Denise Beloro March 18, 2020

12 – Santi 21st Century Literature

LESSON 11 | SHORT STORY: RETHINKING THE TOWER OF BABEL

NAVIGATE - Respond critically to the following questions and worksheets to process the selection

1. The tongue is said to be the most “prized possession” of Bessel Street. List down three
characters mentioned in the story and how they value the tongue

CHARACTER HOW HE/SHE VALUES THE TONGUE

Italian Butcher  “…savoring his first words of silence”

“…taking turns to relish, old native sounds”
 “…dined on home-made pasta”
 “…developed a taste for the occasional
cardamom tea”
He spoke with others, and relished both local and
foreign cuisine.

Filipino Chef  “…he had for breakfast, the creamiest latik”

 “....he sang two serenades about love and
volcanoes in the Philippines”
 “…mussels for the butcher’s marinara which
sneaked into the Filipino chef’s kitchen, where
it was blessed”
 “…spread some Vegemite on his pan de sal”
He sang songs, prepared local delicacies, and
enriched previous dishes, adding his own flavor of
culture.

Turkish Baker  “…serenaded his wife with songs about love

and volcanoes as he prepared a tray of almond
biscotti”
He sang songs (which originated from the Filipino
chef) and prepared a delicacy (which was of Italian
origin—biscotti).

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 2. Why is the tongue referred to as a piece of “pink flesh” or an “animal”? What is being implied
by describing the tongue that way?

The tongue is referred to as a piece of “pink flesh” or an “animal” to imply the instinctive or
inherent nature of people to adopt each other’s culture one way or another. Like an animal, the
tongue or rather, language and cuisine, persists to evolve through the years—some of their
defining aspects do survive, while others do not (for instance, Baybayin characters). A biological
phenomenon, such as Darwin’s theory of evolution, could signify sociocultural development
(for instance, historical accounts of Western colonialism have significantly influenced the world
with English as the current predominant language).

3. List down three things the tongue has done to the community as a whole.
a. People learned how to listen intently to whoever had a chance for speech or song, which
led to understanding each other’s culture.
b. People ate their favorite dishes, and relished others’ cuisine that led to adopting their
style and flavor.
c. People were able to communicate with each other and share various dialects.

4. In what sense was the tongue “a gift of the landscape?” Why characterize the tongue that way?

The tongue was regarded as “a gift of the landscape” because besides providing people the
opportunity to explore each other’s delicacies, and to communicate with each other, it allowed
them to “consume” their experiences and stories which resulted to the understanding of their
cultural differences—the taste of multiculturalism that shaped the world, and marked the rise of
globalization with unique traditions and lifestyles.

5. What made the television viewers “[swell] with pride” when they learned about the people on
Bessel Street?

The television viewers “swelled with pride” when they learned about the people on Bessel
street because of the exchanged culture that inevitably led to flavorful cuisines that represented
their respective nations—different but also the same.

PROCESS

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“How should a Filipino student read and appreciate Western literature or literary texts produced by
foreign writers?”

The study of Western literature has always been a mandatory aspect of Filipino education.
Filipino students are introduced to literary classics such as Homer’s, “The Odyssey”, and Dante’s
“Inferno”. Their teacher would then request them to do a reporting of the particular text. However,
some would even consider finishing pocket books as a tiresome compliance. If an average Filipino
student were to be asked of a foreign writer they recall, would they mention any name besides William
Shakespeare? Or would they be able to answer at all?

A Filipino student should thoroughly read and appreciate Western literature or literary texts.
Western literature enables students to familiarize with different cultures. They should immerse
themselves within the narrative of each literature, so that they may fully grasp its context, and
therefore, realize the intent of the writer. They should comprehend the usage of literary elements such
as theme, character, plot, figurative language etc. which can significantly improve their critical
thinking, communicative skills and reading comprehension. By enthusiastically reading a collection of
Western texts, the students may build a foundation of knowledge.

The study of Western literature is as valuable as the study of regional literature. Through
Western literature, a student can encounter rich human experiences and colorful emotions beyond the
local context. It allows them to draw comparisons of local and foreign literature. In doing so, they
broaden their perspectives on certain topics such as oppression or nationalism. More than acquiring a
second language, they grow as individuals with enhanced creativity, and empathy towards other
cultures.

SPECULATE
Imagine that you were a part of the Bessel Street neighborhood. What would you do when it was your
turn to receive the tongue? Eventually, what would you share with the community?

If I was part of the Bessel street neighborhood, and it was my turn to receive the tongue, I would relish
my favorite meals such as Sinigang na Bangus and Pininyahang Manok. I would also tell stories of
humor, and experiences as a Filipino of Bicolano descent to the community, hoping that it will make
them feel elated, and appreciate my culture.

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