Muertegui National High School

Daja Diot, San Isidro, Leyte

Foe

(A critique paper)

In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the course,

21st Century Literature in the Philippines and in the World

Submitted by

Krisha Lorraine R. Malojo

Grade 11 – Aguinaldo

Submitted to

Mr. Teomar James A. Rosas

 The story, Foe, opens with the narrative of Susan Barton, a castaway on the island
where Cruso and Friday have long been marooned. Cruso, who differs in many respects
from the intrepid figure known to generations of readers, dies on shipboard en route to
England after they are rescued, a little more than a year after Susan’s arrival. Finding
herself in London without resources, and feeling responsible for the mute Friday, Susan
composes an account of her experiences on the island and gives it to a professional
writer, Daniel Foe hoping that he can fashion it into a salable book. He sees promise in
the tale but, finding it wanting in incident, proposes to flesh it out adding some cannibals.
This is how the story been chronologically narrated which makes the readers understand
well the flow of the story.

However, Coetzee's (author) novel structure was quite illegible since the the
beginning narration has been diverge after the first sentence. The narration shift of the
final section of the novel. Briefly, the narrator's identity is uncertain but most likely can be
identified as "the writer" or "author of the novel". The final section of the novel is narrated
by an unnamed figure. Moreover, the author utilizes a thematic structure similar to other
works of literature and film. He tells the same story from multiple perspectives.

On the other hand, the story engages the reader’s sympathy and intelligence even
as it defies his or her efforts to understand the text in some final, definitive way. It is
impossible to decide whether Foe is the story of or, alternately, the story told by Susan
Barton, the “female castaway” whose quest for her abducted daughter comes to nothing
and whose return voyage to England leads to her being cast adrift by a mutinous crew.
This is because of the present of imagery which adds the imagination of the readers.
However, there are some point wherein the author uses critical imagery that even the
smart reader can't understand well it's connotation.

Generally, this novel is indeed a feminist fable. It is also a political allegory the
more powerful for being unspecific and a fiction about the writing of fiction. The author is
really creative which he shifts easily the story from dreamlike vision to witty disputation.
 Muertegui National High School

Daja Diot, San Isidro, Leyte

Earth Dance

(A critique paper)

In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the course,

21st Century Literature in the Philippines and in the World

Submitted by

Krisha Lorraine R. Malojo

Grade 11 – Aguinaldo

Submitted to

Mr. Teomar James A. Rosas

 The story, Earth Dance, tells the life stories of four generations of Balinese women
as they navigate their complex culture, which is redolent with rigid class and caste
systems. Telaga is the main character, but the plot moves backwards and forwards to
scenes of Telaga’s daughter, mother, and grandmother. This subject matter attracts me
most since the characters of the story evolve on the feminist issue. However, more and
more I am growing dissatisfied with the genre. Too many of them lack nuance and blame
everything on men. Sadly, this story displays shades of this. I admit to disliking its tone
which is angry and histrionic.

On the other hand, the author has it unique topic on this story. The main lesson
this novel tries to teach is that the development of women depend on other women, not
men. This is why men are practically nonexistent save as love interests and family
members. As readers, we don’t get to unpack them the way we do the women. Even the
kindly grandfather’s role is one note: as dispenser of sage advice. Telaga wants to defy
her mother and grandmother, but she ends up being shaped by them.

The author's style breaks the tradition in writing and vividly talking about body and
erotic caused much controversy among her family, friends and even society who read her
works. I observed that the author express her dissatisfaction, unhappiness and anxiety
on her written works. I consider this story as ingenious in the sense that it convey feminine
perspective in a consistent and provocative manner. Moreover, the story's mood is often
be fierce and sometimes even violent. This makes the story not suitable for young
readers.

Generally, I admit that this story wasn't good as the other stories that I've read. I
think the development of the female mind is equally affected by both men and women.
But I do recognize that Earth Dance is a novel of interesting ideas.