EL 117 CONTEMPORARY

POPULAR LITERATURE
Prelim 2

Group Members:
Maribel N. Lopez
Julie Ann Custodio
Ana Reah Camba
Rogel Jan Galzote
Margie B. Ragua

INSTRUCTOR
Edlyn Mae Sarmiento
Group Activity: Divide the class into (3) groups and discuss within the group the story of “Silence” A
fable” by Edgar Allan Poe (published 1838). Interpret and evaluate the story and present it.

STORY MAP OF SIOPE – A FABLE

 Conflict
The man was at the
edge of the raging
river seating on a
rock. The river was
covered by a canopy
of poisonous flowers
Exposition and bordered with Plot
water lilies The demon observing the
The story man very closely which
introduced by the looks sad and depressed
and the man notices the
demon and how he demon's presence but the
tormented a man man does nothing more
than sitting on the rock in
in Congo spite of fear he feel.

Climax
The demon get angry
when he realize that
the man remain calm
of of his presense.
Thus, he sent heavy
Resolution winds and rains. He
Falling Action also strike lightning and
The Earth ceased to thunderbolts.
move after the devil The demon left out of
cast the spell of silence hope and stop
and the man stood frightening the man. He
after overcoming the makes the thunder and
terror and run away lightning go away as
from the place. well as the rain and
wind.
 EVALUATION AND INTERPRETATION OF SIOPE – A FABLE
This fable is a very short story but narrates, an enchanting, strange and mystical sceneries. How
foe uses the language figuratively illustrates scene, with that of alliteration and imagery which
generate a sense of wonder and horror. This is so recognizable even from the opening words –
“Listen to me, ‘whispered the Demon” – yet the fascinating tone and style, still evoke the
turmoil at the center of the tale. The Demon describes a world where everything in nature is
rotten and decaying: “The waters of the river have a saffron and sickly hue: and the flow not
onward to the sea but palpitate forever and forever beneath the red eye of the sea with a
tumultuous and convulsive motion.” This initial point of the story, which was similar to that of a
nightmare marked the start of his description about rocks and lilies, all of which had meaning
and thick layer of information that is somewhat hard to discern. Another quote foretold
exposed the Poe’s use of abundant imagery, symbolism and alliteration are within these short
narratives: “But there is boundary to their realm – the boundary of the dark, horrible, lofty
forest.” (Paragraph 1); “It was night, and the rain fell; and falling, it was rain, but having fallen,
it was blood” (Paragraph 4); “And the man shuddered, and turned his face away, and fled afar
off, and I beheld him no more.” (Paragraph 12).
Besides that, the story reveals how the lone guy sits on a rock, and the rock is engraved with
one word – Desolation. The demon gradually increases the havoc around the man, and with
each new tragedy, the demon warns us in a continuous refrain. “And I lay close within the
shelter of the lilies, and observed the actions of the man. And the man trembled in the solitude;
but the night waned, and he sat upon the rock.”
In conclusion, it is the Demon of the man’s imagination of the world. The scenario happens in
a valley called desolation which a dignified man regretfully observes the turmoil of life around
him, and in which terrifies him in the silence that symbolizes death.