2.
Antagonist is the character that goes against the
FICTION
 a narrative in prose that shows an imaginative
recreation and reconstruction of life.
 presents human life in two levels:
 the world of objective reality made up of
human actions and experiences, and
 the world of subjective reality dealing with
human apprehension and comprehension.
 a manipulated story which is not presented as
objectively as possible.
 is therefore, unrealistic, thus readers are
transported to a make-believe world.
 resembles the world for readers are assumed to
see real-life characters that play roles in
situations and places almost similar to
circumstances and environment.
 is categorized either as novel or short story.
ELEMENTS OF A FICTION
1. Setting
 the time and place in which the events of a
story occur.
 consists of the use of evocative portrayal of
a region’s distinctive ways of thoughts and
behavior or the so-called “local color”
exemplified by the superficial elements of
setting, dialect, and customs.
2. Characters
 the representations of a human being in a
story.
 the complex combination of both inner and
outer self.
 Characterization is the method used by the
writer to reveal the personality of the
character/s.
 Ways of Revealing Characters
 The characters are revealed according to:
1. Actions of the characters
2. Thoughts of the characters
3. Descriptions of the characters
4. Descriptions of other characters
5. Descriptions of the author
 Kinds of Characters based from Principality
1. Protagonist is the character with whom the
reader empathizes.
main character, usually the protagonist.
 Kinds of Characters based from Development
1. Dynamic is the character that exhibits
noticeable development.
2. Static is the character who exhibits no
changes and development.
3. Round is the character that displays
different/multiple personalities throughout
the story.
4. Flat is the character that reveals
conventional traits, who remains the same
throughout the story. Its characterization
does not grow.
3. Plot
 It is the sequence of events in the story,
arranged and linked by causality.
 Kinds of Plot
1. Linear Plot moves with the natural sequence of
events where actions are arranged sequentially.
2. Circular Plot is a kind of plot where linear
development of the story merges with an
interruption in the chronological order to show an
event that happened in the past.
3. En Medias Res is a kind of plot where the story
commences in the middle part of the action.
 Parts of a Plot
1. Exposition is the part of the plot that sets the
scene by introducing the situation and
settings and likewise lays out the characters
by introducing their environment,
characteristics, pursuit, purposes,
limitations, potentials, and basic
assumptions.
2. Complication is the start of the major
conflict or problem in the plot.
3. Crisis is the part that establishes curiosity,
uncertainty, and tension; it requires a
decision.
4. Climax is the peak of the story which leads to
an affirmation, a decision, an action, or even
a realization. This is the point of greatest
emotional intensity, interest, as well as
suspense.
 5. Denouement is the finishing of things right
after the climax, and shows the resolution of
the plot.
6. Ending is the part that brings the story back
to its equilibrium.
 Conflict
 It is the opposition of persons or forces in a
story that give rise to the dramatic action in
a literary work.
 the basic tension, predicament, or challenge
that propels a story’s plot.
 Types of Conflict
1. Person vs. Person is a type of conflict where
one character in the story has a problem
with one or more of the other characters.
2. Person vs. Society is a type of conflict where
a character has a conflict or problem with
some element of society – the school, the
law, the accepted way of doing things, and
so on.
3. Person vs. Self is a type of conflict where a
character has trouble deciding what to do in
a particular situation.
4. Person vs. Nature is a type of conflict where
a character has a problem with some natural
happening: a snowstorm, an avalanche, the
bitter cold, or any elements common to
nature.
5. Person vs. Fate is a type of conflict where a
character has to battle what seems to be an
uncontrollable problem. Whenever the
problem seems to be a strange or
unbelievable coincidence, fate can be
considered the cause and effect.
4. Point of View
 determines the narrator of the story, the one
who tells it from different points of view.
 Types of Point of View
1. First-Person Point of View is a character-
narrator who tells the story in the “I” voice,
expressing his own views. He is either a
minor or main character that tells the story
in his own words.
2. Third-Person Omniscient Point of View is a
narrator that tells the story from an all-
knowing point of view. He sees the mind of
all the characters.
3. Third-Person Limited Point of View has a
narrator that tells only what he can see or
hear “inside the world” of the story. This
narrator is otherwise known as “camera
technique narrator” as he does not reveal
what the characters are thinking and feeling.
4. Third-Person Central Point of View has a
narrator that limits narration to what the
central character thinks, feels, does, and
what and whom the central character
observes.
5. Third-Person Editorial Point of View has a
narrator that comments on the action by
telling the readers its significance or
evaluating the behavior of the characters.
5. Theme
 It is a significant truth about life and its
nature which takes place in the illustrations
of the actions, preoccupations, and decisions
of the characters.
 the main subject being discussed or
described in the story.
 Principles in Stating the Theme of the Story
1. It reports for all major details of the story.
2. It may be avowed in more than one way.
3. It is stated in complete statements.
4. It asserts a sweeping statement about life.
5. It avoids statements that condense the theme to
some familiar adage, aphorism, dictum, maxim,
saying, or value.
 “Once a cheater, always a cheater,” or “actions
speak louder than words,” are not considered
themes. They are just expressions people use all
the time and have very little power or real
insight.
 Don’t be obvious. “War is bad,” is not a theme.
Dig a little deeper using details from the story.
(What specifically is bad about war? How does it
negatively impact the characters or the world of
the story?)
 Don’t make it sound like an advice. “You should
always be there for your family,” is not a theme,
it’s a suggestion. Keep your theme statement
objective and based solely on evidence from the
story (“The bond between family can overcome
any obstacle.”)
  The central theme of (title of the story) is
(author’s position on topic). When (event from
the story) happens, it results in _____, which
demonstrates (some elements of the theme).
 In ‘Romeo and Juliet’, Shakespeare presents the
idea that love is more powerful than hate.
 In the ‘Dark Knight Rises’, Christopher Nolan
presents the idea that true heroism requires
complete and utter selflessness.
 The central theme of ‘Finding Nemo’ is that fear
is sometimes more dangerous than danger itself.
DEAD STARS
 Written by Paz Marquez Benitez
 Born in 1894 in Lucena City, Quezón, Márquez
Benítez authored the first Filipino modern
English-language short story, Dead Stars,
published in the Philippine Herald in 1925.
 Born into the prominent Márquez family of
Quezón province, she was among the first
generation of Filipinos trained in the American
education system which used English as the
medium of instruction.
 She graduated high school in Tayabas High
School (now, Quezón National High School) and
college from the University of the Philippines
with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1912.
 She was a member of the first freshman class of
the University of the Philippines, graduating with
a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1912.
1. Settings
 Lenten Season
 Calle Real
 House of Judge De Valle
 House of Don Julian
 Sta. Cruz
2. Characters
 Alfredo Salazar--He is the son of Don Julian. He
is over thirty years old bachelor. Alfred Salazar
believes in true love and optimism to discover
ecstasy in its stir. Esperanza is the first woman he
falls in love with. After their engagement, he falls
in love with Julia Salas
 Esperanza--She is the wife of Alfredo Salazar.
Esperanza is an impassionate woman having
strong will and principles. A homely woman, she
is also among the lucky women who have the
aptitude of consistent beauty.
 Julia Salas--She is the sister in law of Judge Dal
Valle, a friend of Alfredo’s father. She is the
second woman with whom Alfredo falls in love
with. She remains single for her entire life.
Don Julian- -He is the father of Alfredo Salazar.
 Carmen – The only sister of Alfredo.
 Judge Del Valle--He is Julia’s brother in law.
 Donna Adella-- She is Julia’s sister. A pretty,
small, plump woman with baby complexion.
 Calixta--He is a note-carrier of Esperanza and
Alfredo Salazar.
 Dionisio--Donna’s husband
 Vicente-- Carmen’s husband.
 Brigida Samuy-- The elusive woman whom
Alfredo is searching for.
3. Plot
 Introduction
 Don Julian was having a conversation with
Carmen, they talked about Alfredo and
Esperanza.
 Rising Action
 Don Julian and Alfredo went to a hill where there
was a house, the house was owned by Judge De
Valle. Alfredo met Julia Salas and called her Mrs.
De Valle which made him embarrassed later on
He often come to judge’s house, and he realized
that he fell in love to Julia, despite of his
engagement to Esperanza.
 Climax
 After the precession of Our Lady of Sorrows,
Alfredo saw Julia, then Julia confessed to him
that she knew about his engagement and she
also congratulated him.
 Falling Action
 Julia didn’t want Alfredo not to honor his
understanding with Esperanza. She said
goodbye. Alfredo went home to Esperanza, and
she confessed that she knew about the
“relationship” between him and Julia.
 Denouement
 Alfredo and Esperanza got married. After eight
years, he was searching for a lady named Brigida
Samuy. He went to Julia’s house and he found
 out that Julia is still unmarried. And then he
realized that his love for Julia was like a DEAD
STAR – it was NON-EXISTENT.

4. Conflict
 PERSON VS. FATE
5. Theme
 Forbidden love
6. Point of View
 3rd Person Omniscient Point of View