SURVEY OF AFRO-ASIAN LITERATURE (ELT 314)

1.A Here are the characters of the short story, The Cock by Tao Kim Hain:
First is the Cock who is a stubborn, agile, selfish and the villain who became the hero at the end
of the story. Next is the young women who is a 16-year-old girl, gentle, loving, and obedient even
if she came from a rich family. She’s the one who loves the young man very much. The third
character is the young man who is the owner of the cock. He is poor and he lives by himself alone
for he doesn’t have his parents with him. He is also in love with the young women. Moving on to
the father of the woman who is the head of the village. He is kind of strict but he cares for his
daughter and he loves her so much. The mother of the young woman, on the other side, is a
superstitious woman that she only believes what she wants to believe. The story also has the
relatives of the young woman who are really family centered and they always keep their family
traditions. Lastly, the story has the neighbors who are the people who always spread gossips and
that’s the reason why they were likely to be called as the judgmental people in the story.
1.B The five cultural insights that are reflected in the story, The Cock, are the following:
The first thing that I have observed is the love between a rich and a poor person. It has been an
issue because that situation barely happens in real life. Usually, people’s standards are so high
that they want only the best in all things. I was just amazed on how the two main characters have
built their pure love despite their contrasting situations.
The second cultural insight that I have noticed is the attitude of being family-oriented. I saw it in
the way how the parents and the relatives of the young woman value each other despite being
busy with their personal stuffs.
Third is thing is that we really can’t deny the fact that even if think that we are doing good
enough, there are still people who will going to bring you down just like the neighbors in the
story. They will spread gossips about you to ruin your reputation to others but I have learned that
it is all okay. As long you know who you really are, you don’t have to get the approval of other
people.
Next is the way on how to deal with problems. I was amazed on how the couple handled their
problems. I know, it is one of the strengths of every Filipino that even if we face many challenges
in life, we still choose to rise and continue life.
Lastly, the thought of being arrogant will not lead you to succeed in life. At the end of the day, it
will always be better once you humble yourself.
2. In our present scenario, the characters of The Heaviest Burden represent the people’s mindset every
time they are facing challenges in life. As of today, the heaviest burden that everyone is going through is
the COVID-19 where many people are already losing their hopes. Many students are also committing
suicide because of the stress that online classes are giving them. Those are just few from all the
challenges in life but most of the people chose to give up. Little did they know that as long as they are
living in this world, there will always be a chance for them to rise up. All they have to do is to change
their perspective. Try to look on the good side of every story instead of focusing on the negativities in
life.
3.
a. Personally, I’m thinking about all that is within us are meant for our growth. The things that we are
experiencing, whether it is bad, painful or even brokenness, those are all part of our lives and they are
meant to let us grow as an individual.
b. It is true that learning and thought always come together. I have read that learning is something that
can be done in the present and thought is for the future. You cannot just learn without having any plan
integrating what you have learned in the future. For example, it will be useless if I’m learning to be a
teacher today but what I wanted to be in the future is to be a doctor. I therefor conclude that learning and
thought will always be related to each other.
c. I believe that it’s all about sexual temptation between the monks. He almost judge Tanzan for having a
physical contact with the woman but he is even worse because he has a clouded mind about the woman.
The two lessons that I have learned in Zen Stories are as follow:
First is that nothing is permanent because everything changes. It made me realize that I should be
aware that the only constant thing on Earth is change. For that reason, I learned to appreciate the present
time and live every single second of my life with authentic joy.
The second thing that I have learned is that we should not judge a person in all aspect of life. We
are all equal and we don’t have the right to judge because judgment can only be done by the higher being.
We, as human being has to love and encourage each other.
4.
Sijo: One day, I woke up, it was all pain and heavy burden
One day, I realized, it is not mine to carry all
One day, I decided to let go and break all the chains
Haiku: It is amazing
When you try to set yourself
Free from all the chains

The two poems that I created have the same theme which is all about breaking the chains that are holding
me from the things that are meant for me. The chains represent all the pain, burden, and challenges in life.
Sometimes, we choose to carry everything on our own. But as you keep on holding on those battles alone,
you will just feel more burdened. Change your perspective and ask try yourself if what you are trying to
fight for is really your battle because some battles are not meant for us. Most of our battles belong the
Lord. Let go of everything that is beyond your control, leave it all to Him and I assure you that you will
have authentic joy and you be free from the chains that are holding you.