Practice Task 1

GENERAL INSTRUCTION: Write your answers on the space provided.

D i r e c ti o n s
Interacting with the Texts Stars” by H.O. Santos and the short story by Paz Marquez-Benitez of the
same title.

1. Who is the persona – the person speaking – in the opening stanza of the poem? Do you think it
was Alfredo, the main character in the story “Dead Stars”? Or is it a different persona who
recounts what he should have done? Cite lines to support your answer.
The person speaking is Alfredo Salazar, the main character in the story “Dead Stars”, wherein right from
first 2 lines of the 1st stanza of the poem “ If I still think of her today, Why didn’t’ I tell her long ago” this
lines refers to all of his regrets to Julia on being in loved with the girl he likes the most but he never had
the chance to tell how much he loves her and ask her if she also feels the same that makes it his biggest
mistake as well as regrets in his life.

2. If the “I” were Alfredo, who would be the “her”? On the other hand, who would be the “her” if it
was a different persona and not Alfredo?
If the “I” were Alfredo, then “her” would be Julia, because from the story and poem itself, it clearly states
his regrets on Julia by not having the guts to tell his true feelings and it’s all about the what if’s that
revolves the entire subject. Also the other “her” could be Esperanza, his wife for there can be no other
different persona aside from Alfredo just by clearly understanding the whole story and poem.

3. What does Alfredo feel he should have told her? On the other hand, what is it that the persona
believes he would have known if he had revealed it to her?
Based from my own opinion, alfredo feels remorse/sorrow and full of regrets on not telling his true
feelings on Julia, while on the other hand if the persona believes he would’ve known the truth about the
feelings of the “her” about him then I think the story will end peacefully and will have a happy ending for
mutual love and affection with proper communication will lead to happiness without any regrets.

4. Why is reference made to “metaphors” and “stars” and to “Venus” and “Mars” in the second
stanza?
 A metaphor states that one thing is another thing. It equates those two things not because they actually are
the same, but for the sake of comparison or symbolism for based from the stanza he is comparing Julia to
stars which is based from this one “If I had learned of metaphors Before I wondered ’bout the stars”. The
next one is Venus and Mars which he is directly referring to Venus (Goddess of Beauty) to Julia and Mars
(God of War)

5. What does the persona feel he is not aware of in the third stanza? What is the result of this lack of
awareness on his part?
From my own opinion, I think the persona/character is still regretting on not telling his true feelings, he is
not fully aware on the consequences of marrying his wife “Esperanza” that’s why he didn’t tell Julia that
he is already married.