The Classicism Trend
in the Short Story,
The Small Key by
Paz Latorena
Background of Classicism
Classicism is an approach to literature that
is guided by admiration of the qualities of formal
balance, proportion, decorum, and restraint
attributed to the major works of ancient Greek
and Roman literature (‘the classics’) in
preference to the irregularities of later
vernacular literature, and especially (since
about 1800) to the artistic liberties proclaimed
by Romanticism.
The Small Key
A Philippine Short Story in English
This story is about a Filipino couple
living in a rural area and the kind of
relationship they had. The wife, Soledad
was jealous of the memory of her
husband’s first wife who passed away.
The husband, Pedro Buhay kept a small
key of his late wife’s trunk. His keeping
the small key was the start of the conflict.
Paz Latorena
Poet, Editor, Author and Teacher
Latorena was among the foremost
writers of the first generation of Filipino
English writers, in both literary writing
and education.
She
wrote
poetry
under
the
pseudonym, Mina Lys, which, according
to
Tanlayco,
had
a
“romantic
significance”.
(January 17, 1908 –
October 20 1953)
She won the third prize in Jose Garcia Villa’s
Roll of Honor for the Best Stories of 1927 for her
story, “The Small Key”.
She published her poems, “Insight” and “My
Last Song”.
She earned her master’s and doctorate degree
while teaching literature courses in UST. In 1934,
her doctoral dissertation, “Philippine Literature
in English: Old Voices and New,” received the
highest rating of sobresaliente.
Classicism Precepts
Evident in the Story
Precept # 1
Paragraph
Justification
Classicism has its
roots in ancient Greek
and Roman literature,
philosophy, and art.
Classicist believed that
the laws of nature
could be rationally
understood
and
explained purely by
reason. It upholds the
intellectual value of
literature.
(6)“Some of them need
darning,”
and
observing the empty
plate, she added, “do
you want some more
rice?”
As Filipino tradition or
culture dictates Soledad
being the wife, it’s her
duty to serve, take care
and fix the belongings
of her husband during
her stay at the house.
Precept # 1
Paragraph
Justification
(7)“No,” hastily, “I am
in a hurry to get back.
We must finish plowing
the south field today
because tomorrow is
Sunday.”
The line says that they should
finish their work because the
next day is Sunday. According to
the general precept no. 1,
classicists respect tradition and
one of their traditions is to rest
or go to church during Sundays.
It also relies on reason rather
than imagination for it says that
they must plow the field.
(highlighted sentence attests to
that)
Precept # 2
Paragraph
Justification
In
literature,
classicism
values
traditional
form and
structure. It
focuses on
order,
harmony and
rationality.
(53)Pedro lingered on the porch
after the doctor left. He was
trying not to be angry with his
wife. He hoped it would be just
an interlude that could be
recalled without bitterness. She
would explain sooner or later,
she would be repentant, perhaps
she would even listen and
eventually forgive her, for she
was young and he loved her. But
somehow he knew that this
incident would always remain a
shadow in their lives.
Literary compositions
written in classicism
trend adopt Greek or
Roman
genres
of
literature, particularly
tragedy. The conflict of
the short story was not
resolved which can be
perceived specially on
the last line. Pedro left
the dilemma unsolved
and expected the stain
in their relationship to
last forever. Therefore,
the story was tragic.
Precept #
3
The classicists
condemned
romantic selfexpression as
eccentric selfindulgence, in
the name of
classical sanity
and order.
Paragraph
Justification
(3)Pedro
Buhay,
a
prosperous farmer, looked
up from his plate and
smiled at his wife as she
stood framed by the
doorway, the sunlight
glinting on her dark hair,
which was drawn back,
without relenting wave,
from a rather prominent
and austere brow.
The husband just looked
and smiled at his wife.
They did not express their
feelings romantically. This
only shows that they are
classicists for they obviate
from exhibiting their
feelings and gestures.
(highlighted
sentence
attests to that)
Precept
#3
Paragraph
Justification
(18)Soledad nodded. Her
eyes followed her husband
down the road, noting the
fine set of his head and
shoulders, the case of his
stride. A strange ache rose
in her throat.
This sentence shows that
the wife is very classicist
for she just nodded when
her husband was talking to
her. They didn’t even had
they good bye kisses or
hugs. Endearments were not
practiced. Their emotions
were being restrained.
Precept #
3
Paragraph
Justification
(32)During the next half
hour Soledad wandered in
and out of the rooms in
effort to seek escape from
her own thoughts and to
fight
down
an
overpowering impulse. If
Tia Maria would only
come and talk to her to
divert her thoughts to
other channels.
Although
she
was
tempted to open the
trunk, she didn’t do it at
first. She tried to get rid
of her malicious thoughts.
(highlighted
sentence
attests to that)
Precept
#3
Paragraph
Justification
(39)Tia Maria decided to
remain for the night. But it
was Pedro who stayed up to
watch the sick woman. He
was puzzled and worried –
more than he cared to
admit it. It was true that
Soledad did not looked very
well early that afternoon.
Yet, he thought, the fever
was rather sudden. He was
afraid it might be a
symptom of a serious
illness.
Even though Pedro felt
worried with his wife’s
status, he kept himself from
admitting it. She showed
lighter aura of the situation
rather than being panicky,
thus this pictures classicism’s
restraint of emotion.
(highlighted sentence attests
to that)
Precept
#3
Paragraph
Justification
(53) Pedro lingered on the After all the incidents, a
porch after the doctor left. He
was trying not to be angry with
his wife. He hoped it would be
just an interlude that could be
recalled without bitterness. She
would explain sooner or later,
she would be repentant,
perhaps she would even listen
and eventually forgive her, for
she was young and he loved
her. But somehow he knew that
this incident would always
remain a shadow in their lives.
common person would
feel mad of what
happened unlike how
Pedro managed his
anger.
Instead
of
confronting Soledad of
her mischief, he left
hoping that Soledad
would realize her fault
and would just ask
apology. He avoided
negative emotions and
tried to be calm.
General Question Guides
in Analyzing Literature
through the
Classicism Trend
Structure
1. Does the literary piece strictly follow pattern
on form and structure?
2. Is the literary piece logically organized in
unity of design and purpose?
3. Does the literary piece follow formal
balance, proportion and decorum?
4. Does the literary piece have the elements of
order, harmony and rationality?
5. Does the literary piece adhere to recognize
standards of form?
Characters/ Persona
1. Does the character/persona make decisions
based on reason rather than emotion?
2. Does the character/persona behave with
restraint emotions towards others or/and the
issue?
3. Does the character/persona value and respect
authority, culture and tradition?
Culture
1. Does the literary piece reflect and/or foster
customs and traditions?
2. Does the literary piece imitate and adhere
aesthetic values or models embodied in
ancient Greek and Roman culture?
3. Does the literary piece show imitations of
the ideal life or reality (models for beauty,
truth and the good)?
Style
1. Is the tone of the writer objective and
didactic?
2. Does the writer express his/her ideas more
rationally than imagination?
3. Does the writer strive for simplicity and
clarity but still reflecting the ideal,
enduring and essential?
4. Does the piece impact catharsis or the
purging of emotions?
Prepared By:
Lovely Queenie Rumbaoa
Sigrid Domingo
Consultant:
Prof. Jahnese Asuncion