Magsino, Reina Pearl

Mangurali, Kristine Caryl

Marquez, Miallene

Fiction 1

The Mosquito

(A Tale from Laos)

Vocabulary at Work

Look up the meaning of the underlined words in the following phrases.

m
er as
1. sometimes unbearable – not able to be endured or tolerated.

co
2. dram taste and pleasure – a small drink

eH w
3. deep and frivolous and lazy girl – carefree and not serious.

o.
4. who is feeble and inconstant – lacking physical strength, especially as a result of age or illness.
5.
rs e
whining and pleading incessantly – without interruption; constantly.
ou urc
Pre-Reading Activity
o
aC s

Make an arrow on each part of the mosquito and put a label on it.
vi y re

Wings
Eye
Halter
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Antenna
Genitalia
ar stu

Palp
Femur
is

Tibia Proboscis
Th
sh

Post Reading Activity

1. Sum up the story explaining why mosquito are small insects.
There was a contented poor farmer named Ngoe Tam who married a very ambitious woman named
Nhan Deep. Their marriage life ended fast when Nhan Deep died and leave Ngoe Tam mourning. He can’t
accept the fact that his wife is already dead. He sells all his possessions and set sail. One morning, he met

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 a genni who have knowledge of medicine and travelled with his magic mountain around the world to teach
skill and relieve mortal suffering. He then asked for the genii to resurrect his wife. Out of pity and kindness,
the genii agreed and told Ngoe Tam to offer three drops of his blood to his wife. Immediately, after he let
drops of blood reach his wife, Nhan Deep rose from the dead. The genii reminded Nhan Deep that she owes
so much to her husband. After sailing from day to night, the couple reached a village. Ngoe Tam left Nhan
Deep to buy few things but when a rich merchant passed by Nhan Deep, she decided to come with him.
Ngoe Tam found her wife after a month of searching but she refused to return with him. Because of this,
Ngoe Tam finally saw the truth, and said that she is free as long as she gave back the three drops of his
blood. Nhan Deep was overjoyed and without hesitation, pricked her finger. Blood flows and Nhan Deep
fell lifeless to the ground. As Nhan Deep can’t accept her fate, she became a small insect who whines and
pleads incessantly to have drops of blood wishing it would bring her back to life.
2. Summarize the story explaining why mosquito whine and sting.
Ngoe Tam, a poor farmer who is content in his life married a frivolous and lazy girl named Nhan Deep.
Knowing how content his husband is, Nhan deep try to hide her ambitions of luxury and pleasure. After
some time, Nhan Deep died and leave his husband mourning. Ngoe Tam can’t accept the sudden death of

m
er as
his wife that’s why he refuses to leave his wife’s corpse. He sells all his possessions and set sail in the river.
One day, Ngoe Tam met a genii who have knowledge of medicine and travelled around the world to teach

co
eH w
skill and relieve mortal suffering. He then asked for the genii to resurrect his wife. Out of pity and kindness,
the genii agreed and told Ngoe Tam to offer three drops of his blood to his wife. Upon doing it, his wife

o.
rose from the dead. The genii looked to Nhan Deep and said, “Think of what you owe your husband”. Ngoe
rs e
Tam being excited rowed night and day to reach their home until they landed on a village and leave his
ou urc
wife to buy things. While Nhan Deep waits Ngoe Tam, a rich merchant passed and notice Nhan Deep, and
invited her to have a tea with him. But, when Nhan Deep where already aboard, the rich merchant immediate
set sail. Ngoe Tam found her wife after a month of searching but she refused to return with him. Because
o

of this, Ngoe Tam finally saw the truth, and said that she is free as long as she gave back the three drops of
aC s

his blood. Nhan Deep was overjoyed and without hesitation, pricked her finger. Blood flows and Nhan
vi y re

Deep fell lifeless to the ground. As Nhan Deep can’t accept her fate, she became a small insect.
3. Which is the most interesting part of the story? Why?
For me, the most interesting part of the story was – how drops of blood can raise someone from the
ed d

dead? Although this part may appear magical since its impossible to resurrect someone especially that Nhan
ar stu

Deep was dead for a while, I think its main point was even small things can make a big difference.
4. What virtues are exhibited by Ngoe Tam?
is

The virtues exhibited by Ngoe Tam are humility, generosity and patience. Humility in the sense that
Ngoe Tam is a poor farmer but he is still contented in his life. Generosity can be seen when he offers his
Th

own blood to resurrect his wife, Nhan Deep. And lastly, the search for his wife for a month exhibits patience.
5. Relate any Philippine folktales you know explaining the origin of mosquitoes.
sh

Like Laos’ The Mosquito, Philippines’ Alamat ng Lamok by Severino Reyes explain the origin of
mosquitoes. I think both tales have a sad ending. Nhan Deep of The Mosquito can’t accept that she is already
dead, thus, she became a small insect that sucks blood. On the other hand, small insects suddenly appear
when the giant were killed mercilessly by the villagers and his ashes were thrown in the dirty river.

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 Creating with Them
Assume that you will audition in a drama club. With partner, re-enact your favorite scene in the
tale.

m
er as
co
eH w
o.
rs e
ou urc
o

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1AU5AWqsxVSoRNV1kISqRLq0wuMvjnijP/view?usp=sharing
aC s
vi y re
ed d
ar stu
is
Th
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 On a Personal Note
Make a collage lifted from the theme of The Mosquito. Analyze it through its contents. Think of
maxims or proverbs that you can associate and put it below your collage. Send it via email or messenger.

m
er as
co
eH w
o.
rs e
ou urc
o

Abundance doesn’t know contentment, but contentment is abundance

aC s
vi y re
ed d
ar stu
is
Th
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