Term Analysis

Analysis
Of
Philippine Literature

Submitted To:
Prof. Jucaban

Submitted By:
Maureen L. Gallano AB-2B

Sonia by Francisco Icasiano

Analysis of Sonia

Sonia is a sort story describing the author's attempts to cope with the sudden and early death of his favorite daughter and his wish to somehow channel his grief and pain to improve his creativity and art.
He begins by claiming pain can be beautiful as long as the individual is able to rise above the depression and hopes his tale will help others use their pain in order to grow in character.

He then reminisces about his daughter, Sonia, recognizing all the possible things she could have accomplished if she had been given the chance. Though he is clearly feeling the sharp ache of her loss, he finds comfort in advice offered to him in the idea that he will always remember as a child. Rather than become bitter and angry as some higher power for 'stealing' his daughter away too early, he remembers everything that he loved about her. He attempts to use her innocence and confidence at times when he is feeling especially alone and weak.
The tone of the story then changes and focus on Sonia is slightly lost. He speaks of a form of 'premonition' that he had days before her death, in which he saw her die. Before he dismissed it, he pondered the effects it would have upon his 'art' as pain always intensifies creativity. However, he reasoned that he would never be willing to pay such a price just to be a great artist and nothing could ever be worth that kind of suffering.

After her death he speaks of his suicidal feelings yet his prediction was right in the fact that his work did improve as he attempted to release his pain onto paper.
Icasiano becomes rather philosophical upon the conclusion of the story as he ponders the meaning of our reality. He presents a theory that our current world is but a dream and our true lives begin on the other side of infinity i.e. Life after death. He concludes by saying this realization is what will make him a truly brilliant artist and he longs for a time when he might be reunited with Sonia once more.

HOW MY BROTHER LEON BROUGHT HOME A WIFE
By: Manuel E. Arguilla
This story is written by Manuel E. Arguilla. There were many characters involved in this story, one of them is Baldo. Baldo was the one who narrated the story. He was the younger brother of Leon. He was an obedient, innocent and naive young boy. Another character is Leon. Leon was the one who brought home a wife. He was a responsible, gentle and a loving husband. Then, another character is Maria. Maria had been born and grew up in a big city. She was the wife of Leon. She was a supportive, creative and a loving wife. Father was the one who instructed Baldo on what he will do while he is on the road together with Leon and Maria. He made an ingenious way to find out if Maria is really worthy to live in a rural place.
The story did explain some ways on what is the meaning of true love and how this true love can be shown. I’ve also included values in the story or attitudes that each character possessed like the obedience of Baldo, being supportive of Maria, being responsible of Leon and the hardworking Labang.
This story shows uniqueness because it has its own moral value that readers may follow it. The author is very good in making techniques in writing that can make readers be more interested in the story.

The Chieftest Mourner
By: Aida Rivera Ford

Summary
This is a short story authored by Aida Rivera Ford. The story is all about the death of the narrator’s uncle. It is a story with a focal point focused on love and innocence in the context of death. At the establishing point of the story, the first story lines already shows a tint of innocence and simplicity but the gloomy tone of the story is already felt. The situation is just a very typical scenario in the Philippines but through the writer’s prolific used of diction and imagery a common situation is turned into something new – a work of art. As you look at it, the plot is so simple. But what will move most of the readers is the author’s command of language and smooth flow of situations.
Characters
The single main character about whom the story centers is the poet who passed away. Because this poet has two wives, wherein these wives are arguing about their rights to him most specially on his wake. He is the one on why he was separated from his legal wife and he is also the one who gets another one to be his wife. Also he has this close connection to his niece wherein his niece is the speaker of the story.
Setting
It predominant in a sense that it all happen in the wake that all of the actions and emotions of the characters.
Point of view
The niece of the poet is the one who tells the story for what happened on the wake and the flashback scenes. The first person is used as the point of view wherein the narrator is a character in the story, the story is told in the first-person point of view. The narrator uses the first-person pronouns I and me.
Theme
The general theme is a story with a focal point focused on love and innocence in the context of death. The underlying theme is the disloyalty of people through their love ones.