BOOK REPORT

The World is An Apple

By:Alberto S. Florentino

Fredrick L. Habla
Submitted to:
Ms. Joyce Bautista

1
 TABLE OF CONTENTS
1.Authors Biography3

2.Vocabulary Enhancement...4-5

3.List of characters and their descriptions6

4.Story summary...6

5.Comprehension Questions...7

6.Plot of the Story..8

7.Character map of the three main characthers9-11

8.Lines/Dialogues of the characters the has impact to you.12

9.Lesson/s of the story.13

11.why is it entitledThe World is an Apple?..13

I. Authors Biography

2
Alberto Florentino is a Filipino playwright and book publisher. His plays in English center on
the conflicts in the everyday lives of ordinary Filipinos. The most famous among his works is The
World is an Apple which earned him his first Palanca Award in 1954 and remains one of the most
performed plays in the Philippines.

He published/edited 75 books under his imprints from 1959 to 2001. Among them were the early
works of his colleagues like Jose Garcia Villa (Poems 55, A Doveglion Book of Philippine Poetry,
Poems in Praise of Love, Selected Stories from Footnote to Youth, The Essential Villa) Nick
Joaquin (Portrait of the Artist as Filipino, Laval de Manila and Other Essays, The Song of Maria
Clara and Other Poems, San Eustaquio, martir, Saint Eustachius, martyr)and Francisco Arcellana
(Selected Stories, 15 Stories by Francisco Arcellana, The Essential Arcellana)among many
others.

He was also the main scriptwriter for the television show Balintataw and was recently honoured
by Radyo Balintataw for his role in the award-winning drama series of the early 60s and 70s. The
show, spearheaded by producer Cecile Guidote (now Alvarez), directors Lupita Concio (now
Kashiwahara)and Nick Lizaso and Florentino was noteworthy for adapting short stories by
Filipino writers like Amador T. Dagiuo, Nick Joaquin, Jose Garcia Villa, Wilfrido Nolledo,
Bienvenido Santos among others.
He was one of the 1960 TOYM Awardees for Literature, an honor he shared that year with
Benigno Aquino Jr. (for Public Service). In 2008, he was given a Presidential Medal of Merit for
being a distinguished literary figure by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
Also in 2008 he was presented with a Dakilang Pilipino Award by the Consulate General in New
York. In 2011 he was among the honorees in a Tribute to the Living Legends of Philippine
Theatre. On Oct 1, 2011 Florentino was one of 12 honored at the Tribute to Filipino Literary
Laureates, a highlight of the first Filipino American International Book Festival (FilBookFest)
held in San Francisco, CA.
He migrated to the U.S. in the early 80s and lived in New York where his third daughter Leila
took over the role of Miss Saigon on Broadway after Lea Salonga. He recently moved to Portland
Oregon.\
His books of plays include: The World is an Apple and Other Prize Plays; The Portable
Florentino; Memento Mori; Sangyugto; Panahon ng Digma; From Book to Stage; among others.

II. Vocabulary Enhancement

A.dwell
to live or stay as a permanent resident
Example

3
 The chief buildings are of brick, but most of the natives dwell in grass tukls.
B.agonize
undergo great mental anguish through worrying about something.
Example
Most new parents agonize over leaving their baby for the first time.
C.pilfering
gerund or present participle
Example
Pilfering was suppressed, and the revolts of the malcontentsthe Gaut/ziers of The
Normandy

D.warehouse
a large wholesale or retail store.
Example
The warehouse was empty.
E.sigh
feel a deep yearning for (someone or something lost, unattainable,
Example
Her sigh was a mixture of contentment and relief.
F.Loafer
a person who idles time away.
Example
his loafers more expensive than Kris's conference room had cost to build.
G.fidget
make small movements, especially of the hands and feet, through nervousness or impatience.
Example
fidgets A condition of restlessness as manifested by nervous movements.
H.scorn
the feeling or belief that someone or something is worthless or despicable; contempt.
Example
This scorn was not offensive to his master.
I.Crook
the hooked staff of a shepherd.

4
 Example
M.) in Wasco and Crook counties.
J.Hideous
ugly or disgusting to look at.
Example
She looked up to find both hideous beasts staring at her, drooling.

III.List of Characters and their Description]

MARIO-Husbond of Gloria

PABLO-Marios friend or partner in crime

GLORIA-Wife of Mario

IV.Story Summary
As Mario got home one night, Gloria, his wife, asked for money, which they needed to feed their
daughter. Mario told her that he doesn't have money. Gloria didn't believe him, and asked him to
tell the truth. Mario told his wife the truth - he was fired from his job.

The reason is because of an apple. He stole an apple for his daughter because he thought that she
would like it - this part shows his love for his daughter.

He left with Pablo, his old crime buddy, even if Gloria pleaded very hard for him not to go with

5
the man.
Another summary of The World Is An Apple When Mario got home. Gloria saw Mario and she
was asking for some money to feed there children to Mario. Mario said that he have no money
because he did something. Gloria didn't believe on what Mario said and said to tell the truth.
When Mario answered it, Gloria was shocked on what she heard because Mario lost his job.
Gloria asked Mario if how he lost his job and Mario answered it and Gloria was shocked again
because Mario said that he lost his job because of an apple. Gloria said that how can he loose his
job by just taking one not a dozen not a crate but one apple and Mario answered that he just saw it
rolling and he found himself putting it in his bag because Tita would love to have it, and Mario
told Gloria that there's no need to worry because he found a new job. Suddenly Pablo was there
ruining the whole conversation and asked them if how is there daughter doing and he'll loan a few
pesos to help there daughter and Gloria said that no thank you because Mario stopped depending
on Pablo. Pablo said that Mario's new job was with Pablo and when Gloria heard it he told Mario
that it's a bad doing and risky. But Mario didn't listen and walks away with Pablo and told Gloria
not to worry because he will come back early morning and don't wait for him. Gloria cries and
shouting Mario, while Tita was crying also because he heard the conversation.

V.Comprehension Questions

1.How will you describe the way of living of Marios family?

They live in a small and poor home.
2.What is the reason why Mario lost his job? Do you think it is fair?
He lost his job because of an apple he stole it. Yes its fair he should pay for his sin
3.Why is Gloria asking Mario not to go with pablo
Because Pablo is a drug pusher
4.If you were Mario, will you do the same thing in the story? Why or why not?
No, You need to work hard to earn money for your family
5.If you were Gloria,what will you do to help Mario
I will stop Mario to go with Pablo
6.Base on the story,do you think poverty is the main reason why people
Do stealing?explain
Poverty does not lead you to crime because crimes lead you to problems you can
Not solve the time you spend committing crimes is waited as you could get a better way of
solving your problem of poverty.

6
7.Rizal once said,youth is the future of the country.So as a student,what
Are the things you can do to prevent poverty?Give at least 3 solutions
1.create jobs
2.Support pay equity
3.Provide paid leave and paid sick days

VI.Plot of the Story

Climax
Pablo came and
Invited mario to his work
Pablo is a drug pusher
That made gloria mad
And didnt want mario to go
With pablo
Rising action
Gloria Asked hi
shusband about Falling action
the salary but her Mario admitted that he
husband was caught still communicate with
in his job thats why Pablo
he dont have
a salary that he
will give to gloria.
Denouement

7
 Exposition Mario went with
Mario enters from the Paul even
street at the left. thought he knew He is in the late
the evil works of Pablo
twenties shabbily
dresses and
with hair that
seems to have been
uncut for weeks.

VII.Character Map of the three Main Characters

MARIO

PORTRAIT ACTION CHARACTER TRAIT

He lost his job ANGRY
because
Of an apple

WORDS HE SPEAK CHARACTHER TRAIT

DESCRIPTION I was thinking of our LOVING
Gloriss husbond, who Child I stole it for our
child
Loves her duaghter
Very much

CHARACTER AT CHARACTER AT
BEGINNING AT STORY
END OF STORY

STRESSED
DESPERATE

8
 GLORIA

PORTRAIT ACTION CHARACTER TRAIT

She stop Mario to go with CARRYING

Pablo

WORDS SHE SPEAK CHARACTER TRAIT

Your not going with him MAD
Tell him to leave us and
DESCRIPTION never come back

Marios wife, who

support Mario in his CHARACTER AT CHARACTER AT
work BEGINNING AT STORY
END OF STORY

CURIOUS
LOVING

PABLO

9
 PORTRAIT ACTION CHARACTER TRAIT
Invited Mario to do Bad
Bad things

WORDS HE SPEAK CHARACTER TRAIT

It's all right, Mario, you'd BAD
DESCRIPTION better tell her everything.
She's bound to know
Marios friend,
later. Tell her what you
And partners and told me: that you don't CHARACTER AT
CHARACTER AT
crimes BEGINNING AT STORY END OF STORY
BAD BAD

VIII.Lines/Dialogues of the character that give impact or influenced you

1.Mario:Why? Did god create apple trees to bear fruit for the rich alone?
Didnt He create the whole world for every one?
Reflection:The words of Mario reminded me that there are rich and there are poor.
It payed way for me to think about this inequality in a more profound

10
 Level.
2.Mario: Do you remember that day I took her out for a walk? On our way home we passed a
grocery store that sold Delicious apples at seventy centavos each. She wanted one apple but I
could not buy it for her. I did not have seventy centavos. I felt terrible. I bought her one of those
green apples sold on the sidewalk, but she threw it away. She said they were not real apples.
Then she cried. So, when I saw that apple roll out of the broken crate, I thought that Tita would
love to have it.
Reflection:He could have stolen a apple for his daugther.He loves her daughter
Like my dad, My dad loves me and all my needs he buys
3.Gloria:Mario, I know he has talked to you and tried to poison your mind again, but don't go
with him. This is still the better way of life. If things have not been turning out well, you must
know that God is not letting us down. He is only trying us.

Reflection:my mother is guiding my father when her path is wrong

4.Pablo:It's all right, Mario, you'd better tell her everything. She's
bound to know later. Tell her what you told me: that you don't believe
any more in the way she wanted you to live. Tell her.

Reflection:its better to say early to avoid hurting gloria but they are
still wrong

5.Gloria:I knew God wouldn't let us down. I'll pray tonight and ask Him
to let you have that job.

Reflection:I am glad because they believe in god even if they have

problems

IX.Lesson/s of the story

The lesson of the sory is overall simplicity of life without having to buy something
expensive in order to satisfy ourselves. It really helps me how to spend less in order to satisfy
myself. Like for example, in order for us to save more money, we rather tend to buy lesser
expensive goods so that the excess of it can be used in the future
It provides a lesson among us that there are always an alternative to the things we have in
this world. It will improve ones norms about how did they spend their money without having it
too much.

11
X.why is it entitled,The World is an Apple?
The reason is because of an apple. He stole an apple for his daughter because he thought that she
would like it - this part shows his love for his daughter.

12