GROUP 4 Roman Literature (Part II) GC: Anna Dominique Monton AGC: Yna Coline Rimando Members: Josef

Alec de Villa Karl Michael Mamangun Juan Miguel Masangcay April Mongis Mikko Allen Pizarra PIZARRA: Hey guys, lets study about literature! MASANGCAY: *sigh* cmon, cmon, lets get it on! RIMANDO: Okay, to start off, Literature means any written or oral account about life. MONTON: and it has 3 divisionsDrama, Prose and . *thinking* MAMANGUN: examples of Prose are short stories, essays, myths, legends and novels. DE VILLA: and the last division is Poetry. MONGIS: Poetry is a distinctive melodious literary from with definite rhyme and rhythm. PIZARRA: Poetry has divisions too, right Migs? MASANGCAY: Yes, the first one is Narrative. It is a story telling poem. RIMANDO: second is the Didactic. It is a poem of advice. MONTON: Next is Dramatic, a poem that is meant to be dramatized in verse. MAMANGUN: and lastly, Lyric. It is a poem of full of abstraction and spontaneous emotions. DE VILLA: an example of literature is the Roman Literature. It is from Rome, obviously. MONGIS: I know a poet from Rome! His name is Ho hora..

PIZARRA: Horace! His poems are short and meditative in nature. Reflection, observation, and irony are cleverly combined. MASANGCAY: His poetry lacks grandeur, enthusiasm and imagination. But his lyrics are unsurpassed as an artistic reflection in the society. 1

RIMANDO: One of his poems is To Licinius. Here, can you read it for us, Anna? MONTON: *reads poem* MAMANGUN: What is the meaning of ADVERSE (Act.1, #1, pg.59)? DE VILLA: It means causing harm. MONGIS: Yes, so Horace tells us the reality that too much desire for power can cause us harm. PIZARRA: What do you mean about TIMOROUSLY CREEP (Act. 1, #3, pg. 59)? MASANGCAY: TIMOROUSLY means lack of courage, CREEP means to go very slow. So TIMOROUSLY CREEP (Act. 1, #3, pg. 59) means moving slow because of fear. RIMANDO: How about TREACHEROUS SHORE (Act. 1, #2, pg. 59)? MONTON: TREACHEROUS means marked by hidden dangers. SHORE means the land bordering a usually large body of water. Therefore TREACHEROUS SHORE means a dangerous land border. MAMANGUN: Exactly, now can we continue reading? DE VILLA: Go ahead! MONGIS: *reads poem*

PIZARRA: Yes, in connection of what April said, Horace tells us not to attempt doing more than what we are capable of doing because we do not know the danger that may cause us. MASANGCAY: Its my turn to read! *reads poem* RIMANDO: Hey hey, LOFTIEST means rising to a great height and TOWER is a building or structure typically higher than its diameter. So LOFTIEST TOWER (Act. 1, #4, pg. 59) now means a very very very tall structure. MONTON: Indeed! MAMANGUN: Moving on, let me continue.. *reads poem* DE VILLA: Awesome poem! It tells us to keep on focusing on things that are worth-thinking. Try not to think of things that disappoint us. We do have more things to be happy about than to be worried about. MONGIS: Exactly. And another thing that this poem teaches us is Humility. Do not brag about your possessions no matter how rich you are. PIZARRA: Right! Just like what the bible tells us The greater you are, the more you must humble yourself. MASANGCAY: Wait guys! I know another Roman Literature! It is written by Martial and the title is Proca..Pocra 2

RIMANDO: It is Procrastination by Martial. MONTON: Martial was born in Spain but immigrated early to Rome when he was given the position of court poet. MAMANGUN: The great numbers of his poem is violent satires attacking the loose morals of his times, but few are famous for their tone. DE VILLA: Their pleasing descriptions of nature and their graceful turns of thoughts. MONGIS: When I read this, I realize not to rush things. Sometimes we do shortcuts that we tend to miss the lessons in life. PIZARRA: yeah, we have to . Savor your moment! MASANGCAY: Yes, deal with problems and learn from it. It is a preparation as you face the future. RIMANDO: Like what they say, it is the journey that counts not the destination. MONTON: Can you recite the poem for me, KM? MAMANGUN: Sure! *reads poem* DE VILLA: Short but meaning huh, by the way, before we end discussing about Procrastination, I wonder what procrastination means. MONGIS: PROCRASTINATION (Act. 1, #1, pg. 62) means to delay the things that should be done. PIZARRA: Oh, I see. We should not diddle by stewing our future. By the way guys, STEW (Act. 1, #2, pg. 62) means to think about. And DIDDLE (Act. 1, #3, pg. 62) means to waste. ALL: Thaaaaats awweeesssooommmeee! MASANGCAY: Guys, believe it or not, I know another poem and the title is On the Nature of Things by Lucretis. RIMANDO: Lucretis was born in the 90s and died in the 50s B.C. MONTON: This ties in well with the poems many allusions to the confused state of political affairs in Rome and its civil strife. MAMANGUN: So how does this poem goes? DE VILLA: It goes this way.. *read poem* MONGIS: What do you mean about LOFTY SANCTUARY? (Act. 1, #1, pg. 64) PIZARRA: LOFTY means high, SANCTUARY means shelter. So LOFTY SANCTUARY means a high shelter. MASANGCAY: FORTIFIED WITH THE TEACHINGS (Act 1, #2, pg.64)? Whats the meaning of this? 3

RIMANDO: FORTIFIED means equipped. So FORTIFIED WITH THE TEACHINGS means making one equipped through lessons. MONTON: Wow! Hm, wait guys. Finish the poem! MAMANGUN: *reads poem* DE VILLA: FIGHTING FOR PRECEDENCE (Act 1, #3, pg.64), CLAWING THEIR WAY UP (Act 1, #4, pg.64) and PINNACLES OF WEALTH AND POWER (Act 1, #5, pg.64)? I dont get it! MONGIS: PRECEDENCE means priority. So FIGHTING FOR PRECEDENCE TEACHINGS means fighting to be prioritized. CLAW means a sharp usually slender and curved nail on the toe of an animal. So CLAWING THEIR WAY UP means using strength to success. PINNACLE means the highest point of development or achievement. So PINNACLES OF WEALTH AND POWER means highest point of wealth and power. So this poem tells about money, sorrow, pride, destruction, etc. Just like the bible passage from 1 Timothy 6:10 which states that For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil and in their eagerness to be rich some have wandered away from the faith and fierce themselves with many pains. ALL: THAT IS SO AWESOME APRIL! *claps* MASANGCAY: Hey! Lets play a game! In connection to the poem On the Nature of Things, interpret these lines! *reads cue* A positive outlook in life can uplift a low-spirited heart. (Act. 2, #1, pg. 64) PIZARRA: That means, if you start having a positive attitude, you will no longer be depressed. MASANGCAY: Its not wrong to find pleasure in good things money can buy, but we should never depend on them for happiness. (Act. 2, #2, pg. 64) RIMANDO: Its not always the material things that make one person happy. Just like what they say, The best things in life are free. MASANGCAY: Pleasant it is when over the great sea the winds shake the waters to gaze down from the shore on trials of others; not because seeing other peoples struggle is sweet to us, but because the fact that we ourselves are free from such ills strikes us as pleasant. (Act. 2, #3, pg. 64) MONTON: Thats long Migs, but it only means that we appreciate what we are given. We see ourselves lucky to be not on other peoples shoes. MASANGCAY: Pleasant it is also to behold great armies battling on a plain, when we ourselves have no part in their peril, but nothing is sweeter than to occupy a lofty sanctuary of the mind. (Act. 2, #4, pg. 64) MAMANGUN: We may not battle physically but if we stress ourselves worrying, we are like battling though our brains, and I guess, nothing is sweeter than having a peaceful mind. RIMANDO: My turn, my turn! Friends, answer the following: what is the only requirement of nature to man in order to avoid struggles in life? (Act. 3, #1, pg. 64) DE VILLA: Free yourself from worries. 4

RIMANDO: Who are those people who never suffer from pain, worry and fear? (Act. 3, #2, pg. 64) MONGIS: Those people who find the true path of life and possess peace of mind. RIMANDO: How does the author describe the persons who continue to wallow in lifes struggles? (Act. 3, #3, pg. 64) MASANGCAY: They struggle night and day to be rich and be powerful. RIMANDO: What is the root cause of mans suffering? (Act. 3, #5, pg. 64) PIZARRA: They suffer because they aim for wealth and power! RIMANDO: What is the message of the author? (Act. 3, #6, pg. 64) MONTON: To think positively and enjoy life. RIMANDO: Thats all! PIZARRA: Okay, now, do you guys know The Death of Lesbias Bird by Catallus? MASANGCAY: Yes! Catallus is a lyric poet whose writings are about his love and experiences in life. RIMANDO: Catallus lived his short life passionately and violently. He seems to have had a stormy love affair with a beautiful woman named Claudia whom he refers to as Lesbia in his poems. MONTON: The Death of Lesbias Bird is about Claudia who lost something important in her life. MAMANGUN: The lesson of the poem is that we all have a painful experience and painful experiences trigger us to change, grow and become righteous and better persons. DE VILLA: sometimes it becomes our inspiration to pursue in life. MONGIS: not only to achieve things, but achieve it with flying colors. PIZARRA: and as we pursue, we learn that the most important decisions in life are never easy. MASANGCAY: Lets read the poem! *reads poem*. RIMANDO: What is a SPARROW (Act 1, #2, pg.66)? MONTON: SPARROW is a type of bird that is usually of dark color. MAMANGUN: Let me continue the poem. *reads poem* DE VILLA: FALSETTO (Act 1, #3, pg. 66) is an artificial high voice right? And PITIFUL (Act 1, #2, pg. 66) means full of shame. MONTON: Well I guess Its now my turn to ask questions! Here we go.. The Death of Lesbias Bird vividly describes the innermost feeling of the author about his despair in love. Pick out the words in the poem associated with his emotional pain. (Act. 2, #1, pg. 66) 5

MONGIS: Sorrow, shades, weep, lost, dead, gone, sad, pitiful, broken, grief. MONTON: Do you agree that Our highest good may come from our deepest sufferings? (Act. 2, #2, pg. 66) MASANGCAY: I agree with that! The more we have experienced pain and suffering, the more we learn in life. We become stronger and tougher. MONTON: Do you agree on the saying that: painful experience can lovingly help us to change, grow and yield a peaceable fruit of righteousness? (Act. 2, #3, pg. 66) PIZARRA: I agree. For they say that an ugly duckling turns into a beautiful swan. Those painful experiences help us mature in all aspects. MONTON: Think of the saddest part in your life that you have experiences at a very young age. How did it help you to mature and strive more in life? (Act. 2, #4, pg. 66) DE VILLA: When my parents broke up, it helps me to become responsible as a member of the family. I become brave in many things. ALL: Were proud of you, Jack! MONGIS: I suppose we shall now move to our final poem to tackle. Are you guys familiar of Odes by Horace? PIZARRA: Yeah, the message of Odes by Horace is that, the most essential things in life are the only things that can make us happy from deep withinfamily, friends, love ones, they are priceless yet make us feel contented and happy.MASANGCAY: Let me read it, *reads poem* RIMANDO: Whats PAUPER (Act. 1, #1, pg. 68)? MONTON: PAUPER is a very poor person. MAMANGUN: Let me finish it again! *reads poem* DE VILLA: ROTTING OLD? (Act. 1, #2, pg. 68) GIBBERING ZERO? (Act. 1, #3, pg. 68) SUBSIDENCE? (Act. 1, #4, pg. 68) JEALOUS MOB? (Act. 1, #5, pg. 68) I dont get it again! MONGIS: ROTTING means of very poor quality OLD means persisting from an earlier time so ROTTING OLD means really really really *10x* old. GIBBERING means to speak rapidly. ZERO means he absence of a measurable quantity. So GIBBERING ZERO means to speak nonsense. SUBSIDENCE means to sink or fall to the bottom. And JEALOUS means intolerant of rivalry or unfaithfulness. MOB means a group of people. So JEALOUS MOB means a group of intolerant of unfaithfulness people. ALL: *stares on April* *claps* MAMANGUN: Okay, my turn! Lets do line interpretations again! People and things come and go, but inner peace and serenity sustain and will endure into eternity (Act. 2, #1, pg. 68) MASANGCAY: Material things come to pass. But the inner things like joy, peace and love will remain forever. 6

MAMANGUN: The peace that the sailor seeks in the storm and the rest that the warrior aims cant be purchased with wealth in any form. (Act. 2, #2, pg. 68) PIZARRA: As we all know, the best things in life are free. Not everything can be paid and bought. MONGIS: My turn! Can someone tell me what the message of the author is? (Act. 3, #1, pg. 68) RIMANDO: It just simply tells us that money cant buy us happiness. And be contented on what you have and dont aim higher for it will only cause you trouble. MONGIS: What is the exalted emotion expressed in the poem? (Act. 3, #2, pg. 68) MONTON: He shows gratitude, fulfillment and pride. MONGIS: Who do you think is being referred to as the jealous mob doing me battle in the poem? (Act. 3, #3, pg. 68) MAMANGUN: Enemies and detractors. MONGIS: How does the author describe the people who dream of perfect joy? (Act. 3, #5, pg. 68) DE VILLA: They are those who cannot wait patiently for perfect joy that they tend to take advantage and miss the things that they have. MONGIS: What consists of the foolish baggage in our life that robs us of our strength and draws us away from God? (Act. 3, #6, pg. 68) Well, I think I should be the one to answer this. Hm. Evil plans, definitely. Most of us aim for power and wealthand those are the things that draw us away from God. We want it so bad that we become self-centered and tend to forget what God has provided for us. ALL: Youre making us impressed, April! *Claps* Vocabulary Interpreting Lines Critical Thinking