Surigao State College of Technology

Surigao City

Final Requirement
For
Major 19
(Introduction to stylistics)

Submitted by:

Arnez Jewell Prado Dotillos

Bsed IV-A English

Submitted to:

Dr. Annabelle “Kyla” Naig

Chair, Arts and Sciences

 The World is an Apple
1. Write a summary of the “The World is an Apple”.

 Mario and Gloria is a couple with a child named Tita. When Mario went home she
automatically asked Gloria about the state of his daughter, Tita hasn’t eaten anything for
the whole day. Gloria asked money from Mario to buy a biscuit for Tita when suddenly
Mario got so touchy and then told Gloria he doesn’t have any money. Gloria got confused
because it was Mario’s payday yet he’s telling her he doesn’t have money. Gloria starts
asking question and Mario just gave her reason like he had a few drinks with his friend
and spent all of his money without even knowing it, and he spent all of his money to
another woman but Gloria didn’t believed in all of the reasons Mario gave her. Then he
finally said that he lost his job and Gloria immediately asked him why. Mario doesn’t
want to talk about it anymore and then Gloria accused him of stealing just like Mario’s
co-workers did. Then he told Gloria that he lost his job by taking a single apple, he told
Gloria that he saw an apple fell from a crate and then took it and put it in his lunch bag,
he took it because Tita once got upset because he cannot afford to buy her “delicious”
apple and instead bought her a green apple. Then he told Gloria he thinks he’s going to
have a job but Gloria doesn’t believe her but Mario convinced her and later on she puts
her on him. Mario told her that he’s going to meet someone for that said job and Gloria
happily supports Mario going out from the house, then they saw Pablo, Mario’s old friend
that has bad doings to earn money. Gloria tries to push him away from their family but
Pablo really wants Mario to go back from being his job companion. Gloria tried to make
Mario realize that what they’re going to do is wrong, she begged but at the end Mario
going away with Pablo because he wants his family to live comfortably. Then, Gloria was
left crying with Tita.

2. Identify the dramatic devices used in the play.

 The dramatic devices used in the play are Hamartia, an ancient Greek theatre term
meaning the error, frailty, mistaken judgment or misstep through which the fortunes of
the hero of a tragedy are reversed; Nemesis, applied to the justice which comes about
when an evil act brings about its own punishment and poetic justice prevails; Paradox, a
device used to attract the reader’s attention. It is a statement which seems contradictory
or absurd, but well-founded and true at the same time; Pathetic Fallacy, a device used by
poets and writers whereby nature mirrors the political condition of society. Pathos a
situation that elicits pity from the audience; Tragedy, a type of drama of human conflict
which ends in defeat and suffering. Often the main character (dignified, noble) has a
tragic flaw (weakness of character, wrong judgment) which leads to his or her
destruction. Sometimes the conflict is with forces beyond the control of the character –
fate, evil in the world.

3. Analyze the exchange of words between Gloria and Pablo in page 249 and answer the
following:

 What is the central issue the characters are discussing?

 The central issue the characters are discussing is about the difference of ‘honest’ money
from ‘dishonest’ money.
 What are the views of the characters in the scene? Did they differ in opinion?

 Gloria thinks that it is better to live without money than earning one from a bad doing.
Then on the other hand, Pablo tries to tell Gloria that money is money. He’s trying to tell
her that the “honest” money he’s talking about is what makes her daughter
undernourished and what makes them live a life like that.

 Whose view do you favor and why?

 I favor on the view of Gloria. I believe that it is better to live a poor life than to earn
million from a bad doing because that is what my parents taught me. They always tell me
that I should always do what is right even if it’s not on my favor because God knows
what is best for us and he will never leave us. They always remind me that God rewards
people who have a good heart.

4. Write out thesis sentence about the play.

 If it weren’t for the apple, goodness would have prevailed.

5. Comment on the title of the play.

 After I read the play and the title, it hits me like a thunder because the first that came up
to my mind was the story of Adam and Eve, when they ate the forbidden fruit, “Apple”.
In the story of Adam and Eve, the apple became a symbol for knowledge, immortality,
temptation, the fall of man into sin, and sin itself. Apple was compared to sin and evil so
when they titled the play “The World is an Apple” it may meant to be “The World is
Evil” for many evil things were being done and brought to the world. This play shows the
evil in the world.
 Writing Styles of Jessica Zafra
1. Based on her writing, how will you characterize Zafra?

 Zafra is a person who has a sense of humor. What makes her articles funny and
interesting is that she speaks her mind and we can relate to that. She is fond of telling and
showing us the reality in a very captivating way. When I say she speaks her mind, I really
mean it, she gives her ideas and own point of views that correspond to the gathered facts.
For me, Jessica Zafra is an extraordinary person. I love how she can be so creative and be
a villain when say what she thinks of our usually doings like on the second stanza of her
article “Pouring acid in the sea of love”. Jessica Zafra also sticks to her own point of
view, she says what she want to say and neglecting others point of view.

2. What is the tone manifested by Zafra in the first and second article?

 She disagrees with everything but her own. She was to tell us her point of view and she
knew it was the fact. In her first article, it seems like she is very against in any sweet
things happening in a relationship. She seems to be so bitter at love (in my own opinion),
it is like she wants to ruin the Valentine’s spirit. Then on her second article, it is like she
is just simply making us realize the risk we are putting to ourselves by posting and
uploading our personal information to any social networking sites.

3. What is the mood being set by Zafra in article number 2?

 Zafra was trying to warn us about being the people who took the number one spot of
those people who take pictures of oneself and uploading it to social networking sites. She
was trying to make us aware that once we upload our pictures our life becomes public
because we are being watch by many people connected to us through facebook, twitter,
instagram, and etc. We even go to the point where we overshare information about us.
Zafra was trying to make us realize the risk about it.

4. How will you describe Zafra’s diction or word choice? Cite textual evidence.

 For me, her choice of words were brilliant because as an English major it gives me an
opportunity to come across these unfamiliar words by reading her writings. She has a
wide range of vocabulary and a very captivating way of using it. But for some, like one
of my friends use the term “unfriendly” to Zafra’s word choice. He was trying to tell me
that some people who has a capacity to grasp the idea of Zafra’s writing with or without
those unfamiliar words would really appreciate her work, but for those he quoted “normal
readers”, they would just turn on the second page after reading the words like cynic,
bloodcurdling and kaput from Zafra’s writing. But for me again, Jessica Zafra’s choice of
words is excellent.
 King Midas
Oh how wonderful these gold in my hands

They are my life, my joy and everything I live for.

No one can replace the portion I gave my heart to it.

I will live happily as a King if more gold will come to me.

Oh this excellent idea I have in mind,

I should treat and make Silenus live like a king for a while.

So that maybe Dionysus would turn back the favor

For taking Silenus in my kingdom as my own.

Oh please! Oh please grant me this wish.

I hope Dionysus would make this come true.

I want everything I touch turns to Gold

So I may live my life with wealth and joy.

Oh this thing I never thought of!

Everything is gold but I live with no joy.

I cannot touch my family, how I miss them so.

If only I knew, I would never wish for this to happen.

Oh please! Oh please Dionysus hear me!

I would do anything for you to take this burden away from me.

I want no gold or wealth in my hands.

Just bring me back my life, so I can embrace the true treasure in my life.

Oh I would do anything!

Wash myself a million times, I don’t care.

I just want to feel love and joy again

with the family and everything in my kingdom in my hand.