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The Rainy Day ( A Poem)

The Rainy Day ( A Poem) Title: The Rainy Day  Author: Henry Wadsworth Longfellow Author's Background: The most widely known and best-loved American poet of his lifetime, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow achieved a level of national and international prominence previously unequaled in the literary history of the United States.  Analysis: Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s Rainy Day uses the themes youth and grief to show how much our past and future experiences affect our lives and how though we face multiple struggles in life we can overcome them. There is always a time in our life when we realize that those days are gone. The days to go out and play, those days of innocence and happiness, those days when we were shielded from the real world. As we grow older and wiser and gain more experiences 
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To Whom Shall I Tell My Sorrow

To Whom Shall I Tell My Sorrow Title: To whom shall I Tell my Sorrow Author: Anton Chekhov Author’s Background:  Anton Pavlovich Chekhov was a Russian playwright and short-story writer, who is considered to be among the greatest writers of short fiction in history. Vocabulary: mare – an adult female horse or equine. nag – old horse. galosh – a waterproof overshoe. Typically made of rubber. epithet – an adjective or phrase expressing a quality or attribute regarded as characteristic of the person or thing mentioned. Characters: Iona Potapov – T he driver, takes several fares and each time tries to share his grief with his passengers. Iona’s Horse – Iona potav's horse An officer –   The officer that  is in a hurry. The three young men –   They have their own problems. They are loud and abusive toward  Iona. They are numbed by alcohol. One of the men is a sick  hunchback. He is especially miserable. The hunchback reacts to...

A Night In The Hills

A Night In The Hills Title : A Night In The Hills Author : Paz Márquez – Benítez Author’s Background :  Born in 1894 in Lucena, Tayabas (now Quezon). Marquez – Benítez authored the first Filipino modern English language short story, Dead Stars, published in the Philippine Herald in 1925. Born into the prominent Marquez family of Quezon province, she was among the first generation of Filipino people trained in the American education system which used English as the medium of instruction. She graduated high school in Tayabas High School now, Quezon National High School. She was a member of the first freshman class of the University of the Philippines, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1912. Vocabulary:  azotea – a flat roof. carreton – a cart with firewood being pulled by a horse. kaingin – employing a technique of clearing land by slashing and burning underbush and trees and plowing the ashes under for fertilizer. camisa de chino – an undershir...

Dead Stars

Title: Dead Stars  Author: Paz Marques Benitez Author's Background: Paz Marquez Benitez (1894-1983) only had one more published short story after “Dead Stars.” Nevertheless, she made her mark in Philippine literature because her work is considered the first modern Philippine short story. Vocabulary: concreteness -  is an aspect of communication that means being specific, definite, and vivid rather than vague and general. tranquil - free from disturbance; calm. azotea - a flat roof or platform on the top of a house or other building. puttering - occupy oneself in a desultory but pleasant way. nasally - by inhaling through the nose contempt - the feeling that a person or a thing is worthless or beneath consideration.  perfervid - intense and impassioned. glorification - the action of describing or representing something as admirable, especially unjustifiably.  monotonies - lack of variety and interest; tedious repetition and routine. wistf...

How My Brother Leon Brought home a Wife

Title: How My Brother Leon Brought home a Wife Author: Manuel Arguilla Author's Background: Ilocano writer in English. Born in Barrio Nagrebcam in Bauang,La Union on June 17, 1911. Known for his widely Anthologized short story "How my Brother Leon Brought Home a Wife," which won first prize in the Commonwealth Literary Contest in 1940. Vocabulary: daintily - in an attractive, careful way, especially used about something small or having small movements. cud - partly digested food returned from the first stomach of ruminants to the mouth for further chewing. forelock - a lock of hair growing just above the forehead. fare - the money paid for a journey on public transport. rattling - making a series of knocking sounds. dike - is a sheet of rock that is formed in a fracture in a pre-existing rock body. hitched - move (something) into a different position with a jerk. Characters: Noel/Leon - Older brother of Baldo, Maria's Husband. Baldo - Noel/Leon...

Visitation Of The Gods

Title: Visitation Of The Gods Author: Gilda Cordero Fernando Author's Background: A writer and publisher from the Philippines. She was born in Manila, has a B.A. from St. Theresa's College-Manila, and an M.A. from the Ateneo de Manila University. Vocabulary: Transom - the flat surface forming the stern of a boat. assiduous - showing great care and perseverance. tangible - perceptible by touch. bureaucratic - relating to a system of government in which most of the important decisions are taken by state officials rather than by elected representatives. denuded - strip (something) of its covering, possessions, or assets. imperturbable - unable to be upset or excited; calm. shawl - a piece of fabric worn by women over the shoulders or head or wrapped round a baby. jowls - the lower part of a person's or animal's cheek, especially when it is fleshy or drooping. gallantly - in a brave or heroic manner. rigmarole - a lengthy and complicated procedure. aplomb - ...

Footnote To Youth

Title: Footnote To Youth Author: Jose Garcia Villa Author Background: Jose Garcia Villa was a Filipino poet, literary critic, short story writer, and painter. He was awarded the National Artist of the Philippines title for literature in 1973, as well as the Guggenheim Fellowship in creative writing by Conrad Aiken. Vocabulary: hazy - covered by a haze. climacteric - a critical period or event. burrow - a hole or tunnel dug by a small animal, especially a rabbit, as a dwelling. insolent - showing a rude and arrogant, lack of respect. virility - The quality of having strength , energy, and a strong sex drive; manliness. cursorily - to be hasty, quick to go over something. invigorating -  Making one feel so strong. begrimed - blacken with ingrained dirt. healthy, and full of energy. obliquely - not in a direct way; indirectly. beckon - make a gesture with the hand, arm, or head to encourage or instruct someone to approach or follow. Characters: Dodong - T...