SHEPHERDVILLE COLLEGE
Talojongon, Tigaon, Camarines Sur
College of Education
Second Semester
AY 2019 – 2020
Description: Module for Semi-Finals (Week 3-4)
Intended for: BPE and BSESS 2G
Instructor: Menard Jonas B. Mesoga, LPT
Main Topic: Noli Me Tangere, 1887
Learning Objectives:
A. Appraise important characters in the novel and what they represent
B. Examine the present Philippine situation through the examples mentioned in the Noli
Brief Discussion:
Initial Activities/Motivations:
1. Describe a hero. What makes a hero admirable?
2. Think of your favorite hero and write down all descriptions why you admire him/her. It can be
fictional or a modern day hero based on your personal perspective of the word “hero.”
3. You can make a graphic organizer of your choice with your descriptions written in it. Write your
answer in a 1 whole tablet paper.
Discussion Proper:
The bleak winter of 1886 in Berlin was Rizal’s darkest winter because no money arrived from Calamba
and he was flat broke. The diamond ring which his sister, Saturnina, gave him was in the pawnshop. It
was memorable in the life of Rizal for two reasons (1) it was a painful episode for he was hungry, sick and
despondent in a strange city (2) it brought him great joy after enduring so much sufferings, because his
first novel, Noli Me Tangere came off the press in March, 1887. Like to the legendary Santa Claus, Dr.
Maximo Viola, his friend from BULACAN, arrived in BERLIN at the height if his despondency and loaned
him the needed funds to publish the novel.
Idea of Writing a Novel on the Philippines
His reading of Harriet Beecher Stowe’s Uncle Tom’s Cabin - inspired Dr. Rizal to prepare a novel that
would depict the miseries of his people (Filipinos) under the lash of Spanish tyrants.
January 2, 1884- in a reunion of Filipinos in the Paterno residence in Madrid, Rizal proposed the
writings of a novel about the Philippines by a group of Filipinos. His proposals were approved by
PATERNOS (Pedro, Maximo and Antonio), Graciano Lopez JAENA, Evaristo AGUIRRE, Eduardo DE
LETE, Julio LLORENTE, Melecio FIGUEROA and Valentin VENTURA.
The Writing of the Noli
Toward the end of 1884, Rizal began writing the novel in Madrid and finished about one-half of it.
When Rizal went to Paris, in 1885, after completing his studies in the Central University of Madrid, he
continued writing the novel, finishing one half of the second half.
Rizal finished the last fourth of the novel in Germany. He wrote the last few chapters of the
Noli in Wilhelmsfeld in April-June, 1886.
In Berlin during the winter days of February, 1886, Rizal made the final revisions on the
manuscript of the Noli
Viola, Savior of the Noli
Dr. Maximo Viola- Rizal’s rich friend from Bulacan, arrived in Berlin at the height of Rizal
despondency and loaned him the needed funds to publish the novel; Viola was shocked to find RIZAL
in a dirty place, just not to waste money for the printing of NOLI ME TANGERE.
After the Christmas season, Rizal put the finishing touches on his novel. To save printing
expenses, he deleted certain passages in his manuscript, including a whole chapter—“Elias and
Salome”.
February 21, 1887- the Noli was finally finished and ready for printing.
Berliner Buchdruckrei-Action-Gesselschaft- a printing shop which charged the lowest rate,
that is, 300 pesos for 2,00 copies of the novel
Rizal Suspected as French Spy.
During the printing of NOLI, the chief of police BERLIN visit RIZAL’s boarding house and requested to
see his passport, unfortunately, that time to travel with or without passports is possible. The police chief
then told him to produce a passport after 4 days.
Immediately VIOLA accompanied RIZAL in the Spanish Ambassador, the COURT of BENOMAR, who
promised to attend to the matter. But the ambassador failed to keep his promise, but it turns out that he
had no power to issue the required passport.
The 4 day ultimatum expired. RIZAL himself apologize to the chief police, while asking why has he to
be deported, the police chief answered that he was always seen visiting many villages, thereby
pronouncing him as a French SPY.
RIZAL in fluent GERMAN explained to the police, that he was a Filipino ethnologist, who visits rural
areas to observe customs and lifestyles of their simple inhabitants. The chief impressed and fascinated on
RIZAL’s explanation, allowed him to stay freely in GERMANY.
Printing of the Noli Finished
Every day, Rizal and Viola were always at the printing shop proof reading the printed pages.
March 21, 1887- the Noli Me Tangere came off the press, RIZAL immediately sent the first copies to
BLUMENTRITT, DR. ANTONIO REGIDOR, G. LOPEZ JAENA, MARIANO PONCE, and FELIX R.
HIDALGO.
“I am sending you a book, my first book… bold book on the life of tagalongs… Filipinos will find it the
history of the last ten years…”
March 29, 1887- Rizal, in token of his appreciation and gratitude, gave Viola the galley
proofs of the Noli carefully rolled around the pen that he used in writing it and a complimentary copy,
with the following inscription: “To my dear friend, Maximo Viola, the first to read and appreciate my
work—Jose Rizal”
The Title of the Novel
The title Noli Me Tangere is a Latin phrase which means “Touch Me Not”. It is not originally
conceived by Rizal, for he admitted taking it from the Bible.
Rizal, writing to Felix Hidalgo in French on March 5, 1887, said: “Noli Me Tangere, words
taken from the Gospel of St. Luke, signify “do not touch me” but Rizal made a mistake, it should be the
Gospel of St. John (Chapter 20 Verses 13 to 17).
“Touch me not; I am not yet ascended to my father...”
Rizal dedicated his Noli Me Tangere to the Philippines—“To My Fatherland”.
The cover of Noli Me Tangere was designed by Rizal. It is a ketch of explicit symbols. A
woman’s head atop a Maria Clara bodice represents the nation and the women, victims of the social
cancer. One of the causes of the cancer is symbolized in the friar’s feet, outsized in relation to the
woman’s head. The other aggravating causes of oppression and discrimination are shown in the
guard’s helmet and the iron chains, the teacher’s whip and the alferez’s scourge. A slight cluster of
bamboo stands at the backdrop; these are the people, forever in the background of their own country’s
history. There are a cross, a maze, flowers and thorny plants, a flame; these are indicative of the
religious policy, the misdirected ardor, the people strangled as a result of these all.
The novel Noli Me Tangere contains 63 chapters and an epilogue.
Dr. Antonio Ma. Regidor- Filipino patriot and lawyer, who had been exiled due to his
complicity in the Cavite Mutiny of 1872, read avidly the Noli and was very much impressed by its
author.
Characters of Noli
The Noli Me Tangere was a true story of the Philippine conditions during the last decades
of Spanish rule.
Maria Clara - was Leonor Rivera, although in real life she became unfaithful and married an
Englishman.
Ibarra and Elias - represented Rizal himself.
Tasio - the philosopher was Rizal’s elder brother Paciano.
Padre Salvi - was identified by Rizalists as Padre Antonio Piernavieja, the hated
Augustinian friar in Cavite who was killed by the patriots during the Revolution.
Capitan Tiago - was Captain Hilario Sunico of San Nicolas.
Doña Victorina - was Doña Agustina Medel.
Basilio and Crispin - were the Crisostomo brothers of Hagonoy.
Padre Damaso - typical of a domineering friar during the days of Rizal, who was arrogant,
immoral and anti-Filipino.
Assessment:
1. Write a short reflective essay discussing the recurring theme presented or discussed in the novel.
More so, how will you relate the theme of the Noli Me Tangere at present day Philippine setting?
Write your answer on a short bond paper. Your essay will be graded by the written criteria below:
Criteria:
Coherence – 50%
Relevance – 50%
TOTAL = 100%
2. Who’s your favorite character in the novel? Explain your reasons why. How will you relate yourself to
your chosen character? Write your answer in a short bond paper.
3. Take a look at the current status quo of our country. Pick at least 5 characters from the novel and
choose 5 persons from present times that will relate to their attributes. Use a graphic organizer or
tables to discuss your answers. Have some thorough research about this task. You can use the
internet, and the different medium available.
