21st Century Literature

from the Philippines

and the World
Quarter 4 – Module 3:
Close Analysis and Critical
Interpretation of a Literary Work from
Latin America
21st Century Literature from the Philippines and the World
Quarter 4 – Module 3: Close Analysis and Critical Interpretation of a Literary Work from
Latin America
First Edition, 2020

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21st Century Literature
from the Philippines
and the World
Quarter 4 – Module 3:
Close Analysis and Critical
Interpretation of a Literary Work from
Latin America
Introductory Message
For the facilitator:

As a facilitator, you are expected to orient the learners on how to use

this module. You also need to keep track of the learners' progress while
allowing them to manage their own learning at home. Furthermore, you are
expected to encourage and assist the learners as they do the tasks included
in the module.

For the learner:

As a learner, you must learn to become responsible of your own

learning. Take time to read, understand, and perform the different activities
in the module.
As you go through the different activities of this module be reminded of
the following:

1. Use the module with care. Do not put unnecessary mark/s on any part
of the module. Use a separate sheet of paper in answering the exercises.
2. Don’t forget to answer Let Us Try before moving on to the other
activities.
3. Read the instructions carefully before doing each task.
4. Observe honesty and integrity in doing the tasks and checking your
answers.
5. Finish the task at hand before proceeding to the next.
6. Return this module to your teacher/facilitator once you are done.

If you encounter any difficulty in answering the tasks in this module,

do not hesitate to consult your teacher or facilitator. Always bear in mind that
you are not alone. We hope that through this material, you will experience
meaningful learning and gain deep understanding of the relevant
competencies. You can do it!

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Specific Objectives:

After going through this module, you are expected to:

1. write a close analysis and critical interpretation of a literary text

from Latin America;
2. apply a reading approach in analyzing and interpreting the text;
and
3. create a spoken word poetry in response to what has been read.

Let Us Try
Directions: Choose the letter of the best answer. Write the chosen letter on a
separate sheet of paper.

1) What reading strategy is used when one reads rapidly in order to find
specific facts?
a) skimming
b) scanning
c) inferencing
d) notetaking
2) It is the process of rapidly recognizing and absorbing phrases or
sentences on a page all at once, rather than identifying individual words.
a) skimming
b) scanning
c) inferencing
d) rapid reading
3) A reader skims and scans through the text when he/she does a:
a) survey
b) recall
c) review

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 d) None of the above.
4) In the SQ3R reading strategy, Q stands for:
a) Qualify
b) Quantify
c) Quest
d) Question
5) The second R in SQ3R stands for:
a) Read
b) Recall
c) Recite
d) Review
6) Skimming is reading rapidly in order to get the:
a) summary of the material
b) supporting details of the material
c) general overview of the material
d) general objective of the material
1. Where does Mexico belong to?
a) Africa
b) Asia
c) Latin America
d) United States of America
2. To recall something one has read, it is best to write the:
a. key points
b. summary
c. All of the above
d. Letter b only
3. Which of the following authors is from Mexico?
a. Laura Esquivel
b. Yoko Ogawa
c. Chris Barnard
d. Dov Alfon
1. It is not enough for parents to just teach their children to read.
a. True
b. False
c. Maybe
d. No idea
11. Cortes named Malinalli “The Tongue” because she was fond of
nagging him.
a. True
b. False
c. Maybe
d. No comment
12. In Mexico today, Malinalli is considered as:
a. a temptress
b. a traitor

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 c. a hero
d. both a traitor and a temptress
13. In colonizing countries, the Spaniards used:
a. high powered weapons
b. spices
c. religion
d. silver and gold
14. What was the main reason of Malinalli’s weeping by the river?
a. Cortes was not interested to talk about his life.
b. Cortes was not interested to talk about her.
c. Cortes was not interested to talk about his god.
d. Cortes was not interested to talk about his religion.
15. What did Malinche or Malinalli acquire at the end being the controller of
information?
a. power
b. wealth
c. love
d. fame

Let Us Study
As a person matures, he/she needs to develop his/her critical thinking ability
so that he/she can cope with the different changes that occur in his/her
environment. One way to achieve this is through reading, and not just
reading, but critical reading. George Carlin stated, “Don’t just teach your
children to read. Teach them to question what they read. Teach them to
question everything.”

In this lesson, you are asked to write a close analysis and critical
interpretation of a Latin American representative text. In order to do this, you
need to develop a strategy in reading that could help you comprehend the
text, as well as, boost your critical thinking skills.

One reading strategy that has been proven to enhance one’s critical thinking
skills is SQ3R. SQ3R can be applied to a whole range of reading purposes as
it is flexible.

SQ3R is an acronym and stands for:

• Survey
• Question
• Read
• Recall
• Review

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Survey
This relates to speed-reading, scanning, and skimming the text. At this initial
stage, you will be attempting to gain the general gist of the material in
question.
Speed Reading. It is the process of rapidly recognizing and absorbing
phrases or sentences on a page all at once, rather than identifying individual
words.
Skimming and scanning are reading techniques that use rapid eye
movement and keywords to move quickly through text for slightly different
purposes.
Skimming is reading rapidly in order to get a general overview of the
material.
Scanning is reading rapidly in order to find specific facts.

Question

It is important that, before you begin to read, you have a question or set of
questions that will guide you. Examples of possible questions include:
•What do I already know about this subject?
•How can I relate what I read to my own experiences?

Read
Now you will be ready for the main activity of reading. This involves careful
consideration of the meaning of what the author is trying to convey and
involves being critical as well as active.

Recall
Regardless of how interesting an article or chapter is, unless you make a
concerted effort to recall what you have just read, you will forget a lot of the
important points. Recalling from time to time allows you to focus upon the
main points – which in turn aid concentration. A significant element in being
active is to write down, in your own words, the key points.

Review
The final step is to review the material that you have recalled in your notes.
Did you understand the main principles of the argument? Did you identify
all the main points? Review the text again to make sure and clarify.

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 Let Us Practice
Directions: Fill out the table below as you read the excerpt of a Latin American
literature, particularly from Mexico, Malinche, by Laura Esquivel. Write your
answer on a separate sheet of paper.

Survey Question 3 R
1. Skim the text and find Formulate Read
the main idea. questions Look for answers to
about the topic. your questions
Main idea:
____________________________ 1. Recall
____________________________ Write down the key
2. points in the text or
2. Scan the text and list write the summary
down the two main 3.
characters of the story.
1) 4.

2) 5. Review
What parts of the text
you find difficult?

Background Knowledge:

Laura Esquivel is a Mexican writer who has written children's plays,

movies, short stories, and several novels, one of which is Malinche which was
based loosely on historical fact about the relationship between the Spanish
conquistador Hernan Cortés and a woman who was once a slave but later on
played a great role in his life. Her novels often treat the topic of destiny,
showing characters’ ability and inability to control their fate.

Malinche, original name Malintzin, was also called Marina or Doña

Marina (born c. 1501, Painalla, Mexico—died 1550, Spain) She was a Mexican
Native American princess, one of a group of female slaves given as a peace
offering to the Spanish conquistadors by the Tabascan people (1519). She
became lover, guide, and interpreter to Hernan Cortés during his conquest of
Mexico. The success of his ventures was often directly attributable to her
services.

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 Malinche
[Excerpt]
By Laura Esquibel

Malinalli needed that silence to create new and resonant words. The right
words, the ones that were necessary. Recently, she had stopped serving Portocarro,
her lord, because Cortes had named her “The Tongue,” the one who transcribed
what he said into Nahuatl language, and what Montezuma’s messengers said, from
Nahuatl to Spanish. Malinalli had learned Spanish at an extra ordinary speed, in
no way could it be said that she was completely fluent. Often she had to turn to
Aguilar to help her to translate it correctly, so that what she said made sense in
the minds of both the Spaniards and the Mexicans.

Being “the Tongue,” was an enormous responsibility. She didn’t want to make
a mistake or misinterpret, and she couldn’t see how to prevent it since it was so
difficult translating complex ideas from one language to the other. She felt as if
each time she uttered a word she journeyed back hundreds of generations. When
she said the name of Ometeotl, the creator of the dualities Omecihuatl and
Ometecuhtli, the masculine and feminine principles, she put herself at the
beginning of creation. That was the power of the spoken word. But then, how can
you contain in a single word the god Ometeotl, he who is without shape, the lord
who is not born and does not die; whom water cannot wet, fire cannot burn, and
death cannot bury? Impossible. The same seemed to happen to Cortes, who
couldn’t make her understand certain concept of his religion. Once she asked him
what the name of God’s wife was.

“God doesn’t have a wife,” Cortes answered.

“It cannot be.”

“Why not?”

“Because without a womb, without darkness, light cannot emerge. It is from

her greatest depths that Mother Earth creates precious stones, and in the darkness
of her womb that gods and humans take their forms. Without a womb there is no
god.”

Cortes stared intently at Malinalli and saw the light in the abyss of her eyes. It
was a moment of intense connection between them, but Cortes directed her eyes
somewhere else, abruptly disconnected himself from her, because he was
frightened by that sensation of complicity, of belonging, and he immediately tried
to cut off the conversation between them, for, aside from everything else, it seemed
too strange speaking about religious matters with her, a native in his service.

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 “What do you know about God? Your gods demand all the blood in the world in
order to exist, while our God offers His own to us with each communion. We drink
His blood.”
Malinalli did not understand all the words that Cortes had just uttered. What
she wanted to hear, what her brain wanted to interpret, was that the god of the
Spaniards was a fluid god, for he was in the blood, in the secret of the flesh, the
secret of love; that he was contained in the eternity of the universe. And she wanted
to believe in such a deity.

“So then your god is liquid?” Malinalli asked enthusiastically.

“Liquid?”

“Yes. Didn’t you say that he was in the blood that he offered?”

“Yes, woman! But now answer me, do your gods offer you blood?"

“No.”

“Aha! Then you shouldn’t believe in them.”

Malinalli’s eyes filled with tears as she replied.

“I don’t believe that they have to offer blood. I believe in your liquid god, I like
that he is a god who is constantly flowing, and that he manifests himself even in
my tears. I like that he is stern, strict, and just, that his anger could create or make
the universe vanish in one day. But you can’t have that without water or a womb.
For there needs to be songs and flowers, there needs to be water; with it, words
rise and matter takes on form. There is life that is born without a womb, but it
does not remain long on the earth. What is engendered in darkness, however, in
profundity of caves, like precious gems and golds, lasts much longer. They say that
there is a place beyond the sea, where there are higher mountains, and there,
mother earth has plentiful water to fertilize the earth; and here in my land, we have
deep caves and within them, great treasures are produced-”

“Really?” What treasures? Where are these caves?”

Malinalli did not want to answer him and said that she did not know. His
interruption bothered her. It proved that Cortes was not interested in talking about
his religion, or his gods, or his beliefs, or even about her. It was clear that he was
only interested in material treasures. She excused herself and went to weep by the
river.

This and many other things made it difficult for them to understand each other.
Malinalli believed that words colored memory, planting images each time that a
thing was named. And as flowers bloomed in the countryside after a rainfall, so
that which was planted in the mind bore fruit each time that word, moistened by

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saliva, named it. For example, the concept of a true and eternal god, which the
Spaniards had proclaimed, in her mind had borne fruit because it had already
been planted there by her ancestors. From the she also learned that things came
to exist when you named them, when you moistened them, when you painted them.
God breathed through his word, gave life through it, and because of this, because
of the labor and grace of the God of All Things, it was possible to paint in the mind
of the Spaniards and Mexicans new concepts, new ideas.

Being “The Tongue” was a great spiritual duty, for it meant putting all her
being at the service of the gods so that her tongue was part of the resounding
system of the divinity, so that her voice would spread through the cosmos the
very meaning of existence. But Malinalli did not feel up to the task. Very often,
when translating, she let herself be guided by her feelings, and then the voice of
fear of being unfaithful to the gods, of failure, fear of not being able to bear
responsibility. And truthfully, also fear of power, of taking power.

Never before had she felt what it was like to be in charge. She soon found that
whoever controls information, whoever controls meaning, acquires power. And
she discovered that when she translated, she controlled the situation, and not
only that but that words could be weapons, the finest of weapons.

Comprehension Check: (Answers may vary)

1. What is your perception on the way Malinalli and Cortes looked at the
world? Explain.

2. Based on the characterization of Cortes and Malinalli, what kind of

relationship do they have? Prove your answer.

3. Was there a misunderstanding which happened between Malinalli and

Cortes? Cite an instance.

4. How would you deal with cross-cultural exchanges?

Let Us Practice More

1. In a Venn diagram, compare and contrast the colonial experiences of

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 Colonial Experiences of Mexico and the Philippines

2. Create a spoken poetry expressing your reaction on the result of

colonization in our country. Refer to the rubric below for your
guidance.

Spoken Word Poetry Rubric

Criteria 5 4 3 2
Content Entire poem Poem shows Poem is basic Theme is
shows some evidence and shows unclear.
reflection and of the author's very little Supportive
expression of reflections on reflection on a ideas are
a particular a particular theme. missing or
theme. theme. Supportive unclear.
Supportive Supportive ideas are
ideas are ideas are mostly
relevant & mostly irrelevant &
original relevant & unoriginal.
throughout. original. Parts The poet's
Poem gives of the poem feelings are
real insight might be off not revealed.
into the topic but most
writer's of the poem
character and expresses
point of view some depth
and insight.
Structure All lines and Most Lines Lines and The
stanzas are and stanzas stanzas do not organization
carefully are carefully effectively of the lines or
chosen to chosen to reinforce stanzas is not
reinforce reinforce rhythm. Most apparent.
rhythm. The rhythm. The of the poem is
poem is poem is ineffectively
organized in a organized in a organized.
way that way that lends
naturally

9
 lends itself to itself to the
spoken word. spoken word.
Language Utilizes Utilizes more Utilizes a Utilizes either
numerous than one poetic device a poetic device
effective poetic effective poetic and figurative or figurative
devices or devices or language. language.
figurative figurative Uses some Uses everyday
language. language. images. language with
Uses vivid, Uses images Language is no images.
detailed and mundane.
images and imaginative
rich, language.
imaginative
language.
Score: /15

Let Us Remember
Directions: Answer the following questions:

1. What reading strategy have you learned from this lesson?

2. In that reading strategy that you answered in number 1, what does S

stand for?

3. Q stands for what word?

4. What do the 3 R’s stand for?

5. What is skimming?

6. What is scanning?

Let Us Assess
Choose the letter of the best answer.

1. What is the other name of Malinche?

a) Maria c) Doña Aguilar
b) Malinalli d) Laura Cortes

2. Who gave her the name “The Tongue”?

a) Her mother
b) Portocarro
c) Aguilar
d) Hernan Cortes

3. Why was Malinche named as “The Tongue”?

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 a) She was an eloquent speaker.
b) She was a nagger.
c) She transcribed Nahuatl language to Spanish and Spanish language
to Nahuatl.
d) None of the above

4. What is the name of the deity whom Malinche believed as creator of the
dualities?
a) Ometeotl c) Ometecuhtli
b) Omecihuatl d) Quetzalcoatl

5. The text mentions different names of gods. What do you call the people
who worship many gods?
a) Atheists c) Polytheists
b) Monotheists d) Mystics

6. Why did Malinalli consider being “The Tongue” as an enormous

responsibility?
a) She didn’t want to make a mistake or misinterpret.
b) It was difficult translating complex ideas from one language to the
other.
c) All of the above
d) None of the above

7. All the descriptions about Hernan Cortes below are true except:
a) He didn’t want to talk about religious matters to Malinalli.
b) He loved Malinalli so dearly.
c) He was interested in material treasures.
d) He was afraid to fall in love with Malinalli.

8. Cortes stared intently at Malinalli and saw the light in the abyss of her
eyes. This line implied that:
a) Cortes was afraid of Malinalli.
b) Cortes was fascinated by Malinalli’s confusion.
c) Cortes was enlightened by Malinalli.
d) Cortes was beginning to feel affection for Malinalli.

9. It seemed too strange speaking about religious matters with her, a native
in his service. What violation of human right today did Cortes commit in
his time as implied in the preceding sentence?
a) Sexual Harassment. c) Anti-fencing
b) Discrimination d) Human Trafficking

10. What could be the purpose of the author in writing this novel?
a) To condemn Malinche for helping the colonizers

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 b) To question if the god whom one believes is true
c) To raise awareness on women empowerment
d) To remind women to shut their mouths to avoid trouble

11. What evidence/s prove/s that the Spaniard colonized countries are still
under its influence until today?
a) Most people in these countries still uphold their religion.
b) Some if not all, speak their language.
c) These countries use peso as their currency.
d) All of the above.

12. What is the power of the word or the power of language according to the
text?
a) It is a weapon that can control people.
b) It is a weapon that can control situations.
c) It is a weapon that can make the one using it become great.
d) All of the above.

13. How can you relate the power of words to the new generation today?
a) Young people today get easily influenced by what they hear and read
on social media.
b) Young people today are careful of what they say.
c) Young people today easily learn different language.
d) Young people today are good vloggers.

14. What is the best theme for the excerpt?

a) The Mystery behind Every Word
b) Faith and Words Go Hand in Hand.
c) Words Don’t Come Easy.
d) There is Power in Words.

13
15. According to the text, there were many things that made it difficult for
Malinalli and Cortes to understand each other. Obviously, this
misunderstanding was due to their different cultures and backgrounds.
In the 21st century, globalization is a current trend. We can experience
cross-cultural exchanges. How are we going to deal with this encounter
with people of different nationality to avoid conflict?
a) We should be proud of our being Filipino and insist on our culture
to be practiced by others.
b) Ignore those who are not of the same culture with us.
c) Adapt to other cultures just like the saying that goes, “When in
Rome, do as the Romans do”.
d) Submit to conversion to become like them.

Let Us Enhance
Directions: Write a critical essay on the excerpt that you have just read.
Follow the format given below.

Title
Introduction
1. Introductory statement (Hook)
2. A brief summary/overview of the excerpt
3. Thesis statement

Body
a. Argument #1
1.a. Evidence
2.a. Analysis and evaluation

b. Argument #2
1.b. Evidence
2.b Analysis and evaluation

c. Argument #3
1.c. Evidence
2.c. Analysis and evaluation

Conclusion
1. Summary of the main points of the essay
2. Reassert the thesis statement
3. Additional insights (Optional)
4. Concluding statements

14
 Let Us Reflect

In this module, you have learned how to make a critical analysis of a literary
text written by a Latin American author. You have also learned how
colonization had made an impact in a country. May what you have learned
enrich you with knowledge to also better understand the diverse culture of
our country which has also been colonized by different countries for a very
long period of time.

15
 16
Let Us Let Us Remember Let Us Try
Assess
1. SQ3R 1. b
1. b 2. Survey 2. d
2. d 3. Question
3. a
4.
3. c 4. d
4.1 Reading
4. a 5. b
4.2 Recall
5. c 6. c
4.3 Review
6. c 7. c
5. Skimming is reading rapidly in order
to get a general overview of the 8. c
7. b material.
9. a
8. d 6. Scanning is reading rapidly in order
to find specific facts. 10. a
9. b
7. (Answers may vary) 11. b
10. c
12. d
11. d
13. c
12. d 14. b
13. a 15. a
14. d
15. c
Answer Key
 References

Esquivel, Laura (2006). Malinche. 21st Century Literature from the Philippines
and the World (1st Ed.). (pp. 111-113). Ed. Marikit Tara A. Uychoco.
Manila, Philippines: Rex Book Store

George Carlin (n.d.). Quotes about Critical Thinking. Retrieved from

https://quotesgram.com/img/quotes-about-critical-
thinking/1649942/

Ideal Education Group S.I. (1989-2021), Laura Esquivel. Don Quijote.

Retrieved from https://www.donquijote.org/spanish-
language/mexican-writers/laura-esquivel/

Mind Tools Content Team (n.d). Speed Reading. Mind Tools. Retrieved from
https://www.mindtools.com/speedrd.html#:~:text=Speed%20reading%
20is%20the%20process,rather%20than%20identifying%20individual%2
0words.&text=Most%20people%20read%20at%20an,are%20naturally%
20quicker%20than%20others.

© SkillsYouNeed.com (2011 – 2021). Retrieved from

https://www.skillsyouneed.com/learn/critical-reading.html

Spoken Word Poetry Rubric. Retrieved from

http://bclearningnetwork.com/LOR/media/EN11/Join_Revolution/R
ubrics/RUBRIC_Spoken_Word.pdf

The Editors of Encyclopedia Britannica (Updated January 1, 2021). Marina.

Britannica. Retrieved from
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Marina-Mexican-Native-
American-princess

17
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