“Dead Stars”

By Paz Marquez Benitez

SUMMARY OF THE STORY:

Alfredo was torn between doing what is right and what is in his heart. Alfredo
Salazar is a lawyer and the main character in the story. He is the love of the life of
Esperanza. They have been together for four years and meant to get married in May.
Their relationship in the beginning was full of enthusiasm, full of love and happiness.
But like other long-term relationships, their feelings for each other changes as time goes
by. Esperanza was beautiful, elegant, reserved, and distinctly not average type of a
woman. She loves her Alfredo so much and trusted him with her whole heart. After their
four years of engagement, Alfredo thought of finding his real wants. When Alfredo tried
to do some neighboring with his dad Don Julian, he met Julia Salas, their neighbor's
sister-in-law. She was just a visitor in town and been there for only six weeks. They
found good company between themselves and as they knew it, it became a weekly
habit for Alfredo to visit her after every Sunday’s mass. Julia is the average type, not so
beautiful but still it interests Alfredo so much. As they grew their new friendship, Alfredo
found new happiness and starts to fall for her.
One day, his family invited Julia's family in their coconut plantation near their
beach. It's a chance for them to have some quality time together, but this is also the
time to say goodbye. Julia is planning to leave the town and go back home. It breaks
the heart of Alfredo and made him more confused than ever. He is thinking of choosing
Julia over his fiancée Esperanza, but what people will say is what he thinks matter
most. He married Esperanza after Julia left the town, he was not unhappy and realizes
that everything has fallen back into place. After eight years of marriage, Alfredo still
can't get over Julia's memories. His thought of Julia is hunting him, and those what-ifs
dilemma. Alfredo goes for a business trip to the town where Julia lived. While he is
there, Alfredo runs across Julia. He has never forgotten about his feelings for her, but
over time, he has come to accept his marriage to Esperanza. Alfredo finds that the
feelings he had for Julia are gone. He is content with his life, and the perceived love he
had felt for Julia all those years was like the "light of dead stars, long extinguished, yet
seemingly still in their appointed places in the heavens."
 LEARNING ENHANCEMENT WORKSHEET ON FICTION

Name: Date:
Section: Score: /30
Based on the story “Dead Stars” by Paz Marquez Benitez, identify the elements
of Fiction that can be seen in the story.
1. In two sentences, what is the plot of the story?
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2. Who are the Characters of the story?
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3. From whose point of view is the story being told?
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4. Describe the kind of voice that is being used to tell the story.
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5. What kind of setting is provided by the story?
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6. If you were to describe the theme of the story in three sentences, what would it
be?
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