READ THE POEM AND ANSWER THE QUESTIONS THAT FOLLOWS

THIRD WORLD
GEOGRAPHY

Cirilo F. Bautista
Manila

A country without miracles

Sits heavy on the map,
Thinking of banana trees rotting
In the sunlight.
The man who watches over it
Has commandeered all hopes,
Placed them in a sack,
And tied its loose end.
He goes around carrying it
On his back.
When asked what is inside,
He say, Just a handful of feathers,
Just a handful of feathers.
Thats how light the burden
Of government is in peace time
Any tyrant can turn it into a metaphor.
You kneel on the parched earth
And pray for rice. Only the wind
Hears your useless words.
The country without miracles
Tries to get up from the page,
But the bold ink and sharp colors
Hold it down.

1. Paraphrase the poem in 4-5 sentences.

2. Who is the speaker (persona) in the poem? How would you describe this persona?

3. What is the speakers tone? Which words reveal this tone? Is the poem ironic?

4. What heavily connotative words are used? What words have unusual or special
meanings? Are any words or phrases repeated? If so, why? Which words do you need
to look up?

5. What images does the poet use? How do the images relate to one another? Do these
images form a unified pattern (a motif) throughout the poem?

6. What figures of speech are used? How do they contribute to the tone and meaning of
the poem?

7. Are there any symbols? What do they mean? Are they universal symbols or do they
arise from the context of this poem?
 8. What is the theme (the central idea) of this poem? Can you state it in a single
sentence?

9. How important is the role of sound effects, such as rhyme and rhythm? How do they
affect tone and meaning?

10.How important is the contribution of form, such as rhyme scheme and line
arrangement? How does form influence the overall effect of the poem?

THURSDAY
CHOOSE ANY SONG THAT YOU LIKE AND APPLY ITS MELODY ON THE
POEM THIRD WORLD GEOGRAPHY. PRESENT THE SONG RENDITION ON
FRIDAY BY GROUP OF THREES

RUBRICS
Falls Short of Meets Expectations Surpasses Expectations Score
Expectations
1 pt Student is in need 2 pts Student possesses 3 pts Student possesses
of additional skills and sufficient skill and mastery exemplary skill and mastery of
mastery of the of all techniques needed for all techniques needed for a
techniques needed for a successfully delivered successfully delivered
a successfully theatrical performance. theatrical performance.
delivered theatrical
performance.
Movement
Is the body Student strives to Student employs Student employs phenomenal
utilized to the employ appropriate use appropriate use of use of physicality to enhance
student's utmost of physicality, but physicality to enhance character with body
ability to aid in overall, moves without character with body movements and facial
development of purpose. Execution of movement and facial expressions.
character's intent choreography is expression. Student uses a variety of
and delivery of inconsistent. Student uses an appropriate blocking to add interest to the
lines/music? amount of blocking to add piece.
interest to the piece. Student's movements always
Student's movements reflect purpose.
usually reflect purpose. Any choreographed moments
Any choreographed are succinct and well
moments are sufficient and executed.
executed effectively.
Ensemble
Contribution Student's awareness Student's awareness and Student's awareness and
Graded and willingness to willingness to connect to willingness to connect to other
performance is connect to other other ensemble members is ensemble members is very
part of a scene. ensemble members is acceptable. apparent.
This is the weak. Student's ability to work as Student's ability to work as
student's ability to Student seems to have part of a team is sufficient. part of a team is
work with others. little concept of how to extraordinary.
work as a team.
Musicality
Does the student Student lip-synchs or Student is engaged in the Student sings masterfully and
contribute sings mostly off pitch. music, expresses emotion interprets the material with
musically to the and sings accurately. accuracy and flair.
performance?