GROUP 4Typhoons (An Excerpt)Rio Alma (translated by Marne Kilates)The typhoons' episodes of terror are yearly:Berserk wind and shattered glassStreaming from the mouth of a thousand serpents,Smoke of dark crystal billowingFrom beyond the ancient shoulders of the bristling land.The heavens crawl with crackling electricityAnd the verdicts of thunder are without forgiveness or pity.There were nightsWhen we were children watchingAnd listening for the keeningAnd whiplash of wet, demented monsters:Turning wildly, they tore every roof.They toppled and smashed every wall and post;The drains and canals choked,The distressed bamboo begged for mercy.We shut out eyesAt the final rumbling rapeOf our prostrate crops, the helpless land.Tightly we shut our eyes,Tightly, ever tightlyOnly to wonder in the morningWhat power of sun expungedAnd expelled these armies of the night.1. What was the situation when the author wrote this poem?2. How did the author present the events in the poem?3. How did the author present her willingness to attain her fervent wish?4. What nearly impossible things or difficult tasks the author was willing to do?5. What do you think was the main reason why the author wrote this piece?Rio Alma came from a family of peasant farmers in the province ofBulacan, near Manila. His collection of criticism Ang Makatasa Panahon ngMakina (The poet in the Age of Machines) is one of the founding works ofmodernist criticism in Tagalog. He is well known as a scholar in the nationallanguage and a promoter of literature. His poetry covers a broad range offorms, and is often exuberant in expression and passionate in its sympathyfor the poor and the working class. His earlier works ranged fromexpansive free verse to sonnets, but his more recent work emphasizesformal convention. He founded the Children's Communication Center(publisher of Adarna Books), conducts the long-running poetry clinic,Linangan sa Imahen, Retorika, at Arte (Lira), has been executive directorof the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), and iscurrently dean of the college of liberal arts at UP. He was conferred theorder of National Artist for Literature in 2003.
Answer (1)
Answer:Here are the answers to your questions based on the poem "Typhoons (An Excerpt)" by Rio Alma:1. What was the situation when the author wrote this poem?The author describes the terrifying experience of a typhoon in the Philippines, capturing the chaotic and destructive force of nature as it ravages the land, destroys homes, and disrupts the lives of those affected. The poem reflects a common experience in the Philippines, where typhoons are a regular and devastating occurrence.2. How did the author present the events in the poem?The author presents the events in vivid and dramatic imagery, using metaphors and personification to depict the typhoon as a powerful, almost monstrous force. Words like "berserk wind," "shattered glass," "keening," and "whiplash" create a sense of fear and urgency, illustrating the typhoon's violent impact on the land and the people.3. How did the author present their willingness to attain their fervent wish?The author expresses a longing for relief and peace through the descriptions of the morning after the typhoon, where there is a sense of wonder at how the "power of the sun" dispels the darkness and destruction. This suggests a desire for renewal and hope following the devastation.4. What nearly impossible things or difficult tasks was the author willing to do?The poem does not explicitly mention the author's willingness to perform difficult tasks. However, through the description of enduring the typhoon's wrath with "tightly shut eyes" and facing the "demented monsters" of nature, the author conveys a resilience and determination to survive despite the overwhelming odds.5. What do you think was the main reason why the author wrote this piece?The main reason for writing this piece is likely to convey the harrowing experience of typhoons and their impact on the lives of people, especially those who are most vulnerable, like peasant farmers. The poem reflects a deep empathy for the poor and working class, highlighting their struggles and resilience in the face of natural disasters. It also emphasizes the power of nature and the endurance of the human spirit in surviving such hardships.Rio Alma, who came from a family of peasant farmers, often uses his works to speak for the marginalized and the poor, capturing their hardships and resilience in the face of adversity. This poem is consistent with his advocacy for the working class and his passion for Filipino culture and language.
