lOMoARcPSD|16474643

Done - Edited 21st-Century-Lit Q1 Module-5

elements-of-short-story-08082020
English (Central Mindanao University)

Scan to open on Studocu

Studocu is not sponsored or endorsed by any college or university

Downloaded by Mi Co (michaelangelo.lozada001@deped.gov.ph)
 lOMoARcPSD|16474643

21st Century Literature

from the Philippines
and the World
Quarter 1 – Module 5:
Elements of a Short Story

Downloaded by Mi Co (michaelangelo.lozada001@deped.gov.ph)
 lOMoARcPSD|16474643

21st Century Literature from the Philippines and the World

Alternative Delivery Mode
Quarter 1 – Module 5: Elements of a Short Story
First Edition, 2020

Republic Act 8293, Section 176 states that: No copyright shall subsist in any work
of the Government of the Philippines. However, prior approval of the government agency or
office wherein the work is created shall be necessary for exploitation of such work for profit.
Such agency or office may, among other things, impose as a condition the payment of
royalties.

Borrowed materials (i.e., songs, stories, poems, pictures, photos, brand names,
trademarks, etc.) included in this module are owned by their respective copyright holders.
Every effort has been exerted to locate and seek permission to use these materials from
them. The publisher and authors do not represent nor claim ownership over them.

Published by the Department of Education

Secretary: Leonor Magtolis Briones
Undersecretary: Diosdado M. San Antonio

Development Team of the Module

Writers: Delia B. Tañag, Kynah Amor M. Darvin, Charlene Joyce V. Judit
Editors: Lawrence B. Icasiano, Paula J. Mar
Reviewers: Abigail I. Mirabel-Agapay, Roderick O. Delmo, Julieta R. De Jesus
Illustrators: Patrick L. Pernia, Norvin B. Taniza
Layout Artists: Marites K. Chavez, Elleden Grace L. Denosta
Management Team: Wilfredo E. Cabral
Job S. Zape Jr.
Eugenio S. Adrao
Elaine T. Balaogan
Fe M. Ong-ongowan
Editha B. Gregorio
Laarni R. Granado
Michael M. Acuna

Printed in the Philippines by ________________________

Department of Education – Region IV-A CALABARZON

Office Address: Gate 2 Karangalan Village,Barangay San Isidro

Cainta, Rizal 1800
Telefax: 02-8682-5773/8684-4914/8647-7487
E-mail Address: region4a@deped.gov.ph

Downloaded by Mi Co (michaelangelo.lozada001@deped.gov.ph)
 lOMoARcPSD|16474643

21st Century Literature

from the Philippines
and the World
Quarter 1 – Module 5:
Elements of a Short Story

Downloaded by Mi Co (michaelangelo.lozada001@deped.gov.ph)
 lOMoARcPSD|16474643

Introductory Message
For the Facilitator:

Welcome to the 21st Century Literature from the Philippines and the World 11/12
Alternative Delivery Mode (ADM) Module on the Elements of a Short Story!

This module was collaboratively designed, developed and reviewed by educators

both from public and private institutions to assist you, the teacher or facilitator in
helping the learners meet the standards set by the K to 12 Curriculum while
overcoming their personal, social, and economic constraints in schooling.

This learning resource hopes to engage the learners into guided and independent
learning activities at their own pace and time. Furthermore, this also aims to help
learners acquire the needed 21st century skills while taking into consideration
their needs and circumstances.

In addition to the material in the main text, you will also see this box in the body of
the module:

Notes to the Teacher

This contains helpful tips or strategies
that will help you in guiding the learners.

As a facilitator, you are expected to orient the learners on how to use this module.
You also need to keep track of the learners' progress while allowing them to
manage their own learning. Furthermore, you are expected to encourage and assist
the learners as they do the tasks included in the module.

For the Learner:

Welcome to the 21st Century Literature from the Philippines and the World 11/12
Alternative Delivery Mode (ADM) Module on the Elements of a Short Story!

The hand is one of the most symbolized parts of the human body. It is often used to
depict skill, action and purpose. Through our hands we may learn, create and
accomplish. Hence, the hand in this learning resource signifies that you as a
learner are capable and empowered to successfully achieve the relevant
competencies and skills at your own pace and time. Your academic success lies in
your own hands!

This module was designed to provide you with fun and meaningful opportunities
for guided and independent learning at your own pace and time. You will be
enabled to process the contents of the learning resource while being an active
learner.

Downloaded by Mi Co (michaelangelo.lozada001@deped.gov.ph)
 lOMoARcPSD|16474643

This module has the following parts and corresponding icons:

What I Need to Know This will give you an idea of the skills or
competencies you are expected to learn in
the module.

What I Know This part includes an activity that aims to

check what you already know about the
lesson to take. If you get all the answers
correct (100%), you may decide to skip this
module.

What’s In This is a brief drill or review to help you link

the current lesson with the previous one.

What’s New In this portion, the new lesson will be

introduced to you in various ways such as a
story, a song, a poem, a question opener, an
activity or a situation.

What is It This section provides a brief discussion of

the lesson. This aims to help you discover
and understand new concepts and skills.

What’s More This comprises activities for independent

practice to solidify your understanding and
skills of the topic. You may check the
answers to the exercises using the Answer
Key at the end of the module.

What I Have Learned This includes questions or blank

sentence/paragraph to be filled in to process
what you learned from the lesson.

What I Can Do This section provides an activity which will

help you transfer your new knowledge or
skill into real life situations or concerns.

Assessment This is a task which aims to evaluate your

level of mastery in achieving the learning
competency.

Additional Activities In this portion, another activity will be given

to you to enrich your knowledge or skill of
the lesson learned. This also tends retention
of learned concepts.

Answer Key This contains answers to all activities in the

module.

At the end of this module you will also find:

ii

Downloaded by Mi Co (michaelangelo.lozada001@deped.gov.ph)
 lOMoARcPSD|16474643

References This is a list of all sources used in

developing this module.

The following are some reminders in using this module:

1. Use the module with care. Do not put unnecessary mark/s on any part of
the module. Use a separate sheet of paper in answering the exercises.
2. Don’t forget to answer What I Know before moving on to the other activities
included in the module.
3. Read the instruction carefully before doing each task.
4. Observe honesty and integrity in doing the tasks and checking your
answers.
5. Finish the task at hand before proceeding to the next.
6. Return this module to your teacher/facilitator once you are through with it.
If you encounter any difficulty in answering the tasks in this module, do not
hesitate to consult your teacher or facilitator. Always bear in mind that you are not
alone.

We hope that through this material, you will experience meaningful learning and
gain deep understanding of the relevant competencies. You can do it!

iii

Downloaded by Mi Co (michaelangelo.lozada001@deped.gov.ph)
 lOMoARcPSD|16474643

What I Need to Know

Most Essential Learning Competency:

Do self- and/or peer assessment of the creative adaption of a literary text, based
on a rationalized criteria, prior to presentation.

This module was designed and written with you in mind. It is here to help you
master the basic elements of a short story. The scope of this module permits it to
be used in many different learning situations. The language used recognizes the
diverse vocabulary level of students. The lessons are arranged to follow the
standard sequence of the course. But the order in which you read them can be
changed to correspond with the textbook you are now using.

This module also aims to engage you in appreciation and critical study of 21st
Century Literature from the Philippines and the World, encompassing their various
dimensions, genres, elements, structures, contexts, and traditions. This module
allows you to embark on a journey from Philippine regions to the different parts of
the world through various literary encounters.

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
4. perform a self or peer-assessment in evaluating one’s work.

Downloaded by Mi Co (michaelangelo.lozada001@deped.gov.ph)
 lOMoARcPSD|16474643

What I Know

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

1. Which element refers to the time and location where the story happens?
a. Plot
b. Setting
c. Conflict
d. Characterization
2. The phrase, “Don’t judge the book by its cover,” is an example of
a. Mood
b. Setting
c. Theme
d. Conflict
3. What do you call the most important character in a story?
a. antagonize
b. protagonist
c. antagonist
d. instigator
4. Which plot structure creates tone, presents characters and other important
details to introduce the story?
a. Setting
b. Theme
c. Exposition
d. Climax
5. Which element of a short story is known as the vantage point used to narrate
the story?
a. Setting
b. Theme
c. Exposition
d. Point of view
6. What do you call the character who contends with the main character in a
short story?
a. investigator
b. protagonist
c. antagonist
d. instigator
7. Which element of short story shows the author’s attitude or feelings?
a. Plot
b. Theme
c. Exposition
d. Tone

Downloaded by Mi Co (michaelangelo.lozada001@deped.gov.ph)
 lOMoARcPSD|16474643

8. What do you call the events that happen in a short story?

a. Setting
b. Theme
c. Plot
d. Conflict
9. Which of the following is considered as the essence of fiction?
a. Setting
b. Theme
c. Conflict
d. Climax
10. What do you call the series of events when things start to happen in the
story?
a. Rising Action
b. Theme
c. Exposition
d. Falling Action
11. Which element is always presented at the final part of the story?
a. Resolution
b. Theme
c. Exposition
d. Climax
12. Which element is considered as the high point in the story?
a. Setting
b. Theme
c. Exposition
d. Climax
13. Which element refers to the series of events and character actions that
relate to the central conflict?
a. Setting
b. Theme
c. Plot
d. Conflict
14. Which is considered as the base or beginning of a story?
a. Setting
b. Theme
c. Exposition
d. Climax
15. What comes after the climax when things or events begin to work out?
a. Rising Action
b. Theme
c. Exposition
d. Falling Action

Downloaded by Mi Co (michaelangelo.lozada001@deped.gov.ph)
 lOMoARcPSD|16474643

Lesson
Basic Elements of a Short Story
1
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 of a literary text based on rationalized
criteria.

What’s In

Studying literature can be very easy with the right amount of knowledge
gained from your studies in the past. Can you recall module 4? How do you define
anecdote? What are the purposes of an anecdote? What lesson does the anecdote in
“Home of the Ashfall” convey? For this next lesson, you will be guided in gathering
more literary tools that will surely make learning more exciting.

Notes to the Teacher

This module targets a specific Learning Competency (LC).
However, before students can comprehend how the elements of a
short story contribute to the overall meaning and effect of a story,
they must first be able to identify the component parts
confidently.

Downloaded by Mi Co (michaelangelo.lozada001@deped.gov.ph)
 lOMoARcPSD|16474643

What’s New

In this module, you will learn about the six basic elements of a short story.
You will be reading a short story entitled “Sinigang” by Marie Aubrey J. Villaceran,
a professor at the Department of English and Comparative Literature in the
University of the Philippines, Diliman. In the story, Liza narrates how she deals
with the issue of her father, having an affair with another woman, and how it
emotionally separates her from him. Read and learn more about the story and find
out how the basic elements are used.

SINIGANG
Marie Aubrey J. Villaceran

“So, what happened?”

She had finally decided to ask the question. I had been wondering how long
my Tita Loleng could contain her curiosity.

I continued to pick out tomatoes for the Sinigang we were to have for dinner.
I wasn’t usually the one who assisted my aunt with the cooking. She preferred my
younger sister, Meg, for I knew far less in this area—not having the aptitude, or the
interest, I guess—for remembering recipes. That didn’t matter today, though. This
time, Tita Loleng wanted more than just an extra pair of hands in the kitchen.

“Nothing much,” I answered offhandedly. “We did what people usually do

during funerals.” I reminded myself to tread carefully with her. Though I did not
really feel like talking, I could not tell her off for she took offense rather easily.

I put the tomatoes in the small palanggana, careful not to bruise their
delicate skin, and carried them to the sink.

“Did you meet…her?” Tita Loleng asked.

There came to me a memory of sitting in one of the smaller narra sofas in

the living room in Bulacan. I faced a smooth white coffin whose corners bore gold-
plated figures of cherubs framed by elaborate swirls resembling thick, curling
vines. Two golden candelabras, each supporting three rows of high-wattage electric
candles, flanked the coffin and seared the white kalachuchi in the funeral wreaths,
causing the flowers to release more of their heady scent before they wilted
prematurely. Through an open doorway, I could see into the next room where a few
unfamiliar faces held murmured conversations above their coffee cups.

Downloaded by Mi Co (michaelangelo.lozada001@deped.gov.ph)
 lOMoARcPSD|16474643

“Are you Liza?” A woman beside me suddenly asked.

I was surprised, for I had not heard anyone approaching. Most of the
mourners preferred to stay out on the veranda for fear that the heat from the lights
might also cause them to wither.

I looked up slowly: long, slim feet with mauve-painted toenails that peeked
through the opening of a pair of scruffy-looking slippers; smooth legs unmarred by
swollen veins or scars—so unlike the spider-veined legs of my mom—encased in a
black, pencil-cut skirt; a white blouse with its sleeves too long for the wearer,
causing the extra fabric to bunch around the cuffs; a slim neck whose skin sagged
just a little bit; and a pale face that seemed like it had not experienced sleep in
days. The woman looked to me like she was in her forties—the same age as my
mother.

“Yes,” I had answered that woman—the same answer I now gave to Tita
Loleng.

I gently spilled out all the tomatoes into the sink and turned on the tap. The
water, like agua bendita, cleansed each tomato of the grime from its origins.
“What did she tell you?” Tita Loleng asked.

“Nothing much. She told me who she was.”

“What did she look like?”

“She’s pretty, I guess.”

She was. She looked like she had Indian blood with her sharp nose and
deep-set eyes thickly bordered by long lashes. Just like Mom, she still maintained a
slim figure though she already had children. The woman, upon seeing my curious
stare, had explained, “I am Sylvia.”

All my muscles tensed upon hearing her name. It took all my self-control to
outwardly remain calm and simply raise an eyebrow.

My reaction caused a range of emotion to cross the woman’s face before it

finally crumbled and gave way to tears. Suddenly, she grabbed my hand from
where it had been resting on the arm of the sofa. Her own hands were damp and
sticky with sweat. She knelt in front of me—a sinner confessing before a priest so
he could wash away the dirt from her past.

But I was not a priest. I looked down at her and my face remained
impassive.

Downloaded by Mi Co (michaelangelo.lozada001@deped.gov.ph)
 lOMoARcPSD|16474643

When her weeping had subsided, she raised her head and looked at me.
“Everyone makes mistakes, Liza.” Her eyes begged for understanding.

It was a line straight out of a Filipino soap opera. I had a feeling that the
whole situation was a scene from a very bad melodrama I was watching.

I looked around to see if anyone had witnessed the spectacle unfolding in

this living room, but it was as if an invisible director had banned all but the actors
from the set. Except for us, not a soul could be seen.

I wanted Sylvia to free my hand so I nodded and pretended to understand.

Apparently convinced, she let go and, to my shock, suddenly hugged me tight. My
nose wrinkled as the pungent mix of heavy perfume and sweat assailed me. I
wanted to scream at her to let go but I did not move away.
“Hmm, I think they’re washed enough na.” Tita Loleng said.
Turning off the tap, I placed the tomatoes inside the basin once more. Then, as an
afterthought, I told my Tita, “I don’t think she is as pretty as Mom, though.”

Tita Loleng nodded understandingly. She gestured for me to place the basin
on the table where she already had the knives and chopping board ready.

“Where was your Dad when she was talking to you?”

“Oh, he was sleeping in one of the bedrooms. Mom did not want to wake him
up because they told her he had not slept for two nights straight.”

Tita Loleng snorted. “Haay, your mother talaga,” she said, shaking her head.

I had to smile at that before continuing. “When he saw me, Sylvia had
already been called away to entertain some of the visitors.”

“Was he surprised to see you?” Tita knew that I had not wanted to go to the
funeral. Actually, she was one of the few people who respected, and understood, my
decision.

“No.” I sliced each of the tomatoes in quarters. The blade of the knife clacked
fiercely against the hard wood of the chopping board. “He requested Mom to make
me go there.” We both knew that I could never have refused my mother once she
insisted that I attend. I had even gone out and gotten drunk with some friends the
night before we were to leave just so I could have an excuse not to go, but my mom
was inflexible. She had ordered my two sisters to wake me up.

Tita Loleng gave me a sympathetic look. “No choice then, huh?” She was
forever baffled at the way my mother could be such a martyr when it came to my
father and such a tyrant to her children.

Downloaded by Mi Co (michaelangelo.lozada001@deped.gov.ph)
 lOMoARcPSD|16474643

Clack! Clack! The knife hacked violently against the board.

“Nope.”

When my Dad had come out of the room, I remembered sensing it

immediately—the same way an animal instinctively perceives when it is in danger. I
had been looking at the face of my dead half-brother, searching for any
resemblance between us. Chemotherapy had sunk his cheeks and had made his
hair fall out, but even in this condition, I could see how handsome he must have
been before his treatment. His framed photograph atop the glass covering of the
coffin confirmed this. Lem took after my father so much that Dad could never even
hope to deny that he was his son. I, on the other hand, had taken after my mother.

I knew my father was staring at me but I refused look at him. He approached

and stood next to me. I remained silent.

“I am glad you came,” he said.

I gave him a non-committal nod, not even glancing his way.Tita Loleng
interrupted my thoughts with another one of her questions.

“Did you cry?”

I shook my head vehemently as I answered, “No.”

I took the sliced tomatoes, surprised to find not even a splinter of wood with
them, as well as the onions Tita Loleng had chopped and put them in a pot. “What
next?” I asked her.

“The salt.” Then she went and added a heaping tablespoonful of salt to the
pot.

“Is that all?”

“Uh-huh. Your Mom and I prefer it a bit saltier, but your Dad likes it this
way.” Then she gestured towards the pot, closing and opening her fist like a baby
flexing its fingers.

I started crushing the onions, tomatoes, and salt together with my hand.
“He was an acolyte in church,” my father had said then, finally splintering the
silence I had adamantly maintained. “Father Mario said that we shouldn’t feel sad
because Lem is assured of going to a better place because he was such a good
child.” Good, I thought, unlike me whom he always called “Sinverguenza”, the
shameless daughter.

Downloaded by Mi Co (michaelangelo.lozada001@deped.gov.ph)
 lOMoARcPSD|16474643

I finally turned to him. There was only one question I needed to ask. “Why?”

He met my gaze. I waited but he would not—could not— answer me. He

looked away.

My mask of indifference slipped. It felt like a giant hand was rubbing salt
into me, squeezing and mashing, unsatisfied until all of me had been crushed.

“Stop it na, Liza!” Tita Loleng exclaimed. “Anymore of that mashing and you
will be putting bits of your own flesh and bone in there,” my aunt warned. She
went to the refrigerator and took out plastic bags containing vegetables. She placed
them in the sink. “All of these will be needed for the sinigang,” she said. “Prepare
them while you’re softening the meat.” Then she took off her apron, “You go and
finish off here. I will just go to my room and stretch my back out a bit.” With a
tender pat on my head, she walked out of the kitchen.

I breathed a sigh of relief. The questions had stopped, for now.

I poured the hugas bigas into the mass of crushed onions and tomatoes and
added the chunks of beef into the concoction before covering the pot and placing it
on the stove. I turned on the flame. The sinigang needed to simmer for close to an
hour to tenderize the meat.

In the meantime, I started preparing all the other ingredients that will be
added to the pot later on. Taking all the plastic bags, I unloaded their contents into
the sink then washed and drained each vegetable thoroughly before putting them
beside my chopping board.

I reached for the bunch of kangkong and began breaking off choice sections
to be included in the stew. When I was a child, before Tita Loleng had chosen to
stay with us, my mom used to do the cooking and she would have Meg and I sit
beside her while she readied the meals. I remembered that whenever it came to any
dish involving kangkong, I would always insist on preparing it because I loved the
crisp popping sound the vegetable made whenever I broke off a stem. It was on one
such occasion, I was in second year high school by then but still insistent on
kangkong preparation, when Mom had divulged the truth about the boy who kept
calling Dad on the phone everyday at home. Meg had also been there, breaking off
string beans into two-inch sections. Neither of us had reacted much then, but
between us, I knew I was more affected by what Mom had said because right until
then, I had always been Daddy’s girl.

When the kangkong was done, I threw away the tough, unwanted parts and
reached for the labanos. I used a peeler to strip away the skin—revealing the white,
slightly grainy flesh—and then sliced each root diagonally. Next came the
sigarilyas, and finally, the string beans.

Downloaded by Mi Co (michaelangelo.lozada001@deped.gov.ph)
 lOMoARcPSD|16474643

Once, I asked Tita Loleng how she knew what type of vegetable to put into
sinigang and she said, “Well, one never really knows which will taste good until one
has tried it. I mean, some people cook sinigang with guavas, some with kamias. It
is a dish whose recipe would depend mostly on the taste of those who will do the
eating.”

I got a fork and went to the stove where the meat was simmering. I prodded
the chunks to test whether they were tender enough—and they were. After pouring
in some more of the rice washing, I cleared the table and waited for the stew to boil.

A few minutes later, the sound of rapidly popping bubbles declared that it
was now time to add the powdered tamarind mix. I poured in the whole packet and
stirred. Then I took the vegetables and added them, a fistful at a time, to the pot.
As I did so, I remembered the flower petals each of my two sisters and I had
thrown, fistful by fistful, into the freshly dug grave as Lem’s casket was being
lowered into it.

My dad was crying beside me and I recalled thinking, would he be the same
if I was the one who had died? I glanced up at him and was surprised to find that
he was looking at me. His hand, heavy with sadness, fell on my shoulder.
“I’m sorry,” he had told me.

I let the stew boil for a few more minutes before turning off the fire.

The sinigang would be served later during dinner. I pictured myself seated in
my usual place beside my father who is at the head of the table. He would tell Mom
about his day and then he would ask each of us about our own. I would answer,
not in the animated way I would have done when I was still young and his pet, but
politely and without any rancor.

Then, he would compliment me on the way I had cooked his favorite dish
and I would give him a smile that would never quite show, not even in my eyes.

DIRECTIONS: Study the following questions carefully and write your answers
on a separate sheet of paper.

1. Where did the story happen?

2. Who were the characters in the story?
3. What do you think led to the emotional separation of Liza from her father?
4. What was the most interesting part of the story?
5. What was the story about?
6. Who narrated the story?

10

Downloaded by Mi Co (michaelangelo.lozada001@deped.gov.ph)
 lOMoARcPSD|16474643

What is It

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.
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.

11

Downloaded by Mi Co (michaelangelo.lozada001@deped.gov.ph)
 lOMoARcPSD|16474643

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.

12

Downloaded by Mi Co (michaelangelo.lozada001@deped.gov.ph)
 lOMoARcPSD|16474643

What’s More

The elements of a short story are the characters, setting, plot, conflict, theme, and
point of view. The plot structure is composed owaf the following: exposition, rising
action,climax, falling action and resolution.
A. DIRECTIONS: Identify the six (6) elements from the short story Sinigang.
1. Setting : _______________________________________________________

2. Characters : _______________________________________________________

3. Plot : _______________________________________________________

4. Conflict : _______________________________________________________

5. Theme : _______________________________________________________

6. Point of View : _______________________________________________________

B. DIRECTIONS: In this activity, you have to identify the plot structure of the story
“Sinigang”. Write A for exposition; B for rising action; C for climax; D for falling
action; and E for resolution. Write your answers on a separate sheet of paper.

1. “Did you meet…her?” Tita Loleng asked.

2. The woman looked to me like she was in her forties—the same age as my
mother.

3. The woman, upon seeing my curious stare, had explained, “I am Sylvia.”

4. I finally turned to him. There was only one question I needed to ask. “Why?”

5. I wanted to scream at her to let go but I did not move away.

6. All my muscles tensed upon hearing her name. It took all my self-control to
outwardly remain calm and simply raise an eyebrow.

7. When my Dad had come out of the room, I remembered sensing it immediately—
the same way an animal instinctively perceives when it is in danger.

8. When her weeping had subsided, she raised her head and looked at me.
“Everyone makes mistakes, Liza.” Her eyes begged for understanding.

9. I continued to pick out tomatoes for the sinigang we were to have for dinner. I
wasn’t usually the one who assisted my aunt with the cooking.

10. “I’m sorry,” he had told me.

13

Downloaded by Mi Co (michaelangelo.lozada001@deped.gov.ph)
 lOMoARcPSD|16474643

What I Have Learned

DIRECTIONS: Reflect on the short story, “Sinigang”, by Maria Aubrey J. Villaceran

and answer the questions below. Write your answers on a separate sheet of paper.
1.What significant lesson have you learned from the story? How will you apply it in
your own life?
2. Why do you think some married men commit extramarital affair?
3. React on this: It is ordinary in our Filipino culture for husbands to commit
adultery and look for another woman who can satisfy their desires simply because
they are men and not saints.

What I Can Do

Activity 1: Act It Out

Directions: Choose a part in the story, Sinigang, 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.

Activity 2: Blog
Directions: Create a blog on moral values that you got from the short story
"Sinigang" and its impact to you as a 21st century learner. Share it to the world by
posting your blog in WordPress. 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
2 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.
3. Shows considerable originality and
inventiveness.
4. Presents the ideas in a unique and
interesting way.

14

Downloaded by Mi Co (michaelangelo.lozada001@deped.gov.ph)
 lOMoARcPSD|16474643

Assessment

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. Tita Loleng

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. Tita Loleng d. Liza’s father

6. What type of conflict was shown in the story?

a. man versus man c. man versus himself
b. man versus nature d. man versus society

7. What element refers to the events in the story?

a. Setting c. Plot
b. Theme d. Conflict

8. What is known as the essence of fiction?

a. Setting c. Conflict
b. Theme d. Climax

9. What do you call the series of events when things begin to happen in the
story?
a. Rising Action c. Exposition
b. Theme d. Climax

15

Downloaded by Mi Co (michaelangelo.lozada001@deped.gov.ph)
 lOMoARcPSD|16474643

10. What element is presented at the final part of the story?

a. Resolution c. Exposition
b. Theme d. Climax

11. What element is considered the high point in the story?

a. Setting c. Exposition
b. Theme d. Climax

12. What element creates the tone and presents the characters and other
important facts to introduce the story?
a. Setting c. Exposition
b. Theme d. Climax

13. What element includes the locale and period in a story?

a. Setting c. Exposition
b. Theme d. Climax

14. Based on the text, what does the word “Sinverguenza” mean?
a. a person who is shameless c. a person who is calm
b. a person who is sinful d. a person who is reckless

15. What type of character contends with the main character?

a. opposition c. antagonist
b. protagonist d. instigator

16

Downloaded by Mi Co (michaelangelo.lozada001@deped.gov.ph)
 lOMoARcPSD|16474643

Additional Activities

DIRECTIONS: Accomplish the self-assessment table below. Do this task

objectively. Remember that there are no wrong answers for this activity. Refer to
the activities that you have completed as basis in completing this task.

Usually Sometimes Seldom Never

1. I can analyze a short story by
identifying its basic elements.
2. I identify the point of view used in
the story.
3. I can demonstate an
understanding of the moral values
taught in the story .
4. I enjoy using multimedia in
making creative representations of a
literary text.
5. I can do self or peer assessment to
evaluate the creative adaptation of a
literary text based on a rationalized
set of criteria.

17

Downloaded by Mi Co (michaelangelo.lozada001@deped.gov.ph)
 lOMoARcPSD|16474643

Answer Key

Assessment What's More What I Know

1. A A. 1-5. Answers 1. B
2. B may vary. 2. C
3. B B. 1. A 3. B
4. C 2. A 4. C
5. D 5. D
3. B
6. A 6. C
4. C
7. C 7. B
8. C 5. C 8. C
9. A 6. D 9. C
10. A 7. C 10. A
11. D 8. B 11. A
12. C 9. A 12. D
13. A 10. E 13. C
14. A 14. C
15. C 15. D

18

Downloaded by Mi Co (michaelangelo.lozada001@deped.gov.ph)
 lOMoARcPSD|16474643

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,Wilfredo Bantados 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

19

Downloaded by Mi Co (michaelangelo.lozada001@deped.gov.ph)
 lOMoARcPSD|16474643

For inquiries or feedback, please write or call:

Department of Education - Bureau of Learning Resources (DepEd-BLR)

Ground Floor, Bonifacio Bldg., DepEd Complex

Meralco Avenue, Pasig City, Philippines 1600

Telefax: (632) 8634-1072; 8634-1054; 8631-4985

Email Address: blr.lrqad@deped.gov.ph * blr.lrpd@deped.gov.ph

Downloaded by Mi Co (michaelangelo.lozada001@deped.gov.ph)