Sean Albert P.

Valeza English - 10
Grade 10 – Liberality Science, Technology, Engineering (STE)

QUARTER 3
WORKSHEET 5
PRACTICE TASK 1. IGLOO-neering

1. What are the benefits of being in a high socio-economic

class?
a. People in a high socio-economic class can easily
access their daily needs like food and great shelter.
b. They have the privilege to control the flow of the
economy (in the case of Klosh-Kwan deciding on the
division of the bear meat).

2. What are the benefits of being in a low socio-economic

class?
a. People in a low socio-economic class can live a
simple life that may be helpful in a mental and
emotional perspective.
b. They have many opportunities in life.

PRACTICE TASK 2. Let’s Give It a Try

1. Based on my research, Jack London grew up in a working-class family. He rose to
popularity and fame because of his famous works as a writer. Just like Keesh, he had to
work harder to prove his ability as a good writer. London related his experiences as a
low-class citizen to the story as a form of social protest of the classes in society.
2. In the story, the people were divided into two classes: the low and the high class. The
people on the high class are abusing their power in controlling the shares of bear meat for
the community. The low class does not have the power to partake in the dividing of meat
because of their socio-economic status. This resulted great hunger for the weak that
Keesh wanted to address.
 3. Keesh showed a great sense of justice as he opposed the entitlement of the high class to
the supply of meat because of the situation of the lower class. He also showed
compassion for the poor that caused his actions towards the council. In contrast, the
people especially the council did not show any appreciation or respect to the courageous
actions of Keesh’s father that led his son and his wife hit rock bottom in their community.

PRACTICE TASK 3. Quick Writes

Marxist Criticism on The Story of Keesh By Jack London
The rise, fall, and again rise of main characters on stories truly captures the attention of
readers. Jack London’s “The Story of Keesh” talks about the hardships that Keesh and her
mother, Ikeega, had to go through despite the heroic actions of his father. The passage also
showed the influence of classes to people that resulted great hunger. However, Keesh’s sense for
justice and his knowledge helped him to overcome society’s hurdles, especially those on the high
class, in achieving prosperity.
At first, I thought the story is a bit bland to my choice, but the concepts of entitlement
and justice sparked my interest. Keesh’s steps on attaining prosperity for the community showed
many Marxist concepts. First was the division of classes. This notion is already common as a
genre but London made the concept stimulating. Maybe this is because of his past experiences as
a low class himself in the community. He showed the injustice and entitlement the higher class
possess that may be related to reality. Another idea on the story is society’s impact to a person.
Even though Keesh’s father died to provide his community with food, appreciation and respect
that his family deserve was not returned. This notion was again introduced later on the story as
the council doubted Keesh’s ability on killing a bear. The council’s mentality was a result of,
again, society judgmental outlook. Present situations in reality also show this naivety because of
the strong influence of the less mindful. The last concept that pulled my attention was the
idealism of Keesh. His thoughts and actions came from his sudden poor life and his awareness of
the situation of the weak in his community. He was just a kid but he already had a mature
outlook to his surroundings. With the help of his knowledge, he killed a bear without the help of
his elders just to feed the poor. He is a great model of justice, compassion, and knowledge.
Social and economic views made the passage stimulating. London’s experiences helped
him conceptualize the whole story and make it interesting. I think that the story may be a form of
protest like Jose Rizal’s Noli me Tangere. In my perspective, there was a trigger in the story that
helps the readers relate to the position of the characters. This may be because of the said
concepts. I myself can relate very much to Keesh as I belong to a middle-class family. I believe
that socio-economic idealism can help on influencing and providing insights to people who are
experiencing difficulties on their community.

WORKSHEET 6
PRACTICE TASK 1. Women Empowerment
 1. Women in the early days were considered as inferior to men. Society expected women as
reproducers and have stereotypical skills like cooking, cleaning, and others. They based
on the physical strengths and mentality of the two genders that made women oppressed.
2. The roles of women changed after they’ve proven that they also have capabilities on
work. What men thought women couldn’t do was proven wrong as women can provide
the needs for her family. Women ended stereotypes and showed the equality all gender
should have.

PRACTICE TASK 3. Check Me

1. It was mentioned on the first paragraph that Mrs. Millard had a heart trouble or disease.
On other’s perspective, heart trouble may mean a weak emotional or mental value.
2. Mrs. Millard lived her whole life as a housewife. She always depended to her husband as
she knows what her role is.
3. On paragraph 12, Mrs. Millard realized that her husband was living for her. She was very
dependent to her spouse because of the roles of women in society in that time. The
second sentence states, “There would be no powerful will bending hers in that blind
persistence with which men and women believe they have a right to impose a private will
upon a fellow-creature,” meaning that the rules of society play a role on their marriage
and roles were given to them based on their gender.
4. The doctor thought that the return of Brently Mallard meant for Mrs. Brently that she
can’t possess the freedom from her marriage that she realized she wanted. The “joy” that
the doctor mentioned was the thought of freedom for Mrs. Brently. What killed her was
the thought of not achieving that “joy” for her life.
5. The doctor diagnosed the death of Mrs. Millard as a “joy that kills,” as explained in item
4. It ironically depicts that the joy of the return of Brently meant as a reverse for her wife.
Mrs. Mallard was enlightened by her recent reflection about the oppression that wives
experience without even realizing it. None of the characters knew about it because of the
roles society gives to women.

PRACTICE TASK 4. My Reflection

 How are women’s lives portrayed in the story?
o The story tells us that women will depend on their husbands their whole lives. It
doesn’t show that women are as capable of their own life as they see fit. It expects
them to be a servant to their husbands.
 What are the strengths of a woman present in the text?
o Women play a role as a loving wife to her husband. They are more affectionate
and understanding as portrayed by Mrs. Millard on how she handled herself after
hearing the news.
 Cite conflicts between men and women in the story.
 o While most women don’t realize it, they are considered as menial and
insignificant to society without even knowing their capabilities. Men has the most
privilege on providing for his family while his wife are left home. This oppression
overlooks the equality between men and women.
 What roles of a woman were found in the text?
o Women are expected to marry a man of older age. Once she is married, she will
be a housewife, providing entertainment and pleasure for her husband, tired from
working for his family. She will be responsible to the inside of their house but her
life depends on her husband.
 What gender inequalities are found in the story?
o Men are more entitled to provide wealth for his family that women. Women have
lesser opportunities in life and are stuck in menial house work. They are
overlooked because of their appearance.
 Does the work challenge or affirm traditional views of women? Prove your answer.
o The text objects the traditional views of women. At the beginning of the story, the
author represented women as weak housewives, dependent to their husband.
However, Mrs. Millard’s reflection on how her service to her husband and
insights of freedom views women subdued to men. She showed a strange emotion
of happiness instead of sorrow for her husband’s death because of the idea of
escaping from the trap of marriage. Her insights in the story is a form of protest,
intended to influence readers about the equality and freedom women deserve from
men.

WORKSHEET 7
PRACTICE TASK 1. TRUE or FALSE
1. FALSE
2. TRUE
3. TRUE
4. FALSE
5. TRUE

PRACTICE TASK 2. Explore the Poem

1. From the view of the people in the poem about Richard Cory, he was perfect in his
appearance and actions. One of the lines that prove this is: “He was a gentleman from
sole to crown.”
2. One of the lines in the poem says, “And admirably schooled in every grace.” From the
hyperbole of portraying Richard Cory as educated by the grace, he is admired for his
seemingly perfect appearance and actions.
 3. The speakers of the poem are common citizens in the town where Cory lives. They are
not as rich as Cory. They seem to be very observant and easily judge their fellow humans
by their appearance.
4. Almost all of the lines portray Richard Cory as a perfect man. However, the last line
gives a sudden and powerful negative feedback about Richard. It would be shocking to
readers because they would expect the last line to be a positive resolution since the poem
is about to end.
5. The poet was inspired by the suicide cases in the Great Depression of 1893. Everyone
cannot judge a person’s true colors with his or her physical attributes. In the Great
Depression, many cannot identify if a person is in a state of depression since it is all
inside the person itself. The poet used the ideas to describe the state of well-being of
Richard Cory.

PRACTICE TASK 3. Background Check

Background of the Author Events in the history which
the piece was written
Langston Hughes is a poet, At the time when Hughes was
novelist, fiction writer, and writing the poem, African
playwriter who was known Americans were experiencing
for the portrayal of black life extreme racial discrimination.
in America through his work. By 1932, half of them were
unemployed because of their
race and the white were given
more privilege to work than
them.
Guide Questions:
1. I found the activity relatively easy since the information is already given. I was able to
compare the events on the story to the events in history.
2. It gives us an idea of better understanding of the text because the history may imply the
purpose of the author.
Events from the poem that
reflect history
In the poem, American states
were mentioned depicting the
slavery of Africans serving
the Americans. This would
later result into
discrimination. The phrases,
“the thieving hand,” “the
lying face,” and “the
unscrupulous power,” that
reflects to the white, is
analogous to the power the
Americans weren’t even
given on the first place. The
last line means the state of
unemployment that makes the
blacks “the hungry
wretched.”

WORKSHEET 8
PRACTICE TASK 1. You Remind Me of Someone
Main Real-Life Person Whom You are Brief Explanation Why You
Character Reminded of by the Main Character Are Reminded by Them
1. Johnsy Johnsy reminded me of
myself because sometimes, I
wouldn’t respond to any
efforts of my family when I
Myself am feeling down.

2. Sue Like Sue, my mother would

make sure that my well-being
Hilda Valeza is safe and healthy, and no
(My mother) matter what happens, she
would still worry about me.

3. Behrma My sister, like Behrman, is a

n dreamer and would take
Berthil Valeza many obstacles just to
(My sister) achieve her goal.

4. Doctor My brother is always

attentive and knows what he
 is doing, like the doctor.
Andrew Valeza
(My brother)

PRACTICE TASK 2. The Commonality in the Diversity

a. Johnsy
Ivy Tree

Johnsy has Sue by her

The ivy tree has no Both are still holding side and cares for her
emotion. No one cares life till her/its last bit life. Her life is
about its death. of life. precious to the people
around her.

b. Me Johnsy

Both me and Johnsy

Unlike Johnsy, I share the same
wouldn’t give up my behavior towards our Johnsy easily gave up
life that easily. I love ones in times of on her life just
would fight till my sadness. We don’t because she has no
last breath. care of their efforts sign of recovery.
for us to be
encouraged.

PRACTICE TASK 3. Envisioning Pro-Activism

Dear O. Henry,
After reading the story “The Last Leaf,” I realized that I should appreciate the efforts of
the people who loves me. I don’t show any gratitude towards them which makes me reflect on
what would they feel. I learned that life is precious. I should learn to admire its beauty and love
myself. I should see the hard work people do for me and learn to appreciate it.
X
Alberto P. Valeza
Parent