The

Great Works (LIT 1)

Task for January 22, 2020: “Educating The Literary Taste” by Paz Latorena


Members: (2A14)

Casidsid, Aubrey
Castañeda, Yla Clarisse
Duque, Trisha
Lazaro, Niela Marie
Medilo, Hannah Denise


1. What method of paragraph development was employed by the writer in the introduction? Cite
proof for your answer.

Paz Latorena used the definition method of paragraph development in the introduction to best clarify and
support the main point of the essay which revolves around the importance of literary taste. To better
understand the definition of the term “literary taste,” the author started the introduction with its origin.
He mentioned that it came from Baltazar Gracian’s popularized term hombre de buen gusto and was
adopted in France from which its definition turned into good taste and bad taste until its definition grew
into wide use.

2. Why is there a need to develop a sense of good literary taste? (Indicate the paragraph number
that supports your answer.)

There is a need to develop a good literary taste in order to appreciate and savor the essence and beauty
of literary works. Stated in paragraph four, when a person discovers for himself or is led to discover the
wide and varied world of literature, a world of prose and poetry in which the interplay of human actions
and passions are portrayed with relentless analysis. When he finds himself in this world, he has developed
a sense of good literary taste. When a man knows how to discern what literatures delight him or ought to
repel him, he has a sense of good literary taste. For a reader to appreciate the beauty of a literary piece,
he or she must have feelings and inclination for what is beautiful and fine in literature.

3. Enumerate and explain in one to two sentences the different literary ideals as advanced by
Latorena
.
The three literary ideals given as follows:
• Intellectual Value: The author should make the readers think and make different interpretations.
• Emotional Value: Literary works must relate to the readers. It should stir up emotions to be able
to connect with them.
• Ethical Value: A literary work must instill values to the readers. It should leave a lesson to them
that they will never forget so that they may use it in their everyday lives

4. How has it been proven in Latorena’s work that a title serves as a text’s unifying thread? Explain.

Latorena’s titles of her works are direct to the point as to what could be its topic. For “Educating the
literary taste”, Latorena first define what is literary taste according to different people as well as
differentiating it from what literary criticism is. This is then followed by how can a person develop his/her
literary taste before explaining the values that literature should have which is to have intellectual,
emotional and ethical values. These values will develop one’s literary taste which can greatly impact one’s
way of living.

Another work of Latorena is the “Small Key” which is about a husband and wife. The wife knew the
contents of a small cabinet but she has no access to it as it was locked by her husband. When her husband
absentmindedly left its key on his coat, the wife opened the small cabinet which contains the old clothes
of the husband’s first wife who died and maybe because of jealousy, she burned those clothes into ashes.

These two works of Latorena’s just prove that her titles are where her works will center allowing us
readers to immediately imagine what could be the text is all about even without reading the text.


5. State in your own words the thesis statement of the essay.

The essay "Educating the Literary Taste", written by Paz Latorena, speaks about the difference between
literary taste and literary discrimination from the distinct perspective and definition of various people
because these two words seem to be synonymous in meaning.