THE LITERARY GENRE OF THE PIECE

 Creative Nonfiction is the literary genre of the piece entitled “Mommy J. At

San Vicente Ward” by Alice M. Sun-Cua since it utilizes memory, experience,
observation, opinion. The techniques that the writer used to tell stories is
compelling, vivid, and in a dramatic manner.

ELEMENTS OF THE NONFICTION / FICTION

I. POINT OF VIEW

 The literary piece entitled “Mommy J. At San Vicente Ward” by Alice M.

Sun-Cua is in the first person point of view. One of the story’s characters
which is the narrator is the one who is narrating the literary work and the
one who is telling us what he or she experience. In the literary piece, all of
the actions are seen and reported by first person point of view.
II. PLOT

 EXPOSITION – I clutched the small stuffed teddy bear and walked briskly
along the hospital corridors. I had just done my morning rounds, discharging
two patients who delivered normally two days ago, and looked in on another
that was operated on for a ruptured ectopic pregnancy the night before. I
was on my way to Room 314 at the San Vicente Ward in our hospital, to
pay Mrs. J. a social visit. It was Valentine’s Day.
 RISING ACTION – Mrs. J., a 58-year-old teacher, was diagnosed to have
advanced ovarian cancer two months ago, and was referred to me by a
physician friend from a southern city because of abdominal enlargement.
She was operated on in the province with removal of all pelvic organs when
the ovarian malignancy was discovered, but the disease had already
involved other parts of her body, causing ascites (edema fluid) in the
abdominal cavity to accumulate faster than it could be drained.
 CLIMAX – That afternoon held many surprises. The nurses in her ward
took it upon themselves to organize a send-off party for her, and it seemed
that after staying for almost three weeks in the hospital, Mommy J. had
made a lot of friends. The “party” was held in the corridor of the left wing of
 the ward, towards
FALLING ACTIONa –Two
cul-de-sac at resident
of the the far end of the hall.
physicians in The nurses
Internal set up
Medicine,
two
Laura long tables,
and Marie,and using
who hadclean whiteonbed
not been linens as
speaking tablecloths,
terms prepared
with each a
other for
filling merienda of sandwiches, pansit, ensaimada, barbecue,
almost a year because of misunderstandings about patient care and other and cold
drinks.
more private things, were talking animatedly in one corner. I went up to
them and casually mentioned pulling rank as it were, as a consultant that it
was good to see them together, for were they not the best of friends before,
in medical school. Both of them laughed sheepishly and said it was the
handiwork of Mommy J., who at this time was still entertaining her “guests’’
in one corner of the ward.
 RESOLUTION – Mommy J gave a “thank you” card a week after she went
III. CHARACTERS

 The Narrator – The one who is narrating about her morning rounds at the
hospital and discharging two patients who delivered normally. The one who
also pay a social visit to Mrs. J. at Room 314 at the San Vicente Ward on
Valentine’s Day.

 Mrs. J. – A 58-year-old teacher, who was diagnosed with advanced

ovarian cancer. She was once operated in Southern City with removal of all
pelvic organs when the ovarian malignancy was discovered.

 Rowena and Roberto – The children of Mrs. J. that are both in their
twenties.

 Dr. M. – A gynecologic oncologist, who deals with cancer of the pelvic

organ.

 Miss Elizabeth T. – The hospital’s head pharmacist, who had a reputation

for being stern and unapproachable. She was over 50, thin, often cranky
and angular single, who seemingly never smiled.

 Laura and Marie – Two of the resident physicians in Internal Medicine,

who had not been on speaking terms with each other for almost a year
because of misunderstandings about patient care and other more private
thing.
IV. SETTING

 The setting of the literary piece entitled “Mommy J. At San Vicente Ward” by
Alice M. Sun-Cua is at the Room 314 at San Vicente Ward in the
Hospital.
V. THEME AND MEANING

 The theme of the literary piece entitled “Mommy J. At San Vicente Ward” by
Alice M. Sun-Cua is all about love and friendship. Although, Mommy J are
staying for almost three weeks in the hospital, she made a lot of friends that
she loved until her last breath.

VI. TONE AND ATMOSPHERE

 Although, the literary piece entitled “Mommy J. At San Vicente Ward” by

Alice M. Sun-Cua is somewhat sad, the tone is passionate, nostalgic,
affectionate and peaceful. “The fresh air would do me good,” Mommy J said.
The tone supports the literary piece humorous and lighthearted atmosphere.