1. Mariano Marcos State University
COLLEGE OF TEACHER EDUCATION
Laoag City

2. The Romanticism Trend in literature:
A Study Guide on the story,
How My Brother Leon Brought Home A Wife by Manuel E. Arguilla

3. Background of Romanticism
Romanticism trend is a reflection of the Romantic Era which aims a return to nature and to believe in the goodness of humanity; the rediscovery of the artist as a supremely individual creator; and the exaltation of the senses and emotions over reason and intellect.

4. How My Brother Leon Brought Home A Wife (1940) (Philippine Short Story in English)
The entire story narrates the test for a city girl who is the fiancée of a gentleman from the rural area (barrio). This test was to prove whether the city girl could live in a barrio, with the barrio folks. Who devised this test for the city girl? Did she pass the test? Can she prove that she is worthy of the love of the gentleman and the esteem of the gentleman’s family?

5. Manuel Estabillo Arguilla
Manuel E. Arguilla, acclaimed short story writer, patriot, and guerilla hero, was born in Bauang, La Union on June 17, He studied at the University of the Philippines where he joined the UP Writers Club and later became the president and the editor of the UP Literary Apprentice.

6. His famous works were compiled in a book titled How My Brother Leon Brought Home A Wife and Other Stories published in 1940 which won first prize in the Commonwealth Literary Contest. These stories were written when he was years old. When the Japanese invaded the country, he led a division of the Markings Guerillas. He was captured and was sentenced to death. He was executed on October 1944 at the age of 33.

7. Romanticism Precepts Evident in the Story

8. General Precept Paragraph Justification
Romanticism regards literature as the expression of the artist’s feelings and emotions.
(55) ... Suddenly, he broke out into song and the song was “Sky Sown with Stars”- the same song that he and father sung when we cut hay in the fields at night before he went away to study. He must have taught her the song because she joined him, and her voice flowed into his like a gentle stream meeting a stronger one. And each time the wheels encounter a big rock, her voice would catch in her throat, but my brother Leon would sing on, until, laughing softly, she would join him again.
Being with the person we love makes everything around us blissful. In the paragraph, Maria did not mind the difficult road they had taken. She never complained, instead, she still managed to sing along with Leon regardless of the kind of road they passed through. This proves that Maria really loves to be with Leon.

9. (22) My brother Leon laughed and she laughed and they looked at each other and it seemed to me there was a world of laughter between them and in them.
Romantics believed in the ‘‘holiness of the heart’s affection’’. The paragraph reveals the feeling of happiness and love they both have with each other; they are closed in a world they created only for the two of them. In here, the author already established that Leon and Maria are really meant for each other. They are happy together.

10. (71) ...As I passed through the kitchen, there were Mother and my sister Aurelia and Maria and it seemed to me they were all crying, all of them.
Due to tense and nervousness of what the father would say, they seemed to break down in tears. In here, they freely expressed what they were feeling as father and Leon were conversing. Unlike in classicism wherein they have to suppress their feelings.

11. General Precept Paragraph Justification
Romanticism proposes that the work of literature is connected to nature.
(16) The sun was in our eyes, for it was dipping into the bright sea. The sky was wide and deep and very blue above us; but along the saw-tooth rim of the Katayaghan hills to the southwest flamed huge masses of cloud. Before us, the fields swam in the golden haze through which floated big purple, red and yellow bubbles when I looked at the sinking sun.
Nature creates strong impressions in the mind and imagination. The author pictures the romantic through nature. He uses vivid imagery –
shapes, the sounds to even the scent of the air, the author spares no detail to prove that beauty exists in Nagrebcan.

12. General Precept Paragraph Justification
Romanticism focuses on “vivid imagination”.
(28) ... The sun had sunk and down from the wooded sides of the Katayaghan hills shadows were stealing into the fields. High up overhead the sky burned with many slow fires.
Romantics use their imagination, visionary imagination as means of reaching truth through creativity. In the paragraph, the speaker uses vivid imagination and creativity to describe the sunset- “high up overhead the sky burned with many slow fires”.

13. General Precept Paragraph Justification
Romanticism is concerned with poetic symbols.
(32) “Baldo, you fool, answer me before I lay the rope of labang on you. Why do you follow the Waig instead of the camino real?’’
In here, there are two different paths, the camino real and the waig. The camino real represents progressiveness while waig signifies poverty and difficulties in life.

14. (39) “Look, Noel, yonder is our star
(39) “Look, Noel, yonder is our star!” Deep surprise and gladness were in her voice. Very low in the west, almost touching the ragged edge of the bank, was the star, the biggest and brightest in the sky.
The star is the standard symbol for destiny. They are destined to be together.

15. (55) ...Suddenly, he broke out into song and the song was “Sky Sown with Stars’’- the same song that he and father sung when we cut hay in the fields at night before he went away to study...
The song “Sky Sown with Stars” is a symbol of the bond between Leon and his father. It reminds him of his good childhood together with his father.

16. General Precept Paragraph Justification
Romanticism believes that a literary work is concerned with the individual more than the society.
(12) She moved close to him and slipped her arm through his. And after a while she said quietly:
In romanticism, there is a spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings. Unlike in classicism where there is restraint in emotion. Maria didn’t think of what others will say. Instead, she did what her heart tells her to do. Heart over mind.

17. (34) “Father– he told me to follow the Waig tonight, Manong.”
Crossing the waig is a part of the test of the father to Maria because he doesn’t trust the woman Leon is about to marry. Instead of securing his reputation because he is to welcome the fiancée of Leon by giving her a better ride through the camino real, he chose the waig to know if she could endure and live jus like the town folks. He didn’t mind what others would say. He just thought of his owns sake as her father-in-law and his son’s sake as her husband whether they would be happy living together or not.

18. General Question Guides in Analyzing Literature through the
Romanticism Trend

19. Subject Matter
1. Is the literary piece about nature; specifically the beauty of nature?
How does it describe nature?
2. Does the literary piece emphasize more on the individual’s impressions, moods and feelings rather than the society?
3. Is goodness of humanity or the common people revealed in the literary piece?
4. Does the literary piece adhere to supernaturalism?

20. Character/Persona
1. How did the character/persona express his/her emotions?
Is there a spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings?
2. Does the character/persona make decisions based on emotions rather than reason?

21. Style 1. Is the literary piece written in common everyday language?
2. How creative or imaginative did the writer express his/her ideas?
3. Are the symbols prevalent in the literary piece?
What are the symbols used?
Do the symbols express universal ideas?
4. Does the literary piece look at poetry as a unique organic work or form?

22. Prepared by: Justine P. Castillo Lovely Jane S
Prepared by: Justine P. Castillo Lovely Jane S. Miguel BSEd III-A Consultant: Prof. Jahnese D. Asuncion