RENZ MARION F. GARCIA FEB.

16, 2011
2A13 L.L URQUIOLA

Dead Stars

1. What comes to your mind when you hear the word “star”? What kind of value
do we ascribe to this particular heavenly entity?
The first thing that pops up into my mind whenever I heard the word star is
that I associate star with stardom or how great a person is. We often associated
the word star to a person who is great in his/her field.

2. Why is the story titled Dead Stars?

Scientifically, stars have a lifespan. Whenever a star died, though it
consumes all its life, it remains glowing and shimmering above the sky. Just like
the love of Alfredo to Julia after the years, he still remembered those cherished
moments with her but Alfredo was shocked in knowing that his love for Julia has
faded away.

3. The two women in the story Julia and Esperanza represent two kinds of love.
How did they express their love for Alfredo?
Esperanza truly loved Alfredo; she patiently waits for Alfredo with
calmness and stillness in her heart.

4. Why did Alfredo defend Calixta, the maid Esperanza said eloped with a
married man?
Defending Calixta is synonymously defending himself and Julia Sales. He
simply doesn’t get straight to the point, but he fills the shoes of Calixta to
somehow emphatize to the situation.

5. Why didn’t Julia confront Alfredo when she learned that he was getting
married?
Whether Julia has feelings for Alfredo or she doesn’t love him, Julia
doesn’t want to interfere between Esperanza and Alfredo. She might produce a
big mess once Alfredo of Esperanza for her.

6. Was Alfredo insensitive when he invited Julia to attend his wedding?

Alferdo is not insensitive since he knew for sure that his love for Julia
didn’t worked out because of Julia having no affection in return.

7. What did Alfredo realize when he saw Julia after many years? What do you
think is Alfredo’s biggest mistake? Explain your answer.
Alfredo realized that her love for Julia was already gone. I think Alfredo’s
biggest mistake is that he was carried away in love so fast to Julia without even
considering his responsibility he has for the past and future with Esperanza.
RENZ MARION F. GARCIA FEB.16, 2011
2A13 L.L URQUIOLA

The Small Key

1. Using Pedro and Soledad, the main characters, as point of reference, what
specific gender role are delineated in the story?
Males and females have their roles of handling work and family life. Males
are out working and making money for their family and highly insist their spouse
taking any job. It is the male figure who takes care of the family and if he cannot
provide, he is not doing his job. Females are required to stay at home and do the
chores like cook and clean.

2. Do the names of the characters have some kind of significance to their

portrayal in the story?
Yes. Pedro came from the Greek word Petros implying the endurance and
steadiness of his character. While Soledad came from the word solitude implying
the remoteness that Soledad felt in the story.

3. Why did Soledad think that the trunk of Pedro’s dead wife is something that
threatens her beautiful relationship with her husband?
Soledad makes it to the point that she even thought threatened because
she presumed Pedro still has the love for his dead wife and still has place in his
heart. She was insecure that Pedro might not fully express his love for Soledad.

4. Does Pedro love Soledad? If so, why does Pedro still keep the belongings of
his dead wife?
Definitely. Pedro really cares about Soledad, he has the ideals of a good
husband: responsible and thoughtful. If Pedro has to reason out why he still kept
the belongings of his dead wife, simply because he wanted to commemorate his
dead wife and as part of his life and memories.

5. Pedro discovered, towards the end of the story, what Soledad did to his first
wife’s things. Would this incident affect Pedro and Soledad’s relationship as
husband and wife? How?
It will somehow affect the husband and wife relationship between Pedro
and Soledad, but Pedro, being a thoughtful, humble, and understanding husband
will help their relationship still worked out.

6. Who do you think committed a graver mistake, Pedro (for keeping his dead
wife’s things) or Soledad (for burning them)?
I think Pedro committed a graver mistake than Soledad. He should let
Soledad know of his belongings in the first place onset of their relationship. I
think Soledad was just carried away by her repressed emotions and bitterness.