21st Century Literature

from the Philippines

and the World
Quarter 1 – Module 3:
Context and Text’s Meanings
21st Century Literature from the Philippines and the World
Alternative Delivery Mode
Quarter 1 – Module 3: Context and Text’s Meaning
First Edition, 2021

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21 Century Literature
st
from the Philippines
and the World
Quarter 1 – Module 3:
Context and Text’s Meaning
Introductory Message
This Self-Learning Module (SLM) is prepared so that you, our dear learners,
can continue your studies and learn while at home. Activities, questions,
directions, exercises, and discussions are carefully stated for you to understand
each lesson.
Each SLM is composed of different parts. Each part shall guide you
step-by-step as you discover and understand the lesson prepared for you.
Pre-tests are provided to measure your prior knowledge on lessons in each
SLM. This will tell you if you need to proceed on completing this module or if you
need to ask your facilitator or your teacher’s assistance for better understanding of
the lesson. At the end of each module, you need to answer the post-test to
self-check your learning. Answer keys are provided for each activity and test. We
trust that you will be honest in using these.
In addition to the material in the main text, Notes to the Teacher are also
provided to our facilitators and parents for strategies and reminders on how they
can best help you on your home-based learning.
Please use this module with care. Do not put unnecessary marks on any
part of this SLM. Use a separate sheet of paper in answering the exercises and
tests. And read the instructions carefully before performing each task.
If you have any questions in using this SLM or any difficulty in answering
the tasks in this module, do not hesitate to consult your teacher or facilitator.
Thank you.
 What I Need to Know

This module was designed and written with you in mind. It is here to help you fully
understand literary contexts and the text’s meaning. The scope of this module
permits it to be used in many different learning situations. The language used
recognizes the diverse vocabulary level of students. The lessons are arranged to
follow the standard sequence of the course. But the order in which you read them
can be changed to correspond with the textbook you are now using.
MELC: Discuss how different contexts enhance the text’s meaning and enrich the
reader’s understanding.
This module helps you specifically develop a skill to discuss how the different
literary social and socio-cultural contexts enhance the text’s meaning and enrich
the reader’s understanding.
After going through this module, you are expected to:
1. identify words, ideas, structure, and purpose of the text;
2. explore the different social and socio-cultural contexts to enhance and
enrich the understanding of the text; and
3. appreciate the importance of understanding the literary context and its
meaning to one’s own life experiences.

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 What I Know

Choose the letter of the best answer. Write the chosen letter on a separate
sheet of paper.
1. Dom Caruso is a trained sniper. He used a Mauser during his training and in
his real combat. Mauser is used for the long-range target. Mauser is a _______.
a. long rifle
b. automatic rifle
c. high-velocity automatic rifle
d. German high-velocity automatic rifle
2. Park Seo Joon starred in a Netflix series, Itaewon Class.
a. The actor who was chosen for the sub-role
b. The actor that performed outstandingly
c. The principal actor who played the chief role
d. The principal actor who played the second lead role
3. After the birth of Jesus, the Three Wise Men followed a guiding star to
Bethlehem.
a. A natural luminous celestial body visible in the sky at night
b. A waning fortune or fame
c. A prominent spark at night
d. A figure with many sides
4. Roman Catholic Christians believe that souls of those who die in God’s grace
went to purgatory for cleansing of past sins.
a. A place where intense sufferings are being experienced
b. A place which is humid and dry
c. Intermediate state after death for expiatory purification of souls
d. A state of after death where hopes grow
5. Mt. Everest, located at Mahalangur Himal, a subrange of the Himalayas, with
its height of 29,029 ft is the roof of the world.
a. An extended limit
b. the highest point
c. an upper limit
d. extremely high point

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6. A virus like Covid-19, can be easily transmitted to another person who has close
contact with the carrier. A person who has weak immunity and pre-existing
health conditions may experience a bitter death. Covid-19 patients can recover
if he/she is not immune-compromised. Which statement must be true?
a. A Covid-19 virus is not fatal.
b. Not all Covid-19 patients die.
c. All patients can recover.
d. Bitter death is an easy death.
7. Almost all companies send employees to an all-expense-paid seminar. But the
year 2020, a travel and seminar plan is a blur to every company. Until 2021,
travel plan is vaguely known to be allowed. Which statement must be false?
a. When a company sends you to a seminar, you do not pay for it.
b. In the year 2020, any travel for leisure is not allowed.
c. In the year 2021, it is clear that travel will be allowed.
d. Travel tourism will suffer in 2020.
8. Korean food lovers love the smooth and ruddy crimson color of the chili paste
called, gojuchang. All ripe chilies are ruddy. Red tomato is ripe. Tomato is ___.
a. Reddish-brown
b. Orange
c. Red-orange
d. Ruddy
9. Covid-19 virus brought chaos to the world. People were ordered to stay at home
during the lockdown. During this time, many felt that they were in purgatory.
The situation makes them feel temporary suffering and misery. Which
statement must be true?
a. Covid-19 brought disorder to the world.
b. Covid-19 virus forced the people to stay home.
c. Lockdown brought suffering and misery.
d. Purgatory, in that sentence, depicts cleansing from sin.
10. Padre F. Faura founded the Manila 0bservatory, where celestial and
astronomical events were observed. All modern structures are made of
concrete. Observatory is a structure. Observatory is made of _____.
a. structure
b. concrete
c. light material
d. modern design
11. Zamboanga Hermosa Festival is a month-long religious celebration. The
opening ceremony is the annual Regata de Zamboanga, where 200 Vinta
paddlers compete. As the vintas’ move the sail shiver. What makes the sail
shiver?

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 a. The force of the paddle
b. The gust of the wind
c. The movement of the paddler
d. The wave of the sea
12. The little children of Arnulfo family played inside the receiving area. The
receiving area was a house to the antique collection. They played a touching
ball. In an attempt to strike the opponent, the ball hit the jar on the corner
stand. What do you think happened?
a. The ball hit the ceiling.
b. The vase punctured the ball several times
c. The ball went into the mouth of the vase.
d. The antique was knocked down and shattered into many small
pieces.
13. The statements of the two Cabinet Secretaries collided. The first gave a point
of view, which was opposing view of the latter. What would be the impact on the
readers of the report?
a. The readers applause the Secretaries for the job well done.
b. The readers got confused about the clashing of ideas.
c. The readers felt that there is harmony between the two.
d. The readers realized that the ideas blend well.
14.The Narra trees planted on both sides of the national highway in Pangasinan
roofed the entire stretch of the highway. The shade gives a cool ambiance to
the motorists. How does this looks?
It looks like a garland hanging on the road.
a. The canopy of leaves and branches appear embracing.
b. The leaves and branches look like a hot air balloon.
c. The leaves and branches appear praying.
15. The red sports car was running at high speed along the expressway in
Batangas when suddenly a group of cows appeared from somewhere. The car
swerved hard and went- off the road. What do you think happened next?
a. The car rested safely on the side of the road.
b. The car stopped and continued to travel
c. The car flew and collided with a tree.
d. The car flew, bounced, and ran again.

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Lesson
1 Context and Text’s Meaning
Reading literary pieces becomes a challenge to a student like you. But as the years
go by, changes happened even in the literary genre. Understanding the selection
you read takes time, but if you will familiarize yourself with the context of the
literary piece, appreciation comes along.

What’s In
Let us recall the previous lesson you have studied in Module 2. From the
conventional and modern genre of literature: poetry, drama, fiction, non-fiction,
21st-century literary genres were presented to you.
Directions: Fill out the organizer by writing LETTERS only under columns 2 &
3. Under column 4 write the sample title. Note: two letters may be repeated as
you answer the grid.

GENRE SIMILARITY/IES DIFFERENCE SAMPLE

S (write the title/words)
1 2 4
3
1.Manga
2.Graphic novel
3.Blog
4.Doodle fiction
5.Hyper poetry
6.Text-talk novel

a. Make use of web or internet connection.

b. A website containing short articles called posts updated regularly by the
same person or by people interested in the same topic.
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 c. Involved set of words, phrases, lines, etc. presented in a variable, sits on the
page much as traditional poetry does, or may contain parts of the poem that
move and mutate.
d. All make use of illustration in presenting stories.
e. An artistic storytelling style originated in Japan.
f. Encompasses non-fiction works and thematically linked short stories as well
as fictional stories across a number of genres.
g. Literary presentation where doodle writing, and drawings are incorporated.
h. Stories told almost completely in dialogue simulating social network
exchanges.

What’s New
Below is a poem written by Danton Remoto, a Filipino author. Read and try to
discover what this poem wants to convey. Then, answer the essential questions
that follow.
Padre Faura Witness The Execution of Rizal
Author: Danton Remoto
(Poetry)
I stand on the roof
Of the Ateneo municipal,
Shivering
On this December morning.
Months ago,
Pepe came to me
In the observatory.
I thought we would talk
About the stars
That do not collide
In the sky:
Instead, he asked me about purgatory
(His cheeks still ruddy
From the sudden sun
After the bitter winter
In Europe
And on this day
With the years beginning to turn,
Salt things my eyes.
I see Pepe,
A blur
Between the soldiers
With their Mausers raised

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 And the early morning’s
Star:
Still shimmering
Even if millions of miles away,
The star itself
Is already dead

Essential Questions:
1. Who are the characters in the poem? Write a piece of short information
about each character.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
2. Who speaks in the poem? Extract a sentence from the poem to prove your
answer.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
3. Discuss the form/structure of the poem.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
4. What was the situation when Padre Faura stood in the balcony of Ateneo de
Manila?
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
5. What was the situation of our country based on the poem? Prove your
answer by extracting a line from the poem.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
6. To whom the poem is addressed? Explain your answer.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
7. How do you feel while reading the poem, that Padre Faura witnessed the
execution of his former student?
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________

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 8. What was the feeling displayed by the author in the poem?
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
9. What was the message that Danton Remoto wanted to convey in this poem?
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________

What is It
Context originates from the notion of weaving together. It is defined as the
circumstances that form the setting of events, statements, or ideas and in the way
of which it can be fully understood and assessed. Reading a literary piece may
contribute to the production of the author and the reception of the reader as they
appreciate and explore.
● The writer's context is knowing about the writer's life, values,
assumptions, gender, race, race, sexual orientation, and the political
and economic issues related to the author.
● Reader's context is about the reader's previous reading experience,
values, assumptions, political and economic issues.
● The text's context is about its publishing history. It is part of the
larger text such as newspaper, history, events, translated in it.
● Social context and socio-cultural of a text feature the society in which
the characters live and in which the author's text was produced.
In this lesson, you will unravel what goes with the poem.
The structure of the poem refers to words that are put together or arranged
such that they make sense.
Imagery is creating a picture in the reader's mind by using words that
appeal to the senses. There are types of Imagery that are used in this module.
(Menoy 2016))
● Visual imagery produced by the use of words that appeal to the
sense of sight.
● Auditory Imagery produced by the use of words that appeal to the
sense of hearing.

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 ● Kinesthetic imagery produced by the use of words that appeal to
the actions and movement.
Literary Techniques are methods the author or writer of a literary piece
used to convey what they want to impart to the reader, such as Flashback
where the events have taken place before the present time the narration is
following.

What’s More

Activity 1. Understanding the Text

To understand a piece of literature, answering the given questions enable the
readers to appreciate literature more.
Multiple Choice. Read each question. Choose and write the letter of the best
answer on a separate sheet of paper.
1. Who was Fr. F. Faura to Jose Rizal?
a. His godfather
b. His uncle
c. His teacher
d. His friend
2. What was the nickname given to Jose Rizal mentioned in the poem?
a. Star
b. Mauser
c. Ruddy
d. Pepe
3. Why Padre Faura expected that they would talk about the stars?
a. Because Padre Faura worked in the observatory
b. Because Pepe was a star
c. Because Pepe just arrived from Europe
d. Because Pepe was fascinated in the observatory
4. Why Padre Faura was in the observatory when Pepe visited him?
a. It was the only place where they could talk.
b. He was in-charged in the observatory.
c. The observatory was near the Ateneo De Manila
d. The observatory was near Bagunbayan.

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 5. Why instead of stars, Pepe asked about purgatory to Padre Faura.
Purgatory is___
a. is a state where the souls can pass by to rest before going up to
heaven.
b. is the place for eternal rest
c. is a place where souls rest.
d. is a state where souls go through a process of cleansing, by suffering for
a time after death on account of their sins, so as to attain final union with
God.

Assessment 1. Getting familiar with texts’ meaning

Direction: Read the poem and make the necessary responses to the following
instructions given below.

1. A multitude gathered along with Wan Chai District in Hongkong to protest

the new policy there and to call to ban some products. Thousands of
protesters were arrested. Multitude in this sentence means_______.
a. A few in number of people
b. A great number of people
c. Some people
d. Several numbers of people
2. In the poem, Earnest Wish, identify the words that suggest the meaning of
the word, multitude.

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3. The author used imagery in the poem, such as visual, auditory, and
kinesthetic imagery. Write the words that suggest:

4. Discuss the structure of the poem, the stanza, lines, rhyme scheme.
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________

5. Discuss how the author presented the ideas of the poem up to the point
where the message was presented.
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________

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Activity 2. Understanding the Context
Directions: Look at each picture below. In Column A, each picture depicts the
event presented in the poem. In Column B, based on your understanding of
the poem, write what event happened in each picture and how do you feel
about it.
A B

Assessment 2. Finding the Purpose

1. What was the situation when the author wrote this poem?
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________

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 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?
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
Activity 3. Knowing Author’s Context

Reflect on the importance of a biographical context in understanding a text.

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 1. Discuss the environment that surrounds the author while writing the poem.
Prove your answer.
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
2. Discuss the occurring event in the society during that time that influences
the author in writing the poem.
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
3. Discuss the message of the author in the poem.
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________

What I Have Learned

Reading and appreciating literature can be made possible by understanding the
context and text’s meaning.
● During the reading, there was recognition and recall.

o I recall that Dr. Jose Rizal was shot in _______________. (place)

o During this time, the Philippines was under the _______ government.
o The purpose of the poem was to ______________________________.
o The author wrote the poem for the____________________________.
o The poem was based on the historical perspective. Recalling our past
as Filipinos, what was the most trying moment of Jose Rizal during
those time? _____________________________________________.
o With that challenging situation, Dr. Jose Rizal was able to write two
novels ________________________________________________________.
o As you read the poem, what experiences in life can you consider
challenging and why?_______________________________________________.

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 ● Values, assumptions, political and economic issues, and events related to
the author and reader play a significant role in understanding context and
the text’s meaning in a literary piece.

What I Can Do
Directions: Write a two-stanza poem using visual imagery. Describe your
surrounding that mostly influences your line of thought.

________________________________ __________________________________
________________________________ __________________________________
________________________________ __________________________________
________________________________ __________________________________
________________________________ __________________________________
________________________________ __________________________________
Rubrics for Poem
Beginning Developing Accomplishe Exemplary Score
1 2 d 4
3
Form Uses an May use an Effectively Creatively
inappropriat appropriate uses an uses an
e poetic poetic form. appropriate appropriate
form. poetic form. poetic form.

Word Student’s Vocabulary Student’s use Student’s

Usage use of is very basic. of vocabulary use of
vocabulary is Student’s is routine and vocabulary is
very basic. use of workable. precise,
vocabulary is vivid, and
more telling paints a
than strong clear
showing. and
complete
picture in
the reader’s
mind.

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Menta Uses few Uses some Uses mental Effectively
l mental mental image to uses mental
Image image. image reinforce the to reinforce
theme. the theme.

Assessment

Multiple Choice. Read each statement. Choose and write the letter of the
best answer on a separate sheet of paper.
1. The persona in the poem “Padre Faura Witness The Execution of Rizal” was
_______.
a. Danton Remoto
b. Dr. Jose Rizal
c. Padre Faura
d. You

2. The mood of the poem was _______.

a. Mournful
b. Delightful
c. Joyful
d. Mysterious
3. The speaker was shivering while standing in the roof because _______.
a. He was dizzy.
b. It was cold.
c. It was December.
d. It was high.
4. In stanza 2 & 3 the persona recalled what transpired between him and Pepe.
This literary device is called _______.
a. Prophecy
b. Symbolic
c. Flashbacking
d. foreshadowing

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5. Pepe came from Europe where winter was bitter. His face became ruddy
because _______.
a. He was exposed to humiliation
b. He was exhausted.
c. He was not accustomed to the weather
d. He was exposed to sudden sun.
6. The characteristics of the star were used to compare with Jose Rizal was
shimmering because _______.
a. he was well-known
b. he was about to die
c. he studied astronomy
d. his teacher was in the observatory
7. Months before Pepe’s execution, he visited Padre Faura. Pepe talked about
purgatory instead of colliding star maybe because _______.
a. Padre Faura was sick
b. Pepe was terminally ill
c. Pepe knew he would be executed
d. Pepe did not believe in the afterlife
8. Padre Faura witnessed the execution of Rizal from the Azotea of Ateneo because
_______.
a. there was no building in between Bagumbayan
b. the old Ateneo de Manila was in Intramuros
c. the Observatory was part of Ateneo
d. he was invited
9. The author in the poem below expressed her willingness to do some impossible
tasks stated below. What makes the tasks impossible to do?
I will
Count the multitude of stars
The leaves in all the branches
The flock of birds perched in the loft
The blades of grass in the meadow
And the cogon flowers in the air.
a. The tasks were impossible to do because birds are flying high.
b. The tasks were impossible to do because the birds are perched on a loft.
c. The tasks were impossible to do because quantifiers are needed.
d. The tasks were impossible to do because nouns there are uncountable.
10. In this stanza, the author used auditory imagery which appeals to the sense of
hearing. Among the sounds, which could not be heard clearly?
I will
Listen to the sound of breeze
To the rustling of leaves

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 To the chirping of birds
To the buzzing of the bees
To the flapping of butterfly’s wings
a. Rustling
b. Buzzing
c. Flapping
d. Chirping
11. Dr. Jose Rizal was being compared to a shimmering star in the poem. In the
line, the star itself is already dead means _______.
Star:
Still shimmering
Even if millions of miles away,
The star itself
Is already dead.
a. Dr. Jose Rizal was no longer shimmering.
b. Dr. Jose Rizal was not a star.
c. Dr. Jose Rizal was sent to the sky.
d. Dr. Jose Rizal was sent down.
12. In the poem, Preludes by T.S. Eliot, imagery is used. Which line appeals to
the sense of touch?
1. The winter evening settles down
2. With smell of steaks in passageways.
3. Six o'clock.
4. The burnt-out ends of smoky days.
5. And now a gusty shower wrap
6. The grimy scraps
a. 4
b. 5
c. 6
d. 2
13. In the poem below, which word is used to refer to snow?
"Kissed by Snow" - Kelly Roper
1. Standing in darkness with face upturned as
2. Frosty, feathery stars drift down from the sky
3. And land like gentle kisses from cold lips
4. On my cheeks, my nose, my lips and closed eyes
a. Sky
b. Eyes
c. Lips
d. stars
14. Using the same poem, Kissed by Snow, which line used metaphorical language?

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 a. 1
b. 2
c. 3
d. 4
15. In the poem, "Man Versus Pepper- Kelly Roper, what situation is expressed?
One sniff gives a clue of the heat within.
First bite feels like swallowing a lighted blow torch,
And tears stream from his eyes like a flash flood
As the dying ghost pepper delivers its savage revenge.
a. The persona in the poem shares his great time eating spicy food.
b. The persona in the poem expresses his experience eating spicy food.
c. The persona in the poem describes how he feels while eating spicy food.
d. The persona in the poem warns the reader not to eat spicy food.

Additional Activities

Let us try to test your prior knowledge in the events that happened hundreds of
years back and how you will relate it with your current situation.

Talking Heads
Based on your understanding after reading the poem plus what the Philippine
history shared with you, what kind of society/ situation each character lived? How
each character struggles in his situation?
Situation: Padre Faura was telling the story before and during the
execution of Pepe. How did he feel during those times?

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At present what current situation in the society/community/household do you find
challenging or difficult. Please explain your answer.
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

NEGATIVE VS. POSITIVE - Write first the bad situation that happened and then
write a positive outcome that emerged from it.

NEGATIVE SITUATION POSITIVE EFFECT

In the poem:

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In your current situation:

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Answer Key

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References
Books:
Menoy, Jesus Z. 21st Literature of the Philippines and the World, Books Atbp.,
2016
Solmerano, and Ernesto Thaddeus et.al. 21st Century Literature of the Philippines
and the World, 2nd Edition, Fastbook Educational Supply, Manila Philippines
2017
Journal Articles:
Huijen, Tim, van de Grift, Wim, van Boxtel, Carla and Holthuis, Paul, “Promoting
Historical Contextualization: The Development and Testing of Pedagogy”,
Journal of Curriculum Studies, 50:3, 410-434,
DOI:10.1080/00220272.2018.1435724, 2018,
https://bookspagez.com/blog/reading-comprehension-toolkit-identifying-
authors-purpose/
Mustofa, Ali, Hill Jonnie Lynn, “Understanding Cultural Context in Responding to
Literature”, Researching the Teaching the Literature in EFL Classroom
Context English Language Teaching, Vol. 11, No.6; 2006, ISSN 1916-
4742 E-ISSN 1916-4750, Canadian Center of Science and Education

Websites:
Example of Imagery and Poetry, Your Dictionary, LoveToKnow 2020
https://examples.yourdictionary.com/examples-of-imagery-poems.html
Faura, Federico, In V. Almario (Ed.), Sagisag Kultura (Vol. 1). Manila: National
Commission for Culture and the Arts, 2015. Retrieved from
https://philippineculturaleducation.com.ph/faura-federico/
Remoto, Danton, Goodreads, “Summer Reading”, Goodreads Inc. 2020,
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/524322.Danton_Remoto
https://www.merriam-webster.cm/dictionary

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