Hetutua, Therese Janine D.

Great Books
BSAC 2B 03/01/2021

1. Define great books on your own

 In my perspective, great books are books that has the ability to give a significant impact on
all aspects in the life of the readers. Great books consist of emotions which the reader feels
and eventually gets hooked up with every part of it. It consists of mind-blowing ideas and
lessons that can move a person. It is something that will leave a mark and impression to one’s
mind making it unforgettable and memorable.

2. Read a story and present the following:

Title: Magnificence
Setting: The House of the Family
Characters:
 Vicente - the bus conductor
 Oscar - the little boy
 The little girl
 The Mother
 The Father

Summary:

There is couple with a son and a daughter. Their mother is a president in their village. In
a meeting the man volunteered to be their tutor because he does not do anything in the evening
also for an extra job. His name is Vicente, a bus conductor. He went to the house every night to
teach the kids. He promised the kids to give them 2 pencils each. The children in this time want
pencils. Vincent is nice to the children. He knows their wants. But when he gave the pencil, he
gives 3 pencils for the girl and 2 for the boy. Their mother said thank you. The boy kissed
Vicente but Vicente told him that boys don't kiss boys. Then the girl goes to Vicente to say thank
you. He hugs her so tight and the girl started to get out of his too tight hug. The girl looks at
Vicente with a little wonder on his face. The next day they were so proud and happy with their
new pencils. They showed it to their friends in class. In dinner they talked a little about Vicente
but the father is busy reading something. He did not listen to what the mother said. The mother
thinks that Vicente is fond of the children with the way he is treating them. That evening Vicente
arrived earlier. He asked the little boy to get him a glass of water. Then he put the girl on his lap.
Then he let the girl write her homework. The little girl told him not to carry her because she is
heavy. Vicente’s eyes are strange. Then the girl jumped out of his lap because she became afraid.
Then their mom arrived. She rubs the girls back and told them to go upstairs. The mother slapped
the man repeatedly. Vicente just accepts the entire slap that the mother gave him. Then he went
out of the house. The mother closed the door. She gives a bath to the girl. Then she asked them to
throw the pencil. Then she put her to sleep.
3. Relate the story and discuss why there is:

a. Artistry – there is a part in the story of appreciating beauty and that is signified by the
pencils. The pencil symbolizes artistry in the story because the innocent children were
mesmerized and amazed by size and admired its quality.

b. Intellectual Value – this story allow the readers to stimulate thoughts by analyzing the true
motive of the antagonist and builds the readers to be curious of the thoughts of the little girl
while Vicente was doing all sorts of things.

c. Suggestiveness – by the disturbing behavior of the antagonist to the children, our emotions
were stirred up. I, as a reader, felt anger towards Vicente and sad for the poor children and
somehow blaming the parents for allowing their children experience all of that just because
they are busy with their jobs.

d. Spiritual Worthiness – understanding the moral value of this story to never trust strangers
and never leave your children with them is important for everyone, especially the parents.
Parents must always be attentive with their children, their surroundings, and the people they
mingle with.

e. Permanence – this story appeals to me every time I read it. I actually read this already in my
first year in college for a report, read it again to the class, listened to how the teacher
elaborated the elements of the story and read it again recently and it still appeals to me, I still
get the feelings I felt the first time I read it.

f. Universality – this story will forever be relevant to the people at any era and the literature of
the world because as the world continues to exist, parents and children exists too. This story
is one of the stories that must be read by the people for it gives lessons and opens the minds
of the people to dangers and possibilities.

g. Style – the author of this story sees the life of an innocent child, forms the ideas of how
dangerous the world is and expressed it through his writing. This is a peculiar way of how he
opens the minds of the readers making us realize how irresponsibility brings danger to
everyone especially to the innocent and young children that needs attention and guidance.