Formalist
1. How does the author build the
setting of the literary work? How
does the author describe it? How
does the author explain it?
The author employed both English
and Visayan to effectively describe
and explain the setting of the literary
work. The narrative was narrated in
English, and the conversations
between the characters were in
Visayan language.
Mythological
1. What associations can we draw
between the text's components and
its forms?
In the narrative, several cultures and
social practices were portrayed. Similar
to how two women spread rumors about
Didang's death, there were references to
several transport methods in the
narrative, including the jeepney and
motorela, which are common modes of
transportation in some Philippine areas.
These sorts of cultural references link
the narrative's topic and description;
also, the story highlights the characters'
basic lives, which also relate to the
story's theme.
Biographical
1. What characteristics of the
author's biographical facts help us
understand the story better?
As fiction, I don't think it has any
relevance to reality. I do think there
is a link to the author's previous
experiences. He probably
experienced incidents that motivated
him to write this fictional short
story.
Sociological
1. What are the characters'
relationships with their society?
It is upsetting that bullying is still
common in today's generation,
making those who have experienced
it despise the society they grew up
in. The main character experiences
bullying from the society.
Historical
1. What significant historical figures
are mentioned or related to in the
text?
The history of Didang is one of the
historical people to which the
literary work relates. Another one is
when memories flashed into the
narrator's head as he listened to the
radio on his MP4 player. It portrays
how her life should have been before
she became pregnant and gave birth
to her son.
Gender Criticism
1. What characteristics differentiate
men from women? How are these
qualities portrayed in characters?
Didang raised and cared for her
child like a mother, not as a
demented woman, despite having a
mental condition, from the narrator's
pov. Because of how well she was
raised and how well he was taken
care of, he can't really tell that
Didang is demented whenever she is
with her child. Her son was able to
arrive at school wearing pretty tidy
clothes. moreover being able to do
well in their class
Psychological
1. Do main characters find a way to
overcome their psychological
issues?
Because of the tragic things that had
happened to Didang in the past, she
was demented. Because the mother
was left alone and refused to face the
reality that his son would return
home, their psychological concerns
remained unresolved. Her kid also
has psychological issues because he
didn't see his mother after he left for
school. Despite being aware of his
mother's mental health concerns.
Reader Response
1. Are you pleased with the ending?
Since the narrative finishes on a
tragic event, I am not happy with the
resolution. Even though the mother's
mental health concerns were not
resolved, they constituted a barrier
to the mother-son relationship.
Given that both of them had
previously gone through a traumatic
and sad event.
Vin Angelo Baclaan
12 – St. Anselm of Canterbury
LITERARY TIMELINE

1565 1566- 1871- 1898- 1970- 1946- 1970- 1981- 1986- 2000-
1871 1898 1941 1980 1970 1980 1985 1999 Present

C. F. I. A. J. G. D. E. H. B.

A. American Period F. Spanish Period

B. 21st Century Period G. Period of Literature in English
C. Pre-Spanish Period H. Post EDSA 1 Revolution
D. Period of Youth Activism I. Period of Enlightenment
E. Period of 3rd Republic J. Japanese Period