OSIAS COLLEGES, INC.

F. Tañedo St., San Nicolas, Tarlac City

(045) 982-0245, E-mail: osiastrc@pldtdsl.net
S.Y. 2020 – 2021

Lesson: Asian Literature

Objectives: Understand and appreciate the literary works of Asian authors, Analyze literary
pieces and be able to reflect in the significant ideas and values expressed in them, and
Explain different customs and traditions of Asian countries depicted in the literature.

I. READ

Human emotions are the very foundation of literature. The significance of literature derives
from human emotions and human relations. In the past in every country in the world, human
emotions were trivialized while knowledge was prioritized, which demonstrates that people
had no clear notion of individuality back then.

Asian Literature

o Asian literature encompasses the rich and widely diverse cultural and ethnic heritages
found in such countries as China, India, Japan, Vietnam, Korea, and more.
o By its technical term, it is basically the literary products made in continent Asia
throughout history.
o Asian American literature also shows the impact of immigrating to a new country, with
the Asian characters trying to retain their previous cultures and adjust to new situations
o It provides readers with opportunities to explore various cultures through a wide variety
of literary genres

19th Century Spanish writers Larra and Galdos in Rizal

IT is well-known that José Rizal was, unavoidably, an avid reader. He explains in some of his
letters how he preferred to spend his money on books rather than food. His curiosity was more
typical of an humanist from Renaissance times that of a middle-class man from 19th-century
Calamba. There was no topic that was of no interest for him: ancient languages, medicine,
anthropology, history, religion, etc. His mind was in a permanent state of effervescence, always
willing to be fed with new intellectual stimuli.
Rizal accepted with superb serenity his martyrdom, but he was not certainly looking for
immortality through his unfair execution, but through his writings. I have argued elsewhere that
the genius of Noli Me Tangere did not come from, let’s say, divine inspiration, but from a life
devoted to books, especially literature of fiction.
 The topic of an impossible love between two beautiful souls, both of impeccable moral
standards, was very common in 19th-century Latin American novels. The most well-known
among those was María (1867) by the Colombian Jorge Isaacs, a novel so successful that it has
obtained more than 200 editions until the present. We do not have any evidence of Rizal
reading Latin American novels, but ultimately, the most relevant issue here is that the Spanish-
speaking intellectual class shared the same worldview and very similar political and artistic
concerns.
Nínay (1885) by Pedro Paterno, a Filipino novel that certainly needs more credit, was surely
an influence on Rizal, who probably did the proofreading before going to print. What in Nínay is
a lachrymose romance between two lovers in a very idealized and exoticized Philippines,
peppered with adventurous scenes and information regarding local customs, Rizal transformed
into a literary masterpiece where all social classes are mercilessly criticized. The parallelisms
between Nínay and María Clara, Carlos Mabagsic and Crisóstomo Ibarra are quite evident, but
more relevant even is the parallelism between two original, enigmatic and very likeable
characters: Berto and Elías.
But who was the most popular, most read and most prestigious novelist in Madrid in the
second half of the 19th century? Benito Pérez Galdós, whose life is being commemorated this
year in Spain as he passed away exactly 100 years ago. And certainly, Galdós must have been a
major literary influence on José Rizal. Galdós was born in the Canary Islands and moved to
Madrid at 19 years old in search of literary glory. His career began when he was allowed to
publish his first pieces in the most important newspapers. He published more than 80 novels,
20 dramas, plus several travel books, essays and a collection of his pieces as a journalist. Most
importantly, he was a staunch anticlerical novelist, and priests are generally given a very
negative role in all his novels. With the exception of Miguel de Cervantes, there is no novelist
like Galdós in Spanish literature; his novels keep being read until today and some of them have
even become popular movies. Belonging to the realist trend, there is something in the plots and
characters of Galdós that still appeal pleasantly to the readers of today.
Rizal, who was in Madrid while Galdós was in the summit of his literary career and was
extremely updated in literary novelties, should have read some of his works. Moreover, there is
a novel by Galdós whose plot reflects somehow one of the problems pointed out by Rizal in Noli
Me Tangere: the dramatic and persistent interference of priests in extra-religious issues. The
novel is titled Doña Perfecta (1876), and the plot is as follows: a marriage of convenience is
arranged by Doña Perfecta between her daughter Rosario and her cousin, Pepe Rey, in order to
keep the properties of the family united. What was supposed to be a cold relationship led by
mutual interest becomes unexpectedly a passionate true love. However, the priest, Inocencio,
had better plans for Rosario: to marry his nephew. Doña Perfecta, a devoted believer, accepts
the plan of the priest against the will of the two lovers, and a tragedy ensues. It seems that this
Inocencio could very well have served as an inspiration to Rizal to create his evil Padre Dámaso.
It wouldn’t be difficult for us to imagine Rizal reading the novel while thinking about his mother
country and its problems.
The fact that Rizal found inspiration in many books is not an accusation of a lack of
originality, not at all, but an acknowledgment of his creative impetus. Reading the most popular
novelists of his century, he was able to create something completely new and perfectly shaped
to the situation of the Philippines. More importantly, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to claim
that Noli Me Tangere came to be a masterpiece superior to the previous novels that may have
inspired it.
   

https://csphilippineliterature.wordpress.com/scent-of-apples-2/
Bienvenido Santos’ Scent of Apples

        The Scent of Apple written by Bienvenido N. Santos is captivating and it gives me a clue of
what it is like to be away from home, the people you love and making a home out of the new
place you have found. In connection, the author gives emphasis on the life of a Filipino who
found himself to living in a foreign country. Furthermore, the story captures the man’s great
longing, regret, love for his country and Filipino family.
          The story is more than just a story of an immigrant Filipino. Furthermore, the title is very
much striking to the extent that it can lure an individual to read the story. Basing from the title
itself, it suggests that “The Scent of An Apple” is metaphorical. In a sense means that the title
contains a metaphor which relates to the story. In my own interpretation, “Scent of an apple” is
a metaphor for the man himself. An ‘apple is a very unique fruit in terms of its color, shape, and
texture. In connection, the man is a Filipino therefore he is different from the others who lived
there. In the story he feels alone and lonely because he thinks that being in a foreign country is
an exile for him every time he smells the scent of an apple.
       The writer used the word “nostalgia” to describe the man who seems to have a great
longing for what he calls home in the past. He is wistful for affections for the past which is why
the man regrets his decisions that caused him to be away from his family and his country. His
regret is shown while he was telling the writer about what he remembers about the people
especially about the Filipino women. He also told the writer about his childhood wherein he
was back with his family in the Philippines.
         Love for the country is also present in the story due to the fact that Celestino Fabia came
all the way to the city just to hear the writer talk and to have a glimpse of how the Filipino
woman is today. This is what makes him very vocal to ask about it in a room full of foreign
people. Celestino Fabia also talked about what he remembered about what the values that
Filipino women uphold in the past.  
       One of the Filipino core values evident in the story is the love for the Filipino family.
Celestino Fabia imagined his brothers, sisters, his father and his mother. This alone is a fact that
the work is simple yet it can rival the literary audacities of other short stories.
        A scene in the story grabbed my interest and this is when the narrator was expected to
speak before an audience regarding the culture of the Philippines, which was now becoming a
“lost country”. It is when a Filipino farmer, Celestino Fabia, asked about the difference between
Filipinas then and now, to which the narrator responded that though their physical appearance
changed, they remain the pure-hearted and nice women like past years. The farmer was
pleased with the answer and he invited the narrator over to his house so he could meet his
family.
        In connection, the man is suffering with the fear of being forgotten due to the fact that he
chose to leave all by himself. He did it all to himself therefore his heart is longing to reach the
other side of the world even if he has already built his own home to where he is now. 
        Thus, the story in my opinion is a priceless literary work. I commend the author for literary
work which that equates the torment that comes with being away from home and in return
hitting the values of an immigrant Filipino who is facing the consequences in line to the choices
he made. 

The Lost Generation

By: Jonathan Reed

I am part of a lost generation.

And I refuse to believe that
I can change the world.
I realize this may be a shock, but
“Happiness comes from within”
Is a lie, and
“Money will make me happy”
So in thirty years, I will tell my children
They are not the most important thing in my life.
My employer will know that
I have my priorities straight because
Work
Is more important than
Family
I tell you this:
Once upon a time
Families stayed together
But this will not be true in my era.
This is a quick fix society
Experts tell me
Thirty years from now, I will be celebrating the tenth anniversary of my divorce.
 I do not concede that
I will live in a country of my own making.
In the future,
Environmental destruction will be the norm.
No longer can it be said that
My peers and I care about this Earth.
It will be evident that
My generation is apathetic and lethargic.
It is foolish to presume that
There is hope.
And all of this will come true unless we choose reverse it.

Backwards:

There is hope.
It is foolish to presume that
My generation is apathetic and lethargic.
It will be evident that
My peers and I care about this Earth.
No longer can it be said that
Environmental destruction will be the norm.
In the future,
I will live in a country of my own making.
I do not concede that
Thirty years from now, I will be celebrating the tenth anniversary of my divorce.
Experts tell me
This is a quick fix society
But this will not be true in my era.
Families stayed together
Once upon a time
I'll tell you this:
Family
Is more important than
Work
I have my priorities straight because
My employer will know that
They are not the most important thing in my life.
So in thirty years, I will tell my children
“Money will make me happy”
Is a lie, and
“True Happiness comes from within”
I realize this may be a shock, but
I can change the world.
 And I refuse to believe that
I am part of a lost generation.
https://genius.com/Jonathan-reed-the-lost-generation-annotated
Summary and Overview of the short story Chom-Nye
Chom-nye is a more overtly political story, comparing the brief and unfortunate life of
its title character to the much more be-starred life of the daughter of the local ex-landlord. It
contains some scathing passages which portray the social schisms between rich and poor –
while landlords and yangban may have been officially replace, nothing much has changed, in
fact social superiors have even been elevated to the statuses of Gods whose mere presence can
turn villagers to something like stone
Choe Chong-hui's Chom-nye explores the difficulties of post-war peasants, and features
a clever and rapacious shaman who uses the death of a bride to swindle the mourning family
out of all the dead women's goods and the families' sole remaining chicken.

The Winter Hibscus

By: Mingfong Ho

Autumn. Saeng Panouvong stands by the door of her house, ready to attend her driving
test. Her family had moved to the United States from Laos 4 years ago. They have struggled to
adapt to life in the Western hemisphere but have kept on persevering.
Just as Saeng was about to leave the house, her mother, tilling the family garden,
inquires about her destination. Saeng replies to inform tat she is going to take her driving test.
Knowing that Saeng is early for her test, her mother asks her to help harvest some melons.
Reluctantly, Saeng complies to help her mother. She reflects on the how far her family had
strived to be able to reside comfortably in the States today.
Saeng’s mother inquires if her daughter will be using the Lamberts’ car for the driving
test. Saeng affirms her mother’s question, stating that she will be using a small blue car
belonging to David, Mrs. Lambert’s son. Mrs. Lambert was a wife of the Lutheran minister in
town who sponsored the Ponouvongs and two other Laotian families to reside in the United
States. She was a very kind woman who made sure all of their welfare was taken care of. In
fact, Mrs. Lambert was the one who suggested David to assist Saeng with her driving and make
his car available for her to practice. David is also Saeng’s love interest. However, Saeng is aware
that David is merely heeding his mother’s instruction and has no interest in her.
To Saeng’s surprise, her mother gives her a twenty-dollar bill to buy a Big Mac to thank
David. Although hesitant at first, Saeng keeps it tucked in her coat and heads for the driving
test.
Saeng was a few minutes early to the driving test site before David swirled by to pick her
up. David gives his final word of advice to Saeng before leaving her to start he test. An
instructor sits beside Saeng and the test begins.
Despite her cautious efforts in maneuvering the car, Saeng makes a string of mistakes,
causing her to fail the test. Dejected, Saeng returns the car to David and attempts to thank him
by offering to buy him a hamburger. But as if to rub salt in the wound, David pays no attention
and speeds off to Mc Donalds with a blonde girl. Deeply hurt, Saeng takes the long walk home,
alone.
 On the way home, Saeng stops by a florist to see some flowers. She is captivated by the
flowers that remind her of home – Laos. Walking through the greenhouse, Saeng finally meets
the winter hibiscus, of which she recognizes as “saebba”. To her surprise the plant is in a pot
instead of growing in the wild back at home. Saeng is overwhelmed with emotion and decides
to buy the winter hibiscus with the money in hand.
Saeng returns home with the winter hibiscus to the surprise of her mother. She informs
her mother that she failed the test. Her mother comforts her and suggests that they plant
the winter hibiscus in the garden. With reference to the winter hibiscus, which blooms in
adversity, Saeng resolves to re-take the driving test next spring.

***To read the whole material visit the link below

http://englishiva1011.pbworks.com/f/HIBISCUS.PDF

II. RESPOND

Give the following in each literary works.

a. Theme; and
b. Moral/Lesson of each literary works

III. REFLECT
How does Asian literature affect and influence the civilization of humanity?

Prepared by:
Anthony Caibiran
Instructor
Bienvenido Santos’ Scent of Apples

The factor of view in "The Scent of Apples" is that of a Filipino immigrant to the US who feels trapped
between cultures and countries. When lecturing about his country in Michigan all through World War II,
he's tough pressed to understand the way to summarize the variations among his lifestyle and American
lifestyle. He meets a fellow Filipino named Celestino Fabia and in brief enjoys a short duration of
warmth and reference to Fabia's American-born spouse and son. However, the narrator then returns to
the coldness of the Michigan night, and he again feels an experience of isolation.

The theme of the tale is the loss and isolation that many immigrants can feel. They can be plagued by a
persistent experience of lacking their home country, however they will understand that they can't
return, at the least now no longer at any factor soon. At the equal time, factors of the brand new
lifestyle, along with the heady fragrance of apples that one can only scent in America, are extraordinary
and now no longer necessarily welcoming or familiar.

The Lost Generation

By: Jonathan Reed
Reed describes a world where people have lost sight of what is important in life and where the
expression of individuality as a force is diminished. He so firmly believes that people will be rendered
incapable of action that he refuses to accept that any hope exists.

Summary and Overview of the short story Chom-Nye

Choe Chong-hui’s Chom-nye explores the difficulties of post-war peasants, and features a clever
and rapacious shaman who uses the death of a bride to swindle the mourning family out of all
the dead women’s goods and the families’ sole remaining chicken.