, which contrasts with the violent aftermath.
6. The Policeman – Arrested Tajōmaru. Provides a factual report on
Tajōmaru’s capture and the items found with him.
7. The Medium – Conveys the dead samurai’s testimony. Serves as the
voice for Takehiro’s version of events from beyond the grave.

In a Grove is a short story that presents the mysterious death of a samurai

named Takehiro through the conflicting testimonies of several
witnesses: a bandit (Tajomaru), the samurai’s wife (Masago), a
woodcutter, a priest, a policeman, and even the dead man himself
(speaking through a medium).
Each person tells a different version of what happened in the forest,
including who killed Takehiro, why, and how. Tajomaru says he killed him
in a fair fight. Masago claims she killed her husband out of shame. The dead
samurai says he took his own life. The woodcutter’s account contradicts all of
them.

In the end, the story offers no clear answer, leaving readers to question
what truth really is. It explores subjectivity, human nature, and the
unreliability of personal testimony.
Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro
CHARACTERS:
1. Kathy H. – The main character and narrator; thoughtful and caring.
2. Tommy – Kathy’s friend and later love; emotional and kind.
3. Ruth – Kathy’s childhood friend; bossy but later regretful.
4. Miss Emily – Strict head teacher who hides the truth to protect students.
5. Miss Lucy – Honest teacher who tells the students their real purpose.
6. Miss Geraldine – A sweet and gentle teacher.
7. Madame – Mysterious woman who collects students’ art.
8. Chrissie – Older student who wants to believe in deferrals.
9. Rodney – Chrissie’s quiet boyfriend; joins her on the search.

Never Let Me Go is a haunting and emotional novel set in a dystopian version

of England. The story is narrated by Kathy H., who reflects on her childhood
at Hailsham, a seemingly normal boarding school with a dark purpose.

Kathy and her close friends, Tommy and Ruth, slowly come to understand
that they are clones, created solely to become organ donors for others.
While their lives appear ordinary, they are raised with no family, no future,
and no real freedom.
As they grow older, the characters struggle with love, jealousy, identity, and
the desire for meaning. Kathy and Tommy, especially, hope for a chance to
delay their fates through love—but ultimately must face the harsh reality of
their purpose.

MATSUO BASHO – Father of Haiku

MALAYSIA
MALAYSIAN LITERATURE
A Question of Dowry by Siew-Yue Killingley
CHARACTERS:
1. Sivasothie – The young bride-to-be, shy and obedient.
2. Mr. Ramachandran – Sivasothie’s father, responsible and honest; he
reveals the dowry issues to Thiruchelvam.
3. Mrs. Ramachandran – Sivasothie’s mother, enthusiastic about the
marriage but worried about family pride.
4. Dr. Thiruchelvam – The groom and a doctor; calls off the wedding when
the promised dowry can’t be paid.
5. Tamby – Sivasothie’s playful younger brother, who appears briefly in the
story.

In this short story, a Tamil family prepares for the arranged marriage of their
daughter, Sivasothie, to a young doctor named Dr. Thiruchelvam. Her
father, Mr. Ramachandran, is proud to offer a dowry that includes a house.
However, a misunderstanding arises when the groom’s family assumes the
newly built house nearby is part of the dowry—when in fact, the dowry
includes the family’s old wooden house.

When the truth is revealed, Dr. Thiruchelvam breaks off the

engagement, showing how social status and material expectations can
override personal relationships. The story highlights the pressure of dowry
traditions and how they can lead to disappointment and broken matches.

HARLEM RENAISSANCE
 Literary and artistic flowering that emerged among a group of Black
thinkers in New York City, USA, during the 1920s
 Flowering of African-American literature

PHILIPPINES
PHILIPPINE LITERATURE
1. Pre-Colonial
2. Spanish Colonization Period
3. Period of Enlightenment, Revolutionary Period
4. American Colonization
5. Japanese Colonization (golden age of Filipino language)
6. Philippine Republic

Bonsai by Edith Tiempo

All that I love
I fold over once
And once again
And keep in a box
Or a slit in a hollow post
Or in my shoe

All that I love?

Why, yes but for the moment-
And for all time, both.
Something that folds and keeps easy,
Son’s note, or Dad’s one gaudy tie,
A roto picture of a young queen
A blue Indian shawl, even
A money bill.

It’s utter sublimation,

A feat, this heart’s control
Moment to moment
To scale all love down
To a cupped hand’s size.

Till seashells are broken pieces

From God’s own bright teeth,
All life and love are real
Things you can run and
Breathless hand over
To the merest child

Dead Stars by Paz Marquez Benitez

CHARACTERS:
1. Alfredo Salazar – The main character. A lawyer engaged to Esperanza,
but emotionally drawn to another woman (Julia). Represents indecision and
longing for what might have been.
2. Esperanza – Alfredo’s fiancée. Practical, loyal, and socially respectable.
Symbolizes duty and societal expectations.
3. Julia Salas – A charming young woman Alfredo meets and becomes
attracted to. Represents youthful love and the “what ifs” in life.
4. Don Julian – Alfredo’s father. Supportive and slightly old-fashioned,
involved in the courtship customs.
5. Carmen – Alfredo’s sister. Helps introduce Julia to Alfredo’s family.
6. Judge Del Valle – Julia’s brother-in-law and a respected figure. Provides
the setting where Alfredo and Julia meet.
7. Donna Adella – Judge Del Valle’s wife and Julia’s sister. Welcomes Alfredo
during his visits to their home.

Alfredo Salazar, a lawyer in his thirties, is engaged to the dependable

Esperanza. Their relationship seems ideal, rooted in family expectation and
social respectability. However, Alfredo's feelings begin to wane after he
meets the more vibrant and emotionally engaging Julia Salas. They share a
brief, intense emotional connection—“an affair of the emotions,” not actions
—but Alfredo ultimately commits to marrying Esperanza, as duty and
tradition demand.

Eight years later, Alfredo encounters Julia again during a business trip.
Though time has passed, he finds himself longing for the past—until he
realizes that her presence no longer holds the spark he once imagined. Like
distant stars whose light still reaches us long after they’re gone, his
memories of Julia are beautiful but dead. Alfredo quietly acknowledges that
what he felt was an illusion—real feelings shaped by distance and
expectation, not enduring love.

Magnificence by Estrella Alfon

CHARACTERS:
1. Mother – A strong, protective parent who defends her children and stops
Vicente’s inappropriate behavior.
2. Vicente – A young bus conductor who serves as a tutor for the children
but oversteps boundaries.
3. Oscar – The little boy; curious, friendly, and briefly charmed by Vicente.
4. Little Girl – Oscar’s sister; becomes frightened when Vicente behaves
strangely toward her.
5. Father – Oscar and the girl’s distant father; appears briefly and is more
reserved.
6. Tambay (if mentioned) – Minor background presence in the household.
A family—a mother, father, little boy (Oscar), and daughter—welcomes
Vicente, a kind young bus conductor, to tutor the children after school. He
brings them pencils, earning their trust and excitement. One evening,
Vicente holds the little girl on his lap and suddenly tightens his embrace,
making her uncomfortable. Alarmed by her distress, the mother intervenes,
stopping him, scolding him, and ultimately forcing him out of their home.

The story showcases how someone who seems generous and trustworthy
can betray that trust. It highlights the mother’s fierce protection and moral
authority—the true “magnificence” lies not in gifts, but in standing up for
children’s safety and dignity.

Wedding Dance by Amador Daguio

CHARACTERS:
1. Awiyao – The husband who deeply loves his wife but must marry another
to fulfill cultural expectations of fathering a child.
2. Lumnay – Awiyao’s first wife; devoted to him and heartbroken when he
leaves because she cannot bear a child.
3. Madulimay – Awiyao’s young new wife, chosen in hopes she can bear
him children.

Awiyao and Lumnay have been married for seven years in a Cordilleran
village, deeply in love but unable to have a child—a vital requirement in their
society where lineage is everything. When tradition compels Awiyao to marry
Madulimay, a woman who can bear him children, their union ends. On their
wedding night, the newlywed husband visits Lumnay to invite her to the
village’s wedding dance. He urges her to join and find a new partner—
offering her their house, fields, and precious beads.
Lumnay declines, expressing her unwavering love and heartbreak. Although
she contemplates confronting village leaders and reclaiming her husband,
she eventually walks away alone, climbing toward the mountain and fading
into the night—poignantly still present in the ceremony’s distant glow.

The Small Key by Paz Latorena

CHARACTERS:
1. Soledad (Choleng) – A young, discontented wife who discovers the
small key and fears her husband still loves his deceased first wife.
2. Pedro Buhay (Indo) – Soledad’s husband, a hardworking farmer who
cherishes a small key to his late wife’s clothes but loves Soledad and
ultimately forgives her.
3. Tía María – A helpful relative who visits and offers support to Soledad
when she’s anxious about the key.
4. Dr. Santos – The local doctor summoned when Soledad pretends to be ill,
confirming it’s anxiety—not sickness.

Soledad (Choleng), a young rural wife, becomes increasingly anxious when

she discovers her husband, Pedro Buhay (Indo), keeps a small key—the key
to his deceased first wife’s clothing box. Convinced her husband still loves
his late wife, she becomes overwhelmed with jealousy.

Consumed by fear, Soledad pretends to fall ill so she doesn’t have to face
Indo. Concerned, he fetches both Tía María for help and Dr. Santos, who
diagnoses her anxiety. Faced with worry rather than illness, Soledad finally
confesses her jealousy. Indo calmly reassures her that the key holds only
sentimental value and that he loves her. Through understanding and
forgiveness, Soledad overcomes her fears, and their relationship grows
stronger than before.
 The Centipede by Rony V. Diaz
CHARACTERS:
1. Eddie – A teenage boy who loves animals and longs for affection from his
mean older sister.
2. Delia – Eddie’s older sister, bitter and jealous; she has a weak heart and
takes out her frustration by harming Eddie’s pets.
3. Berto – A household worker who shows Eddie a centipede, inadvertently
enabling his act of revenge.
4. Father – Eddie and Delia’s caring father, who is protective of Delia’s
fragile health and unaware of the root of her cruelty.
5. Biryuk – Eddie’s loyal dog, tortured by Delia (though not a speaking
character), whose suffering sparks the story’s events.

Eddie, a sensitive teenager, endures his sister Delia’s cruelty—especially

toward his beloved dog, Biryuk—without complaint because her fragile
health requires calm around her.

After Delia severely wounds Biryuk, Eddie’s hatred finally boils over. He kills a
centipede Berto shows him and throws the dead insect on Delia’s lap during
her embroidery, believing it will terrify her. Delia shrieks and collapses,
clutching her chest—she accuses him of attempting to kill her, but Eddie,
suddenly overcome with remorse, crushes the centipede's head to prove it’s
harmless. The story ends with Delia motionless and Eddie filled with regret,
as the reader is left to wonder about her fate.
 The Harvest by Loreto Paras Sulit
CHARACTERS:
1. Fabian – The elder brother; hardworking but envious of his younger
brother’s looks and charm.
2. Vidal – The younger brother; closer to nature, handsome, and admired,
with a gentler temperament.
3. Milia – A young woman whose father owns five carabaos; Vidal’s
arranged fiancée to help the family’s farm.
4. Miss Francia – A visiting artist sculpting in clay; notices both brothers
and becomes the catalyst for Fabian’s jealousy.
5. Tinay – Fabian’s wife; quiet, caring, mother to their child Trining.
6. Trining – Fabian and Tinay’s young daughter; symbolizes domestic
innocence.

Fabian and his younger brother Vidal spend a hot afternoon working in the
rice fields. Vidal's charm, strength, and good looks draw admiration from
women—but trigger deep envy in Fabian. He suggests Vidal marry Milia, a
local woman whose father owns carabaos, to help their farming needs. Vidal
respectfully declines, interested in pursuing life outside the farm.

Their conversation is interrupted when Miss Francia, a sculptor working on

a statue, appears. She compliments Vidal's physique and asks him to model
for her artwork. Fabian watches with growing resentment. Seeing an
opportunity, Fabian lies to Miss Francia: he tells her that Vidal actually got
Milia pregnant, preventing him from going to model in the city. She
believes him and decides Vidal will stay—instead, she asks Fabian to step in
as model. Overjoyed by the opportunity and cash, Fabian agrees.
That evening, Fabian returns home boasting about his new role, while Vidal
and Tinay discuss his willingness to marry Milia. Vidal notices Fabian
obsessively washing and examining his arms, seeing the jealousy that drives
him.
While Fabian basks in Miss Francia’s praise and the 20-peso payment, Vidal
maintains dignity. Miss Francia’s statue project—meant to capture beauty
and form—ironically exposes Fabian’s inner turmoil: he “destroys things of
beauty” because they cause him hurt.

The Chieftest Mourner by Aida Rivera Ford

CHARACTERS:
1. Narrator (Niece) – A 16-year-old college freshman recalling her uncle’s
funeral and reflecting on conflicting loyalties.
2. Uncle (the Poet) – A gifted but troubled Filipino poet whose life was
marked by alcoholism, creative brilliance, and divided affections between
two women.
3. Aunt Sophia – The poet’s first wife; dignified, loyal, and emotionally
wounded by his departure—but still outwardly composed at his funeral.
4. Esa (the Mistress) – The second woman, younger and wealthy. She
loved and cared for the poet, even sacrificing her own assets to support
him during illness. At the funeral, she becomes identified as “the Loyal
One.”

The story is narrated by a young woman who attends the funeral of her
famous poet uncle. At the wake, she witnesses a quiet conflict between
Aunt Sophia, the poet’s legal wife, and Esa, his long-time mistress who
cared for him in his final years.

Though Aunt Sophia holds the official title of wife, it was Esa who remained
by the poet’s side during his sickness and death. As tensions rise, the
narrator reflects on who truly deserves to grieve the most—the woman
with the title, or the woman who loved and cared for him deeply.

The story ends with a powerful question: who is the true mourner when
love and loyalty defy social norms?

Love in the Cornhusks by Aida Rivera Ford

CHARACTERS:
1. Tinang (Constantina Tirol) – The protagonist, now married with a baby;
visits her former employer and confronts past emotions.
2. Señora – Tinang’s former mistress; still caring and supportive.
3. Tito – Señora’s young son, who greets Tinang warmly.
4. Amado Galuran – Tinang’s first love and former tractor driver; wrote her
a love letter.
5. Tinang’s Bagobo Husband (Inggo) – Her current husband and father of
her child.
6. Bagobito – Tinang’s baby boy.
7. Drugstore/Postmaster – Person who holds the letter Tinang receives.

Set in a Filipino barrio, Tinang (Constantina Tirol) quits working for Señora
when she marries a Bagobo man and has a child. As she prepares for her
baby’s baptism, she returns to Señorita’s home to ask her to be the
godmother, and is welcomed by Tito, Señora’s son.

Before leaving, Señora tells Tinang that a letter awaits her at the local
drugstore. Tinang, anxious, fetches the letter while carrying her baby and
walks along a muddy path under a kalamansi tree. When she sits on a bed
of cornhusks to rest and read, she discovers the letter is from Amado
Galuran, her ex-boyfriend and tractor driver, expressing that he still loves
her and regrets their separation—explaining that he left to care for his ill
mother.

Though the letter rekindles old emotions, Tinang is already married and
pregnant again. As she reads, she spots a snake near her baby, which
shocks her back to reality. She quickly gathers her child and leaves,
inadvertently dropping the letter among the cornhusks.

May Day Eve by Nick Joaquin

CHARACTERS:
1. Agueda – A strong-willed, beautiful woman who challenges societal
norms. She performs the May Day Eve ritual and later marries Badoy.
2. Badoy Montiya – A charming young man who also performs the ritual;
later marries Agueda, but their marriage becomes unhappy.
3. Granddaughter – The story’s young narrator who listens to her
grandmother’s tale about love and marriage.
4. Don Badoy (Old Badoy) – Now an old man, Badoy reflects bitterly on his
past with Agueda and realizes how differently they remembered their
love.
5. Old Agueda – Mentioned in Badoy's memory as having once called him a
"devil"; has already passed away.

Set in 19th-century Manila, the story begins with a young girl listening to
her grandmother, Agueda, recounting a mystical ritual she once
performed on May Day Eve. According to legend, if you look into a mirror at
midnight, you will see the face of your future spouse—or the devil.

Years earlier, young Agueda and Badoy, out of youthful curiosity and
pride, both secretly perform the ritual. Agueda sees Badoy’s face in the
mirror and calls him a devil; Badoy sees Agueda and thinks she’s a witch.
Despite this strange beginning, they marry.

Later in life, however, their marriage becomes filled with bitterness and
regret. Badoy remembers Agueda as cruel and cold, while he hears from his
granddaughter that Agueda once said he was a devil. This ironic twist reveals
that both saw each other as the "devil" they feared—symbolizing the
disillusionment that came with time, pride, and failed expectations.

Scent of Apples by Bienvenido Santos

CHARACTERS:
1. Bienvenido Santos (Narrator) – A Filipino writer visiting the United
States for a lecture. He reflects on homesickness and Filipino identity
abroad.
2. Celestino “Celo” Fabia – A Filipino immigrant who owns an apple farm
in Michigan. Hospitable and humble, he symbolizes the quiet loneliness of
immigrants.
3. Ruth Fabia – Celo’s American wife. Kind and simple, representing the
blending of two cultures.
4. Their son – A young Filipino-American boy, representing a new
generation far from the Philippines.

The narrator, Bienvenido Santos, travels to Kalamazoo, Michigan, to

give a lecture. Afterward, he meets Celo Fabia, a Filipino immigrant who
invites him to visit his home and apple farm. Celo warmly welcomes Santos
and shares stories about his life in America, his marriage to an American
woman, and the emotional distance from his homeland.
As Santos observes the modest home and apple orchard, he notices the
scent of apples—a symbol of the immigrant experience: sweet, foreign,
and nostalgic. Despite his stable life in America, Celo expresses longing for
the Philippines, especially for things like native food, language, and
warmth of culture.

The story closes with Santos reflecting on how that scent—the apples—will
always remind him of the quiet sadness and strength of Filipinos who live
far from home, adapting to a new life while yearning for the old one.

Footnote to Youth by Jose Garcia Villa

CHARACTERS:
1. Dodong – The main character, a 17-year-old Filipino boy who insists on
marrying young. The story follows his journey from idealism to regret.
2. Teang – Dodong’s wife. She also married young and later wonders what
her life could’ve been like if she had waited.
3. Dodong’s Father – Initially reluctant to allow Dodong to marry so young
but gives in silently. He represents wisdom through experience.
4. Blas – Dodong and Teang’s eldest son. When he turns 18, he also decides
to marry young—just like his father once did.
5. Lucio – Teang’s former suitor, whom she didn’t choose. He never married
and represents the life she might have had.

Dodong, a confident 17-year-old, asks his father for permission to marry

Teang, believing he is ready for adult life. Though his father is hesitant and
silently disapproving, he allows it. Dodong feels proud and hopeful about
starting family young.
Years later, Dodong and Teang have several children. Life turns out to be
much harder than he expected—filled with labor, sacrifice, and routine.
Teang quietly regrets marrying so young, though she doesn't say it aloud.

When Dodong’s own son Blas turns 18 and declares he wants to marry,
Dodong is struck with regret and helplessness, realizing the cycle is
repeating. He wants to advise his son—but, like his own father before him, he
says nothing.

The Fence by Jose Garcia Villa

CHARACTERS:
1. Aling Biang – A deeply hurt woman who builds a physical and emotional
fence between herself and her neighbor after being betrayed.
2. Aling Sebia – The neighbor and former friend of Aling Biang; she is the
other party in the conflict and represents the pain of broken trust.
3. Iking – Aling Biang’s son, whose innocence and actions eventually lead to
reconciliation.
4. Other neighbors (minor) – Serve as background observers of the feud.

The story centers around two women, Aling Biang and Aling Sebia, who
were once close neighbors and friends. Their relationship is destroyed when
Aling Sebia becomes involved with Aling Biang’s husband, who
eventually leaves Aling Biang. In response, Aling Biang builds a literal
bamboo fence between their houses—a symbol of the emotional wall
between them.
Years pass with cold silence and tension, despite living side by side.
Iking, Aling Biang’s young son, plays near the fence and befriends Aling
Sebia, unaware of the past hurt. One day, Iking becomes seriously ill, and
Aling Sebia shows concern, visiting him and helping care for him.

This act of kindness breaks down the emotional walls. The women
reconcile, not with dramatic apologies, but with quiet acceptance and
understanding. The fence, both physical and symbolic, no longer holds
power over them.

How My Brother Leon Brought Home a Wife by Manuel Arguilla

CHARACTERS:
1. Baldo – The young narrator and younger brother of Leon. He observes
and evaluates the situation with quiet curiosity.
2. Leon (also called Noel) – Baldo’s older brother. He brings home his wife
to meet their family in the province.
3. Maria – Leon’s city-born wife. She is refined, gentle, and eager to impress
Leon’s rural family.
4. Father – The boys’ father, traditional and wise. He tests Maria’s character
indirectly.
5. Mother – Mentioned but does not appear directly in the story.
6. Labang – The family’s bull, which pulls the cart. A symbol of rural life and
tradition.
The story follows Baldo, a young boy, as he accompanies his older brother
Leon (also called Noel) and Leon’s new wife Maria from the outskirts of
the village to their family home. Maria is from the city, and this is her first
visit to the countryside.

Their father instructs Baldo to take a less-traveled, rough road instead of

the usual one—a subtle way to test Maria’s strength and character. During
the journey, Maria shows grace, patience, and respect for rural customs,
despite being unfamiliar with them.

When they finally arrive, Father observes Maria silently, judging her not
by words but by her actions and attitude. Maria passes this quiet test with
humility and kindness, showing that she’s ready to be part of a
traditional, rural family.

The Mats by Francisco Arcellana

CHARACTERS:
1. Mr. Angeles – The father of the family. A loving and thoughtful man who
brings home handwoven mats as gifts after a business trip.
2. Mrs. Angeles – The mother. Caring and emotional, especially when
remembering her deceased children.
3. The Angeles Children – Several living children who each receive a
special mat with their name and design.
4. The Three Deceased Children (Victoria, Concepcion, and Angelita)
– Their memories are honored with special mats made by Mr. Angeles,
surprising and touching the family.

Mr. Angeles, a devoted father, returns home from a business trip and brings
back beautifully crafted handwoven mats (banig) as gifts for each of his
children and his wife. Each mat is personalized with the recipient’s name and
design reflecting their personality.

However, the emotional heart of the story comes when Mr. Angeles also
brings mats for their three deceased children—Victoria, Concepcion,
and Angelita. This act surprises and moves the family, especially Mrs.
Angeles, who is overcome with emotion. Through this gesture, Mr. Angeles
shows that although his children are gone, they are never forgotten.

The story closes with the family silently accepting the mats, symbolizing
love, remembrance, and family unity even through loss.

Flowers of May by Francis Arcellana

CHARACTERS:
1. The Narrator (Father) – A reflective father who recounts the death and
burial of his young daughter.
2. The Daughter – The child who has passed away; her innocence and early
death are central to the story.
3. The Wife (Mother) – Grieving deeply for her daughter; emotional, quiet,
and broken by the loss.
4. The Priest / Church Community – Represent religious and social
traditions around mourning and burial.
5. Neighbors / Other Children – Seen during the procession and in
contrast to the daughter’s death; they symbolize life continuing.
The story is told from the perspective of a father who is dealing with the
loss of his young daughter, who has recently died. The events unfold
around the wake, the funeral procession, and the burial. The family is
crushed with grief, especially the mother, who weeps in silence. The story
captures the emotional weight of losing a child — not just through crying
and sorrow, but through the heavy stillness in the house, the rituals of
death, and the father’s quiet reflections.

During the burial procession, there is a jarring moment: flowers are

scattered and the procession is slowed by the crowd, and the narrator notes
how the beauty of the day—sunlight, flowers, singing—seems painfully out
of place compared to their grief. The story draws on the contrast between
life and death, especially in the month of May, when flowers bloom and
festivities like Flores de Mayo take place. Yet for this family, May is a time
of mourning. The “flowers of May” come to symbolize not celebration,
but the ephemeral beauty of life—especially a young one taken too soon.

My Father Goes to Court by Carlos Bulosan

CHARACTERS:
1. Narrator – A young boy who tells the humorous story of his family’s run-
in with the law.
2. Father – A lively, clever, and witty man who uses humor and logic to
defend his family in court.
3. Mother – Kind and supportive, part of the joyful household.
4. Sick Rich Neighbor – A wealthy man who accuses the narrator’s family
of "stealing" the smell of his food.
5. Rich Neighbor’s Children – Quiet and pale, in contrast to the narrator’s
vibrant family.
6. Judge – Amused by the father's antics; oversees the court case.
7. Narrator’s Siblings – Playful and energetic; part of the happy, noisy
home.
8. Lawyer – Represents the rich man and files the complaint.

The story takes place in a small Philippine town. The narrator’s family is
poor but full of laughter, energy, and joy, while their rich neighbor
lives in silence and sickness, despite being wealthy and having plenty of
food. Every day, the narrator’s family smells the delicious food coming
from the rich man’s house, but they are too poor to buy any themselves.
Still, they grow strong and healthy, while the rich man’s children remain pale
and weak.

Eventually, the rich man files a complaint, accusing the narrator’s family of
stealing the smell of his food. The case goes to court, and the narrator’s
father cleverly defends the family. In a humorous twist, the father
shakes coins in a straw hat, saying that the sound of money is
payment for the smell of food—since both are intangible. The judge and
audience laugh, and the case is dismissed, showing the father’s wit and
the absurdity of the complaint.

Happiest Boy in the World by NVM Gonzales

CHARACTERS:
1. Julio – A farmer and father who writes a letter to Don Severino, asking if
his son can stay at the boarding house and go to school.
2. Jose – Julio’s 12-year-old son who is excited to attend school in town for
the first time; the “happiest boy in the world.”
3. Don Severino – A landowner and old acquaintance of Julio; owns the
boarding house where Jose will stay.
4. Jose’s Mother – Mentioned in the letter; supports their son’s education.
5. Julio’s Wife (Cousin of Don Severino) – Mentioned as the family
connection that helps secure lodging for Jose.

Julio, a humble tenant farmer, writes a formal letter to his former landlord,
Don Severino, asking if his 12-year-old son Jose can stay at Don Severino’s
house while he attends school in town. Julio is not well-educated himself,
but he wants a better future for Jose. He even offers to pay a small fee,
despite their modest means.

As he sends the letter with his son, Julio reflects on his own difficult life
and the sacrifices he and his wife have made. Jose, in contrast, is filled with
excitement, wearing new clothes and carrying fresh school supplies. The
story closes with Jose grinning joyfully as he walks off with the letter in his
hand, filled with hope and pride, making him truly the “happiest boy in
the world.”

Five Brothers, One Mother by Exie Abola

CHARACTERS:
1. The Narrator – One of the five sons; introspective and observant. He
reflects on the family’s grief and dynamics after their mother’s death.
2. The Mother – A deeply loved and respected woman whose death brings
emotional upheaval to her sons.
3. The Five Brothers – Each brother processes grief differently; they
represent varying emotional reactions (silence, control, anger, withdrawal,
 etc.).
4. Other Family Members – Extended relatives who are present at the
funeral but remain in the background.

The story opens with the death of the narrator’s mother, a deeply
emotional moment for him and his four brothers. The narrator, one of the
five sons, takes us through their experience during the wake and funeral,
focusing on how each brother handles grief differently, revealing the
quiet complexities of masculinity, love, and loss.

The mother, while already gone, is present in every memory and gesture.
She was the unifying figure in the family, a strong presence in each of the
boys’ lives. Despite this shared connection, the brothers struggle to
express their emotions openly, as societal expectations of male
strength and silence weigh heavily on them.

Each brother responds in his own way:

 One becomes rigidly formal, focused on rituals.
 Another stays emotionally distant, retreating into silence.
 A third becomes easily irritated, lashing out under the weight of
sadness.
 The narrator himself feels detached but inwardly torn, caught between
observing and grieving.
 The fifth brother shows subtle vulnerability, perhaps the only one who
allows the grief to soften him.
Throughout the story, the narrator reflects on the ways they loved their
mother—not always expressed in words, but in actions, memory, and
presence. At one point, they all ride together in a car, seated shoulder to
shoulder, filled with unspoken pain. It's in these quiet moments—awkward
silences, sideways glances, and unfinished sentences—that the depth
of their grief becomes most powerful.
At the funeral, the narrator feels the finality of the loss when he sees the
casket being lowered. Though no one openly weeps or breaks down, the
shared stillness among the brothers says enough. Their mourning is
inward, restrained, but profound. In the end, while they don’t express
love for each other in obvious ways, the reader understands that their bond
remains—tied by the woman who raised them all, and whose absence now
forces them to see each other differently.

We Filipinos are Mild Drinkers by Alejandro Roces

CHARACTERS:
1. Narrator – A witty Filipino man who describes (in English) his drinking
experience with an American soldier, trying to sound polite and modest
while cleverly outdrinking him.
2. Joe – An American soldier and the narrator’s drinking companion;
unaware of the Filipino custom of pretending to be a "mild" drinker.
3. The Narrator’s Friends – Unnamed, but present during the drinking
session. They follow the narrator’s lead and play along with the humor.

The story is a humorous anecdote told by a Filipino narrator who claims

that Filipinos are “mild drinkers”—meaning they don't drink too much.
But as the story unfolds, it becomes clear that this modesty is actually a
clever trick.

The narrator describes how he and his friends drank with Joe, an American
soldier stationed in the Philippines. They keep telling Joe that they don’t
drink much, just “one bottle,” and insist he drink first out of politeness.
However, each time Joe drinks, the narrator and his friends secretly
do too—often more than one.
Eventually, Joe gets so drunk he falls asleep, while the Filipinos remain
standing and even carry him home. The story ends with the narrator’s
punchline: “We are really mild drinkers.” It’s a playful jab at cultural
differences, showing how Filipinos often use humor, politeness, and
understatement to outwit others.

The Virgin by Kerima Polotan Tuvera

CHARACTERS:
1. Miss Mijares – The protagonist; a 34-year-old unmarried woman (a
"spinster") who works as a dedicated office employee. She is repressed,
dutiful, and constantly sacrificing her own desires for her mother and job.
2. The Carpenter – A rugged, quiet man hired by Miss Mijares’s office. He
awakens feelings in her that she has long suppressed.
3. Miss Mijares’s Mother – Sickly and dependent; part of the reason Miss
Mijares has lived a life of sacrifice.
4. Boss/Employer – Miss Mijares's superior who indirectly shapes her
overworked lifestyle.
5. Other Office Workers – Minor characters who contrast Miss Mijares's
restrained nature.

Miss Mijares is a 34-year-old Filipina, single and burdened by years of

duty and self-denial. She lives a quiet, controlled life, working in an
office where she is competent and serious. She cares for her ailing mother,
and although she never openly complains, readers sense the emotional
weight she carries.

When the office hires a new carpenter to help with repairs, Miss Mijares
begins to feel unexpected attraction to him. He is strong, reserved, and
masculine—everything that contrasts with her structured and reserved life.
Despite her strict exterior, she begins to long for connection, though she
resists her emotions, conditioned by years of restraint and propriety.
One rainy evening, circumstances force them to share a calesa ride. In
a moment of emotional vulnerability and physical closeness, Miss Mijares
finally gives in to her feelings and they have an intimate encounter,
possibly for the first time in her life. Yet afterward, she is left confused,
perhaps even ashamed, as the moment highlights the deep loneliness and
years of missed opportunities.

The story ends not with resolution, but with quiet bitterness and
realization: that her identity, shaped by duty and repression, has cost her
the emotional fulfillment she secretly longed for. The title “The Virgin” is
both literal and metaphorical—symbolizing her inexperience, restraint,
and inner conflict between passion and responsibility.

The Dancers by Alberto S. Florentino

CHARACTERS:
1. Nena – The eldest sister who becomes a nightclub dancer to support her
family. She is protective, self-sacrificing, and misunderstood.
2. Mario – Nena’s younger brother; a bright student who is ashamed of
Nena’s profession and struggles with accepting her sacrifices.
3. Mother – Sickly and dependent on Nena. Though silent for most of the
play, she symbolizes the burden that keeps Nena working.
4. Tony – A family friend or suitor who understands Nena and offers
sympathy and possible support.
5. Other Dancers / Off-stage figures – Referenced to show the social
environment Nena is part of.

The Dancers is a powerful one-act play set in a poor Filipino household.

Nena, the eldest daughter, works as a nightclub dancer—a job frowned
upon by society but necessary for her family's survival. She is the
breadwinner, taking care of her sick mother and supporting her younger
brother, Mario, so he can finish school and have a better future.

Mario is a promising student but is deeply ashamed of Nena’s profession.

He confronts her, accusing her of being immoral and dishonorable. Nena,
hurt but composed, explains her reasons: poverty left her no choice, and
she only dances to earn money, not to dishonor herself. She reveals the
harsh truth of their situation—without her, the family would collapse.

Through their conversation, the audience witnesses the tension between

morality and survival, and how poverty forces people into roles they
never wanted. Despite the judgment she faces, Nena's actions stem from
love, duty, and sacrifice. In the end, Mario, though still conflicted, begins
to see the depth of Nena’s love and the cost of her choices. The play
ends on a bittersweet note, with dignity in sacrifice as its core message.

Like a Molave by Rafael Zulueta da Costa & Grow and Be Like a

Molave by Manuel Quezon

“Like a Molave” is a patriotic poem that calls upon the Filipino people—
especially the youth—to rise up with strength and resilience. The poem is a
reflection on the country’s colonial past and a plea to build a stronger,
independent future.

The speaker addresses national heroes like Rizal, saying that while they
gave their lives for freedom, the spirit of true nationhood has not yet
fully grown. The country still suffers from weakness, dependence, and lack
of direction. The molave tree, known for being strong, sturdy, and resilient,
becomes the central symbol of what Filipinos should be like—rooted, firm,
and unyielding.
The poet hopes that the next generation will possess the courage,
character, and discipline needed to uphold the freedom the heroes fought
for. The message is that true independence doesn't end with political
freedom; it must grow in the hearts and character of the people.