Mariano Marcos State UniversityCOLLEGE OF TEACHER EDUCATION

Laoag City

Humanism Philosophy in Literature:

• A Study Guide on the Short Story, The Golden Opportunity

by Andrea Amor Tablan

Background of the Philosophy

• It is the spirit of learning that developed at the end of the Middle Ages with the revival of classical letters and a renewed confidence in the ability of human beings to determine for themselves truth and falsehood.

• It is most often used to describe a literary and cultural movement that spread through Western Europe in the 14th and 15th centuries.

• It is what lies at the base period we call Renaissance.

• Humanism philosophy is prevalent in the story the Golden Opportunity by Andrea Amor Tablan.

Andrea Amor Tablan

She worked at the Division of City Schools, Manila. She was once connected with the Division of Rizal as Supervisor of Filipino. She has written several English and Filipino books for children.

About the Author

VIGNETTE

Nicolas came face to face with the son of their former panadero who was already a medical doctor. The doctor was telling him not to worry about hospital fees for all were taken care of. He felt the world reversely tumbled down and as he was deep under. How did all these happen? Should he be feeling thankful or more pitiable wearing his construction worker clothes in front of this self- made professional doctor who was only his father’s scholar? What happened to poor Nicolas?

General Precept Paragraph Explanation

Humanism stresses an individual’s capacity for self- realization through reasoning.

(11) More than ever before, Nicolas felt the pain of remorse. “I was a fool,” he blurted out to Ponciano. “I had a good chance to be educated but I played truant at school, ignored it entirely.…. Enjoyed myself with money intended for my school fees … then there was the fire that ate up our bakery. My parents died soon after and I found myself forces to stand on my own feet. I realized how much I had lost.”

It is dominant in this paragraph that it is only when their bakery was burned and his parents died that Nicolas realized how much he had lost. He also accepted that he was a fool for not giving importance to his studies.

General Precept Paragraph Explanation

Humanism stresses on individual’s capacity for self- realization through reasoning.

(28) “No, it is more than that,” he said aloud. “It is a matter of making use of our golden opportunities.”

In this paragraph, Nicolas realized he wasted a golden opportunity which is to pursue his studies. He ended up being a construction worker while the panadero’s son, who made use of his chance became a doctor.

General Precept Paragraph Explanation

Responsibility in humanism means that there are no God-given rules to guide our actions and decide what we believe.

(11) “.. My parents died soon after and I found myself forces to stand on my own feet. I realized how much I had lost.”

In this line “I found myself forces to stand on my own feet” connotes that Nicolas was left alone and penny less and he is responsible for his life. He could only depend on himself.

General Precept Paragraph Explanation

Humanists accept responsibility for their own lives. For this reason, we must face the fact that the future of humankind--and the natural world--is in the hands of men and women, not fate nor God.

(19) “I am sorry, doctor, this is all I have. I’ll pay some more when I receive my pay Saturday afternoon.”

In this paragraph, Nicolas accepted the responsibility to pay for the expenses of his son’s medication. He didn’t ask for God’s help, instead, promised to pay the bill.

Guiding Questions in Analyzing Literature Though the Humanism

Philosophy

I. Character/Persona

1. Does the character stands for what he believes? Cite some specific lines or paragraphs.

2. Does the character more concern to secular rather than spiritual?

3. Does the character have the capacity for self – realization through reasoning?

II. Theme

1. How did the literary piece show or prove that man is the measure of all things?

2. Did the literary piece emphasize two or more of the following?

a) Existence

b) Death

c) Responsibility

d) New ideas

e) Right and wrong

f) Social issues

g) Self- reliance

3. Does the literary piece display man responsible for his own fate?

4. Does the literary piece promote the concept of a well-rounded Renaissance man who is proficient in both intellectual and physical endeavors?

III. Style and Tone

1. Does the literary piece reject supernaturalism?

2. Does the literary piece propose that there is an importance in classical antiquity?

References:

Retrieved fromhttp://unr.edu/homepage/nickles/wthonors/humanism-renaissance.htm. Retrieved on August 27,2014

Retrieved from http://www.suite101.com/article.cfm/humanism/83058. Retrieved on August 27, 2014

Retrieved from http://www.phil-hum-ren.uni muenchen.de/php/Kessler

/Toronto2003.htm.Retrieved on August 30, 2014

Retrieved from http://reference.allrefer.com/encyclopedia/R/Renaisnc-rhetoric-and-literature.html. Retrieved on August 30,2014.

 

This PowerPoint presentation Humanism Philosophy in Literature: A Study Guide on the Short Story, The Golden Opportunity by Andrea Amor Tablan was formulated to address the needs of the students as well as the teachers in studying literary criticism. Furthermore, this could be a useful guide for the Literary Criticism students for it serves as an avenue for them to learn the Humanism Philosophy as well as to facilitate in analyzing different literary pieces using this philosophy. Moreover, this presentation includes a Philippine Literary poem which will be helpful for the Filipino Students since there is a shortage of published Philippine Literary Pieces.

This PowerPoint presentation Humanism Philosophy in Literature: A Study Guide on the Short Story, The Golden Opportunity by Andrea Amor Tablan was created by Julianne Grace Bugaoisan and Angelic Manera with their consultant Professor Jahnese Asuncion.

This presentation is one of the collection of presentations about the different trends and theories of Literary Criticism by the BSE Junior students of Mariano Marcos State University – College of Teacher Education major in English, taking up Literary Criticism subject.

ABOUT THE EDITOR / CONSULTANT

Jahnese Domingo-Asuncion is a professor at the Mariano Marcos State University – College of Teacher education (CTE), Laoag City. She finished the degrees of Bachelor in Secondary Education, major in English and Minor in Social Studies; and Masters of Arts in Education, major in Language and Literature at MMSU. She is currently enrolled in Doctor of Philosophy in Linguistics. She teaches Language and Literature courses in the collegiate level. She was also involved in training Korean and Chinese students in the English Crash Course Program for foreign students of CTE. She is currently the co-adviser of CTE Bulletin and the Coordinator of Student Activities.

About the Presenter:

Julianne Grace Bugaoisan is currently taking up Bachelor in Secondary Education with English as her field of specialization. She is from Brgy.6, Laoag City. She is a product of Ilocos Norte College of Art and Trade

Angelic Manera is currently taking up Bachelor in Secondary Education with English as her field of specialization. She is from Brgy. Sulquiano, Dingras, Ilocos Norte. She is a product ofDingras NHS/Lt. EFMNHS- Sulquiano Campus.

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