Dead Stars

     Title: Dead Stars

     Author: Paz Marquez Benitez

     Author's Background: Paz Marquez Benitez On March 3, 1894, educator Paz Marquez-Benitez, who authored the first Filipino modern English-language short story "Dead Stars", was born in Lucena City, Quezon.

Benitez was among the first generation of Filipinos trained in the American education system which used English as the medium of instruction.She taught at the University of the Philippines’ English department from 1916 to 1951, acquiring a reputation as an outstanding teacher.

She became an influential figure to many Filipino writers in the English language , among them, Loreto Paras Sulit, Paz Latorena, Bienvenido Santos, Manuel Arguilla, S.P. Lopez and National Artist Francisco Arcellana, who later emphatically declared, “She was the mother of us all!”

In 1919, she founded "Woman's Home Journal", the first women's magazine in the country. In 1928, she compiled "Filipino Love Stories," reportedly the first anthology of Philippine stories in English by Filipinos, from the works of her students.

     Source: https://kahimyang.com/kauswagan/articles/972/today-in-philippine-history-march-3-1894-paz-marquezbenitez-was-born-in-lucena-city-quezon

     Vocabulary: Melancholy - a feeling of pensive sadness, typically with no obvious cause.

                         Tranquil- free from disturbance; calm.

                         Azotea - a flat roof or platform on the top of a house or other building.

                        Perfevid - intense and impassioned.

                       Insipid – lacking flavour; weak or tasteless.

                       Monotonies – tedious sameness or repetitiousness.

                      Tumultuous – making an uproar or loud, confused noise.

                      Avidly - with great interest or enthusiasm.

                      Indolence – avoidance of activity or exertion; laziness.

                      Exuberant – full of energy, excitement, and cheerfulness.

                      Fastidious - very attentive to and concerned about accuracy and detail.

                      Austere - severe or strict in manner or attitude.

                     Desultory – lacking a plan, purpose, or enthusiasm.

                     Beckon - make a gesture with the hand, arm, or head to encourage or instruct someone to approach or follow.

                    Poignant - evoking a keen sense of sadness or regret.

                   Trodden – past participle of tread.

                      Saunter – it is to stroll at a leisurely pace.

                     Tantalizing - torment or tease (someone) with the sight or promise of something that is unobtainable.

                  Piquant - having a pleasantly sharp taste or appetizing flavour.

                  Tumult - a loud, confused noise, especially one caused by a large mass of people.

                 Gaily - in a cheerful or light-hearted way.

                 Sedate - calm, dignified, and unhurried.

                 Feeble - lacking physical strength, especially as a result of age or illness.

                 Aversion - a strong dislike or disinclination.

                Indignant - feeling or showing anger or annoyance at what is perceived as unfair treatment.

               Goad - provoke or annoy (someone) so as to stimulate an action or reaction.

               Exasperation - a feeling of intense irritation or annoyance.

               Capitulation - the action of ceasing to resist an opponent or demand.

               Lugubrious - looking or sounding sad and dismal.

     Vocabulary: Alfredo Salazar - The son of Don Julian, husband of Esperanza

                          Esperanza - Alfredo's fianceé 

                         Julia Salas -  Sister-in-law of Judge Del Valle

                         Don Julian - The father of Alfredo and Carmen

                         Carmen - Alfredo's sister

                      

                         Judge Del Valle - Brother-in-law of Julia Salas

                         Donna Adella - Sister of Julia Salas

                         Calixta - The messenger of Alfredo and Esperanza 

                         Dionisio - The husband of Donna.

                         Vicente - The husband of Carmen.

                         Brigida Samuy - the woman that Alfredo is looking for.

     Settings: Don Julian's house, Judge Del Valle's house, in Sta Cruz.

     Exposition: This would start when Alfredo hears the conversation of his family on why hasn't married his fianceé. And this would go on and introduce characters like Judge Del Villa and more.

     Rising Action: This would happen when Alfredo and Julia were having a conversation on Don Julian's coconut farm where Alfredo confesses about his feeling for Julia but he is engaged to Esperanza for 4 years so he was stuck with a big problem.

     Climax : This would happen when Alfredo and Esperanza are arguing about if they should cancel their wedding or not.

     Falling Action: Alfredo went to the town where Julia Lived for business, then Alfredo visited Julia and they had a conversation.

     Ending: Alfredo thought about whether it was what had she lost? Or was the loss his?.

     Symbolism: The dead stars symbolized his feelings for Julia after not seeing each other for a while his feelings towards Julia faded.

     Theme: The theme of this story would be forbidden love because he is already engaged to his fianceé yet he has feelings for another woman which he cannot pursue.

     Lesson: Make sure that you are 100 percent sure of the choices you make in life if u just go with what you think is right your heart might beg to differ.