The sadness collector

 The story represents the importance of the specific roles played by each of the members
of a Filipino family. It is evident that a mother and a father in a Filipino family tends to
have a very distant role to perform in the household. The father should be the bread-
winner while the mother should stay at home taking care of the kids. In the story The
Sadness Collector they have seemed to break tradition. The mother went to Paris to work
and actually be the bread winner while the father, although still working, stayed at home
with Rica. In the absence of the mother, the Filipino perspective that the mother is the
best person who can look out for the welfare of her child/children was represented in the
story seeing Rica as a confused and disturbed child because her mom is not by her side.
The father was so hard to connect with Rica because of the reason that it was hard for
himself to accept the fact that he had to stay with his child which is for him is not his real
role. Seeing this situation, I can say that a Filipino family tends to be more patriarchal and
breaking this tradition seemed to be, for the many, ruining of the family. What is also
evident here in this selection is the perspective of the very big role played by the mother
in the Filipino family, they keep family ties and a child without a mother by his/her side
tends to grow out of the way, being an incomplete person inside.

The short story, The Sadness Collector is about a girl named Rica who has problems while gr
owing up with her father because her mother works overseas as a domestic helper. After her mo
ther left for Paris shes use to send different gifts to Rica just to show her love and presence. To di
vert Rica’s attention, her father told her a story about a big lady who eats sadness away from ho
uses at night. Her dad told her that if the big lady eats all of their mess, the big lady might grow t
oo fast and burst, so Rica has to be a good girl and save the big lady by not being sad. Ever since
her mother left, Rica would be so eager listen to all of the sounds at the kitchen and waiting for t
he big lady to show up. One night, Rica heard noises again and because of the story that her fath
er made about the lady who eats sadness, she became nervous and afraid that the big lady might
burst but unfortunately it wasn’t even the big lady at all, not even her aunties. But it was only he
r drunk dad. Rica told her dad about her hesitations and her thoughts about the noise she heard
and argued with her dad that it was really the Big Lady. But maybe, because of her dad’s guilt ab
out making a story and about his wreck less actions, he said sorry and assured Rica that big lady c
an’t and won’t get her away from him, and to top it off she assured Rica that he really loves her.
But due to her young mind, Rica tends to wait patiently for Big Lady to appear.

II. THESIS STATEMENTS

Merlinda Bobis “The Sadness Collector” was basically revolves on the theme of diaspora and a yo
ung girl that name Rica who is lack of affection by her parents and a Big Lady that eats sadness.

III. BODY

So the following are the basic literary concepts of The Sadness Collector:
 PLOT

The plot structure is about the losing of a home by some major reasons, such as separation f
rom each other. The techniques of writing is very stylistic and focuses on sociocultural realm of
Merlinda's story. The climax of the story is the part wherein Rica’s father was drunk one night an
d unintentionally struck her. Rica during that time was really sad in a way where she seemed abo
ut to give up. The confusion with regards to the photos her mom sent her and the depression fel
t by her father seemed more than they can handle. In the end, they only have each other which
prompted her father to say “she will never take you away from me”.

SETTINGS

The settings of the said story is revolves around in the house of Rica and the Paris where her
mother work as a domestic helper.

CHARACTERIZATION

The characters of this story are Big Lady, Rica, Father and the Mother.

SYMBOLISM

The symbols being used in this story are as follows:

• BURST- which is big lady getting Rica from her Father.

• PARISIENNE WINTER HAT- in which the mother gave to his daughter Rica and wanted her to go to t
he Paris.

• “Shes licking a spoon for any trace of saltiness” - means the tears of Rica.

• “Rica was not philosophical at all” - this means Rica was gullible.

• Pots, plates, cups and glasses- heart/ container of feelings

• LETTERS- decrease of attention

• PICTURE- mother’s new life

METAPHORS

The metaphors of this story are as follows:

-
“To Rica, it always tastes salty, like tears, even her fathers funny look each time she asks him to re
ad her again the letters from Paris.

- “Like tonight, when she hoped her father would come home early, as he promised again.

- “She likes sadness, its food.

GENRE

The type of genre that the author used in the story is in a narrative form. In which, the sadne
ss collector is a type of short story.

Figurative Speech Being Used

Apostrophe- some absent or nonexistent person or thing is addressed as if

present and capable of understanding.

-“Big Lady”

Hyperbole- wherein the author uses specific words and phrases that exaggerate and overemphas
ize the basic crux of the statement in order to produce a grander, more noticeable effect.

-“So Big Lady can’t get to them. So she can be saved from bursting.”

Metonymy- the use of a term connected with an object to represent the whole.

-”She only comes to eat your sadness.”

Simile- the practice of drawing parallels or comparisons between two unrelated and dissimilar thi
ngs, people, beings, places and concepts.

-
“No, that sound is not the scurrying of mice – she’s actually checking the plates now, lifting the lid o
ff the rice pot, peeking into cups for sadness, both overt and unspoken.”

-”Mouth curved downward, she’s sad like her meals.”

Now, my analysis of this story is I just want to criticize regarding the narration or words being use
d by the author in her story and the way she narrates it to the readers in which for me it was not
really clear and its not easy to understand at first read. For the first timer like me that reads her s
tory is somehow I cannot easily understand the story at all because of the unfamiliar words being
used in the story. As for me who is an average learner, I need to look for a dictionary for me to u
nderstand the word. How about those people that are not much good in English? Especially the c
hildren whose starting to learn? I bet they are struggling to understand the story. My point is, th
e author must used a word that is easy to understand by everyone most especially the children,
why? Because for me this story was very suitable among the children's especially to those who h
ave an OFW parents. This story teaches a lot of moral lesson that the children can get and applie
d to their selves. The Sadness Collector contains so many deep words that you need to read for t
wice just to understand the story and the author must be aware of that. In overall, the story was
really good and if I'll rate it from one to ten, I’ll give ten because this story gives us a lot of lesson.
The form, theme, characterizations, style and all was for me very excellent that’s why I wont be
shocked if the author gets a lot of awards from this story.

So here are the other’s critics opinions:

Author: Maria Nastassja Cordero AB Political Science

The story represents the importance of the specific roles played by each of the members of a Fili
pino family. It is evident that a mother and a father in a Filipino family tends to have a very distan
t role to perform in the household. The father should be the breadwinner while the mother shou
ld stay at home taking care of the kids. In the story The Sadness Collector they have seemed to b
reak tradition. The mother went to Paris to work and actually be the bread winner while the fath
er, although still working, stayed at home with Rica. In the absence of the mother, the Filipino pe
rspective that the mother is the best person who can look out for the welfare of her child/childre
n was represented in the story seeing Rica as a confused and disturbed child because her mom is
not by her side. The father was so hard to connect with Rica because of the reason that it was h
ard for himself to accept the fact that he had to stay with his child which is for him is not his real
role. Seeing this situation, I can say that a Filipino family tends to be more patriarchal and breaki
ng this tradition seemed to be, for the many, ruining of the family. What is also evident here in t
his selection is the perspective of the very big role played by the mother in the Filipino family, th
ey keep family ties and a child without a mother by his/her side tends to grow out of the way, bei
ng an incomplete person inside.

Author: Ivanheck Gatdula AB Political Science

At first glance "The Sadness Collector" seems to be your typical story of a Filipino family, one of
which we see on movies. The mother goes to a foreign country, leaving her children behind, whil
e taking care of a stranger's child with the intent to give a comfortable living for the family. Howe
ver, what seems to be the typical story may be classified as a "daily tragedy", Merlinda Bobis depi
cted the corroding of what is said to be the essence of a Filipino family, "Close Knitted Family Bo
nds". Young girls usually steps within the shadows of their mother, but Rica not like most girls, lo
st the chance in her growing years. Suffering a great loss from the physical distance of the mothe
r from Paris, to the eventual emotional distance of the father, who refuses to read her mother's l
etter an and answer the questions about the baby pictures. In this story it is now obvious that th
e effects is focused on Rica, a model of every Filipino child that never/forgot feeling of the loving
touch of their mothers. In Merlinda Bobis' "poetic" short story leaves an alarming message, a chil
d who lost the joy of being her mother's daughter, Filipino family seized of its very essence - wha
t do we do now?

IV. CONCLUSION

Merlinda Bobis “The Sadness Collector” doesn't only revolves in the theme of diaspora and Rica's
lack of affection to her parents that many of the authors criticize it. But instead you can also
critique some literary concepts such as plot, genre, characters and even the narration in which I
criticize in the story. My only point is that the author must change her style in using words
especially the words that has a deep meaning and unfamiliar to other readers. I believed that
this story could teach us a lot of moral lesson most especially to the children for them to
understand well the situations and reasons of an OFW parents. And in order to achieve that, the
author must use words that can be easy to understand at first read.

Analysis of Banyaga:A Song of War By: Charlson Ong

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1. Charlson Ong is a Filipino-Chinese. Hewas born on July 6, 1960. He currently teaches literature
in Unversity of the Philippines-Diliman. He was awarded because of his novel, “barrassment of
Riches”. He joined several workshops in the philippines and abroad.

2. He’s best known works are, Embarrassment of riches (2002), Banyaga: A song of war (2006),
and Blue Angel, White Shadow (2010)

3. Banyaga: A Song Of War

By: Charlson Ong

A. Meaning according the plot:

1.Symbolic : “Alarm clock”

2. Literal : “Time”

3. Metaphoric : “Call”

B. The authors relation with the main character(s):

1. The authors tells how ernesto faced struggels,pains and hardships in the past and the author
tells also that how difficult when you were outside the country.

2. Center of attraction is how ernesto became a strong man even he faced so many challenges in
his life especially in the past.
3. The environment: The philippines.

4. It shows sadness,anger, hardships ang also unequal treatment to people ang that was not they
deserved to be treat.

4. Plot:

•Ah-Fan send a apology letter to his cousin ernesto because the son of ah-fan, lee hap sun is
not available ,that’s why he send his third son Ah-Bun to be the helper but ernesto saw that
there is a three young boys, but in the end he get his three nephew.

5. Action

• Remembered his experiences in the hand of his uncle, and he don’t want to happened it
again to his three nephews

6. Conflict

A. What problems does the short story present?

• Ernesto was doubting if he will not take his nephews from the custom house because they’re
like him in the past , suffering their

7. Atmosphere

• The atmosphere is real,urban,actual ang conditional to the inhabitants or people

8. Characters:

A.Ernesto- is the main character, he is the one who save his three nephews from the custom
house.

B. Ah-Bun,Ah-Tin- the two nephew

C.Ah-Fan- the cousin of ernesto and who sent a letter

D. Others: yu bien,martin,custom mens

9. Theme:

A. It tell us that we should not let our family experience sufferings o be hurt even though you
had a bad experience in you past.

B. The author wants to tell us that family is one of the greates gift from God
 C. We should love our family unconditionally because family will be our shield if we are facing
some challenges in life.

10. Secondary topics:

• Being an Illegal

11. Structure

A. Introduction

• Ah-Fan sent a letter to ernesto. And saying, he will send his third son to be the helper of
ernesto but his cousin wants money and saying dowhat ever you want into my son.

B. Climax

• Ernesto need one helper but there is three young boys standing in the custom house. He
was just staring at them and wondering which is his nephew

C. Denouement

• He get his three nephews from the custom house he didn’t want to repeat the past again

12. Tone of the short story :

• Merciful

13. Center of interest of the short story:

• If ernesto get his nephews from the custom mens.

14. Personal Value :

A. The author was the real narrator in the story, he just want to tell us the importance of it.

B. The author achieve that he touches the heart of the readers and tell to the readers that
family is very important in our life.

Sunday, January 6, 2019

Critique Paper about The Sadness Collector

 Critique Paper about The Sadness Collector by Merlinda Bobis

The Sadness Collector was a Creative Non-Fiction Literature and a literary work by Merlinda Bobis
that categorized as short story. Now let us talk about the author, Merlinda Bobis was a
contemporary Philippine-Australian writer and academic; was born in Legazpi City at November
25, 1959. Merlinda written many literary pieces in various genres both English and Filipino, her
works were integrates the elements of the traditional culture of the Philippines. Aside The Sadness
Collector her other works are; Rituals: Selected Poems, Summer was a Fast Train without
Terminals, White Turtle, The Kissing, Banana Heart Summer, The Solemn Lantern Maker, Fish-Hair
Woman, The Locust Girl: A Love Song. Now let us talk about The Sadness Collector.

As a reader, I should understand the message that the author made for the story, the
message of the story is Rica was missing the affection of her mother. If we connect it to reality,
many parents made a big decision that they will leave their children to work overseas. To those
children that are being left by their parents will grow up eventually had a revulsion to their parents.

A brief summary to the story is about the little girl named Rica and was sad for her mother
left for Paris to work as a domestic helper, and as stated to the story “since Rica was three, when
her father told her about Big Lady just after her mother left for Paris, she was always listening
intently to all night – noises from the kitchen” it means that when her father shared a story there
was a cause to make a apprehension to Rica’s mind. That made her to rebel herself towards the
family or whatsoever.

But the structure of the story made me confused, because some of the language or in other
words it doesn’t reach my vocabulary. But for how many times I read it, I managed to know the
deep meaning or message of the story and appreciated how beautiful the story is, even though it
has many negative thoughts. Though I am not one of the target readers of the story, but I
understand the message of it.

There is part of the story where Rica and her father talked in a “Taglish” language (Tagalog
– English language) that made me also confused because who is talking is it Rica or her father that
made a cause not to emphasize correctly I realized that it is all in the conversation where the
language is present that made me laugh a little but then, the author did well to explain the story
very well.
The beautiful moral of the story and leaves a lesson of it reflect to the people or families
that had been left by their loved ones just to work overseas. I’ve encountered many children
suffered like how Rica suffered too. As a reader to The Sadness Collector, I’ve found this story a
little bit confusing because of some parts doesn’t reached my vocabulary and realized that the
story seems confusing because the author used some of the literary devices and some figurative
language. For me, I didn’t study even more about the figurative language but when I read the story
again and again, I knew the message and even knew the deep meaning of it. But still, Merlinda
Bobis made a great and beautiful story that had many message to the readers out there.

What is Literary Analysis Essay?

A literary analysis essay is a type of essay which includes an argumentative
analysis of a piece of literature. In this kind of essay, the author examines
the book, novel, play, etc. analyzing the idea, plot, characters, tone, writing
style, devices which the writer uses to narrate his story.

This assignment encourages the student to think about the questions “how
this book was written?”, “why this novel was created by the author?”.
Explaining in your essay all author’s choices and points of view, you can
answer all these questions.