URUGUAY: THE HORSE BREAKER,

JAVIER de VIANA
PLOT OF THE LITERARY TEXT
EXPOSITION
Sabiniano Fernandez is a well-known master horse-
breaker, as well as a master of both animals and people. He is
well-known for being wealthy, having a large plot of property
and an unrivalled string of horses. He was also noted for his
arrogance and domineering temperament. Nonetheless,
because of his outstanding reputation he was hired by a ranch
owner to break in the fifty unbroken colts.
RISING ACTION

Blasa, the ranch owner's daughter, a pretty little brunette,

conceited, a typical rich girl, became interested to Sabiniano,
who represented a conquest that would fill her pride.
Sabiniano, on the other hand, appears to be uninterested in
her, despite which she continues to pursue him. Sabiniano's
indifference irritated Blasa, who became enraged even
though she was impressed on how Sabiniano break in her
colt.
RISING ACTION

At the dinner, she exclaimed with contempt that between a colt

and a horse-breaker, the bigger brute wins, but Sabiniano
answered with an unusual sweet tone, and said “to be able to
master, one must first know how to master himself”. Sabiniano
announced his departure two months later, when the herd had
been broken in. There was a fiesta in the ranch the day after his
departure. Blasa approached him with unexpected politeness and
requested a dance, but Sabiniano politely declined. Blasa once
again feel rejected.
CLIMAX

Blasa made an angry gesture for being rejected

again, but she kept her cool like an obedient woman
and verified to see whether Sabiniano would truly
leave. After Sabiniano confirms it, she is unable to
contain her emotions, prompting her to proclaim her
love for him.
FALLING ACTION

Sabiniano acknowledged Blasa's confession,

admitting that he had known about her feelings for as
long as she had known about his affections for her. He
also complimented her on how restrained and mastered
she is, saying he preferred her that way than an unruly
mare.
RESOLUTION

Blasa completely submitted to Sabiniano,

much like a well-trained mare.
ELEMENTS AND DEVICES APPLICABLE

•the description of appearance of

Imagery
Sabiniano (stanza 3), description
on the event (stanza 21)

Metaphor •the mare and

Blasa
 • Love can change a
person / Love has the
power to alter a person
in a positive and
• Benefits of
THEME/ negative way.
hardwork THEMATIC
VALUES

• Courage
APPROACHES

• He was known to be a rich man and

SOCIOLOGICAL

owned a track of land the region (stanza

3)

Psychological •Sabiniano was not known to have

any friends because of his arrogant
and domineering behavior
APPROACHES

•Blasa accustomed to turning young men’s head just

FEMINISM
to justify her feminine vanity. (stanza 7)
• Sabiniano prefers Blasa to be well tamed.

READER
RESPONSE • Sabiniano seemed not to
notice Blasa's advances
(stanza 8)
APPROACHES

•Point of View
POINT OF •Third Person POV – the author is narrating a story about the
VIEW characters

• Sabiniano seemed not to notice Blasa's advances

PSYCHOLOGICAL (stanza 8)
• male character - skilful, courageous and dominant
• Female character – pretty and conceited
• Work / professional relationship – between Sabiniano and
the ranch workers.
APPROACHES

• fiesta binds the characters,

CULTURAL especially the two main
characters.