Lesson 6: Memorias de un Estudiante de Manila

Biographies

are literary works that highlight the life of certain individuals

political tools

Biographies are crucial documents or sources in writing history; however, they also can be used as __________ because some facts may be omitted or added in the writing process.

1872 - 1881

During what time period did Rizal write his memoirs?

Chapter 1

Which chapter of Rizal’s memoirs is this from?

Rizal’s childhood in Calamba, describing their house and life; death of his sister, Concha

Concha

In Chapter 1, who among Rizal’s siblings passed away?

Chapter 2

Which chapter of Rizal’s memoirs is this from?

Rizal’s first time away from home when he was sent to study in Binan, Laguna, as well as his daily routines as a student; his longing for his family and his hometown.

Biñan, Laguna

In Chapter 2, it is mentioned that it was Rizal’s first time away from home because he was sent to study in?

Chapter 3

Which chapter of Rizal’s memoirs is this from?

Memories between 1871-1872, particularly when his mother was taken away and imprisoned, leaving them without guidance.

1871-1872

During this time period, Rizal’s mother was taken away and imprisoned.

Chapter 4 & 5

Which chapter of Rizal’s memoirs is this from?

His time as a student in Manila, especially at the Ateneo de Municipal, the different rules implemented by Ateneo to ensure competitiveness of its students, different books that he read, like The Count of Monte Cristo that influenced his writing of El Filibusterismo.

The Count of Monte Cristo

What book influenced Rizal’s writing of El Filibusterismo? (this was mentioned in Chapters 4 and 5 of Rizal’s memoirs)

Chapter 6

Which chapter of Rizal’s memoirs is this from?

Dedicated to Segunda Katigbak, Rizal’s first love, remembering this period with bitterness; however, Segunda was already engaged to someone when they met.

Chapter 7

The chapter in which there were no significant events.

Chapter 8

Which chapter of Rizal’s memoirs is this from?

The fable of the lamp, which captures Rizal’s symbolic representation of the light.

8

How many chapters did Rizal’s memoirs have?

read lang

My mother began to read to me the fable of the young and the old moths, translating it to me piece by piece into Tagalog. At the first verses my attention redoubled in such a way that I looked towards the light and fixed my attention on the moths that fluttered around it. The story could not have been more opportune.

My mother emphasized and commented a great deal on the warnings of the old moth and directed them to me as if to tell me that these applied to me. I listened to her and what a rare phenomenon the light seemed to me more beautiful each time, the flame brighter, and I even envied instinctively the fate of those insects that played so cheerfully in its magical exhalation.

Those that had succumbed were drowned in the oil; they didn’t frighten me. My mother continued her reading, I listened anxiously, and the fate of the two insects interested me intensely. The light agitated its golden tongue on one side, a singed moth in one of these movements fell into the oil, clapped its wings for sometime and died. That assumed for me that the flame and the moths were moving far away, very far, and that my mother’s voice acquired a strange, sepulchral timbre.

My mother finished the fable. I was not listening; all my attention, all my mind and all my thoughts were concentrated on the fate of that moth, young, dead, full of illusions.

“You see?” my mother said to me taking me to bed. “Don’t imitate the young moth and don’t be disobedient; you’ll get burned like it.” I don’t know if I replied, promised something, or cried. The only thing I remember is that it took me a long time before I could sleep. That story had revealed to me things unknown to me until then.

To me moths ceased to be insignificant insects; moths talked and knew how to warn and advise as well as my mother did. The light seemed to be more beautiful, dazzling, attractive. I understand why moths fluttered around lights.

Advices and warnings resounded feebly in my ears. What preoccupied me most was the death of the imprudent, but at the bottom of my heart, I didn’t blame it.

My mother’s solicitude didn’t have all the success that she hoped it would. No; many years have elapsed; the child has become a man; has plowed [sailed -Zaide] the most famous foreign rivers and meditated besides their copious streams. The steamship has taken him across the seas and all the oceans; he has climbed the region of perpetual snow on mountains very much higher than the Makiling of his province.

From experience he has received bitter lessons, oh, infinitely more than the sweet lesson that his mother gave him, and nevertheless the man preserves the heart of a child and he believes that light is the most beautiful thing there is in creation and that it is worthy for a man to sacrifice his life for it.