Pangasinan State University

Bayambang Campus
College of Teacher Education
Laboratory Integrated School – High School

A Semi-Detailed Lesson Plan

in
21st Century Literature from the Philippines and the World
"Dead Stars" by Paz Marquez Benitez

Prepared by:
John Lexter G. Gloria
(Teaching Intern)

Prepared for:
Ms. Jearica B. Ico
(Cooperating Teacher)
I. Objectives
At the end of this lesson, the students should be able to:
A. analyze the characters of the short story “Dead Stars” by Paz Marquez
Benitez through “Character Analysis”;
B. determine the meaning of unfamiliar words used in the short story through
an activity;
C. define love through “What is the Meaning of True Love?”; and
D. reflect on the short story “Dead Stars” by writing a minimum of 200-word
reflection paper.

II. Subject Matter

A. Topic: “Dead Stars” by Paz Marquez Benitez
B. References:
1. “Dead Stars” by Paz Marquez Benitez Retrieved from:
(http://notes.dlszobel.edu.ph/files/2013-2014/DEAD%20STARS.pdf)
2. Dead Stars Summary Retrieved from:
(https://www.studocu.com/ph/document/arellano-university/
economics/dead-star-summary-lecture-notes-1/19200888)
3. Dead Stars Summary, Themes, and Analysis Retrieved from:
(https://litpriest.com/short-stories/dead-stars-summary-themes-
analysis/)
C. Learning Materials:
1. PowerPoint Presentation
2. Laptop
3. Smart TV
III. Procedure
A. Preliminary Activities
1. Prayer
The teacher will assign a student to lead the prayer.
2. Checking of Attendance
The teacher will ask the class secretary to report the names of the
absentees.
3. Reminders
The classroom rules will be reminded to the class:
  Show basic courtesy.
 Keep quiet unless told to speak.
 Always listen when someone is speaking.
 Raise your hand if you want to be recognized.
B. Pre – Reading Activities
1. Motivation
“Mahal ko o Mahal ako”
The students will be given choices – “Mahal ko” and “Mahal ako”.
Afterwards, the students will group themselves according to their
choices. Then, each group will be given two minutes to explain their
choice.

Directions: Pick a side. Choose between “mahal ko” or “mahal ako”

and collaborate with other students who have the same choice as yours.
Each side will be given two minutes to explain their choice.

2. Unlocking Difficult Words

The teacher will present jumbled letters of the difficult words
found in the story. Then, the students will unlock these words by
arranging the letters into their correct order. The definition of each
word will be provided as their clue.
 Tantalizing (adjective) - exciting one's senses or desires
 Reposeful (adjective) - having a calm
and soothing quality; tranquil
 Acrid (adjective) - having an irritatingly strong
and unpleasant taste or smell
 Tumultuous (adjective) - making a loud, confused noise;
uproarious
 Exasperation (noun) - a feeling of intense irritation or
annoyance
3. Background of the Author
The teacher will flash a picture and some information about the
author. Then, the students will be asked to read each bullet.
Paz Márquez-Benítez (March 3, 1894 – November 10, 1983)
  Born in Lucena City, Quezon
 Authored the first Filipino modern English-language short
story in 1925
 She became an influential figure to many Filipino writers
in the English language

C. During Reading Activities

1. Presentation of the Lesson
Using the explanations or descriptions given by the students from
the motivation activity, the teacher will introduce the subject matter of
the story, “Dead Stars”
2. Discussion Proper
In this part, the class will be divided into five groups and the
teacher will direct the learners to the discussion of the text through an
activity:

“Character Analysis”
Directions: Each group will have their own assigned character whom
they will analyze. Each group will be given five minutes to prepare for
their output and will be asked to have at least two representatives to
explain how the character developed the short story.

Group 1 – Alfredo Salazar

Group 2 – Esperanza
Group 3 – Julia Salas
 Discussion Question:
 Based on your answers, which of the three characters
do you think started the conflict in the short story?
Possible answer: Alfredo’s hesitation to commit to
Esperanza caused the conflict of the short story. Even
though they have been engaged for many years, he still
fell in love with another woman – Julia Salas.
 If you were in Alfredo’s situation, would you do the
moral thing or follow your heart’s desire?
Possible answers:
i. I will choose to do the moral thing not to cause
disgrace to my own reputation and to my family,
to fulfil my social obligation – this custom was
strictly followed in the period where the story
happened. Also, it is to be responsible with the
commitment that has been decided in the first
place.
ii. I will choose my heart’s desire, for I know that if I
continue the marriage with someone just to fulfil a
responsibility, then I’ll start to create a household
without love. Moreover, choosing my heart’s
desire will allow me to experience what true love
really is.
Alfredo was torn between doing what is right and what is in his heart. Alfredo Salazar is a lawyer. 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 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."

Since the students were already tasked to read the text beforehand,
the teacher will give a short recap of the story by asking the following
questions:
 What’s the conflict of the story?
Possible answer: In the story, Alfredo was uncertain and
confused by his decisions. He was torn between doing
what is right and what is in his heart.
 What swayed Alfredo’s emotions towards Esperanza?
Possible answer: Alfredo’s view of marriage swayed his
emotion towards Esperanza because he thinks that
marrying is like a responsibility and that made him try to
find what he really wants.
 If you put yourself in Esperanza’s position, what
would you do to your relationship with Alfredo?
Possible answers:
i. I will forgive Alfredo, because if you really love
someone, you can also forgive them.
ii. I won’t be able to forgive Alfredo, because it is
hard to regain trust especially when someone
didn’t value the trust that you’ve given to them.
 Did Alfredo really lose his feelings for Julia?
Possible answer: Yes, it was said in the story that
Alfredo's feelings for Julia is gone.
 What does the title “Dead Stars” symbolize?
 Possible answer: It represents a presence that is
unrecognized. It speaks of emotions and relationships
that may exist but are not realized and lose their real
meaning and significance. The dead stars symbolize
Alfredo’s memory of a long way to get a girl he thought
he loved.
D. Post – Reading Activity
1. Enrichment
The students will be first asked if they have experienced true love,
whether it be with a friend, family, or partner. Then, they will do an
individual activity.

“What is the Meaning of True Love?”

Directions: On a 1/4 sheet of paper, write the words or ideas that you
can associate with true love.

At least three students will be asked to share and explain their

answers. After that, the teacher will ask a question to the class:
 Based on your answers, do you think true love was
depicted in the short story "Dead Stars"? Why?
Possible answer: No, because Alfredo's feelings are
always changing and he is easily confused. He won't
feel these things if his love is real and genuine.
2. Generalization
After the discussion, the teacher will wrap up the lesson and
ask if the students still have questions. Then, the teacher will ask them
a question:
“What did you learn from the story?”

IV. Evaluation
Directions: Choose the letter of the best answer.
1. What is the short story “Dead Stars” all about?
a. friendship
b. betrayal
c. forbidden love
 d. abandonment
2. Who wrote the story "Dead Stars"?
a. Paz Marquez Benitez
b. Jade Castro
c. J.K Rowling
d. Ricky Lee
3. The short story revolves around which character?
a. Esperanza
b. Julia Salas
c. Alfredo Salazar
d. Don Julian Salazar
4. Alfredo first falls in love with ________.
a. Julia Salas
b. Brigida Samuy
c. Esperanza
d. Dona Adella
5. “Seeing the light of dead stars, long extinguished, yet seemingly
still in their appointed places in the heavens.”
What do these lines from the story imply?
a. longing for someone
b. chasing a dream
c. died passion
d. lost youth, lost love
6. What was Alfred Salazar’s profession in the story?
a. Teacher
b. Lawyer
c. Doctor
d. Farmer
7. Alfredo felt this when Julia was about to head back to her distant
hometown.
a. sad and frightened
b. happy
c. confused
d. relieved
 8. What kind of love does Esperanza represent?
a. love of a friend
b. infatuation
c. forbidden love
d. sacrifice
9. To whom does Alfredo finally get married?
a. Esperanza
b. Julia Salas
c. Brigida Samuy
d. Dona Adella
10. What do dead stars symbolize in the short story?
a. the traditions depicted in the short story
b. the undying love of Alfredo for Esperanza
c. the unspoken present things
d. what Alfredo felt when Julia went back to her hometown.

Answers:
1. c
2. a
3. c
4. c
5. d
6. b
7. a
8. d
9. a
10. c
 V. Assignment
Directions: Create a reflection paper with a minimum of 200 words about the
short story "Dead Stars" by Paz Marquez Benitez. Write your reflection paper on
one whole sheet of paper.

Criteria Points

5-4 3-2 1- 0

Mechanics No grammatical, A few grammatical, Many grammatical,

spelling, or punctuation spelling, or punctuation spelling, or
errors errors. punctuation errors.

Subject Depth of content reflects Reflects knowledge and Provides irrelevant

Knowledge knowledge and understanding of the information.
understanding of the topic.
topic.

Organization Uses an effective There is a logical flow Lack of structure.

organizational pattern but shows no clear signs Ideas are not
for writing purposes. for smooth transitions. coherent.

Analysis The reflection is an in- The reflection is an The reflection

depth analysis of the analysis of the learning attempts to analyse
learning experiences. experiences. the learning
experiences.