NAME/S: Pinlac,Ericka Mie A.

GRADE AND SECTION: ABM11-Bonifacio

CRITICAL APPROACH: READER-RESPONSE CRITICISM

“AIR CASTLES”

by Juan F. Salazar

INTRODUCTION (Answers in this part may be searched in the internet.)

Background information about the author (birthdate, birthplace, family, education, 3 awards
or recognitions received, 3 titles of literary works, death information [if still living, tell what the
author is currently doing], writing vision [the author’s purpose, goal, or reason for writing; it
answers the question “Why is the author writing?”; it is about what the author would like to
accomplish in his writing]).
▪On June 21, 1889, he was born in San Roque, Cavite. He attended public
schools in Sta. Cruz, Laguna, and Manila High School. In 1913, he moved to
Hong Kong to work for the newspaper The Philippine Republic. He worked as a
political editor for La Democracia and El Renacimiento Filipino in the Philippines.
He immigrated to the United States in 1915 and worked as a feature writer for
The Sacramento Union. In "Air Castles," he exemplifies a lofty lyrical vision.

Citation of references/sources of information:

▪ https://gkathrinerose.wordpress.com/2014/01/20/air-castle/

BODY/DISCUSSION (Answer this part yourself! Strictly no probing or searching on

the internet!)
What went on in YOUR THOUGHTS (impression and imagination) or what
experience, anticipation, frustration, retrospection, and reflection did YOU have as YOU read
the literary work? Explain your answer.
▪ Mr. Juan F. Salazar's poem "Air Castle" was written, a thought-provoking
poetry that everyone can personally consider.A poem that is difficult to
understand at first yet links to life's realities.An impressive message that can be
used as inspiration.The poem's goal is to help people realize that achieving
one's dreams is not easy. You will always face rejection, but this is not generally
a cause to give up. It must always serve as motivation to persist and strive again
in order to accomplish your life goals.
What went on in YOUR FEELINGS (sentiments and affection) or what experience, anticipation,
frustration, retrospection, and reflection did YOU have as YOU read the literary work? Explain
your answer.
▪ I'm impressed with what I read since I gained several insights about life and
my dreams, and the poem inspires me to succeed in my endeavors without
doubt or negative thoughts. Also, this enlightens everyone that in order for
someone to truly be called successful, they must love what they do, because
liking what you do is one of the keys to bridging the gap between aspiration
and achievement.

What is in the literary work that could have prompted those THOUGHTS AND FEELINGS that
YOU had as YOU read the literary work? Explain your answer.
▪ The speaker derives pride and dignity from his self-improvement in the fifth
verse, no matter how trivial it appears to outsiders.Line 16: "I wear achievement's
coronet" reflects a tone of pride for his accomplishments and places
significance on his own efforts. The lines "And all my dreams, but in vain" in line
20 and "Then, must I work the harder?" in line 21 are meant to make the reader
realize that ambition is difficult to fulfill and that rejection is inescapable.
Rejection should never be used as an excuse to give up; instead, it should serve
as motivation to persevere and try again in order to accomplish your life goals.

How did it affect you as a reader? Explain your answer.

▪ As a reader, it has had a serious influence on me because I am also a young
dreamer. What I learned had a significant impact on me since I learned a lot
from it. In today's environment, the strategic outperforms the intelligent, thus
while you're still young, don't be afraid to try and continue with life's struggles as
this is where we can better assess ourselves in pertaining to our future.

CONCLUSION (Answer this part yourself! Strictly no probing or searching on the

internet!)
What meaning were YOU able to perceive, construct, and create in the literary work out of
YOUR reading experience? Explain your answer.
▪Each of us has had dreams that were tough to find and realize. But, no matter
what happens or how difficult it is, we must work hard and achieve our dreams;
even the barriers are on our side. Dreams give us a reason to live, and achieving
them can provide us with life fulfillment. What I gained from what I read is a
valuable lesson: any pain we are given will never be a hinderance if we handle
things on it. Every problem we encounter is part of our success in the future, so
don't give up on life's challenges and keep going until you achieve your goal.