Topic: family

But like dodong before, his son also wants to pursue what he wants. The lesson we can learn is that marriage can wait the right time, if we want to be in this stage of life, we must prepare ourselves against the risk of it. I know we can all be in to it if we like too but not at the young age. This would be a lesson for youth like me. Jose Garcia villa is a great write coz aside from having nice story; he also had the point of view where we can have the knowledge of something related to what will happen to us. SUMMARY PART 2 Dodong wanted to marry Teang and asked his father’s permission. Thinking that since they are young, their love would be short, he allowed them to get married. After nine months, Teang gave birth to a child named Blas. For six consecutive years, a new child came along. Teang did not complain even thought she secretly regretted being married at an early age. Sometimes she even wondered if she would have the same life if Lucio, her other suitor who was nine years older than Dodong, was the one she married. Lucio has had no children since the time he married. When Teang and Dodong were twenty they looked like they were fifty. When Blas was 18, he told his father that he would marry Tona. Dodong did not object, but tried to make Blas think twice before rushing to marriage – because Dodong doesn’t want Blas to end up like him. THEME: BASICALLY that marriage is something very serious, you don’t just rush into it for the sake of things- there has to be love AND full commitment, without either it is doomed to fail. i would say: The moral of the story is that marriage is something that is taken seriously. Because marriage aside from being a sacrament is something that is full of responsibilities; when you decide to get married and you do marry someone, there is no turning back. To the youth, there is lots of things that should be taken into consideration before marrying of course including their readiness to take the responsibilities of raising a family and being able to respond to their needs. Because marriage is not a move that they can cancel when they feel like doing so. Before marriage you must not think twice but a HUNDRED times. QUESTIONS: 1. Explain the title. In what way is it suitable to the story? Footnote to youth is the title of the story. It is said that it is a footnote to youth because it is a brief reminder for the Filipinos especially the youth of what a real life could be today. It also indicates the sources or the causes why youth act this way. It furthermore adds comment, whether it is a positive or negative, on today’s generation. Yes it is suitable to the story because it gives a warning for those apathetic youth that one’s committed mistake because of their stubbornness. 2. What is the predominant element in the story- plot, theme, character, and setting? Explain. The predominant element on this story is the character and the setting. The setting has a great impact because the story definitely empathizes the situations of a Filipino person and it is appealing for us because we are at the poverty line. The setting is most likely the same setting as today. Also the characters, because characters had their own definite description, their conversation is different from one another, and they act as unique as their personality it enhances the story even more. The act of the characters seems to bring up the whole story. 3. Who is the single main character about whom the story centers? Explain. The story centers at the character of Dodong. Dodong is the one who represents the typical youth that experiencing a lot of uncertainties in life that make him realize that he sacrifice his youth ust for the sake of proving himself that he can manage his own life because he is matured enough to face this life’s challenges. 4. What sort of conflict confronts the leading character or characters? Explain. Internal conflict confronts the leading character. Internal character in a way that he was struggling if he can managed himself to have a family because he knows that he is in the legal age that he can be independent and can definitely choose the right from wrong. But because of his foolishness, he had difficult time meeting the expectations that he must achieve. 5. How is the conflict resolved? Actually, it was not resolved at all. Why? Because he just realized that he was wrong for being stubborn and foolish that he was not listening to his parents about dealing with marriage, family and life after marriage. And now that he has his own family, he just accepts the fact that it already happens. Also because of his unconditional love to Teang, he did not lose the battle and give up. The story just finished with realization and somehow patching up things for the sake of his family. 6. How does the author handle the characterization? Justify It is the mixture of all the methods which are through description, conversation of each character, and their actions. Footnote to youth talks about the youth as of today. It make possible to illustrate what a typical youth will be in the story so as a result, the author really brings out each individual through describing them one by one. And in this story it comes to pass. It also embarks upon on how the characters will converse to one another and how they act in accordance on how they stick to their main beliefs. As you can see every deed and tete-a-tete made by each of the character are equally diverse. 7. Who tells the story? What point of view is used? Explain The writer is the one responsible in letting know the story of Footnote to Youth. The omniscient viewpoint is used since a third person speaker who recognizes the whole thing about all the characters is all-knowing. The person who reads distinguishes about the impression and feelings of all the characters in the piece. He knows every detailed event that happens on Dodong’s life. 8. Where does the primary action take place? Explain. The primary action takes place on their farm land especially on the field where the crops are planted wherein the ground is broken up into many fresh wounds and fragrant with a sweetish early smell. It has many slender soft worms emerged from the furrows and then burrowed again deeper in the soil. 9. What is the time setting for the action? Period of history? Season? Time of the day? The time setting is almost the whole day from the morning until evening. The period of history on this story is on the 20th-21st century. It is the time of planting season almost June to August. There is no specific time of the day because it happens almost the whole day. 10. How much time does the story cover? The story covers from the day that Dodong proposed to Teang until they receive 7 children. 11. How does the story get started? What is the initial incident? The story started when Dodong started homeward or going home as fast as he can, thinking on how he would break the news to his father about wanting to marry Teang because Dodong knows that he is seventeen and he is legal and mature enough to have a family and to face life. The initial incident is that when Dodong already breaks the news to his father. 12. Briefly describe the rising action of the story? The rising action of the story of Footnote to Youth is that when Dodong was afraid to go to his home because he wanted to get out of it without clear reason at all. He felt afraid that it seems to caged him and also of Teang because Teang was giving birth in the house. It was the first child of Teang and Dodong for that matter. He began to wonder madly if the process of childbirth was really painful. And after that Dodong was feeling a little bit embarrassment because he was ashamed to his mother of his youthful paternity. 13. What is the high point or the climax of the story? The highest point in the story is when Dodong saw her wife in the “papag” with his firstborn child. He heard his baby’s cry that pierced him queerly. He could not control the swelling happiness in him. Then Dodong wanted to touch the baby and give her a sense of father’s touch. 14. Discuss the falling action of the story or the close of the story. The falling action of the story is that he had 7 children all in all. And since the coming of the children could not be helped, Dodong got angry at himself sometimes. And these things came to him as a realization. He wanted to ask questions and somebody to answer him. And he realize that why Life did not fulfill Youth’s entire dream. The close of the story is that Dodong returned to the house humiliated by him. He has wanted to know a little wisdom but was denied it. 5. Does this story create any special mood? Explain. Yes, it does create a special aura and the tone for that is the sense of mercy and pity to Dodong because he was suffering of life’s real experiences. And he had no way to stop this and because of this, he was embarrassed and humiliated on what he had done because of his eager to face life without any guarantee of orienting himself about it. You can also see the disappointment because the youth of today is like Dodong who is apathetic about the real score in life and because they say that they are mature, close-mindedness are being seen for this. 6. Is this story realistic or true to life? Explain your answers by giving examples. Yes, this story is true to life and all the youth is experiencing this kind of trouble. For example at the provinces, because of lack of education and orientation of the parents and siblings about responsible adulthood and parenthood, their siblings are engaging to a lot of relationship and turns out to be marrying at the young age because of there stubbornness and foolishness. Because in provinces, it is not wrong to marry at the young age but there is certain limitation. If the man is mature enough to face life challenges to avoid consequences. He will get to marry his partner provided that he has his parent’s consent. Like Dodong. 17. Are the events or incidents of the plot presented in flashback or in chronological order? Justify. The events are presented in chronological order from the time that Dodong proposed to Teang, to breaking the news to his father, until marrying Teang and having their first born, and lastly having 7 children and realizing the fact that it is hard to have a family with a very young age and because of these things, his youth was sacrificed and put at stake. 8. Was the selection written as a short story or is it a condensation or excerpt? Is it taken from a collection of stories? The selection is clearly written as a short story. It is not taken from a collection of stories. 19. What is the general theme of the story? What is the underlying theme? Name any other stories with a similar theme? The general theme for this story is youth must triumph now. Love must triumph now. As long ago did youth and love triumph for Dodong and then life. That life is not as easy as it should be. Life is said to be simple but it is hard to manage and hard to deal with. 0. Identify yourself with any of the characters? Explain. I would like to identify myself with the father of Dodong. Because as an educated person, I know how life would bring me if I marry at the young age. Life is really difficult and it is not an easy task to deal with. Like me, parents know more about this stuff because they already experienced it. And I do empathize and sympathize with his father. He wants only the best for his son. And I, I want first to see the best in me so that I could face the reality and do not suffer that life will bring to me. 21. Does the story contain any following elements? Explain. It has some incongruity because at the end of the story, there is a situation wherein Teang was put into spot about her realization although it revolves about Dodong, the author place Teang’s realization about her life with Dodong. I saw also an element of satire in which work that blends a critical attitude with humor and wit for improving institutions and humanity. In its positive direction, it attempts to inspire an improvement in society rather than just tear down with criticism. 22. Was there a villain in the story? A hero? A dynamic character? Describe. There is a dynamic character in this story in the person of the father of Dodong. He is the one that made Dodong to think twice in his decisions because his father knows what will happen if he will pursue on marrying Teang. He is at first not supportive to his son’s news but because he wants him to learn about the life’s pros and cons, he let his son to experienced it. 23. Can you find any examples of figurative language? Cite them from the selection. Personification is one of the figurative speeches that are used for this story. And its example: “A short colorless worm marched blindly to Dodong’s foot…” Also it uses hyperbole like for example: “youth must be dreamfully sweet. Dreamfully sweet” 24. Does the story contain a single effect or impression for the reader? If so, what? Yes. It simply tells the story of an older person who made a mistake in the past who ended up with a not so pleasurable life. Then he had a son who is like him when he was young. His son is hasty in making the decision to get married, just like he was when he was 17. And it really applies to us Filipinos specially the youth. It gives the impression to have a wise choice in dealing with life. 25. Name one major personality trait of each leading character, and tell how the author makes the reader conscious of its trait. One major personality trait of each leading character is the uninterested when it comes to reality of life. The author makes the reader conscious about this through the way Dodong act when he was married with Teang that he realized that it is difficult to be a father and to have a family. They know that life is just sweet and easy because they are living a simple life. 26. Does the story have a moral? If not, what do you think the purpose of the author was? Yes. We learned that having a family is really hard to do and needs a lot of thinking before pursuing to do it. Also, being aware and conscious of the Filipinos in terms of our status in life that it is not practical for a typical youth to get married if they are not physically, financially, emotionally, psychologically stable. Furthermore, it is better for us to follow what our parents what is think for us is best because our parents really knows how life should be. They already experienced these things and they do not want to experience this kind of things. Finally, we must have proper education about responsible parenthood to avoid consequences when we engaged to have a family. REACTION: In Jose Garica Villa’s Footnote to Youth, he tackles the responsibilities and realities that come with marriage and the family life. In it, he narrates the story of Dodong, wherein we are introduced to Dodong when he is seventeen and seeking to marry his love Teang. He is problematic over how he intends to talk to his father about marrying Teang, going over the possible responses his father would give, and at the same time convincing himself that he is old enough to handle the responsibility. On his way home, he makes a stop to relieve himself. The ground was broken up into many fresh wounds and fragrant with a sweetish, earthy smell. Many slender soft worms emerged from the furrows and then burrowed again deeper into the soil. The appearance of the worms and the occurrence of one worm crawling over Dodong’s foot is of great importance to the story, as it serves as a revealing of Dodong’s character and future. A short colorless worm marched blindly towards Dodong’s foot and crawled clammily over it. Dodong got tickled and jerked his foot, flinging the worm into the air. Several characteristics attributed to the worm can also be reflected back onto Dodong’s story, particularly the fact that the short worm was crawling blindly. It would be interesting to note, as well, the connection this worm crawling over Dodong’s foot has with Jose Garcia Villa’s title. A footnote is simply defined as a note at the foot of the page. It is often used to give additional information to the reader regarding certain words or phrases in the text. And yet the author includes no actual footnotes in the story. As such, Jose Garcia Villa is obviously trying to put forth certain themes and messages regarding youth and life through the use of a short story. The message that comes forth to the reader through the reading of the story, then, is what we may refer to as his footnote. However, an interesting alternative suggestion may lie within the story itself, particularly with the worm depicted in the story. The worm is described as blindly marching towards Dodong’s foot, which is exactly how we could also describe Dodong and his choices in this story. Dodong blindly marched into marriage, expecting his life to become better. However, that is not what happened. Instead, after nine months Teang was pregnant with his child, and he felt incredibly unprepared: In a few moments he would be a father. ‘Father, Father,’ he whispered the word with awe, with strangeness. He was young, he realized now, contradicting himself nine months ago. He was very young… He felt queer, troubled, uncomfortable…. In addition to that, for six successive years, Dodong and Teang kept having children. At this point, Teang began to feel unhappy in their marriage. She cried sometimes, wishing she had not married. She did not tell Dodong this, not wishing him to dislike her. Yet she wished she had not married. Not even Dodong whom she loved. It is interesting to note here that Teang still claims to love Dodong despite the hardships they have gone through. It should also be noted that Yet she wished she had not married, is a sentence that is separated from Not even Dodong whom she loved, meaning it is the act of marrying at a young age that she regrets, not the fact that it is Dodong whom she married. Not marrying Dodong was only an after-thought. The story goes on, however, to describe another suitor Teang had, Lucio, who was older than Dodong by nine years. Lucio had married another after her marriage to Dodong, but he and his wife were childless until now. If she had married Lucion, she wondered, would she have borne him children? Maybe not, either. That was a better lot. But she loved Dodong…. Here we are given a clearer picture about her unhappiness and disappointment. It is particularly regarding child-bearing at a young age that Teang is unhappy with. … ould she have borne him children? Maybe not, either. That was a better lot. The regret she feels about the marriage, then, is regarding the fact that they had children very early on in their lives. Just as Dodong’s thoughts raced when his first child was born: He was young, he realized now… He was very young. The responsibility of having children was something they could not bear at such a young age, and yet it was a responsibility that they were left with and had to deal with. This, particularly, is why Dodong’s father was reluctant to give Dodong his blessing to marry. Must you marry, Dodong? his father asked. You are very young, Dodong. Despite his father’s effort to dissuade him into marrying, Dodong persisted and went through with it, much to his father’s dismay. In this, we can safely conclude, then, that Dodong is just like the worm that blindly crawled onto his foot. The worm is a note that is intended for Dodong, and for readers as well, not to go charging blindly into the fray. For what happened to the worm? Dodong got tickled and jerked his foot, flinging the worm into the air. To stress this blindness even further we can look at Dodong’s reaction right after flinging the worm: Dodong did not bother to look where it fell, but thought of his age, seventeen, and he said to himself he was not young anymore. From the very beginning Dodong’s character is revealed as someone self-obsessed to the point that he doesn’t bother to look at the consequences of his actions. This is the footnote to youth: not to charge blindly into adulthood. And so, just like his father before him, Dodong was suddenly faced with the dilemma when his eighteen-year-old son comes up to him and asks to marry. You want to marry Tona,’ Dodong said. He did not want Blas to marry yet. Blas was very young. The life that would follow marriage would be hard…. And yet, like his father before him, Dodong did not prevent his son from experiencing those hardships as well. In this, the story’s theme becomes more universal in the sense that it is a footnote not only to the youth, but to parents as well. The theme, then, is clear in the sense that the quality of one’s life is likened to that of a worm when marriage and adulthood is rushed into at a very young age.