The Spouse 3d1d1n

Republic of the Philippines Department of Education Region IV – A CALABARZON Division of Lipa City LIPA CITY SCIENCE INTEGRATED NATIONAL SCIENCE HIGH SCHOOL

CRITIQUE AND ANALYSIS PAPER

THE SPOUSE BY LUIS G. DATO, A POEM

ENGLISH FOR ACADEMIC AND PROFESSIONAL PURPOSES

JOYCE GWYNETH N. NAMIA GRADE 11- FLEMING

JHONDRIEL C. LIM INSTRUCTOR

AUGUST 2017

ANALYSIS AND CRITIQUE OF THE POEM THE SPOUSE BY LUIS G. DATO Joyce Gwyneth N. Namia [email protected] I.

Introduction Poetry is one of the finest and most enigmatic forms of literature. Some poems are easy to understand for they are written plainly and uses familiar language. But most poems are comprised of long, complex sentences, a word order you barely recognize, or language that is archaic. With this, difficulties arise. For it generally comes at the truth sideward rather than head on, number of strategies are being followed to unravel the meaning the poet has hidden within the lines. With Luis G. Dato’s poem, The Spouse, this paper would analyze and assess the entire piece in of the devices used and how it contributed to the said poem, and affect the way it conversed with the readers.

II.

Objectives This critique and analysis paper aims: 1. To analyze and evaluate Luis G. Dato’s poem “The Spouse”; 2. To foster paraphrasing skills with the given poem; 3. To determine and enumerate the devices used in enhancing rhythm, meaning, and mood of the poem; and 4. To discuss the effects, implications, and contributions of the elements present and devices used on the poem. A. Paraphrasing A paraphrase is one’s own rendition of ideas or information without directly quoting the original one. It is a legitimate way to borrow a certain knowledge from someone; may it be written on the book, article, or even said on a speech. B. Analysis and Critique through Art for Art’s Sake philosophy 1. Devices that enhance rhythm. Rhythm is the pattern of beats, stresses in spoken or written language. a. Repetition. It is the practice of repeating actions, phrases, or words to produce a desired effect b. Internal rhyme. It gives poetry a musical quality which appears within a single line.

c. External rhyme. It gives poetry a musical quality which occurs at the ends of two or more poetic lines. 2. Devices that enhance meaning. In poetry, the usage of sensory images, figurative language, and sound devices are present to communicate ideas, tell a story, and describe feelings. Thru these, the meaning would be easily conveyed and would create vivid images. a. Simile. It is an explicit comparison between two seemingly dissimilar things. As signal word such as “like” or “as” indicates the comparison. b. Imagery. It is the descriptive or figurative language used in literature to create word pictures for the reader. These pictures, or images, are created by details of sight, sound, taste, touch, smell, or movement. c. Metaphor. It is a figure of speech in which one thing is spoken of as though it were something else. The identification suggests a comparison between the two things that are identified. 3. Devices that enhance mood. Also called as the atmosphere, mood is the feeling created in the reader by a literary work or age. a. Hyperbole. It is a deliberate exaggeration or overstatement. Hyperboles are often used for comic effect. b. Onomatopoeia. It is the use of words that imitate sounds. c. Personification. When writers attribute human powers and characteristics to something that is not human, such as an object, an aspect of nature, or an idea, they’re using personification. III.

Material and Methodology A. Material Written below are the materials used in making the critique and analysis paper of the poem “The Spouse” by Luis G. Dato:  Blogspot: The Spouse Analysis (2011)  Christianster: A Textual Analysis on Luis G. Dato’s ‘The Spouse’ : A Biblical Approach (2008)  Blogspot: Autobiography – Luis G. Dato in Profile (2011)  Purdue OWL: MLA Formatting and Style Guide (2016)  Purdue OWL: Paraphrase: Write It in Your Own Words (2016)  Prentice Hall: Literature; Timeless Voices, Timeless Themes (The American Experience 2000)

B. Methodology As a performance task in English for Academic and Professional Purposes (EAPP), each student was given a poem that will serve as the pivotal point of the critique and analysis paper that they are going to make. For the poem “The Spouse” written by Luis G. Dato, different aspects were evaluated. Before assessing the entire piece, a paraphrased version of the poem was made in order to develop one’s paraphrasing skills. Devices that enhance rhythm, mood, and meaning were determined, and different examples were given for each device. The effects, implications, and contribution of the said devices towards the meaning and aesthetic value of the poem was comprehensively discussed. Through reading between and beyond the lines, the hidden message, the purpose of the poem, and what the poet really means was interpreted and vividly understood. IV.

Results and Discussions A. Paraphrased Poem ORIGINAL POEM

PARAPHRASED POEM

THE SPOUSE

THE SPOUSE

Rose in her hand, and moist eyes young with weeping, She stands upon the threshold of her house, Fragrant with scent that wakens love from sleeping, She looks far down to where her husband plows.

I Holding a rose, crying because she’s sad, On the verge of her house, she stands, The awaken love due to fragrance, To her husband who plows, she glanced.

Her hair disheveled in the night of ion, Her warm limbs humid with the sacred strife, What may she know but man and woman fashion Out of the clay of wrath

II Her hair in disarray, She’s struggling in the way What man and woman can make From grief or rage III Does not care what the future holds, Beyond the love, she finds no worlds, On the field she looks upon,

and sorrow—Life? She holds no joys beyond the day’s tomorrow, She finds no worlds beyond her love’s embrace; She looks upon the Form behind the furrow, Who is her Mind, her Motion, Time and Space.

Wondering where her mind, motion, time and space had gone. III How melancholy the eyes are, How obscure a lonely love is, Seeking is a creature beside the creek, The secret answer was there since.

O somber mystery of eyes unspeaking, O dark enigma of Life’s love forlorn; The Sphinx beside the river smiles with seeking, The secret answer since the world was born. source: Forest Juvie. “A Textual Analysis on Luis Dato’s ‘The Spouse’: A Biblical Approach. 2008.

Shown on the poem, The Spouse, is the role of the women on the society before the Philippines had been set free. Women were not given the chance to do what they want. Rather, they had to stay inside their house, and let their husbands do the work. Based on the poem, it can be concluded that the woman is not satisfied with her life. She cannot feel the love from her husband because the moment that she wakes up, her husband is already plowing the fields and does household chores. She is seeking for the attention and love that she deserves to have. She’s waiting for the time for everything to change and go to its rightful place. The poem depicts a social concern during the years back then. This gives awareness to all the people that women deserve to be loved. Though they try to deny it, within them are the pieces torn and torn, until they become completely broken.

V.

Analysis and Critique through Art for Art’s Sake philosophy Poetry is one of the three major types of literature. Poems are often divided into lines and stanzas and often employ regular rhythmical patterns, or meters. Most poems make use of concise, melodic, and emotionally-charged language. Many also make use of

imagery, figurative language, and other special devices which help to express ideas in vivid and imaginative ways. A. Devices to enhance rhythm Rhythm is the pattern of beats, stresses in spoken or written language. Below are the different maneuvers which help in enriching the rhythm of the poem: 1. Repetition Repetition is the practice of repeating actions, phrases, or words to produce a desired effect which can make an oral tale more memorable and create drama and heighten suspense. It creates both rhythm and drama, which captivates your audience. Rather than repeating just any word or phrase, images or statements that communicate the main idea are also being repeated. Examples: Within the poem, the word ‘lonely’ had been used numerous times indirectly. This gives more drama to the poem and it can be concluded that the person is suffering from grief. Her warm limbs humid with the sacred strife Out of the clay of wrath and sorrow—Life? She holds no joys beyond the day’s tomorrow, O somber mystery of eyes unspeaking, O dark enigma of Life’s love forlorn;

2. Internal rhyme Rhyme, which gives poetry a musical quality, is the repetition of sounds in the accented syllables of two or more words appearing close to each other. Poets use rhyme in different ways. Internal rhyme appears within a single line.

Examples: She holds no joys beyond the day’s tomorrow, She finds no worlds beyond her love’s embrace; The Sphinx beside the river smiles with seeking, The secret answer since the world was born. 3. External rhyming Rhyme, which gives poetry a musical quality, is the repetition of sounds in the accented syllables of two or more words appearing close to each other. Poets use rhyme in different ways. End rhymes occur at the ends of two or more poetic lines. Examples: The Spouse has a rhyme scheme of a-b-a-b, wherein the first line is rhyming with the third line, and the second line to the fourth line. Every stanza follows this scheme. Rose in her hand, and moist eyes young with weeping, She stands upon the threshold of her house, Fragrant with scent that wakens love from sleeping, She looks far down to where her husband plows. Her hair disheveled in the night of ion, Her warm limbs humid with the sacred strife, What may she know but man and woman fashion Out of the clay of wrath

(a) (b) (a) (b)

(a) (b) (a) (b)

and sorrow—Life? She holds no joys beyond the day’s tomorrow, She finds no worlds beyond her love’s embrace; She looks upon the Form behind the furrow, Who is her Mind, her Motion, Time and Space. O somber mystery of eyes unspeaking, O dark enigma of Life’s love forlorn; The Sphinx beside the river smiles with seeking, The secret answer since the world was born.

(a) (b) (a) (b)

(a) (b) (a) (b)

B. Devices that enhance meaning In poetry, the usage of sensory images, figurative language, and sound devices are present to communicate ideas, tell a story, and describe feelings. Thru these, the meaning would be easily conveyed and would create vivid images. Below are the different maneuvers which help in enriching the meaning of the poem: 1. Simile A simile is an explicit comparison between two seemingly dissimilar things. As signal word such as “like” or “as” indicates the comparison. Like poetry itself, similes enable us to see the world in startling new ways. No similes are used on the entire poem of The Spouse.

2. Imagery Imagery is the descriptive or figurative language used in literature to create word pictures for the reader. These pictures, or images, are created by details of sight, sound, taste, touch, smell, or movement.

Examples: Imagery had been used several times in the entire piece of The Spouse. These are created by sense of sight, sound, taste, touch, smell, or movement. Rose in her hand, and moist eyes young with weeping, Fragrant with scent that wakens love from sleeping, Her hair disheveled in the night of ion, Her warm limbs humid with the sacred strife, 3. Metaphor A metaphor is a figure of speech in which one thing is spoken of as though it were something else. The identification suggests a comparison between the two things that are identified. Although metaphors are often brief, they may also be elaborate, lengthy comparisons. Metaphors are used to make writing, especially poetry, more vivid, imaginative, and meaningful. No metaphors are used within the entire piece of The Spouse. C. Devices that enhance mood Also called as the atmosphere, mood is the feeling created in the reader by a literary work or age. 1. Hyperbole A hyperbole is a deliberate exaggeration or overstatement. Hyperboles are often used for comic effect. Examples: Fragrant with scent that wakens love from sleeping,

2. Onomatopoeia Onomatopoeia is the use of words that imitate sounds. No onomatopoeias are used within the entire piece of The Spouse. 3. Personification Personification is the attribution of human powers or qualities to something that is not human, such as an inanimate object, an aspect of nature, or an abstract idea. For centuries, writers have used personification to satisfy a desire to understand the world in human . Examples: Fragrant with scent that wakens love from sleeping, O somber mystery of eyes unspeaking VI.

Conclusions and Recommendations The Spouse, a poem by Luis G. Dato, encomes a vast sea of language. It is one of those very rich, musical, and mysterious form of poetry in the Philippines. With the conducted analysis and assessment of the entire piece, written below are the formulated conclusions and recommendations: A. Conclusions 1. Luis G. Dato’s The Spouse consists of different poetic devices which make the entire piece more significant and eloquent. 2. Different maneuvers were present within the poem which enhanced the rhythm, mood and meaning of the piece. 3. Paraphrasing is a valuable skill for the mental process required for successful paraphrasing helps you to grasp the full meaning of the original. B. Recommendation  The historical context should have been more emphasized – the social, political, economic, and literary environment in which the poem was written in order to grasp its deeper meaning.

References 

Russell, Tony, et al. “MLA Formatting and Style Guide.” The Purdue OWL. Purdue U Writing Lab, 2 Aug. 2016.

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Graham, Don. Mora, Pat. Ellis, Linda. Gerla, Jacqueline. Caroll, Joyce. Wilson, Edward. Lederer, Richard. Guadarrama, Argelia. Leeman, Peggy. Chadwick-Joshua, Jocelyn. “Literature: Timeless Voices, Timeless Themes. The American Experience.” Prentice Hall. 2000. Pearson Education, Inc., Upper Saddle River, New Jersey.



Forest, Juvie. “A Textual Analysis on Luis Dato’s ‘The Spouse’: A Biblical Approach.” 2008. http://www.christianster.com/ctan/html/showsharing.php?authid=119299&m=4& y=2008&d=11



Dato-Talla, Stephen Cenon. “Luis G. Dato In Profile.” 2011. http://luisgdato.blogspot.com/2011/06/blog-post.html

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Brizee, Allen. Driscoll, Dana Lynn. “Paraphrase: Write It in Your Own Words.” The Purdue OWL. Purdue U Writing Lab, 2 Aug. 2016.

Appendices Author’s Profile Luis Guevarra Dato was born in Baao, Camarines Sur on the 4th of July, 1906 to Eugenio Dato and Barbara Guevarra. At the age of 16, he wrote his first poem in 1922. His first published poem appeared in the Naga Tribune in 1922, published in Naga, Camarines Sur. Dato’s other poems were published in different publications in the Bicol Region. Dato was the one who wrote the longest poem in English written by a Filipino, “The Life of Christ.” He also wrote the longest sonnet sequence in the Philippines numbering nearly 200 sonnets. He was the first one to translate Rizal’s “Mi Ultimo Adios.” When asked “Is being a poet born or honed?”, Dato answered, “Read poetry, the best in world literature, especially English, European, South American and Asian poetry. Imitate the way they think; the way they write. Also, fall in love. Look around at our girls who, I think, are among the loveliest in the world. Break your heart with the pain, the anguish of unrequited love. Indulge in self-pity, if it cannot help. But sublimate your frustrations. You are then in condition to write poetry, poetry from the depths of the soul.

ORIGINAL POEM

PARAPHRASED POEM

THE SPOUSE

THE SPOUSE

Rose in her hand, and moist eyes young with weeping, She stands upon the threshold of her house, Fragrant with scent that wakens love from sleeping, She looks far down to where her husband plows.

She is holding a rose in her hand while her eyes are still wet with tears. She is standing in the doorway of her house that has fragrance/aroma that awakens the significant other from sleeping She looks beyond where her husband ploughs (the farm, the meadow)

Her hair disheveled in the night of ion, Her warm limbs humid with the sacred strife, What may she know but man and woman fashion Out of the clay of wrath and sorrow—Life?

Her hair is messed-up because of the romantic night Her limbs are still tender because of the sacred fight She knows as the custom between man and woman Out of the anger and sadness, life sprang.

She holds no joys beyond the day’s tomorrow, She finds no worlds beyond her love’s embrace; She looks upon the Form behind the furrow, Who is her Mind, her Motion, Time and Space. O somber mystery of eyes unspeaking, O dark enigma of Life’s love forlorn; The Sphinx beside the river smiles with seeking, The secret answer since the world was born. source: Forest Juvie. “A Textual Analysis on Luis Dato’s ‘The Spouse’: A Biblical Approach. 2008.

She holds no happiness in the future She finds no place to live but just together with her husband She looks beyond the surface and sees her husband in her thoughts, her movements, her time, her space Sadness can be seen in the eyes Life’s love is mysterious and sad The sphinx beside the river smiles but is searching for something The secret answer is already present since the world began

I Holding a rose, crying because she’s sad, On the verge of her house, she stands, The awaken love due to fragrance, To her husband who plows, she glanced. II Her hair in disarray, She’s struggling in the way What man and woman can make From grief or rage III Does not care what the future holds, Beyond the love, she finds no worlds, On the field she looks upon, Wondering where her mind, motion, time and space had gone. III How melancholy the eyes are, How obscure a lonely love is, Seeking is a creature beside the creek, The secret answer was there since.