DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

11
CARAGA ADMINISTRATIVE REGION
DIVISION OF SURIGAO DEL SUR SENIOR HIGHSCHOOL
LINGIG II DISTRICT

LEARNING ACTIVITY SHEET

Third Quarter Formative Assessment

Week 4

21st Century Literature from the

Philippines and the World

ELEMENTS OF A SHORT STORY

1
After going through this module, you are expected to:

1. demonstrate understanding of a short story;

2. analyze a short story by identifying its basic elements;
3. appreciate the use of multimedia in sharing the lessons learned from a short story;
and
A short story has six basic elements that you as a reader should look for when
analyzing one. Every story begins with a seed of an idea. Hence, the author should think of
these basic elements when writing a story. Although not all stories put equal importance on
every aspect, each of these elements must be expected in the story. At the end of this
lesson, you are expected to do a self- and/or peer assessment of the creative adaptation

BASIC ELEMENTS OF A SHORT STORY

1. Character– A character in a short story is a person, in some stories an animal, who
takes part in the action of the story or other literary work. The way an author develops the
character in a story is very important in making the story appeal to the readers. It is said
that the heart of the story are the characters. The two most important characters in a short
story are the protagonist and the antagonist.

a. The protagonist is considered as the main character or most

important of all the characters. It is the character who learns something or
undergoes some changes throughout the course of the story. Some stories depict
the protagonist as the hero of the story, while in other stories the protagonist is
not considered a hero as he has done nothing heroic. In any case, the story
always revolves around the protagonist.

b. The antagonist is the character that challenges the main character.

It has no concern for the well-being of the main character. The antagonist may
be a person, the nature, the society, or any intangible matter that contends with
or creates a problem for the protagonist.

2. Setting– The place (locale) and time (period)when the story happens is called the
setting. The setting may be based on real place and real time or it may also be based on the
author’s imagination. When analyzing the setting of the story, consider where the action is
taking place. Most authors use descriptive words to describe the landscape, scenery,
buildings, season, or weather to provide a strong sense of setting which will help the reader
visualize the story and connect to the story’s plot.

3. Plot– A plot is the actual story. It is what the story is all about. It is also the series
of events and characters’ actions that lead to the highest point of interest in a short story.
The following are the different parts of a story’s structure:

a. Exposition –This is the beginning of the story. This is where the

author introduces the characters, identifies where the story is happening, and
establishes the main conflict.

2
 b. Rising Action–This event occurs as you begin to move throughout
the
story. This is where conflicts start to build.

c. Climax– It is the most exciting part of a short story. This is the part
in the
story when important decisions are made or important things are discovered.
d. Falling Action– This point occurs after the climax as the problems in
the story start to work themselves out. The excitement becomes less and less as
the conflict is resolved.

e. Resolution– This is the solution to the problem in a story. The

solution may not be what you hoped for but as long as it fits the story in tone
and theme, the conflict has been resolved.

4. Conflict– Every story needs to have a problem and this problem is called conflict.
The main character, also called the protagonist, needs to have someone or something to
challenge him. Without conflict, the story will not go anywhere and will not be very
interesting to the readers. The main character may be faced with one of the four different
types of conflict. These four types of conflict are:

• man versus man;

• man versus nature;
• man versus himself; and •man versus society.

5. Theme- This is the central idea in a short story and a general truth. This is
considered as the author’s message to the readers.

6. Point of View – This is the way the story is told or narrated. It is also known as the
vantage point that a writer uses to narrate the story. The following are the types of point of
view in a short story:

a. First Person – the narrator participates in and tells the story using
the
pronoun ‘I’.

b. Limited Third Person – the narrator is not in the story and narrates
using the pronouns ‘she’ or ‘he’. Also, the narrator is unable to see into the minds of
the characters.

c. Omniscient Third Person – the narrator is not in the story and tells
the
story using the pronouns ‘she’ or ‘he’. In this point of view, the narrator can tell the thoughts
of the characters as he can see into their minds.

3
WHAT I CAN DO 1

DIRECTIONS: Give the meaning of six (6) elements of a short story.

1. Setting : _______________________________________________________

2. Characters : _______________________________________________________

3. Plot : _______________________________________________________

4. Conflict : _______________________________________________________

5. Theme : _______________________________________________________

WHAT I CAN DO 2

Directions: Choose a part in the story, Sinigang by Marie Aubrey J. Villaceran, which you
find the most interesting. Then, produce a three-minute video of it using the characters’
lines and depicting their feelings. You may involve a friend or a family member in the video.

WHAT I CAN DO 3
Directions: Create a blog on moral values that you got from the short story "Sinigang"
and its impact to you as a 21 st century learner. Let your classmate or friend evaluate your
work using the rubric below.

Tick the box of the score given. Be guided of the score and its description.

Score Description
5 Excellent
4 Very Good
3 Good
2 Fair
1 Poor

No. CRITERIA 5 4 3 2 1
1. Uses audio/visual aids or media to clarify
information.
2. Presents relevant content based on the
theme of the story.

4
 3. Shows considerable originality and
inventiveness.
4. Presents the ideas in a unique and
interesting way.

POST TEST
DIRECTIONS: Choose the letter of the correct answer. Write the chosen letter on
a separate sheet of paper.

1.Who is the writer of the short story “Sinigang”?

a. Marie Aubrey Villaceran c. Edith L. Tiempo
b. NVM Gonzales d. Manuel E. Arguilla

2. Where is the setting of the story?

a. farm c. cemetery
b. house d. garden

3. Who is the main character in the story?

a. Sylvia c. Lem
b. Liza d. TitaLoleng

4. What point of view was used by the author in telling the story?
a. Third Person c. First Person
b. Omniscient Third Person d. Limited Third Person

5. Whose favorite dish is the “Sinigang”?

a. Liza c. Liza’s mother
b. TitaLoleng d. Liza’s father

References

Lacia, Ferdilyn C., Lydia L. Libunao, Mark G. Fabella and Vivian I. Buhain. The Literatures
of the Philippines. Quezon City Metro Manila: Rex Book Store, Inc.: 2016.
Marcos, Lucivilla,WilfredoBantados and Suzette Valdez. Introduction to Literature with
Special Glimpse of Philippine Literature. City of Manila, Metro Manila: Purely
Books Trading & Publishing Corp., 2012.
The Best Philippine Short Stories. “Sinigang by Marie Aubrey J. Villaceran.” Last modified
September 2015.
https://www.sushidog.com/bpss/stories/sinigang.htm

5
 21st Century
Learning Activity Sheet
Third Quarter – Week 4
Key to Corrections
What I Can Do 1
1. Setting– The place (locale) and time (period) when the story happens.
2. Character– A character in a short story is a person, in some stories an animal, who
takes part in the action of the story or other literary work.
3. Plot– A plot is the actual story.
4. Conflict– Every story needs to have a problem
5. Theme- This is the central idea in a short story and a general truth.
What I Can Do 2 - Answers may vary
What I Can Do 3 - Answers may vary
Post Test
1. A
2. B
3. B
4. C
5. D