AIR-CASTLES-LESSON for American Literature

21st Century Literature from the Philippines and the World Introductory Topic

1. Analyzing Poetry

2. Air Castles by: Juan F. Salazar

3. Read and carefully understand the poem and answer the eight (8) discussion that you will find throughout the presentation. Write your answers in a sheet of intermediate paper.

4. Question 1. Have you ever dreamt to be a renowned professional in your field of expertise? Why?

5. Question 2. What moves you to achieve and attain that dream?

6. Unlocking of Difficulties beckons - make a gesture with the hand, arm, or head to encourage someone to come nearer or follow. dells - a small valley, usually among trees. enthroned - install (a monarch) on a throne, especially during a ceremony to mark the beginning of their rule. grope - feel about or search blindly or uncertainly with the hands. coronet - a small or relatively simple crown, especially as worn by lesser royalty and peers or peeresses. wrought - archaic past and past participle of work. adverse - preventing success or development; harmful; unfavorable.

7. Juan Salazar was part of the first batch of Filipino writers who used the English language in their writing wrote “My Mother” and “Air Castles” which were published in 1909 during the Period of Re-orientation ( 1898-1910) which covered the early years of American period and the landing of the Americans to Philippine shores including the Philippine-American War. born on June 21,1889, in San Roque , Cavite.

8. Juan Salazar in “Air Castles”, he speaks of an ambitious poetic vision. studied in the public school of Sta. Cruz, Laguna, and in the Manila High School. i n 1913 he went to Hong Kong to join the staff of the Philippine Republic, a newspaper. back to the Philippines, he worked as a reporter for both La Democracia and El Renacimiento Filipino. in 1915 he left for the United States and became a feature writer of The Sacramento Union.

9. My life's tomorrow beckons me (a) From distant mountains high and low (a) My future seems a boundless sea (a) When moving passions come and go . (a) Deep in my heart Ambition dwells (a) He cheers me up the highland way (a) And guides me through the hills and dells (a) Wherein I pass the busy day . (a) I cannot write with Shakespeare's pen (a) But I can write with Shakespeare's heart (a) I love his skill, his craft of men (a) His mastery of poet's art . (a) I do not care for fame as he (a) Enthroned was he, like unto a God the depth he reached are dark to me But I will grope the ways he trod. I wear achievement's coronet. For blest are they who see things done and all my cares I soon forget When I have wrought my work alone. If I be met by adverse fate And all my dreams be but in vain then I will work harder yet with high resolve to try again. Air Castles (Juan F. Salazar) Reference: http://tayoymgapinoy.blogspot.com/2011/09/air-cstles-juan-f-salazar.htm

10. Elements of the Poem . @ Speaker : aspiring country person @ Setting : rural area or country @ Tone : normal, reflective, motivating @ Rhyme Scheme : A B A B C D C E G F G A H A I J K J K

11. @ Figures of Speech: Simile, Metaphor, Imagery @ Theme: Achieving one’s drea m @ Structure: Quatrain / Quadrosyllabic @ Analysis: > connects reality to life > talks about how an individual's dreams can become that person's motivation to face the tough challenges of life > about your ambitions in life, the things you want to be or you want to have/achieve

12. Question 3. What is the poem about? Can you give some credible evidences that can be drawn from the lines ? Question 4. What is the poets dream about? Can you cite a line that can prove it? Question 5. How did the poet express his admiration for Shakespeare ?

13. Question 6. Why do you think this poem is entitled “Air castles”? Question 7. What human values were incorporated in this poem? What kind of individual was presented in the poem?

14. Synthesis: “Air Castles” wants to make people realize that ambition is not always easy to achieve as you can, most of the time, experience rejection.

15. Question 8. Explain the diagram on the next slide.

16. AMBITION Challenges Failure Learning Perseverance SUCCESS