English M5Q3

John Carlo P. Dela Cruz

10-Baltazar

Read and React

1.
The Thief Who became a Disciple
A. Shichiri Kojun is a good man because not only did he overlook the fact that someone
tried to rob him, but he also helped him in his trial. It reminds me of how the priest who
caught Jean Valjean in Les Misérables as he was sneaking around and stealing his
valuables. In the end, the priest too, helped him saying he "gave it to him.” Like Shichiri
Kojun, he is a good man because he was able to recognize and help a man in need.
B. His actions caused the robber to change his ways. He realized that there are other
ways to earn money instead of stealing it.
C. The story tells us to be forgiving of others. Sometimes a person may do something bad
but that does not mean they are fundamentally bad. We often get the wrong impression
that their nature is evil without regard to their situation. The story also tells us how a
single act of kindness can change a person’s life.
2.
The Story of the Muddy Road
A. Of the two monks, it is Ekido who is unjust because he was too focused on
what Tanzan did wrong as a monk even though it, in fact, was the right thing to
do as a human. Ekido was unable to restrain himself as a monk should and put
his sake over others when he said to Tanzan, “We monks don’t go near females,
especially not young and lovely ones. It is dangerous. Why did you do that?”
B. In life, we do things that seem to be against our principles, but sometimes it
is the right thing to do. “We monks don’t go near females,” said Ekido. However,
Tanzan didn’t let his principles blind him from doing what was right. Life doesn’t
always follow the script; rules are bent and broken. You have to learn how to let
go.
C. The story shows moralism by teaching us how to let go. Letting go in this
sense is releasing all doubt, worry, and fear about a situation, person, or
outcome. It’s releasing anything that disrupts your happiness and no longer
serves you on your journey.

3.
Parable of the Good Samaritan
A. In the times of Jesus, Samaritans and other gentiles (non-Jews) are
considered unclean or sinners and Jews must not associate with them but
in the parable of Jesus, he manifested that you should love and treat
everyone the same even if he is your enemy.
B. The Samaritan proved himself a good neighbor to the man through his
actions of helping his enemy.
 C. The story is an example of moralism because it teaches us one of the most
important lessons of God. To love our neighbors as ourselves no matter who
they may be.

B. In Their Shoes
If I am the Good Samaritan:
1. My best quality would be my dedication to helping everyone and anyone I come across.
2. I put myself in his shoes. Even if he considered me an enemy, I helped him simply
because if I was in his situation, I would’ve appreciated and welcomed any help I could
receive.
3. I have learned that someone’s identity does not matter when helping people. They are
still human and my neighbor regardless of who they are.
4. It’s difficult to help someone who views you as an enemy, but in doing so, helps you
grow as a person. Regardless of the situation, one must always act upon what is best for
everybody. As God has taught us, “Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself”.
5. This experience has made me feel somewhat enlightened. I feel as though my values
and morals have reached a new level. Matthew 5:43-47 “You have heard that it was
said, ‘Love your friends, hate your enemies.’ But now I tell you: love your enemies and
pray for those who persecute you.” As I said before, loving your enemy isn’t easy.
However, I was able to forgive mine, and I feel as though I have grown as a person
since I chose to be the bigger man.

C. Follow the Lead

Leo Tolstoy is regarded as one of the greatest authors of all time. One of his most
popular short stories, “What men live by” was published in 1885, which is fundamentally a
parable about love. It strives to show that God is manifested in people’s selfless compassion
toward one another.

The story is in the third person’s narrative and starts by introducing Simon, a poor yet
kind shoemaker, and his wife, Matryona. One day, on his way home, after failing to purchase
sheepskins, he met a naked man named Michael. He helped Michael under the condition that
he works for him. After 6 years, the man bids Simon farewell explaining that God has finally
forgiven him. Michael emits a heavenly glow and explains who he is and his punishment. After
sharing his newfound wisdom with Simon, the angel returns to heaven.

Leo Tolstoy’s parable is a deep-rooted understanding of human nature. The story was
set in a time when humans were not corrupted by wealth, and people lived with integrity,
earning a living with morality.

It is easily noticeable how different it is in our time now. Our time has made us forget our
basic purpose in life because of wealth and material possession. The apparent contrasting
cultural differences between then and now only served to enhance Tolsoy’s message —to love
and treat all with compassion.
 We are taught the essence of life as learned by the angel Michael while living with a
poor shoemaker’s family. What is given to men? Love. What is not given to men? The
knowledge of their own needs. What do men live by? The love of others–to love and to be
loved. As Michael concluded in the story, all men live not by caring for themselves but by love.
Tolstoy marvelously highlighted this idea in part by the characters’ fates: those who are greedy
and selfish are punished, while those who love each other selflessly are rewarded.

I feel enlightened after reading this story. I came to realize a very important thing; care
and affection for others are basic human needs. The desire to love and feel loved in return is
what man lives by. I feel elated imagining that there are people out there like Simon who,
despite living in poverty, gives all that he has to help others. However, this is also the reason
why I feel somewhat disappointed. Simon wasn’t given enough credit for the kindness that he
showed Michael. It would’ve been more meaningful if Michael also learned something from
Simon, who was always with him.

Assessment

The Little Prince and the fox is a children’s story published in 1943, written by Antoine de
Saint-Exupéry. The narrator gives a first-person narrative and tells us about the dangers of
narrow-mindedness, enlightenment through exploration, and how relationships teach
responsibility.

One day, a mysterious rose sprouted on the planet, and the little prince fell in love with it.
But when he caught the rose in a lie one day, he decided that he could not trust her anymore.
He grew lonely and decided to leave. Despite a last-minute reconciliation with the rose, the
prince set out to explore other planets and cure his loneliness. Through his exploration, he met
a fox who was terrified of humans. As time pass, the prince befriends a fox, who teaches him
lessons about relationships, making him go back to his planet and visit his rose.

The rose says to the prince, Where I come from, even though she grew from a seed on
the little prince’s planet and therefore does not “come from” anywhere. The rose’s lie makes the
prince doubt the sincerity of her love. However, throughout his travels, he realizes that the rose
actually loves him, but he knows he is too young and inexperienced to know how to love her.
She was my rose, and I was responsible for her, and I have to go back and take care of her.
This is one of the great things about this story. We watch how a young child, filled with
innocence, learns about the world, acknowledges his mistakes, moves on, and grows.

The author did an outstanding job using personification on the fox. At first, it seemed
ironic that a fox who was so cautious of any human would beg one to tame him. However, you
realize that the fox is just afraid and lonely. He is as human as one can be, making him seem
wiser, more empathetic, and emotional. Thus, increasing his impact on the story. This is clearly
shown in his final encounter with the prince, where the fox facilitates the prince’s departure by
making sure the prince understands why his rose is so important to him.
 Goodbye,” said the fox. “Here is my secret. It’s quite simple: One sees clearly only with
the heart. Anything essential is invisible to the eyes... It’s the time that you spent on your rose
that makes your rose so important... People have forgotten this truth,” the fox said, “But you
mustn’t forget it. You become responsible for what you’ve tamed. You’re responsible for your
rose....”

This encounter displays an ideal type of friendship because even though the prince’s
departure causes great pain to the fox, he behaves unselfishly, encouraging the prince to act in
his own best interest. The author uses a subtle yet clever meaning in this line. By calling his
lessons a “secret,” the fox reveals that such knowledge is not available to all. The fox’s lessons
must be learned, and, in some way, they should be considered a privilege. We live in an era
where we are blinded by materialistic things that we forget to cherish the precious things that we
can't see —the love of others.

Reflection

For this lesson, I have learned that a literary criticism is an analysis that helps in
understanding the message of the author in the literary piece and moralistic approach is one
of the best ways to do it.