HAND OUT ENGLISH 9

Q2 WEEK 5
(VUCA –UNCERTAINTY)

Background Information for Learners

Literature can be a vehicle towards understanding culture, values, and customs

that are relevant to the society that we are living in. Most of the time, a literary piece
contains themes that creativity depicts the ways of society. This is often reflected in
the character’s adventures and resolution he or she comes up with the end of the
story. Literature also paves the way in establishing unchanging values modelled by
classical examples both in history and literature. This creates a standard of moral
thoughts and actions no matter the changes in the value system of the world.

Many literary pieces in Anglo-American Literature reflect perennial

values and beliefs that are still accepted today. There are also stories of hope rising
against discrimination, stories of love conquering all odds, faith in humanity in this
constantly changing world. These literary pieces emphasize the importance of the
value system in a person for this shapes his future.

VUCA is an acronym that stands for volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and

ambiguity, a combination of qualities that, taken together, characterize the nature of
some difficult conditions and situations.
Source: www.whatis.techtarget.com
Values is a person's principles or standards of behavior;
one's judgment of what is important in life.
Uncertainty – the lack of predictability, the prospect for surprise, and a sense of
awareness and understanding of issues and events

Examples of unchanging values in an uncertain world:

1. Living your own rhythm despite living in a hectic world
2. Valuing yourself even though the world tells you to give more to other people
3. Prioritizing your family even though the world makes situations to make you want
to be independent.
Activity Proper
1. Directions: Read and accomplish the activities as directed in A journey
Through Anglo-American Literature 9 LM p. 430.

2. Activities and Exercise:

Activity 1: Poetry Reading

Everyone of us dreams to become successful in life. What would you do if your
ultimate dream is shattered?

Langston Hughes wrote these words in his poem "Dream Deferred" describing
the common experience of black Americans where they were considered an inferior
group of people that dreams and goals would have been difficult to realize.

Dream Deferred
Poem by Langston Hughes
What happens to a dream deferred?
Does it dry up
Like a raisin in the sun?
Or fester like a sore--
And then run?
Does it stink like rotten meat?
Or crust and sugar over--
like a syrupy sweet?
Maybe it just sags
like a heavy load.
Or does it explode?

Vocabulary:
1. deferred – delayed or put on hold
2. fester - irritate
3. stink - smell
4. rotten - decayed
5. sags – drops or falls

1. What does “Dream Deferred” means?

2. Why does the author compare Dream Deferred to a heavy loads that sag?
3. Why do think most of the lines in the poem ask questions?
4. What is your ultimate dream in life?
5. What will you do if your ultimate dream is put on hold because of some
circumstances that cannot be avoided
Activity 2: Individual Task

Below is a song of Mariah Carey’s “Hero”. Read the lines carefully and
analyze the message of each stanza. Determine which part of the song is best to
point out the value implied. Write the Roman Numeral

I. There's a hero
If you look inside your heart
You don't have to be afraid
Of what you are
There's an answer
If you reach into your soul
And the sorrow that you know
Will melt away
II. And then a hero comes along
With the strength to carry on
And you cast your fears aside
And you know you can survive
So when you feel like hope is gone
Look inside you and be strong
And you'll finally see the truth
That a hero lies in you
III. It's a long road
When you face the world alone
No one reaches out a hand
For you to hold
You can find love
If you search within yourself
And that emptiness you felt
Will disappear
IV. Lord knows
Dreams are hard to follow
But don’t let anyone
Tear them away
Hold on
There will be tomorrow
In time you’ll find a way
V. And then a hero comes along
With the strength to carry on
And you cast your fears aside
And you know you can survive
So when you feel like hope is gone
Look inside you and be strong
And you’ll finally see the truth
That the hero lies in you.

1. It encourages one to strive hard for

ambitions in life. It also gives one a
positive outlook in all aspects of life no
matter how hard or difficult the
situation is for there is always hope
beyond difficulties.

2. Know the value of your self-worth.

3. Life could be sometimes difficult to
deal with, our vision in life is
sometimes hard to fulfill, but in the
long- run we always end up being
victorious because of our faith that
there is God, a true hero that guides
us in our everyday endeavor.
3. Guide Question:
How would you fight against the sudden change of situation in life? Write your
answer in a sentence or two.