Biyernes, Setyembre 16, 2011

Introduction to Literature: The Soldier and Death

Folk tales have a tendency to be interesting, and thus teach its lesson.  As a supplement to the next discussion on the original fairy tales, here's a Russian Folktale as portrayed in Jim Henson's The Storyteller.  Students of literature are to access the links below and watch the story.

Then place their analysis on the personality of the Soldier, who was the main character of the story.

What values were portrayed?  If you were the soldier, would you have done the same actions?  Would you agree to the ending (particularly with why he was unsuccessful in entering heaven)?

You are also expected to point out cultural and religious elements observed in the movie

And give a sensible and reasoned analysis on what the story's message is to the reader, listener or viewer.


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Film Source:

Henson, J. (Director). (1988). The Soldier and Death [Motion Picture].
Accessible through youtube:  


Last Accessed (May 2011)

11 komento:

  1. ALOEEN BAUTISTA BSBA 3

    --- interesting but the story is short.. the devils are cute.haha! i really enjoy watching it.

    TumugonBurahin
  2. Jonnalyn G. Tengson, BSBA-4
    Its such as very nice story,of course its not realistic but it is very sensible. There are a lot of lessons we can learn and apply. if i were the soldier, i think i would do the same thing. i know in myself that I did not mean to do that most especially tooking death. he just wanted to save the lives of people most especially his son. he might become selfish but he his not evil. when he already knew the consequences he had made he rushed to free death, unfortunately death scared with him and didn't not come back to him. he also do good things even for the last seconds, he ask to free souls from the hell and accompanied them to heaven. im not also in favored of not letting the soldier in the heaven, because i believe everyone deserves forgiveness. but that is life. we must think first before doing anything because it can cause us so much risks and consequences.

    TumugonBurahin
  3. Rogelyn Desalisa BSBA-3
    Personality of the soldier - may I say that he is a nice man (very generous) but also greedy (he wanted to be well-known and be immortal at first), he didn't act what he promised. He can easily influenced by others like cheating.
    Main characters of the story:
    Soldier
    Dog
    Death
    Devil
    Soldier's family
    Soldier's master

    Values:
    be generous and you will be blessed.

    If I am the soldier I would not do the same actions maybe because I am afraid to face devil in dark place alone. Afraid to face Death and also I don’t like to infringe others things like law of universe...

    I also agree with the ending. It shows that we need to accept death in our life not to be afraid from it because there's a life after death that we must face. If we choose to be immortal our soul and body will be tried after then and everybody needs rest and peace after the long journey here on earth.

    I think he was unsuccessful entering in heaven maybe because he has unfinished businesses here on earth everything happen for a reason :). Or maybe he wanted to cheat God that's why He didn’t let him enter. Magic Sack also symbolizes Power over others and he wanted to bring that power in heaven but God alone in heaven does reign.


    The movie shows the belief in life after death. Also heaven and hell. It is also shows the Cross that symbolize Catholic religion. The palace and the dresses of characters show that they are form western country, they love music and dancing.

    Story's message:

    For me the message of the story is to accept death in our life not only from ourselves but accept also the death of our love ones.

    The earth and universe have it own nature and laws that we must respect and obey. Every people and creatures have its own responsibility like Death to get lives and Devil to do evil things. Everything has a reason and purpose. You cannot change and control it but in this movie, it shows that if you do control it there is possibility to cause risk and unsatisfied on us. We must understand this nature so we can face it and learn from it.

    TumugonBurahin
  4. JAMAICA EUNICE BARICUATRO BSBA3

    Its such a very interesting story, full of fiction but if you relate in real life you can see how the people deals with bad experience and bad person.

    I think the lesson that i learned in this story, people can't do anything and all the things in this world has a limit, only god knows when is the right time for us.

    TumugonBurahin
  5. Rowelazon Ong BSBA-4

    Personality of the Soldier.

    -The soldier is very generous, but he became greedy when he had the magic water, he want to be famous. He did not face his death instead he fled it.

    Values were portrayed.

    -Be generous by showing kindness toward others.

    If you were the Soldier, would you have done the same actions?

    -If I were the soldier, I will do the same thing because I want to help the lives of the people who are suffering from illness especially for my loveones. If I would have a Magic Water I'll use it for good but in a right way.
    In the part that death wants to fetch the soldier, he fled his death. So I'm not favor on that because if I'm on that situation I accept the consequences because I know that might be my time. I'am happy and contented because atleast I helped the lives of other people who are in needs with their situations and conditions. Maybe this might be my time were I need to deal with all the help that death gave me. So if death wants to take me. I'll accept it, eventhough I'm afraid to face the devil in dark place alone.


    Would you agree to the ending?

    -I don't agree in the ending of the story for not letting the soldier to enter the heaven, because I believe that everyone deserves forgiveness until the end of their life if they beg for forgiveness even up to their last breath. Just ask God's forgiveness then he will forgive you for what you wish for. And everybody needs rest and peace after the long journey here on earth.

    Cultural and religious elements in the movie.

    -The movie shows heaven and hell. In hell there's a demon and in heaven it show's the gate of paradise and Holy Apostle, and Cross that symbolize Catholic religion.

    Message of the story.

    -For me the message of the story is we need to accept death in our life, not to be afraid from it because there's life after death that we must face.

    TumugonBurahin
  6. STEPHANIE MARIE REYES BSBA 4

    the story was interesting in this movie you will see that the soldier is strong and "mauutak" to deals with the devils.. there is a part that makes me laugh,..(ung part n pinasok ung nga devils sa sako taz pinagha2mpas2 p) devils looks likean alliens hehehe

    TumugonBurahin
  7. This comment has been removed by the author.

    TumugonBurahin
  8. Ma. Rona Bernadette U. Mallare BSBA-4

    The Soldier and Death is a peculiar story that shows how a father will cross the limits in order to save the life of his dying child. If I were the soldier I will NOT do the same thing, I will just accept the death of my child because I know that he will not suffer and feel the pain anymore and I know that his soul will be at peace. I do not agree in the ending because all of us deserves forgiveness, and the soldier is already too old and tired and he needs to have eternal rest. The lesson that I learned is that we must accept the fact that all of us will die and that we have no control on it eventhough we wanted to stay longer for our loved ones because it is the cycle of life. Let’s just live our life to the fullest and do good deeds to others to have a place in heaven.

    TumugonBurahin
  9. Anne Margarette B. Samonte BSBA-4
    The story show that having an immortal life still doesn't make us happy. So we must be contented to what God gave to us and enjoy life everyday as if its the last.

    TumugonBurahin
  10. The story was cute, and interesting, the story shows that our life's outcome is reflected to our decisions. We must do what is must , what is good for us to have a good life. Lastly we must be contended to what we have and live according to the word of god so that someday we will be save and be spare.

    TumugonBurahin