Kerima

Polotan
Author of the short story,
“The Virgin”
 Life
Born on December 16, 1925
She was a She graduated In 1944, she
renowned from the Far enrolled in the
fictionist, essayist, Eastern University University of the
and journalist. Girls’ High School. Philippines School
of Nursing, but the
battle of Manila
ended her studies.
2
Work 1 2 3

She taught at the She wrote “The She wrote the

Arellano University Virgin” in 1952 and Biography of Imelda
in Manila where she won two first prizes: Marcos in 1970.
had taken up writing the Philippines Free
courses. Press Literary
Awards and the
Palanca Awards.
3
She died in August 19, 2011 at the
age of 85 after a lingering illness.

4
The Virgin Miss Mijares is past her youth when she spent
most of her adult life caring for her ailing mother. She
Kerima Polotan realizes to her disappointment that love and marriage have
escaped her. She lives a dull life and behaves with stiffness
and aloofness, camouflaging her tiredness and loneliness
with ruffled and pastel-colored clothes. When a new
carpenter applied at the company she works for, she is
intuitively drawn to the man. After a confrontation, the two
find themselves stranded on an unknown street in the rain,
and Miss Mijares allows herself to be led by her feelings for
the carpenter and responds to his invitation. 5
 • Longing

Tone
6
 Province

• Company office

• Jeepney

• Street
Setting
7
 • Romantic

• Responsible

• Strict & sensitive

Character
• Conscious about her appearance
Analysis
Miss Mijares 8
 • The feeling of longing tends to make
people seek love from others.

Theme
9
 • Initial Action – Miss Mijares was introduced
as a 34-year-old woman whose descriptions
implied that she was looking for love. She met
someone and got attracted to him.
• Middle Conflict – Man vs himself – Miss
Mijares was conflicted whether she liked the
carpenter or just longing to have someone.
• Climax – The carpenter revealed that he has a
son but was not married.
• Ending – Denouement – it was open-ended.

Plot Analysis
10