How My Brother

Leon Brought A
Wife
By Manuel Arguilla
About Manuel Arguilla
the  Ilocano writer in English,
patriot, and martyr
Author  Barrio Nagrebcan, La Union
 B.S. Education University of
the Philippines (1993)
 President, UP Writer’s Club
 Editor, Literary Apprentice
 Won 1st prize in Commonwealth
Literary Contest in 1940
 Secretly organized a guerilla
intelligence unit against
Japanese.
 The Setting
The setting of the story was on
Nagrebcan, La Union, Leon's
hometown. The story takes place in a
farm where people would usually ride
in a carabao. The place was in the local
province.
 Synopsis
Baldo and his older brother Leon were both
waiting for the arrival of their visitor riding
the carretela. Seeing his brother’s wife,
Baldo was easily taken away by the beauty
of the woman from the city as he narrates
their journey to Nagrebcan. The idea of
meeting with Leon’s parents for the first
time made Maria a bit anxious.
 Synopsis
But along their way home, Maria
discovered the unusual feauture of the life
in Nagrebcan as opposed to their life in city
where she met and fell in love with Leon.
They took a surprising route home for
Leon, but it was meant as a test for the wife
to see if she could endure the sacrifices she
made and met her new family.
Exposition
 Exposition
The inciting action of the story was when "She
stepped down to the Carretela of Ca Celin with a
quick, delicate grace She look lovely, she was
tall. She looked up to my brother with a smile,
and her forehead was level with his mouth”. It
goes when Leon introduced Maria as his wife to
his younger brother, Baldo whose thinking
deeply if father will like Maria. He’s thinking if
Maria can survive or will tit in the life in barrio
or rural areas than urban City where she grew up.
Rising Action
Rising Action
 Rising Action
The rising action of the story is when they took
the dry bed if Waig as substitute of passing
Camino Real and it was the wish of the father to
go by Waig. They were trying to test Maria's
characteristics, her attitude, her looks, how she
talks, and the way she handle the situations.
Climax
 Climax
The highest point of the story is when Leon
already brought home Maria as his wife He
introduced Maria’s as his wife to his family and
especially to his father hoping they will accept
and liked Maria for him.
 Falling Action
The falling action of the story is when Maria
passed the test or challenges despite other
personality. She proved that she will fight for
what she believed is right, it doesn’t matter if the
world told her that it’s wrong. She surpassed the
trial given to her proving that she is worth it for
Leon as his wife.
 Denoument
The denouement of the story was when Baldo
cross the threshold of his father and ask him
about Maria. After wards the door opened and
Leon and Maria came in. Baldo looked to Maria
so lovely and went out to watered Labang which
his father told him. It reflects that loves makes
Maria and Leon to go forward and forward
whatever struggles come will be ignore to them.
They portrays that accepting one's life and one
may have to sacrifice a small part of one's life in
order to be happy.
Point of View

st
 Characters
 Baldo- younger brother of Leon, fetched Leon
and Maria from the road to Nagrebcan.
 Leon (Noel)- older brother of Baldo who have
met his wife in the city.
 Maria- the beautiful and down to earth wife of
leon from the city.
 Labang- the bull of Leon and Baldo whom
they considered as a part of their family.
 Characters
 Ca Celia- Caretela driver
 Aurelia- sister of Baldo and Leon.
 Father- Father of Leon and Baldo who
planned the challenge for Maria.
 Mother of Leon and Baldo
 Themes
 Acceptance
 Sacrifice
 Culture clash or the setting shift when
someone from the barrio or the city is
transported to the other.
“At kung ang mata mo ang siyang nagiging
sanhi ng iyong pagkakasala, dukutin mo ito at
itapon! Mabuti pa ang mapunta ka sa langit
nang bulag ang isang mata kaysa may
dalawang mata kang itapon sa apoy ng
impyerno.”
-Matteo 18:9
“And if your eyes causes you sin, tear it out
and throw it away. It is better for you to enter
life with one eye than with two eyes to be
thrown into the hell of fire.”
-Matthew 18:9
 QUIZ
1. What particular contest did the author of
“How My Brother Leon brought Home A
Wife” won 1st prize in 1940?
2. The COMPLETE setting of the story.
3. The real name of Leon.
4. The name of sister of Leon and Baldo.
5. The whole name of the bull in the story.
 QUIZ
6-8. Theme of the story “How My Brother Leon
brought Home a Wife”

9-10. Is the story a love story? Why or why not?

Thanks 