Performance Task in 21st

Century Literature

Submitted by:
Ray Iverson D. Gardigo
12- STEM Humility

Submitted to:
Ma’am Oballes
Subject Teacher
October 24, 2018
 Table of Contents

I. The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay [Excerpt]

By Michael Chabon (USA)

Summary and Characters of the story…………………………………………...............................1

Guide Questions and Moral in the Story………………………………………………………………2

II. Happicuppa [Excerpt from Oryx and Crake]

By Margaret Atwood (Canada)

Summary and Characters of the story…………………………………………..............................3

Guide Questions and Moral in the Story…………………………………………………………….4

III. The Boy Named Crow [Excerpt from Kafka on the Shore]
By Haruki Murakami (Japan)

Summary and Characters of the story…………………………………………..............................5

Guide Questions and Moral in the Story…………………………………………………………….6

IV. The Valley of Amazement [Excerpt]

By Amy Tan (USA)

Summary and Characters of the story…………………………………………...............................7

Guide Questions and Moral in the Story……………………………………………………………..8

V. CORALINE [Excerpt]

By Neil Gaiman (England)

Summary and Characters of the story…………………………………………...............................9

Guide Questions and Moral in the Story…………………………………………………………….10

 The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay [Excerpt]

By Michael Chabon (USA)

Summary:

The excerpt comes from the point of view of a Jewish immigrant, named “Joe”, who escaped
Prague. The setting of the story was in a subway train in New York, where he was thinking about
the family he has left behind. The place seemed very warm,where the ceiling fan was not moving.
Joe pretend that he was reading a book. Right after a while, he closed the comic book and stuck it
on his pocket. He began to feel that he could not breathe. He loosened his tie and walk down to
the end of the car, where there was an open louver. At the Union Square station, a seat became
available and Joe took it. He sat and closed his eyes. He could not seem to rid his mind of the
phrase “superintend its population of Jews.”

Joe reached into his pocket and took out the orange that Anapol had given him. It was big and
smooth and perfectly spherical, and oranger than anything Joe had ever seen. Then Joe called
the orange as a monstrous and illicit, because of what he saw a prodigy in Prague. He held it to
his nose and inhaled, trying to find some kind of cheer or comfort in the bright volatile oils of skin.
But instead, he felt only panic. His breathe was shallow and labored. The sour tunnel smell
pouring in through the open louver seemed to drive away everything else. All at once, the sharks
of dread that never deserted its patrol of Joe’s innards rose to the surface.Then there was a voice
saying “You cannot save them” to his ear that made him turn around, but there was no one.

Characters:

 Joe – A Jewish immigrant, who escaped Prague.

 Anapol – a person who gave big, smooth and perfectly spherical orange to Joe.
 Guide Questions:

1. Where is the setting of the excerpt? What is its significance?

 The setting is in a subway train. The significance of the setting is where the protagonist
thinking about the family he has left behind.
2. Why does Joe call the orange “ monstrous and illicit ”?
 Joe called the orange “monstrous and illicit, because it seems a prodigy in Prague.
3. What does the orange symbolize?
 The orange symbolize prodigy or unusual thing in Prague.
4. How did Joe describe what was happening in Prague at the time?
 He said that the happening in Prague was like monstrous and illicit.
5. What did you feel about his descriptions?
 It is kinda scary as I imagined the monstrous and illicit happenings.

Insights/Moral Lessons:

I loved the story, the way Michael Chabon brings together the most important themes on:
the search for identity, the persistent need for humans to escape (from society's strictures,
family expectations, and even themselves), and the importance of art in dealing with human
identity and emotions.

Happicuppa [Excerpt from Oryx and Crake]

By Margaret Atwood (Canada)

Summary:

There was a man once named Jimmy. He called himself Snowman and lived in a tree that
wrapped in an old bedsheets. The voice of Oryx, the woman he loved, teasingly hunts him. And the
green-eyed Children of Crake are, for some reason, his responsibility. Instead of watching their usual
TV programming, they tune into news about the “coffee wars.” HelthWyzer has created a new bean
that could be picked mechanically, and a global resistance movement has broken out against the new
“Happicuppa” bean, because it is putting small growers and laborers out of business. Crake tells
Jimmy he is against Happicuppa because they are “nuking” cloud forests to plant their new beans,
but also maintains he is not on the side of the “peasants” who are revolting.

Sometimes Jimmy and Crake watch the coffee wars coverage with their uncle, who has stock in
Happicuppa and says disparaging things about the rebels. While watching this coverage, Jimmy
sees his mother on the screen, wearing a green bandana over her mouth and shouting at
CorpSeCorps men. He asks his uncle to freeze the frame, but it has already changed the channel.
Jimmy thinks he shouldn’t have said anything, and hopes his uncle didn’t notice—he doesn’t want to
betray his mother.

Characters:

 Jimmy - a man who lived in a tree that wrapped in an old bedsheets and called himself
Snowman.
 Green-eyed Children of Crake – are for some reasons and the responsibility of Jimmy.
 Oryx – a woman that Jimmy loved and she teasingly hunts him.

Guide Questions:

1. What was the effect of the genetic engineering on the coffee bean? Why were these the
effects?
 Genetic engineering could create unknown side effects or outcomes. Certain changes in a
plant (coffee bean) could cause unpredicted allergic reactions in some people or other
organism which, in its original form, did not occur.
2. Although this is technically science fiction, do you think this could become true? Why or
why not?
 Yes. Maybe, because our technology nowadays are very high and effective in all things.
3. What do you think are the effects of genetic engineering on plants?
 It could result into the toxicity of an plant.
4. What do you think of genetic engineering on animals or human beings?
 I think it is not good, because there are certain changes in an animals could cause unpredicted
allergic reactions in some people which, in its original form, did not occur. Other changes could result
into the toxicity of an organism to humans or other organisms.

5. What is the relationship between the environment and society?

 Environment as the term itself indicates is anything that surrounds or environs us. Environment in this
sense is made of all those things which though distinct from us affect our life or activity in some way. It
consists of all surroundings and influences, whatsoever that are present whenever an event occurs.

Insights/Moral Lessons

I learned that the creation of the Crakers was driven by society's (and Crake's) desire to achieve
immortality. While most were pursuing the goal through modification of the human through organ
transplant and drugs to rejuvenate aging bodies. Crake, on the other hand, approaches the quest
differently. Instead of pursuing immortality by modifying humans that were already in existence, Crake
aimed to recreate the human from the inside out. Based on the premise that fear of death is what
resulted in mortality, Crake figured that if he could construct a being that had no fear of death that the
search for immortality would end. The Crakers were created to maximize quality of life and minimize
impact on the Earth. Among the traits genetically given to them, an inability to read, a lack of interest
in art, a lack of desire to worship a higher being, and an ignorance of death were the most pertinent to
achieving Crake's desired immortality.

The Boy Named Crow [Excerpt from Kafka on the Shore]

By Haruki Murakami (Japan)

Summary:

Kafka was never been close to his dad and it is enough reason for him to come up for a decision
of running away from home. He's up to finally run away when he saw the boy named Crow at the
office of his dad. Crow asked him how much money will he need and he answered Y400,000. He
taught Crow will make his escape plan easier but he expected wrong.
 Crow asked him a lot of questions about Kafka's plan after finally running away and Kafka felt
silent. Crow made Kafka see that he is only 15 years old and it seems impossible for him to live
without the support from his Dad. But Kafka is really eager for independence, so he disregard the
what if's that Crow made him see.

Characters:

 15-year old boy – a person who never been close to his dad and decided to run away from
home.

 Crow – the friend of a boy.

Guide Questions:

1. How would you describe the boy's relationship with his father? Could this be considered
a relationship that people have with their fathers? Why or why not?
 I think they are not good in terms of relationship that's why he wants to escape from home. Not
all father and son relationship is like this because fathers are different. Sometime they have
different interpretation in life or goals.
2. Why does the boy want to run?
 I think he wants to escape because he wants to feel or experienced what really life is.
3. Have you ever felt the way he does in the story? Why or why not?
  Sometimes I want to escape from home, I want to be free and let myself experience
everything. Because experience is the best teacher.
4. Why does he have to be the toughest 15-year-old in the world?
 Because being a 15 year old who wants to escape from home will experience a great
responsibility in life. The world is cruel that's why he will be a toughest 15 year old in the world.
5. Why does the narrator say that it sounds like a fairy tale, but it isn't one?
 Because he thinks that facing life is good and it will be easy but it is not.

Insights/Moral Lessons:

I learned that the advice of Crow about life being a sandstorm inspired me a lot to face my problems
instead of running away from it. Because like what Crows had said, once the problems are over , you
will never remember how you survived , but one thing is for sure, you are not the same person again.
And with that, I will faced the conflicts that will come my way like what my 11-years old self did,
because I wanted to learn and be a better version of myself.

THE VALLEY OF AMAZEMENT [Excerpt]

By Amy Tan (USA)

Summary:

The excerpt comes from the point of view of a woman, named “Lulu”, an American. She eventually
own and operate a courtesan house in China, made up of China and Western courtesans. At the age
of eight, she determined to be true to herself. Lulu Minturn was born with an extra finger in each of
her hands. Mr. Maubert, her father’s friend and her piano teacher, was a former concert pianist, who
has lost his right arm during the Prussians’ siege of Paris. Influenced by him, the parents of Lulu
decided to let Lulu undergo the operation to completely remove her extra fingers so as to help her in
her musical training. Lulu felt the shock and the fear at the same time because parts of her had to be
completely removed and changed even without her permission. This made her think and decide the
attributes that she had to protect–everything about her pure self-being.

Characters:

 Lulu - an American woman, who eventually own and operate a courtesan house in Chinathat
made up of China and Western courtesans.
 Mother and Father – Lulu’s parents.
 Mr. Maubert – her father’s friend.

Guide Questions:

1. What does it mean, that the narrator wanted to be true to be her Self?
 Meaning, that no matter who she is, she will accept it and love herself.

2. Have you ever felt the same way? Why or why not?
 Yes, sometimes I feel that way. There was a time that the naysayers surround me and they
want me to change the way who I am, but I neglect them, because its too good to be true.

3. Do you think the narrator is selfish? Why or why not?

 No, she is not selfish at all. Because she wants to be happy who she is, to be true to herself
and people accept her imperfections.

4. Is the narrator expressing an inherently Asian or American value?

  American value is inherently expressed in the story. Americans value perfection. For instance,
in the case of Lulu, her parents wanted her extra fingers to be removed in order for her to live
normally and comfortably like any other people.

5. Do childhood revelations have lasting impact on one's life?

 Yes, it has an impact to one's life. Childhood memories are very powerful that they go along
with the person as she/he grows older.

Insights/Moral Lessons:

For me, fate, identity, love, and belonging are themes that wind through the lives of three
generations of women in The Valley of Amazement by Amy Tan. This excerpt, details the turbulent
lives that the three women have led and the circumstances that have caused them to be separated
from each other. The women find their way back to one another. Their healing begins as they see and
understand their own lives through the eyes of one another. The Valley of Amazement is a beautiful
story of separation, hope, and love between a mother and daughter.

CORALINE [Excerpt]

By Neil Gaiman (England)

Summary:

The day after they moved in, Coraline went exploring. In Coraline's family's new flat are twenty-one
windows and fourteen doors.Thirteen of the doors open and close. The fourteenth is locked, and on
the other side is only a brick wall, until the day Coraline unlocks the door to find a passage to another
flat in another house just like her own. Only it's different. At first, things seem marvelous in the other
flat. The food is better. The toy box is filled with wind-up angels that flutter around the bedroom,
books whose pictures writhe and crawl and shimmer, little dinosaur skulls that chatter their teeth. But
there's another mother, and another father, and they want Coraline to stay with them and be their little
girl. They want to change her and never let her go. Other children are trapped there as well, lost souls
behind the mirrors. Coraline is their only hope of rescue. She will have to fight with all her wits and all
the tools she can find if she is to save the lost children, her ordinary life, and herself. locked, and on
the other side is only a brick wall, until the day Coraline unlocks the door to find a passage to another
flat in another house just like her own. Only it's different. At first, things seem marvelous in the other
flat. The food is better. The toy box is filled with wind-up angels that flutter around the bedroom,
books whose pictures writhe and crawl and shimmer, little dinosaur skulls that chatter their teeth. But
there's another mother, and another father, and they want Coraline to stay with them and be their little
girl. They want to change her and never let her go. Other children are trapped there as well, lost souls
behind the mirrors. Coraline is their only hope of rescue. She will have to fight with all her wits and all
the tools she can find if she is to save the lost children, her ordinary life, and herself.

Characters:

 Coraline – she is intelligent, whimsical, brave, and loyal.

 Her other mother & father – biological parents of Coraline.
 New Parents – Unreal parents and their eyes are black buttons.

Guide Questions:
1. How does the story feed on this fantasy?
 What makes it fantasy is when Coraline imagined that she having a other mother and
father. She imagined that she has other mother who can cook chicken.
2. How is the chicken in the other family different from how chicken is usually served in
her household?
 Based from the story, Coraline said that “it is the best chicken she ever had eaten. It is
huge, golden-brown roasted chicken”. Unlike the chicken that her mother usually served,
she said that it is frozen, very dry and it never tasted anything.
3. What does the chicken symbolize?
 For me, it is her favorite food that is why, when she tasted the chicken that her other
mother gave, she is amused and happy because it is very delicious.
 4. The other mother encourages Coraline to play with rats. What does this tell us about the
other mother's character?
 I think the mother wants to get Coraline. She wants Coraline to be their daughter that is
why she encougraged Coraline to play with rats.
5. Why does Coraline respond the way that she does?
 Because she thinks that having a other mother and father is good.

Insights/Moral Lessons

I love that movie. The basic gist is that Coraline doesn't appreciate what she has in life. She wants
everything in her life to be perfect and almost like a fairytale. However, she realizes that just because
everything seems perfect, doesn't mean that it is what it seems. By having "parents" that do
everything for her, she can't get away from them and is constantly kept in a state where she's not
allowed to think or do things for herself. She also isn't able to see other good things, like the boy that
is trying to become her friend but talks too much (or rather not at all in the other world). So basically,
appreciate what you have in life, and things aren't always what they seem.