COLLEGE
OF ACCOUNTANCY
Guidelines for Teacher-Marked Assignment 2 (TMA2)
General Objective: The aim of the second TMA is for you to create a poem critique of one of the prominent
Cagayan Valley Literatures created and published by Fernando Maramag, a renowned writer from the City of
Ilagan, Isabela.
THE RURAL MAID
By Fernando Maramag
Thy glance, sweet maid, when first we met,
Has left a heart that aches for thee,
I feel the pain of fond regret—
Thy heart, perchance, is not for me.
We parted: though we met no more,
My dreams are dreams of thee, fair maid;
I think of thee, my thoughts implore
The hours my lips on thine are laid.
Forgive these words that love impart,
And pleading, bare the poet’s breast;
And if a rose with thorns thou art,
Yet on my breast that rose may rest.
I know not what to name thy charms,
Thou art half human, half divine;
And if I could hold thee in my arms,
I know both heaven and earth were mine.
A poem critique should include the following:
1. Introduction (Minimum of 100 words)
In the introduction, you should include some basic facts about the poem, including the title, the author, etc.
3. Personal reflection (Minimum of 100 words)
Discuss what you like or dislike about the poem. Give reasons to support your opinion. You may want to compare
and contrast the poem with other poems you have read by the same author or in the same genre. You can also
compare the poem to your own personal experience or a current event in the news. (Minimum of 100 words)
4. Critique (Minimum of 250 words)
In the critical analysis, please focus on the following elements:
A. Title
Guide Question/s:
 Does the title immediately influence what you are about to read, or does it, at the moment you
begin your first reading, remain mysterious and vague?
 After you have thought about the poem, how do you think the title relates to it?
B. Speaker/addressee; narrative/narrator
Guide Question/s:
 Who “tells” the poem? Are there things you can say about the speaker’s personality, point of view,
tone, society, age, or gender?
 Does the speaker assume a persona at any point in the poem, and speak as a particular person
(e.g. “I am Lazarus, come from the dead…I shall tell you all?”)
C. Imagery and Figurative Language
Guide Question/s:
 Are there any imagery (mental pictures), and figurative language used in the poem? If so, how do
these elements contribute to the tone/mood, and the message of the poem?
Philippine Literature
Raymus A. Sta. Cruz, LPT
COLLEGE
OF ACCOUNTANCY
D. Mood/Tone
Guide Question/s:
 What is the overall mood/tone of the poem? (Mood/tone refers to the feeling that the poet creates
and that the reader senses through the poet’s choice of words, rhythm, rhyme, style and
structure.)
E. Time, Setting
Guide Question/s:
 Does the poem take place in one time (the present, the past, the future) or does it move back and
forth between times?
 Is a sense of place clear (urban, pastoral, forest, desert, beach, etc.), or does the poem seem to
occupy an abstract time and place (such as mental or emotional state)?
F. Symbolism
Guide Question/s:
 Does the poem have any clear or central symbols? What meaning do they bring to the poem?
G. Theme
Guide Question/s:
 What is the universal message that the poem wants to convey?
NOTE: It is not required to answer all the guide questions posted above. The questions are only meant to guide
you in writing your critique.
5. Conclusion (Minimum of 75 words)
In the conclusion, you should evaluate the poem and either recommend it or not recommend it to others,
depending on whether you think it is worthwhile reading.
Before you begin writing the review, make sure you read the story closely and take good notes.
Your output will be graded based on the following rubric:
Outstanding
Acceptable
Introduction
Personal Reflection
Critique
Conclusion
TOTAL
10 pts
10 pts
20 pts
10 pts
50 pts
8 pts
8 pts
17 pts
8 pts
Needs
Improvement
6 pts
6 pts
15 pts
6 pts
Unsatisfactory
4 pts
4 pts
10 pts
4 pts
Deadline of submission is on December 6, until 11:59 PM.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Please review the guidelines in doing the TMA. It is provided in the Course Guide.
Philippine Literature
Raymus A. Sta. Cruz, LPT