Sample Literary Critique

"The Necklace" written by Guy de Maupassant presents the ill effects of pretention and
dishonesty to man’s life. Focusing on the importance of honesty and being happy with
who you are, the story shows how the main character, Mathilde encountered
misfortunes by pretending to be who she is not.
The story revolved around the Mathilde, a miserable and selfish wife of a "little clerk"
who suffers from the poverty of her dwelling, and dreams of a rich and elegant lifestyle
where she is beautiful and envied. This conflict within Mathilde drives her throughout the
story while her dedicated husband, M. Loisel, is content with their life and wishes to
make her happy despite everything he must endure. After being invited to a ball, he
eagerly takes it home to his wife who is ungrateful because she does not feel that she
has anything suitable to wear. After having a new dress made, Mathilde can't imagine
going to the ball without a single jewel so she borrows a beautiful necklace from her
friend Mme. Forestier. The day of the ball proved to be everything Mathilde imagined,
but it all ends when she loses the necklace. Although M. Loisel and Mathilde find a
replacement necklace, they spend "ten years in grinding poverty until they finally paid
off their debt," only to discover that the necklace was not a diamond necklace but just
mere costume jewelry.
In the end, the story shows that things are not always what they seem, material things
do not define the person and that money cannot solve all problems and may in fact
create them.

Activity 2: The following are excerpts from various literary critiques. Identify what approach in
literary criticism is used in each of the following sentences.
1. Gal Gadot in Wonder Woman 1984was more than just a gorgeous and
statuesque stunner. She radiated goodness, light, and hope in a way that was infectious, that
made you believe in the power of superheroes beyond facile platitudes about doing what’s right
and protecting mankind.”
2. In “Romeo and Juliet,” Shakespeare employs several dramatic techniques that
have garnered praise from critics; most notably the abrupt shifts from comedy to tragedy. Before
Mercutio's death in Act three, the play is largely a comedy. After his accidental demise, the play
suddenly becomes serious and takes on a tragic tone.”
3. The feud is also linked to male virility, as the numerous jokes about
maidenheads aptly demonstrate. Juliet also submits to a female code of docility by allowing
others, such as the Friar, to solve her problems for her.
4. Written in Spanish and published in 1887, José Rizal’s Noli Me Tangere
played a crucial role in the political history of the Philippines. Drawing from experience, the
conventions of the nineteenth-century novel, and the ideals of European liberalism, Rizal offered
up a devastating critique of a society under Spanish colonial rule.
5. The short story “A Grain as Big as Hen’s Egg” deals with philosophy of ethics
and industry. It highlights the unlikely notion of coveting what is not yours and taking the fruits of
other’s labor.
Activity Sheet in English 10

Read the following literary pieces and answer the comprehension questions that follow.

The Talking Tree

(Short story from Taru’man nin Bolinao)

Once upon a time, there was a family who had lost hope in life because of the
avariciousness of one of the members. They went roving around and when they arrived to a
certain place, they claimed it for themselves. Their place was abundant with things to eat. They
would shoot birds and pick fruits everyday so they would have something to eat.
One day, Lito left the house. Lito was one of the members of the family. He went to
gather some fruits for them to eat. He heard a voice when he came to a tree. “Have pity on me.
Don’t pick my fruits because I’m already old. Besides, you might break my branches. It would
be better if you go home now. You will find there a better house. There are plenty and various
kinds of food. I will turn the woods into a rice field,” said the talking tree.
Lito could hardly believe it. He ran to their place. He was amazed when he saw their
house. Their house turned beautiful and the woods turned into a rice field. The happiness of the
family could not be described. They thanked the merciful God. When Lito went back to the
woods to thank the tree, it was gone. However, he just thanked God for giving them that comfort
in life.

Characters Setting Conflict Theme

Plot

Exposition Rising Action Climax Falling Action Resolution/

Denouement

Group 2 (Leader: Abraham Ortaleza Jr., Members: Ivana Alawi, Liza Soberano, and
Jennylyn Mercado)

Read the following literary pieces and answer the comprehension questions that follow.
 The Legend of Bolinao
(Legend from Taru’man nin Bolinao)
Once upon a time, Bolinao town used to be a forest where various kinds of animals lived.
There were deer, monkey, wild pig, birds and many others. Nobody wanted to live in this certain
house except one family. The house where this family lived was made of what they call cogon
grass or rice stalk. It was surrounded by any big and tall trees. The boli-bolinao or pamulinawen
tree was among the trees surrounding that house. It stood there straight as if he thought himself
better than his fellow trees. During daytime, one could see a variety of birds on its branches. The
birds liked to play very much on the boli-bolinao tree because of its luxuriant foliage and height.
They sang happily as if unmindful of anything bad that wouldbefall their lives.
The Aetas were the first inhabitants of the town of Bolinao. They came from Zambales.
They had chosen to live along the shore of Santiago Island. There they could catch plenty of fish.
When the Aetas grew in number, the pirates coming from the west arrived. The pirates
maltreated the people were scattered because of the fear of being maltreated by the pirates. Some
went to Anda, others went to Agno and still others went to the town.
Captain Pedro Lombi, the first president of Bolinao thought of transferring the town to a
place near Libsong after many years that the people had been getting maltreated by the pirates.
The water springing from Libsong was crystal clear. A variety of beautiful fish could be found
there.
With the help of Father Geronimo de Cristo who was the priest of the town at that time,
Captain Lombi was able to build a house near Libsong. It is said that the ground floor was used
as an office while the second floor was made the residence of Captain Lombi’s family.
One day, there came another group of Spaniards. They found two women washing
clothes when they arrived. The Spaniards asked the two women what the name of their town
was. Due to the fact that the two women didn’t understand Spanish, they thought that the
Spaniards were referring to the tree. So, they answered boli-bolinao. The Spaniards had a hard
time pronouncing the word boli-bolinao. All they could pronounce was the word bolinao. From
then on, they called the town Bolinao. That word was taken from the huge ttree called boli-
bolinao. It is a huge, tall, durable tree with luxuriant foliage.

Characters Setting Conflict Theme

Plot

Exposition Rising Action Climax Falling Action Resolution/

Denouement
Group 3 (Leader: Maribeth Ontay, Members: Dingdong Dantes, Joshua Garcia, and Julia
Barreto)

Read the following literary pieces and answer the comprehension questions that follow.

The Legend of Silaki, Tagaporo, Tres Hermanos, and the Mountain of Sibarbar
(Legend from Taru’man nin Bolinao)

Once upon a time, there lived a family along the shore of Binabalian. Fishing was their
means of livelihood. This family was happy because at that time fish were still abundant. They
could always catch plenty of big fish, therefore they had much income. They had much to spend
especially for their needs. But this family would always leave their hut because they were afraid
of the pirates who killed people. These pirates usually arrived when the wind would come from
the west, thus driving these pirates to Binabalian. When the people saw the boats of the pirates
coming from the west, they would run away and hide. It had been the habit of these pirates to kill
all the people they saw.
One day, the pirates arrived without the knowledge of the members of this family
because they were eating. Those inside the hut were startled that nobody got the chance to run.
Barbara was the only one whose life was spared because the pirates did not harm her since she
was a woman. The pirates first killed Barbara’s father. Next, they killed Poro, Barbara’s
husband. After him his three sons were killed also. After killing them the pirates just threw their
bodies into the sea. The corpse of Barbara’s father was carried by the tide to an island in the
north and so, they called the island Silaki, Barbara’s three sons’ grandfather.
The corpses of the three brothers were carried by the tide to three small islands that is
why those islands are called Tres Hermanos now. Poro’s body was carried by the tide to the
island east of Tres Hermanos and they named the Island Poro.
Meanwhile, Barbara ran to the southern part of the island to save her life. She climbed on
top of the mountain to hide. Because of over-fatigue, grief, and discouragement over the death of
her whole family, Barbara died. On that same day that Barbara died, a hunter was there hunting
deer and wild pig. He saw Barbara’s dead body. Much to his surprise seeing a dead body on top
of the mountain, he cried “Si Barbara!” His companions heard him and from that time on, they
call the mountain Sibarbar.

Character Setting

Theme
The Legend of Silaki, Tagaporo,
Tres Hermanos, and the
Mountain of Sibarbar

Conflict Plot