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LITERARY
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ANALYSIS
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(push)
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Mr. Dean Francis Alfar
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Alcantara, Rujero Joaquin B.
De Castro, Dindi Erin M.
Lantin, Julian Miguel B.
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Mercado, John Yliann A.
Sorio, Glenn Andre M.

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S11-01
Mr. Julius B. Ballesteros

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 LITERARY ANALYSIS WORKSHEET

THE BACKGROUND
TITLE: (push) .

AUTHOR: Mr. Dean Francis Alfar .

THE STORY:

A. Characters:
Joey – Standing at the balcony during a birthday party with Michael which he has a
grudge on. A former lover of Tanie, who loved him because of his personality, dreams,
made her laugh and made her feel special. But everything fell apart for him when
Michael walked into his life, barkada and love life. In the end, Joey still holds a big
grudge to Michael for ruining his life.; Protagonist (Round Character) & Antagonist

Michael – Michael is holding a small bottle which was very expensive, standing beside
Joey at the balcony looking below the people pigging out on birthdays. Looking cool
with his fitted tee, levis, docs and supersmall cell with a kick-ass drink. When he became
friends with Joey's barkada, everyone ultimately followed him because he came from
the states, a social Amboy (American boy) and his pockets are full of the jam. He
became Tanie's new lover.; Static Character

Tanie – At the garden holding her birthday party, greeting a crowd of friends, family,
driver, and caterer. Was once a former lover of Joey, who promised each other that
nothing will come in between them but changed to Michael, who is more richer and
better in everything for her. Now all she sees is Michael than Joey, who she treats as an
invisible man.; Flat Character

B. Setting:

In terms of the place, the story was set on a balcony during a party held in the garden.
The story’s mood is light-hearted and its historical context appeals to the young and adult
audiences alike with the use of figurative language.

C. Theme:

The theme of the story is that it is an allusion about the differences between life in the
Philippines which is a third world country and the United States of America, a first world
country.

D. Point of View:

The story is narrated/told through Joey’s point of view.

 E. Synopsis:

The story starts with Joey and Michael standing on the balcony where they are looking
at the party being held in the garden. Joey’s eyes can’t stop following the girl who was greeting
a crowd. But then Michael called out to Joey, cutting out his thoughts which made Joey fueled
his anger on Michael more. Before Michael became part of the barkada, Joey was the funniest
and people wanted to be with him but it all change when Michael came into their life. Michael a
social Amboy has deeper pockets which made the others followed him treating him the lord and
a king altogether, especially Tanie a former lover of Joey, who promised to each other that no
one will come in between them until Michael came along. At the present time, Michael was
pursuing that Joey and him should go down to the birthday party but Joey was reluctant and
was screaming at Michael in his head about how he destroyed his life. In the end, Joey doesn’t
want Michael to touch him which made them stayed on the balcony.

THE ANALYSIS
The Literary Approach / Theory:

Marxist Approach emphasizes class differences, economic and otherwise, as well as the
implications and complications of the capitalist system: “marxism attempts to reveal the ways in which
our socioeconomic system is the ultimate source of our experience” (Tyson 277). It is based on the
political theory of Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels. Marxist Theory develops in part because people need
more than the political instinct to steer by when they want to improve their situation. But the problems
of achieving change in life by changing a law have been apparent since Marx discussed the workers’
struggle for the 10 hour day, he believed that no one should have power over one another, that
everyone should be equal. Because Marxist Theory’s concerned with understanding the role of power,
politics, and money in literary texts. Marxist criticism views literary works as a reflection of the social
institution from which they originate. This criticism examines literature to see how it reflects the way in
which the dominant groups (typically, the majority) exploit the subordinate groups (typically,
minority) and the way in which people become alienated from one another through power, money, and
politics.

Approach / Theory Application:

Statement 1:

“I had her (p(push)ush) but no no you had to be taller better richer everything-er nice car
nice accent nice clothes nice wallet nice shoes nice stubble nice nice nice nice and so they
follow the man follow the man with his pockets full of the jam”

Discussion:

Joey is stating that just because Michael is richer and his things are nice, people
will immediately follow him. They are also treating him as the superior one in their
barkada. This reinforces the Marxist theory because there is a clear difference in how
people treat others who are in the higher class.
 Statement 2

“then you ba(push)starg bamf into our lives with your Amboy loo(push)ks and your dad’s
Harley and stupid jokes and supersmall cell and your own business to pay for gimmicks
and outings and dinner and coffee and conversation”

Discussion:

In this excerpt, it is declared that when Michael entered his life he impoverished
his friends. Making them feel that they can’t attain the things that Michael is capable of.
The friends might be also envious of Michael based on the mood and structure.

Statement 3:
“you don’t know me but you’ve always envied me jealous jealousy it’s one of the seven
deadly sins yes it is so you take away everyth(push(push))ing everything and fine fine i let
y(pu(push)sh)ou because you were cool at first or so I thought but what do I know maybe
I’m stupid like you no no impossible my vocabulary alone can bury you you fucker then
you turn ar(push)ound and take her you took her you took her you took her away from
me from me and now (push) you have the gall (push) to ask me if I’m okay fuck you fuck
you”

Discussion:
This excerpt entails contemporary issues in our society. It shows that many
people in poverty are envious of wealthy people but are not doing anything in order to
improve their state. It is implying the Marxist theory wherein there is an obvious
difference in an environment where characters are revolving.

FOR GUIDE QUESTIONS ON EACH APPROACH / THEORY:

ᴥ Whom does it benefit if the work or effort is accepted/successful/believed,
etc.?
ᴥ What is the social class of the author?
ᴥ Which class does the work claim to represent?
ᴥ What values does it reinforce?
ᴥ What values does it subvert?
ᴥ What conflict can be seen between the values of the work champions and
those it portrays?
ᴥ What social classes do the characters represent?
ᴥ How do characters from different classes interact or conflict?
TEXT OF EACH LITERARY TEXT AND AUTHOR’S SHORT BIOGRAPHY:

(push)
LITERARY TEXT #7

Written by Mr. Dean Francis Alfar

From the book “The Kite of Stars and Other Stories” copyright 2008

Standing at the balcony with michael i watch the people at the garden below plates in hand
plates filled with food threatening to topple don’t know why everybody pigs out on birthdays as
if they never knew what food was before as if they knew they’d never have food again just pile
pile piling up up up towers of this and that and this and that with some more of that please yes
thank you and not just birthdays but all the holidays people people please what am i doing here
can’t believe i let myself be talked into coming as if i wouldn’t as if i could stay away from

michael holds a small bottle one of those very expensive drinks that everyone who’s anyone
simply must have in one hand while the other holds a cigarette reds of course what else is there
to smoke (push) which reminds me of those tv ads that actually try to make you believe that
you can simply ask someone to put out snuff out their ciggie yeah just try it with me fuckers

he thinks he looks so cool with his fitted tee and levis and docs and kick-ass drink and
supersmall cell yeah yeah yeah seen it all before buddy if you think branding makes you a
better person(push) fine fine fine but me I’d never buy into that crap of wearing names I’m fine
fine fine with my own

leaning over the balcony i see her moving in the crowd greeting friends family driver caterer so
perfect it makes me want to spit poetry and yes yes of course it hurts seeing her but i can’t stop
must stop can’t stop myself she’s just perfect and what kills me is that i once upon a time in a
land far far away cue john Williams held her in my thin arms and told her i loved her more than
anything anyone anywhere together forever and never to part isn’t it ironic stupid rick astley
stupid Alanis go away i’m in the middle of my memories here thank you very much i just want
(push) to

“Hey, Rich’s still coming, but he’s picking up Adie, so they’ll be late. See?”

michael is holding out his supersmall cell to me as if i give a fuck if or when rich is coming or not
and who the hell’s adie anyway but some flavour of the month courtesy of your friendly
neighbourhood blind date pimp duh duh duh all these people pretending(push) they care about
stangers acquaintances friend of a friend’s cousin of my armpit’s nephew’s ex-lover’s
officemate’s blockmate’s sister’s pokemon for all I care

“Great.”

great can’t believe i said great but then again anything just so i don’t have to (push) talk to you
directly nothing more than a single word in case your brain blows up from overload you faker
you fucker you liar you scum of the earth judas traitor ass(push)hole think you’re so cool so
smart and she’s still below us and whatshisname poet the one who sounds like a fag is in my
head feeding me words she walks in beauty like the night something or other but it’s just
perfect for her she’s so beautiful she’s

“Do you have Marco’s number?”

the fuck (push) moron do i look like i have marco’s number he didn’t give it me not that I even
wanted it i don’t even have a funky cell like yours and if i did do i look like i’d tell you after all
marco is my brother’s friend technically my friend first so why do yo(push)u want to call him
bastard thief as if it wasn’t enough isn’t enough you have to have to

“No?”

damn right no as in fuck you never no no since you walked into the barkada from wherever the
hell in the states you came from social amboy dude you’ve taken everything away from me i
was the funny guy before i was the one they wanted to be with i had her (p(push)ush) but no
no you had to be taller better richer everything-er nice car nice accent nice clothes nice wallet
nice shoes nice stubble nice nice nice nice and so they follow the man follow the man with his
pockets full of the jam but you know you know it was me me me I was here first apart from
everything what do you have that i

“Hey, Tanie! Up here!”

she looks up at us but doesn’t see me because my pale shadow is drowned by m(push)ichael’s
halogen brilliance oh god poetry at a time like this shut up shut up beat poets let me oh but she
smiles and my heart breaks again and again and again and she’s frozen for a moment framed by
her birthday crowd like royalty among the unwashed masses and it makes her even more
perfect more beautiful oh oh tanie but now i’m all alone again nowhere to go no one to turn to
fucking epo(push)nine standing on the balcony with

“Michael.”

“Happy birthday – I have your gift! Look who’s with me!”

once i held you in my hairless arms and we laughed together when i tried to lift you up and
remember you said i should maybe go to the gym if i wanted but that you loved me just the
way i was because of my mind because of my dreams because i made you laugh made (push)
you feel more special than you already were and we talked until four in the morning on the
front steps of your house and we said no o(push)ne would come bet(push)ween us two
dreamers our house in the middle of the street i remember way back when when everything
was beautiful

“What? No, no, I’ll come down!”

i’m up here too you know i’m not invisible remember me the guy who (push) once held you and
told we shared something better than jean and scott’s psychic rapport on the blue area of the
moon remember “jean!””scott!” remember how we used to cry about the day either one of us
might fall weak and blindly

“Hey, Joey? Shall we?”

then you ba(push)stard bamf into our lives with your amboy loo(push)ks and your dad’s harley
and stupid jokes and supersmall cell and your own business to pay for gimmicks and outings
and dinner and coffee and conversation flex(push)ing your thick arms and stu(push)dly chest
and showing off your cool tattoo from wherever an(push)d listening to music from bands you
think i’ve never heard of but surprise I do know matisyahu and feist and liz phair I just don’t like
them and it’s just stupid stu(push)pid senseless soun(push)ds she used to like my music otis
redding aretha franklin jackson browne the older music the dee(push)per kind that says
something ab(push)out life not like your fucking

“Are you okay?”

you’d (push)probably text(push)that like r u k why the hell are you even asking me as if you
cared you thief deceiver because it’s not her fa(push)ult it’s all your fault drowning her in stuff
suffocating her un(push)til the only breath she could take was you (push) bastard she doesn’t
love you doesn’t love ne(puysh)ver has never will never never ever never it’s me it’s it’s me it’s
me me me se loves loved will love no(push)w and forever a(push)nd stay the hell away from me
you musc(pus(push)h)lebound oaf you clod you moron you unthinking unfeeling pile of walking
meat you don’t know me but you’ve always envied me jealous jealousy it’s one of the seven
deadly sins yes it is so you take away everyth(push(push))ing everything and fine fine i let
y(pu(push)sh)ou because you were cool at first or so I thought but what do I know maybe I’m
stupid like you no no impossible my vocabulary alone can bury you you fucker then you turn
ar(push)ound and take her you took her you took her you took her away from me from me and
now (push) you have the gall (push) to ask me if I’m okay fuck you fuck you where the hell do
you co(push)me from I said stay away don’t you touch me (push)it’s so easy to leave me all
alone with the memory of my days in the sun shit stop(push) stop (push)stop it Andrew llyod
webber not now now this as(push)shole thinks he’s better than me well you

“Joey? What’s wrong?”

Can’t (push) me around like(push) I’m nothi(push)ng as if you were lor(push)d and king rolled
into one you s(push)hit can’t believe I’m stan(push(push(push)))ding on the balc(push)ony with
you bastard what are you doing let m(push)e go just let me go don’t touch me stop stop what
w(pus(pu(push)sh)h)hatwh(push)at stop let me go there go my glasses my glasses fon’t step on
them michael (push)don’tdon’t(push)(push) let me go just let me go ever(push)yone is
looking(push) let(push) (push) me go you no (push)nononono no(push) no just stay away(push)
get awa(push)y from me don’t to(push)uch me do (push)n’(push)t don’t d(push)o(push)n’t
don’t(push)I thi(push)(pus(push)h)(pu(push)sh)nk I’ll just(pu(push)sh)think I’ll but I can’t(push)
ca(p(pus(push)h(pu(push)sh))ush)n’t I want to Iwant to (push(push)) and I will and I will and I
will okay okay (push)ok(push)ay ok(p(p(push)sh)us(pu(push)sh)h)us (push)h)ay
herewe(push)go(p(push)ush)onetwothree
 AUTHOR’S BIOGRAPHY
Dean Francis Alfar is a Filipino playwright, novelist, and writer of speculative fiction. His plays
have been performed in venues across the country, while his article and fiction have been published
both in his native Philippines and abroad, such as in Strang Horizon’s, Rabid Transit, The Year’s Best
Fantasy & Horror, The Apex Book of World, and the Exotic Gothic series. He is an advocate of the
literature of the fantastic, editing the Philippines Speculative Fiction annuals, as well as a comic book
creator and a blogger. He always loved speculative fiction, fantasy in particular. As a child, he was
exposed to it early on through the form of fairy tales. Fantasy novels and comics keep the sense of
wonder alive as a teen. As an adult, short fiction from writers around the world both sate his appetite
for the wondrous and encourage him to tell stories of his own. Alfar is also an entrepreneur — running
several businesses. He lives in Manila with his wife, fictionist Nikki Alfar and their daughters Sage
and Rowan. You can find more info at http://deanalfar.blogspot.com/.