A LOW ART – GUIDE QUESTIONS (PG.

93)

1. She considered it as ” a low art” because storytelling is an art but, it is meant for low class people. It is a
revised story telling but in a gossiping way.

2. Unlike in the traditional portrayal of Odysseus, there is a twist in the significant epic in which the other side of
history was focused on. Penelope played the pitiful role in which, she wants bullied, looked downed, abused
and being judged. Odysseus is an unforgiving liar, and doesn’t value women.

3. Unlike in the epic, where she was known to be a betrayer, here, in this excerpt, she was the one who was
judged and was mocked in the story. She was a pitiful character and was a laughing stock.

4. The people was blinded that Odysseus was the victim in the epic but in fact, Penelope is the real victim if you
read closely the excerpt . She points out that women must not be looked down by men.
5. Because women wouldn’t notice her hardships, instead, they would make scandalous gossips about her. Yes.
She was mistreated and she was abused. People would make fun of her.

6. An owl always keeps on repeating the sound “Hoooo”. It is similar to a person that keeps on asking “Who” but
is disregarded by many. In this case, Penelope is always warning other women but the women doesn’t mind
her.

7. Our answer is a 50/50. It depends on the availability of evidences and proofs that a person may believe on its
credibility. In fact, if that story is not backed up by supporting instances or evidences, then, we will not believe
in that happening. But if otherwise, we will truly believe on that idea or event that happened in ancient
history.

8. Yes. We don’t know whether the storyteller is giving the accurate information about the story. Maybe he/she
did add something in the idea making it more complex and more realistic or maybe he/she told that story just
to gain attention from the people. Its really hard to believe a story without a real evidence.

9. Yes also. Historians are persons who study the past. But some of these historians just make certain kind of
happenings/stories in which it attracts the people by the way it was being relayed or being told.

10. No. In fact, this made us realize that literature is shaped by history. Many great writers are being able to
express their desires, dreams and etc. in stories in order to make the people be aware of the current situation
they are in. We don’t know the conditions, journey, trials, problems in life that people are experiencing. That
is why understanding is a great key in order for us to be able to help them cope up in their current point in life.
That is why literature greatly depends on the history. In which era, period you are currently into and what
different issues are being addressed by the society.
SILK (EXCERPT) – GUIDE QUESTIONS (PG.99)

1. In the story of silk, the protagonist who was a French silkworm merchant-turned-smuggler named Hervé
Joncour in 19th century France who travels to Japan for his town's supply of silkworms after a disease wipes
out their African supply. He felt love, guilt and regret. He felt this way as his beloved died despite his power
and glory.

2. Normally she rode the bus home from school, but, now that she had to do physical therapy twice a week, he
had been ... But his daughter, good for her, was not thinking about him or his feelings. .... You can't beat me,
no you can't, so don't even try, because I am the best. ... Also, “When did it become a crime to feel things?

3. I felt shame for them both. It is lust because Herve visits his woman three times, but they do not have the
same language, they cannot address each other but over these visit they still conduct a secret affair.

4. They never had a conversation, all they did was drop hints like, the use of body language. Which was done by
the mistress when she first met Herve, the way she stared at him and how she handled the teacup. It was
some sort of a sexual innuendo. Herve leaving his glove behind for her to find, was a message to her. Saying
something like, ''I'll definitely come for you.'' They never spoke a word yet their actions speak louder than
words.

5. It is because business is very serious, in a way that Hara Kei focuses on what Herve Joncour says unto him;
therefore, he was not able to notice what the protagonist and the girl are doing.

6. The only complication and obstacle between their relationships are that the girl is already owned by hara kei.

7. The cup symbolizes desire or an indication of new love interest.

8. The significance of their glance is that it gives them a time to know each other, and a hint about their feelings.

9. The story is romantic, because it is full of glancing and tea sipping. On the other hand, it may also not be
romantic, because it does not show an authentic love.

10. The world is huge; therefore, we are able to discover and meet new people which can greatly contribute to
our interests
THE STRANGENESS OF BEAUTY – GUIDE QUESTIONS (PG.102)

1. Chie is a matriarch figure, such symbol who can rule a society in which the power passes and vested from
mother to daughter. We know that Chie is a Japanese of samurai descent. She is raised with some samurai
trainings. We can conclude that she is strong, brave, brilliant and independent. However, Chie’s daughter,
Etsuko was raised by a farming family but moves to America as a young bride. Her child adopts the perspective
of an American concerning individual's choice. Generations negotiate their identities in terms of each other
and their society. These generations portray distinctive and useful method for constructing autonomy.

2. I think author Lydia Minatoya, who is the author and the narrator of the autobiography The Strangeness of
Beauty, is like that in the story because she wants to show her readers what it is like to be an immigrant in a
country like the United States. Moreover, she already indicated that it is an “I-story” driven by confessional
angst.

3. Who wouldn't be surprised that they're family consists of only daughters. Its mind boggling how their family
can't have sons. It makes you think that their family is really cursed.

4. By acknowledging the competence of samurai women being trained for battle, we challenge the established
stereotype of women being too weak or feminine to do what is essentially viewed to be work done only by
men. This helps affirm that men and women are equally capable of doing the same task which encourages
women to become more visible in traditional masculine roles and empowers them to go beyond what society
expects from them in terms of gender roles.

5. For me, there has been no alteration or change on how I see the samurai mother in the book. Instead, I found
the sense of fulfillment in the sense that the mother is not only a tradition mother but also a mother who is
ready to die in battle.

6. It shows the struggles of women in time of war. I feel devastated for them and they're remarkable as they
sacrifice themselves for the country.

7. Go-between was upset because he/she didn't approved of Chie marrying Kan. Kan is just a farmer they didn't
think he can handle Kan.

8. I've found out that Japanese man can change their surname into their wife's surname, and you need to have a
good job/stable life to support your wife.

9. Samurai also dyed their teeth black as proof of loyalty to their masters.

10. I think it would be happy and not happy for some reason because Chie's family is not approved of it and Kan
may not provide the needs of Chie financially.
MALINCHE – GUIDE QUESTIONS (PG.113)

1. There are many differences between Malinalli and Cortes on how they both view the world. Malinalli, a
native Mexican woman who assisted the Spaniards in the former's conquest of the New World. On the
other is Cortes, a Spanish conquistador who received Malinalli as a "gift" from the defeated native
Mexican Potonchan. Malinalli views the world as a world that needed to be changed and be ridden of
human sacrifices, while Cortes' Catholic worldview sees the conquest of the Aztec Empire as a way to find
gold and other riches.

2. Defining the world has different definitions in the eyes of different people. You can't say that his words
are wrong because we define the world as what we see and what we observe.

3. A relationship with cultural differences or different belief.

4. Malinali is treated as a traitor but in reality, she is only a victim of her masters. She was sold very young as
a slave. She had witnessed to see her mother give her away because she does not want to have anything
to do with her anymore. Although this girl had her grandmother to guide her through life, she never really
did experience love and care she needed to live a normal life. Malinalli's death may seem selfish, but in
reality, it shows that not everything in her life was fine, though on the outside it seemed to be. Overall,
Malinalli shows all signs of being a victim. Her actions and decisions may come across as selfish, and yet
they all relate back to how she grew up. A stressful childhood can affect the way one acts when they get
older, the kinds of relationships one makes, and the types of decisions one decides on. The only way we
can better understand Malinalli is not to hate her, but to try to put ourselves in her shoes, look at her
whole story, and at what she might've experienced.

5. Malinalli may rightfully be considered the Mother of the Mexican Nation. Cortes wrote in a letter to the
king of Spain, "After God we owe this conquest of New Spain to Dona Marina." Always, Malinalli served as
the voice of Cortes. This symbiotic relationship led to the Indians calling her La Malinche.

6. Yes, When i lived in Saudi, i knew that the culture there and here in Philippines is vastly different. I've
seen a lot of Muslims there and their way of living is hugely different than Christians and their devoted to
their Allah.

7. Yes I do agree that words are the finest of weapons because we are humans have hearts, therefore in
order to change something we want we must strike people straight to heart to reflect and change it can
either be for the betterment or for the worse. With understanding in between and correct choice of
words I believe that we don't need deadly weapons etc. Words are much more enough.

8. "Words are singularly the most powerful force available to humanity. We can choose to use this force
constructively with words of encouragement, or destructively using words of despair. Words have energy
and power with the ability to help, to heal, to hinder, to hurt, to harm, to humiliate and to humble."

9. Mexico can be compared to the Philippines in experience in being a colonial. First Mexico was a colony in
which people are force to labor same as Philippines. Second people of Mexico were put in urban leaving
the land for farming same as ours. But there are many difference Mexico experience and that even if they
are a colony they have rights and the government is good than ours they have the representations in
Spanish Cortes.