Quarter 2 - LITERATURE - WEEK 3 and 4.pptx

Literature

1. Just One Thing by Tess Almendarez-Lojacono

2. "Just One Thing" is a short story or essay by Tess Almendarez-Lojacono, a writer, teacher, and entrepreneur. First published in  Flash Fiction Online  in 2008, the story is a reflection on her Mexican-American family life.

3. The story is set during a "meatless Friday" dinner in the narrator's Catholic household when she was about eleven years old. The narrator's father, frustrated with the constraints of their life, gives a stern lecture to his seven children.

4. His message is simple and unwavering: "You have to be the best in the world at something". He explains that as Mexican-Americans, people will always look down on them, but if they excel at just one thing, they will have their "comeback" against discrimination. The father, who himself is an expert on the French Revolution, tests his children on the subject.

5. The narrator, curious, asks her father if he always knew what he wanted to do when he was a child. He deflects the question and tells her to eat. The story highlights themes of family dynamics , cultural identity , and the pressure to succeed . It also provides insight into the father's frustration with the education system and his desire for his children to rise above societal prejudice.

6. Key Takeaways From The Story

7. Excellence as a shield :  The father's philosophy is that by becoming "the best in the world at just one thing," his children can create an unassailable "comeback" against prejudice. His message suggests that mastery in a chosen field is a powerful tool to earn respect in a society that might otherwise look down on them.

8. The transformative power of passion:   The father's stern approach, while harsh, pushes his children to discover their potential and pursue a field with singular dedication. The story highlights the pride and self-worth that can come from developing a deep, expert knowledge of a subject.

9. The weight of cultural identity :  The story also reflects the heavy burden of being a minority in a society that may hold prejudice against you. The father's words reveal the pressure he feels to ensure his children are not defined by their background but by their accomplishments.

10. A complex expression of parental love:   While the father's manner is severe, his actions ultimately stem from a desire to protect his children and empower them for a difficult world. The story shows how parents pass on their own struggles and coping mechanisms to the next generation, sometimes in imperfect ways.

11. “You have to be the BEST in the world at SOMETHING.”

12. “The Phone” A One-act Play by Irene Lau Oi-Yan

13. The Phone: A One-Act Play  by Irene Lau Oi-Yan is  a short drama centered on a single public payphone and the diverse group of people who use it . The play explores themes of communication, societal expectations, and the tensions that arise when different lives intersect in a mundane public space.

14. The Phone  is set at a row of public telephone booths , one of which is out of order. The story follows a series of characters as they attempt to make calls, highlighting the conflict and drama that can arise from simple, everyday interactions.

15. The Characters and their Conflicts

16. The Maid and the Husband :  A maid is on a long, non-stop long-distance call when a frustrated husband queues up behind her, impatient to make his own call. When he finally gets to the phone, the husband has a heated and tense conversation with someone named Ling, revealing marital problems and blaming the maid for his delay.

17. The Girlfriend and Boyfriend:   A young couple waits in line while the husband argues on the phone. Their quiet conversation provides a contrast to the husband's angry call. After the husband leaves, they joke about their own future before departing.

18. The Housewife and the Man:   A housewife and another man arrive at the same time. The man bumps into the boyfriend, and the housewife uses the distraction to "jump the queue" and rush for the phone.

19. The Young Man:   A young man has a particularly volatile and emotional phone call with someone named Jessie. He hangs up the receiver in anger, presenting the central climax of the play.

20. The Mad Man:   An unstable character enters and presses numbers without putting in any coins. He eventually drops the receiver and runs away.

21. The Young Girl and Other Characters:   A young girl picks up the phone dropped by the mad man. The play features a revolving cast of other characters, including two schoolboys and a family of three, all needing to use the phone.

22. Key Themes in the Act

23. Failed Communication:   The play demonstrates how a simple telephone can be a source of frustration and disconnection, rather than connection. The husband and young man both experience heated and unresolved conversations, highlighting their communication failures.

24. Public vs. Private Life:  The public setting of the phone booth forces characters to conduct their private and personal dramas in front of strangers, creating an uncomfortable and voyeuristic atmosphere.

25. Class and Social Status:   The interactions reveal underlying tensions related to social class. For example, the husband's frustration with the maid on a long-distance call speaks to class differences

26. The Revolving Door of Life:  The constant succession of different characters coming and going shows a slice of everyday life. Each person's brief drama is part of a larger, ongoing narrative of a shared public space.

27. “Be kind, always, for we don’t know what someone is actually going through.”