Rizal's Works: Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo

Practice flashcards covering the background, symbols, characters, and key themes of Rizal's major written works as detailed in the lecture transcript.

Noli Me Tangere

A novel published on March 21, 1887, in Berlin, Germany, with a title derived from the Gospel of John 20:17 meaning "Touch Me Not."

Maximo Viola

The financier and savior of Noli Me Tangere who provided $300$ pesos for its publication of $2,000$ copies.

Ekskomunyon

The most severe punishment in the Catholic Church where a member is officially expelled or renounced, which was imposed on Crisostomo Ibarra.

Hairy feet/legs

A symbol on the Noli Me Tangere cover representing priests who use religion in a dirty way, specifically referring to the character Padre Damaso.

Flogs (Suplina)

A symbol on the Noli Me Tangere cover representing self-flagellation and the cruelties of the Guardia Civil.

Phototropism

A unique behavior in sunflowers used as a motif in the Noli Me Tangere cover to symbolize loyalty and constancy.

Pilosopo Tasyo

A character whose persona is based on Rizal's brother Paciano; he is labeled as either "Tacio the Sage" or "Tacio el Loco" due to his reasoning.

Cryptographic Alphabet

The system of writing used by Pilosopo Tasyo that is similar to hieroglyphs and Coptic figures to ensure future generations can decipher his ideas.

Salvi

A name shortened from "Salvation" or "Salvaje" (savage), hinting at the character's willingness to kill the innocent child Crispin to retrieve money.

Doña Consolacion

The wife of the Alferez, known as the "muse of the civil guards," who is notorious for her cruel treatment of Sisa and for pretending to be a Peninsular.

El Filibusterismo

Rizal's second novel, published on September 18, 1891, in Ghent, Belgium, and translated as "The Reign of Greed."

Valentin Ventura

The financier who partially funded the publication of El Filibusterismo and was later gifted the original manuscript by Rizal.

Filibustero

A term Rizal defined to Ferdinand Blumentritt as a "dangerous patriot who will soon be hanged" or a revolutionary suspect.

Simoun

The protagonist of El Filibusterismo; the disguise of a wealthy jeweler taken by Crisostomo Ibarra to start a violent revolution.

To the Young Women of Malolos

A letter written in 1889 from London aimed at praising and encouraging Filipino women to seek education and independence.

La Indolencia de los Filipinos

An essay published in 1890 that argues Filipino "laziness" was not innate but a result of colonial conditions, climate, and social injustice.

$2$ onzas

The amount of money Padre Salvi and the head sacristan accused Crispin of stealing, which led to the child's torture and death.

$10,000$ pesos

The price the Philippine government paid to Valentin Ventura to acquire the original manuscript of El Filibusterismo.