1st Performance task in HUMLIT:

Directions: Read and understand the following text below. Answer the questions that follow to write a close analysis
and critical interpretation of a literary text in terms of form and theme, with a description of its context.

The Revolution According to Raymundo Mata

(Excerpt)

by Gina Apostol

It was a bolt – a thunder bolt. A rain of bricks, a lightning zap. A pummeling of mountains, a heaving violent storm at
sea – a whiplash. A typhoon. An earthquake. The end of the world. And I was in ruins. It struck me dumb. It changed
my life and the world was new when I was done. And when I raised myself from bed two days later, I thought: It’s
only a novel. If I ever met him, what would my life be? I lay back in bed. But what a novel! And I cursed him, the
writer – what was his name – for doing what I hadn’t done, for putting my worlds into words before I even had the
sense to know what the world was. That was his triumph – he’d laid out a trail, and all we had to do is follow his
wake. Even then, I already felt the bitter envy, the acid retch of a latecomer artist, the one who will always be under
the influence, by mere chronology always slightly suspect, a borrower, never lender be. After him, all Filipinos are
tardy ingrates. What is the definition of art? Art is reproach to those who receive it. That was his curse upon all of us.
I was weak, as if drugged. I realized: I hadn’t eaten in two days. Then I got out of bed and boiled “barako” for me.

Later it was all the rage in the coffee shops, in the bazaars of Binondo. People did not even hide it – crowds of men,
and not just students, not just boys, some women even, with their violent fans – gesticulating in public, throwing up
their hands, putting up fists in debate. Put your knuckle where your mouth is. We were loud, obstreperous, and
heedless. We were literary critics. We were cantankerous: rude raving. And no matter which side you were, with the
crown or with the infidels, Spain or Spolarium, all of us, each one, seemed revitalized by spleen, hatched by the
woods of long, venomous silence. And yes, suddenly the world opened up to me, after the novel, to which before I
had been blind.

***

Still I rushed into other debates, for instance with Benigno and Agapito, who had now moved into my rooms.
Remembering Father Gaspar’s cryptic injunction -  “throw it away to someone else,” so that in this manner the book
traveled rapidly in those dark days of its printing, now so nostalgically glorious, though then I had no clue that these
were historic acts, the act of reading, or that the book would be such a collector’s item, or otherwise I would have
wrapped it in parchment and sealed it for the highest bidder, what the hell, I only knew holding the book could very
likely constitute a glorious crime – in short, I lent it to Benigno.

-o0o-

 
GUIDE QUESTIONS

1.     Why did Noli Me Tangere have such a big impression on the Narrator? Could you relate to the feelings of the
Narrator’s experience of reading? Why or why not?

2.     Have you ever felt the same about a book that you had read? What book was it? Why did it leave such a huge
impression on you?

3.     What does the line “Art is a reproach to those who receive it” mean? Should art be a reproach? Should we
relate art to society? Explain your views.

4.     When you read about how so many people were affected by the novel Noli Me Tangere, what was your
reaction? Do you think a book can ever elicit such a strong response in the Philippines?

5.     When the narrator says that the act of reading was a historic act, what did he mean? Do you think this is true
even today?

6.     During those times, do you think you would have been moved to fight against the government after reading the
novel?

7.     They say that the act of reading gives people more empathy and makes them more critical and reflective. Do
you think this is true?

8.     Given this excerpt, what do you think is the importance of literature to society? Is it still acceptable today?

9.     Why is the Noli Me Tangere, a book that was banned in the past, now a required reading in Philippine schools?
Why did the Catholic Church go against making the Noli a requirement?

10.  Do you think there should ever be a time when certain books should be banned? Why or why not?

Criteria:

Category Criteria 5 4 3 2 1
Introduction captures listener’s attention.          
Topic is well-developed.          
Purpose is well-defined.          
Content
Main points are stated clearly.          
The essay ended effectively with a review of the main          
points.
Accuracy All information provided is accurate.          
Content demonstrates a deep understanding of, and          
Comprehension
engagement with the text
Content is well-organized and easy to read.          
Organization
Points follow a logical progression          
No major grammatical or spelling errors. No more than two          
Conventions
minor errors.
TOTAL SCORE                                                                                                       /50
Suggested format:
1. Write your answers in paragraph form with 5 or more sentences per paragraph:
Answers for Questions 1-3: 1st paragraph
Answers for Questions 4-7: 2nd paragraph
Answers for Questions 8-10: 3rd paragraph

(Further details about close analysis will be provided by your teacher)

2. Type your answers in MS Word using:

Times New Roman (font)
12 (size)
1.15 spacing
1inch margin on every side
Justified (alignment)

3. Attach your critical analysis (preferably in .doc file) in JEL before September 30, 2021

What does the line “Art is a reproach to those who receive it” mean? Should art be a reproach? Should we relate art
to society? Explain your views.

1 – 3. For me, Noli Me Tangere left such a big impression on the narrator because he himself
was an artist too. He was feeling that whatever he did he could not accomplish the same
greatness and accomplishment the writer of Noli Me Tangere has left on people. Following
someone’s path that has been set by someone he felt the bitter envy of being always influenced
by a mere chronology. The feeling of not being able to triumphed over someone, Cursed and
weakened by the writer of Noli Me Tangere. I can relate myself with the narrator’s feeling, why?
Because relating myself with the narrator’s feelings while he experienced and read the book, is
understandable because what the writer made, he left us Filipinos in awe that even now his
accomplishment is still being talked and still being praised. It’s understandable that he felt that
while reading the book because I myself sometimes get that feeling in reading a book the feeling
of only being able to Read something so great, and not being able to do something as great or
even surpass that greatness. It was the book that Jose Rizal made the Noli Me Tangere, while
reading it, I wanted to not give it back to my grandmother who owned the book, Because I was
intrigued and was left in awe that someone made such a book who influence many Filipinos to
fight for their right and freedom. the line “Art is a reproach to those who receive it” means Art
should be a reflection of beauty within an artist and to whom he/she sends it to the world or to
the receivers which is the society. Art can be a reproach and it can be any emotion that an artist
wants to express, Because You don’t need to follow anyone’s way of expressing art, you can just
follow what your emotion, in creating art or you do you, Be unique in your own way. As I said
Art is a clear picture of artist totally depends on what artist making or painting. if artist want to
say something about the society he can draw, what is it like all the problems all the topic. like
domestic violence, child labor, discrimination etc. which affects him he can just transfer those
problems of society to his drawings which can be easy for others to understand and they will take
actions about it.

4 - 7. Knowing that there were a lot of people who were affected by Noli Me Tangere, I was
impressed and magnified with how people felt. I strongly agree that this work of art could
inspire the Philippines in today's time considering people in this generation are more educated,
more empowered, and are more driven in terms of invoking their rights and the like. Meanwhile,
as we scan the pages of the book, we explore the past and imagine the events which are being
preserved in our hearts and mind. In saying so, I truly agree to what the narrator said that the act
of reading is a historic act. After reading the book, I picture myself fighting the government
alongside with other Filipino heroes. Reading is a composition of feelings. It demands reader's
perception and reaction to the contents of the book. It gives the reader the opportunity to draw a
picture out of those written words thus making them more inclined to evaluate first and be more
reflective not only on themselves but to the society in general.

8 – 10. To me the act of reading makes me more critical and reflective than making me feel
empathy, because it makes me think what can i to fix that part of the story and then apply them
to myself. Because it makes it more interesting to read a novel or a book if I’m disapproving
certain actions or choices that the characters make and reflect from those choices and actions so
that I can avoid experiencing them. Noli Me Tangere was required to be in Philippine schools so
that students know what history our country has gone through, how many sacrifices made to be
able to experience the freedom we experience today. Reading it, enlightens us and see the true
history our country has gone through, the lessons we can get from it while reading it in schools is
learn how to fight in a peaceful manner, fighting doesnt need a bolos, a sumpit or lantakas but it
can also be possible using your pen, your wisdom. As a Filipino we should learn to be united in
deeds avoiding the et empera policy that the spanish brought to us. The catholic church fought
against Noli Me Tangere because it revealed the anomalous act of the conquerors back in the
Spanish era. And was prohibited during Rizal‘s time because they were hiding their unlawful
acts from the people of the country, its portrayal of corruption and abuses made the church and
the spanish government warry of what would the Filipinos act if such important information
would be leaked. For me books should not be banned, because we have free speech and that also
applies to books, if the problem is that kids will read these books, why not be a parent that
supervises what this child will and will not read or educate them. For me it’s not the writer’s
fault his book got banned it’s the people reading these books. Whether to read or not to read is a
choice that should be left up to the individual. Because everyone has different likes in reading
books if you don’t like reading certain books, simply ignore it and don’t read it.