Home Reading Report: Dear John

Home Reading Report: Dear John

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I. Title: Dear John

II. Author: Nicholas Sparks

III. Classification of Fiction: Romance Fiction

IV. Point of View: First Person

V. General Setting

Place – Germany , Lenoir and  North Carolina, Wilmington

Time- Year 2000 - 2007

Weather Conditions- Autumn , Spring , Summer and Winter

Social Conditions- John Tyree is an Army, and Savannah Lynn Curtis is  a  Teacher

VI.  Characters 

Main Characters: John Tyree and Savannah Lynn Curtis

Minor/Supporting Characters: Tim, Randy, Susan, Brad, Jill, Lucy, Alan, Tony, Mr. Tyree

VII.  Brief summary

Introduction

He lived only with his father because his mother left them after he was born. John’s father likes to collect the coins, but as John growing up, he didn’t like what his father did and even shouted to his father. When he was a teenager, he used to hung out with his friends every day. 

He even didn’t know what to do with his future, but he still pretended everything was okay. However, after Lucy who has been his girlfriend departed him, he faced the music and thought more about the future. Then, he enlisted in the army. He spent two weeks vacation at Wilmington to visit his dad and at the same time enjoyed surfing at the beach which was one of his favorite hobbies.  When Savannah and her friends went to the beach and accidentally her purse fell in the water, suddenly John Tyree offer a hand and helped Savannah Lynn Curtis to save her purse which was very important to Savannah. After that happened, John and Savannah became close with each other. John decided to help Savannah in some community service she conducted to help the poor, because of this John Tyree decided to asked Savannah for a friendly date, but their friendship became strong as days goes by.

Rising Action/Inciting Incident/Motivating Force

When Savannah introduced John to her friends, John met Tim, Savannah’s best friend. John noticed that Tim liked Savannah a lot, but Tim was a good man John knew that, but he can’t deny the fact that he felt jealous about what he had noticed but at the same time he knew too that he have no right to be jealous about Tim because at first Savannah and him were just friend.

Complications/Conflicts

Their attraction is mutual and they quickly fall in love. John and Savannah became lovers. John Tyree introduced Savannah to his father. Savannah meets John's father, a reclusive man who seems to be obsessed with his coin collection but his genuine interest draws her, to John's surprise. Savannah knew the relationship of John to his father, John told Savannah about everything including the things that his dad always do and that is talking about coins, because of that, Savannah became interested to meet John’s father and John can’t resist to refuse Savannah’s favor. After Savannah met John’s father, she understood the situation of John’s father. Savannah mentions to John that his father, like Alan, may have autism. This upsets John, who storms off, and then gets into a fight with Savannah's friend Randy and, in the process, accidentally punches Tim, but after that John apologizes about the action he had done, and he decided to talk to Savannah to make things right before he leave for his job in the army.

Climax/Turning Point

John left Wilmington once again, at the same time he left Savannah and his dad. John and Savannah continue their relationship through letters, expecting to build a life together when he leaves the army. John was based on different countries, he doesn’t know what to think about the situation he had. John and Savannah sent each other letter every month, but as months goes by John noticed that the letter from Savannah had changed a lot, but he tried to be positive even though he knew what was happening. Months goes by, John never receive letter from Savannah, John can’t understand why it was happening, until a letter from Savannah arrived and inside the letter are words of goodbye that made John hurt and upset. John tried to never think of Savannah and just focus on his job as an army, John received different compliments because of his determination, and he became a higher officer leading his battalion. But everything started to fall apart again, he received the news that his dad suffered from a heart attack, he decided to go home to Wilmington and be with his dad for the remaining months of his leave. John’s father died and it made John feel more sad and lonely. As he went back to Wilmington, John met Savannah. This time John goes to visit Savannah and is shocked to find that she has married Tim and is living with him, but Tim was suffering from a condition called melanoma. John knows that he is still in love with Savannah, Savannah and him talked about what happened between the two of them and Savannah can’t hide anymore the truth that she was hurt about what he did and what had happened in their story. The love is still present in both of them, but John made a decision that for him was the right thing to do. He decided to never be with Savannah again, even if Tim told him that Savannah will be happier if she will be with his arms again. John chose to respect Tim and Alan (Tim’s Brother) he know that Alan need a guardian like Savannah that would help him gets through all the pains he was experiencing.

Falling Action

Before John leaves to go back Iraq, he decided to offer all the money he got from the coin collection of his dad. He offered the money to Tim’s operation but he decided to hide his identity especially to Savannah. Tim get better, John knew that it was the biggest choice he had ever made. He knew that Tim loves Savannah as much as he loves Savannah. It’s the full moon that time and he needs to see something. Although he knows she won’t come out him as to see. Staring at the door, it opens and savannah steps out. She moves to the middle of the yard and to john's surprise, he thinks that she can see him. The full moon is when they both remembered their time shared together. And as savannah looks up at the moon, John knows that she still loves him.

Conclusion

John made the biggest choice of his life and that was to set Savannah free and let Savannah be with Tim, but John’s love to Savannah never fade, for him Savannah will always be the first girl he loved the most, the girl who made him once complete, the girl he knows he’ll never forget. It was easy to tell that they still loved each other but it wasn’t enough. When John decided to give the money from his Dad’s collection to Tim, I was so upset, but I realized that he was only doing that because of his love for Savannah. John only wanted her to be happy so that made sense. I wasn’t happy with the ending because I wanted to get back together, but it’s okay.

VIII. Lesson

Loving someone is one of the best feelings in this world. There are people who walk into our lives and change it in ways we could have never imagined but they can't stay with us forever. Dear John teaches us to treasure what we have because one day we could lose it all.

IX.  Theme

Unconditional LOVE.

Home Reading Report in Filipino (Tagalog)

Pamagat: Malang Panginoon

(Isang Pagsusuri)

I. Paksa

Tema:  

Ang kuwentong, Walang Panginoon, ay umiikot sa isang maralitang pamilya at sa kanilang pakikipagtunggali sa mga mayayamang nagsasamantala sa kanila. Masusuri dito ang agwat ng mayayaman sa mahihirap na tao sa lipunan. Mababatid din ang pagtatagisan ng dalawang puwersa, ang naghaharing uri, na kinakatawan ni Don Teong at ng mababang uri, na makikita sa tauhang si Marcos. Umiikot ang buong kwento sa pagpatay ng katarungan, kalayaan at hustisya sa mabababang uri ng mga tao sa lipunan.

Kinamkam ni Don Teong ang lupaing sinasaka nina Marcos na mula pa sa kanilang ninuno. Namatay ang ama ni Marcos sa sobrang sama ng loob nito kay Don Teong samantalang ang tiyuhin nito ay namatay din habang nagsisilbi dito. Nang malaman ni Don Teong na magkasintahan si Marcos at si Anita, ang anak nito, sinaktan niya ito hanggang sa magkasakit. Lalong sumama ang loob nito Marcos kay Don Teong at ginusto nitong maghiganti.

III. Tauhan

a. Marcos – binatang magsasaka na namatayan ng ama, tiyuhin, at kasintahan at masama ang loob kay Don Teong

b. Don Teong – mayamang nagkamkam ng lupa nina Marcos at binuwisan sila, hanggang mabigyan na ng taning na palayasin ang pamilya ng magsasaka sa kanilang lupa

c. Anita – anak ni Don Teong at kasintahan ni Marcos. Namatay dahil sa pananakit ng ama.

d. Ina ni Marcos – ang kaisa-isang natirang kasama ni Marcos at dahilan kung bakit nagtitiis siya para lumigaya ang ina.

IV. Tagpuan

Ang kwento ay naganap sa isang bukid sa bayan nila Marcos at Don Teong. 

V. Banghay

Si Marcos ay isang binatang maralita na magsasaka. Patay na ang kanyang ama’t tiyuhin at ang kasama na lang niya’y ang kanyang ina.

Nagsasaka sila sa lupang pagmamay-ari umano ng ninuno nila, subalit kinamkam ito ng isang mayamang nagngangalang Don Teong. Namatay ang ama niya sa sama ng loob dito, habang ang tiyuhin niya ay namatay habang nagsisilbi sa Don.

Si Anita, ang anak ni Don Teong, ay isang dalagang matapos mag-aral sa Maynila ay bumalik sa nayon nila. Nag-iibigan sila ni Marcos. Noong nalaman ni Don Teong na magkasintahan ang anak niya’t si Marcos ay sinimulan niyang saktan si Anita, hanggang ito ay magkasakit at mamatay. Dahil dito, mas sumama pa ang loob ni Marcos sa Don at ginusto niyang maghiganti rito.

Sa dahilang si Marcos ay isang magsasaka, mayroon siyang kalabaw na mahal niya sa lahat ng mga alaga niya. Kung umaga’y kasama niya ito para magsaka, at kung gabi’y iniiwan niya ito sa dulo ng lupang nililibot ni Don Teong araw-araw.

Isang gabi’y biglang umuwi si Marcos na may dala-dalang mga gamit na gaya ng sinusuot ni Don Teong. Simula nito’y lagi na siyang ginagabi umuwi dahil sinasaktan niya ang kanyang kalabaw habang sinusuot ang mga ito kung gabi. Nilalatigo niya ito hanggang ito ay umungol na umano’y naririnig hanggang sa bayan.

Isang gabi’y biglang kumalat ang balitang namatay na raw si Don Teong. Wasak-wasak daw ang katawan niya dahil sinugod siya at sinungay ng kalabaw habang siya’y naglilibot sa kanyang lupa, sa pag-aakalang ito ang nananakit sa kanya kung gabi.

VI. Simbolo at Pahiwatig

Ang kalabaw ang naging simbolo ng kwento. Sa pamamagitan ng kalabaw, nakamit ni Marcos ang inaasam  niyang maghihiganti kay Don Teong.

VII. Talasalitaan

Animas – pagtunog ng kampana sa simbahan Kakirot – kasakit

Batingaw – kampana Ningas – alab, apoy

Sinisiputan – dinadatnan Pagkuyom – pananakit

Sinamsam – kinukuha Nakapagpalubag – nakapagpakalma

Takipan at talinduwa – pagsasabwatan Nagsimpan – umamin, naghayag

VIII. Aral

Bigyan ng hustisya ang mahihirap na tao sa lipunan at bigyan sila ng karapatan. Huwag gamitin ang kapangyarihan upang tapakan ang maliliit at mahihirap na tao.

Credit: Deogracias A. Rosario

Home Reading Report Samples

TITLE: The Soul of the Great Bell

AUTHOR: Lafcadio Hearn

SETTING:

The setting of The Soul Of The Great Bell was nearly five hundred years ago in the City of Pecking now Beijing

CHARACTERS:

Protagonist:

Ko-Ngai – Daughter of Kouan-Yu and the one who sacrificed herself.

Kouan-Yu – a worthy mandarin and father of Ko-Ngai.

Antagonist:

Celestial August- The son of heaven.

PLOT:

Exposition:

The water-clock marks the hour in the Tachungsz', in the Tower of the Great Bell: now the mallet is lifted to smite the lips of the metal monster-the vast lips inscribed with Buddhist texts from the sacred Fa-hwa-King, from the chapters of the holy Ling-yen-King! 

Hear the great bell responding!-how mighty her voice, though tongueless! KO-NGAI! All the little dragons on the high-tilted eaves of the green roofs shiver to the tips of their gilded tails under that deep wave of sound; all the porcelain gargoyles tremble on their carven perches; all the hundred little bells of the pagodas quiver with desire to speak. 

KO-NGAI-all the green-and-gold tiles of the temple are vibrating; the wooden goldfish above them are writhing against the sky; the uplifted finger of Fo shakes high over the heads of the worshippers through the blue fog of incense! 

KO-NGAI!-What a thunder tone was that! All the lacquered goblins on the palace cornices wriggle their fire-coloured tongues! And after each huge shock, how wondrous the multiple echo and the great golden moan, and, at last, the sudden sibilant sobbing in the ears when the immense tone faints away in broken whispers of silver, as though a woman should whisper, "Hiai!" Even so the great bell hath sounded every day for well-nigh five hundred years-Ko-Ngai: first with stupendous clang, then with immeasurable moan of gold, then with silver murmuring of "Hiai!" And there is not a child in all the many-coloured ways of the old Chinese city who does not know the story of the great bell, who cannot tell you why the great bell says Ko-Ngai and Hiai!

Rising Action:

But when the metal had been cast, and the earthen mould separated from the glowing casting, it was discovered that, despite their great labour and ceaseless care, the result was void of worth; for the metals had rebelled one against the other-the gold had scorned alliance with the brass, the silver would not mingle with the molten iron. Therefore the moulds had to be once more prepared, and the fires rekindled, and the metal remelted, and all the work tediously and toilsomely repeated. The Son of Heaven heard and was angry, but spake nothing

Climax:

Then the father of Ko-Ngai, wild with his grief, would have leaped in after her, but that strong men held him back and kept firm grasp upon him until he had fainted away, and they could bear him like one dead to his home. And the serving-woman of Ko-Ngai, dizzy and speechless for pain, stood before the furnace, still holding in her hands a shoe, a tiny, dainty shoe, with embroidery of pearls and flowers-the shoe of her beautiful mistress that was. For she had sought to grasp Ko-Ngai by the foot as she leaped, but had only been able to clutch the shoe, and the pretty shoe came off in her hand; and she continued to stare at it like one gone mad.

But in spite of all these things, the command of the Celestial and August had to be obeyed, and the work of the moulders to be finished, hopeless as the result might be. Yet the glow of the metal seemed purer and whiter than before; and there was no sign of the beautiful body that had been entombed therein. So the ponderous casting was made; and lo! when the metal had become cool, it was found that the bell was beautiful to look upon and perfect in form, and wonderful in colour above all other bells. Nor was there any trace found of the body of Ko-Ngai; for it had been totally absorbed by the precious alloy, and blended with the well-blended brass and gold, with the intermingling of the silver and the iron. And when they sounded the bell, its tones were found to be deeper and mellower and mightier than the tones of any other bell, reaching even beyond the distance of one hundred li, like a pealing of summer thunder; and yet also like some vast voice uttering a name, a woman's name, the name of Ko-Ngai.

Falling Action:

And still, between each mighty stroke there is a long low moaning heard; and ever the moaning ends with a sound of sobbing and of complaining, as though a weeping woman should murmur, "Hiai!" And still, when the people hear that great golden moan they keep silence, but when the sharp, sweet shuddering comes in the air, and the sobbing of "Hiai!" then, indeed, do all the Chinese mothers in all the many-coloured ways of Pe-King whisper to their little ones: "Listen! that is Ko-Ngai crying for her shoe! That is Ko-Ngai calling for her shoe!"

Denouncement

When Ko-Ngai sacrificed herself to make the great bell and save her father’s life.

THEME:

The theme of the story is Life process because it is showed in the story the experiences of Kouan-Yu and Ko-Ngai and what a child can do in order to save his/her parents. 

LESSON:

Learn to sacrifice and make right decisions.