ELEMENTS OF FICTION • Kinds of Characters:
A. According to Principality:
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
- The world of subjective reality,
deals with human apprehension
and comprehension
- A manipulated story which is not
presented as objectively as possible
- Unrealistic, transports readers to a
make-believe world
- Resembles the world
- Categorized either as a novel or
short-story
SETTING
- The time and place in which the
events of a story occur
- Local Color: evocative portrayals of
a region’s distinctive ways of
thoughts and behaviors;
distinctively found in only one place
CHARACTERS
- Representation of a human being in
a story
- The complex combination of both
inner and outer self
- Characterization: The method used
by the writer to reveal the
personality of the characters.
•Ways of Revealing Literary
Characters:
1) Actions of the characters,
2) Thoughts of the characters,
3) Description of the characters,
4) Description of other characters,
5) Description of the author
6. Protagonist - the character with
whom the reader empathizes.
7. Antagonist - the character that
goes against the main character,
usually the protagonist.
8. Deuteragonist - happens when
there are more than one
antagonist, 2nd lead.
B. According to Development:
1. Dynamic - exhibits character
development
2. Static - exhibits no changes and
development
C. According to Personality:
1. Round - displays different / multiple
personalities
2. Flat - reveals conventional traits,
remains the same throughout the
story, does not grow.
PLOT
- The sequence of events in the story,
arranged and linked by causality.
• Kinds of Plot
1. Linear - moves with the natural
sequence of events where actions
are arranged sequentially.
2. Circular - 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 - a kind of plot
where the story commences in the
middle part of the action
• Parts of a Plot
1. Exposition
- the part of the plot that sets the
scene by introducing the situation
and settings and lays out the
characters by introducing their
environment characteristics,
 pursuit, purposes, limitations,
potentials, and basic assumptions
2. Complication
- The start of the major conflict or
problem in the plot.
- Conflict: 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: Person vs Person,
Person vs Society, Person vs Self,
Person vs Nature, Person vs Fate.
3. Crisis
- The part that establishes curiosity,
uncertainty, and tension; requires a
decision.
4. Climax
- 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 as well as suspense.
5. Denouement
- The finishing of things right after the
climax, and shows the resolution of
the plot
6. Ending
- The part that brings the story back
to its equilibrium
POINT OF VIEW (POV)
- Determines the narrator of the story,
the one who tells it from different
point of view
• Types of POV
1. First Person - a character-narrator
who tells the story in the ‘I’ voice,
expressing their own views. Can
be a minor or main character.
2. T h i r d - P e r s o n O m n i s c i e n t - a
narrator that tells the story from an
all-knowing point-of-view. They see
the mind of all the characters.
3. Third-Person Limited - a narrator
that tells only what they can see or
hear. Known as the ‘camera
technique narrator’ as they don’t
reveal what the characters are
thinking and feeling
4. T h i r d - P e r s o n C e n t r a l - l i m i t s
narration to what the central
character thinks, feels, does, and
what and whom the central
character observes.
5. Third-Person Editorial - comments
on the action by telling the
readers its significance or
evaluating the behavior of the
characters.
THEME
- The main subject being discussed or
described in the story.
- May be a significant truth about life
and its nature which takes place in
the illustrations of the actions, pre-
occupations, and decisions of the
characters.
- Principles in stating the theme:
reports for all major details, may be
avowed in more than one way,
stated in a complete statement,
asserts a sweeping statement
about life, and avoid stating it using
a popular saying.
LITERARY DEVICES
• Flashback
- Interruption of the chronological
sequence of a story to related
incidents which occurred prior to
the beginning of the story
• Foreshadowing
- Hints or clues to indicate events
that will occur later. This creates
suspense.
 DEAD STARS
- A short story by Paz Marquez Benitez
- The short story is about a man
named Alfred Salazar, a lawyer
whois troubled choosing between
what he should do---to choose and
marry his 4-year fiancée, Esperanza---
or choosing what he wanted to do---
to love Julia Salas, a woman she fell in
love with despite being engaged
with Esperanza.
- He decided to marry Esperanza after
eight years because he is afraid of
what other people will say to him if
he chose the other. However, when
Alfred went to Sta. Cruz to find
someone important for his court
defense, he and Julia accidentally
met since Julia lives there. That’s
when he realized that he is no longer
in love with her. He even compare his
memories of love to a dead star.
SETTING
- It foreshadows the social make-up
and dominant views of the place
at that time.
- Christian Community
CHARACTERS
• Alfredo Salazar
- Son of Don Julian; Over thirty years
• Esperanza
- Fiancee/wife of Alfredo
• Julia Salas
- Sister in law of Judge Del Valle
• Don Julian Salazar
- Father of Alfredo
• Carmen
- Sister of Alfredor
• Judge Dionisio Del Valle
- Brother in law of Julia
• Doña Adela
- Sister of Julia
• Calixta
- Note carrier
• Brigida Samuy
- The woman Alfredo was looking for
PLOT
1. Exposition
- At Don Julian’s house Carmen was
asking about Alfredo and
Esperanza.
- Alfredo reminisced how he met
Julia Salas.
2. Complication
- Alfredo had gone with Don Julian
to Judge Del Valle’s house where
he met Julia Salas.
- Feelings between Julia and Alfredo
now develop.
- Conflict: Person vs Self
3. Crisis
- Alfredo then realized that he is in
love with her in spite being engage
with Esperanza.
4. Climax
- Julia and Esperanza finally found
out that Alfredo has been
cheating. He has been flirting with
Julia despite being engaged with
Esperanza
5. Denouement
- He finally chose to stay with his
promise, remain loyal to his
commitment and married
Esperanza.
- 8 years after, Alfredo needing to
find a woman named Brigada
Samuy who can help him for his
defense in court, found himself at
Julia’s place.
 6. Ending
- He met Julia again and realized
that he is not in love with her, his
love for her is like a dead star.
• Type of Plot
- En Medias Res
POINT OF VIEW (POV)
- Third-Person Central POV
THEME
- Love is not just an emotion; it is also
a responsibility of remaining faithful
no matter what
- Motifs: love, responsibility, infidelity
LITERARY DEVICES
- Flashback
FOOTNOTE TO YOUTH
- A story by Jose Garcia Villa
- Dudong asserts his supposed maturity
and marries Teang at the age of 17.
He thinks they are old enough to
take on this responsibility, but after
they have several children they both
bemoan the dissolution of their youth
and the dreams that came along
with it. Teang wonders how things
could have at the age of 17. He
thinks they are old if she’d married
another of her suitors. At the end,
Dudong’s son Blas approaches his
father wanting to marry at about the
same age, even though Dudong
doesn’t want Blas to make the same
mistake he did. However, history ends
up repeating itself.
SETTING
- The setting is not explicitly stated, but
it is in a rural area (Farm/Province)
where they work as farmers.
CHARACTERS
• Dodong
- Protagonist, dynamic, and round.
- The character who desperately
wants to go against his father’s
decision and be with his beloved
despite his very young age.
• Tatay
- Antagonist, dynamic, flat
- Though he did not really
contradicted the intentions of
Dodong to marry, he was still
against the idea of his son marrying
at a young age.
• Teang
- Deuteragonist, dynamic, flat
- The second lead in the story and
the wife of Dodong, she too was
young when Dodong married her
and impregnated her.
• Inay
- Extra, static, flat
- Dodong’s Mother who helped
Teang give birth to their first child,
Blas.
• Blas
- Extra, static, flat
- Dodong and Teang’s oldest son
who followed his parents’ footsteps
in the end. He contemplated to
marry Tona when he was 18.
• Tona
- Extra, static, flat
- Blas’ lover
• Lucio
- Extra, static, flat
- Teang’s former suitor
 PLOT
1. Exposition
- Dodong intended to tell his father
that he wants to marry Taeang.
2. Complication
- Dodong wanted to marry Teang
- Conflict: Person vs Person
3. Crisis
- Dodong’s want to turn away from
his early paternal responsibilities.
4. Climax
- When Blas was at his eighteen years
of age, he asked permission to his
father Dodong to marry Tona.
5. Denouement
- Dodong gave his consent to his son
to marry Tona
6. Ending
- His father (Dodong) felt sorry for his
son (Blas)
• Type of Plot
- LINEAR PLOT: the actions are
arranged sequentially and moves
with the natural sequence of units.
POINT OF VIEW (POV)
- Third-Person Omniscient POV
THEME
- Young people will blindly follow
their heart’s desire and tend to
regret their actions in the end.
- Motifs: Passion, desire,
consequences
LITERARY DEVICES
- Foreshadowing
MAY DAY EVE
- Nick Joaquin
SETTING
- 1847; 1890; Intramuros, Manila - in
a room with a mirror on May Day
Eve
CHARACTERS
• Anastasia
- Old woman, Maga; believes in
superstitious beliefs
• Agueda / Doña Agueda
- Pretty, long dark hair; young
woman who is curious; brave;
wants to know her future husband
- hard, bitter, vengeful; bold,
liberated, non-conformist; old;
emotional
• Agueda’s daughter
- Vain curious girl ;wants to know her
mother’s past
• Don Badoy Montiya
- Young man with curly hair, a
mustache and a scar on his cheek;
vain, promiscuous, a stereotypical
machismo man
• Voltaire
- Grandson of Don Badoy; curious
about his future wife
PLOT
1. Exposition
- A party was held in Montiya's
house and the girls were to stay in
that house. Anastacia, told the girls
of a legend where if they recite
"mirror, mirror, tell me whose
woman, I will be" in front of the
mirror at midnight while holding a
candle, they will see the person
they were to marry on their but if
gone wrong, they will see the devil
 2. Complication
- Agueda, being hardheaded tried
the incantation to prove it wrong
but she did not say the right words
- Conflict: Person vs Person
3. Crisis
- Don Badoy suddenly entered the
house and saw Agueda so he
approached her but she was
startled and began crying. When
Badoy tried to comfort her, she bit
him and ran
4. Climax
- Fast forward to the present time,
Don Badoy saw his grandson trying
the incantation in front of the mirror
and scolded him. Voltaire told
Badoy on how his grandmother did
the incantation, saw the devil, and
described how the devil looked like
5. Denouement
- Badoy reminisced the time he saw
Agueda in front of the mirror and
fell in love with her but as time went
by he was blinded with hatred
6. Ending
- After contemplating, he realized
that he still loves her but it was too
late because Agueda was already
dead
• Type of Plot: Circular Plot
 -
POINT OF VIEW (POV)
- Third-person Omniscient Point of View
THEME
- Intense remorse by wrong decision
like believing in superstitions, “Magic
realism”
LITERARY DEVICES
- Flashback
Y’ MISS PHATHUPATS
- Written by Juan Crisostomo Soto
A.K.A Crissot
- The short story is about Yeyeng, a
young poor Kapampangan woman,
who had the chance to study English
in a school opened by the American
military government, courtesy of a
soldier who teaches there. When the
young woman became fluent in
English she was sent to a town to be
a teacher there. As time passed by
Miss Yeyeng said that she forgotten
how to speak in Kapampangan
anymore, as such she was given the
name ‘Miss Phathupats’ a reference
to her wide hips that she constricts
with a corset which resembles a
patupat or suman. 
- Once in a fiesta in a town in Bacolor
she saw people reading a
Kapampangan newspaper called
‘Ing Emangabiran’ eliciting her
disapproving statement that she find
it difficult to speak in Kapampangan
anymore much less read it. She was
teased because she was more of an
American than a Kapampangan,
thus she is now Miss Phathupats. They
made her cry, and when she wiped
away her tears her make-up came
off, they laughed harder, ashamed
Miss Phathupats walked out.
SETTING
The story takes place in Pampanga
during the American Colonial Period.
CHARACTERS
• Yeyeng
- Protagonist, dynamic, and round.
- Also know as Miss Phathupats
- A young Filipino born in Pampanga,
who claims to have forgotten to
speak in her native language
(Kapampangan) after she learned
and taught English
• American Soldier
- Static, flat
- A costumer of Miss Yeyeng who
urged her to study English at the
school where he was teaching
• Towns People
- Antagonist, static, flat
- The people from a town in Bacolor
who ridiculed Miss Yeyeng for being
a hypocrite.
• Yeyeng’s Parents
- Extra, static, flat
- Born in one of the smallest towns in
Pampanga who lived in poverty
PLOT
1. Exposition
- The story started by introducing
the main character Yeyeng, "a
young Kapampangan woman
who paints a heavy coat of rouge
on her face and due to her family
being poor, she sells guinatan or
bichu-bichu for living."
- The soldier was introduced as well
as he urged Yeyeng to study
English in the school where he was
teaching.
2. Complication
- As time have passed, Miss Yeyeng
hardly ever spoke Kapampangan
because according to her she had
already forgotten how. Upon
hearing Miss Yeyeng, the people
who knew her immediately began
to poke fun at her behind her back,
they named her "Miss Phathupats."
A reference to her wide hips which
she tries so hard to constrict by
means of wearing a tight corset
resembled a patupat or a tightly
bound suman.
- Conflict: Person vs Society
3. Crisis
- During a fiesta in town X, Miss
Phathupats saw some people
reading "Ing Emangabiran" a
Kapampangan newspaper
published in Bacolor. However the
miss was disappointed that the
newspaper was in Kapampangan,
and disapporivngly said “I can't
understand Kapampangan.” in
Spanish.
- Someone replied to her mockingly
and the people smiled at the
remark. The miss however
continued even though she knew
people were laughing at her, the
speech she gave however caused
the people to laugh harder as she
"sounded like a fish vendor's wife,"
which angered Miss Phathupats
4. Climax
- Miss Phathupats was heavily
mocked by the people for not
knowing Kapampangan anymore.
One of those standing by said “Do
not wonder that the Miss does not
know Kapampangan: first, because
shehas long associated with the
American soldiers, and secondly,
she is no longer Kapampangan.
The proof of this is that her name is
Miss Phathupats.”
- That made the miss so mad that she
cursed them in Kapampangan,
and the listeners said “Aha! So she is
a Kapampangan, after all,”
followed by “Yes, didn’t you know?
She is the daughter of old Gading
the Braggart from my barrio.”  That
caused an uproar and made Miss
Phathupats cry and when she
wiped her tears her makeup came
off and revealed her darker skin
color which made the laughters
grew louder.
 5. Denouement
- Miss Pathupats' pretention that she
can no longer speak in
Kapampangan was finally
uncovered because of her rage.
When she could'nt take the insults
anymore, Miss Phathupats stumbled
out saying, "Mi no vuelve en esta
casa" and the people waved her
goodbye saying, "Adios, Miss-who-
doesn't-know-kapampangan",
"Adios, Miss Alice Roosevelt", "Adios,
Miss Pathupats."
6. Ending
- That is how they ganged up on her
and the poor Yeyeng left muttering
to herself, feeling defeated and
ashamed.
• Type of Plot
- LINEAR PLOT: the actions are
arranged sequentially and moves
with the natural sequence of units.
POINT OF VIEW (POV)
- Third-Person Omniscient POV
THEME
- Young people will blindly follow
their heart’s desire and tend to
regret their actions in the end.
- Motifs: Passion, desire,
consequences
LITERARY DEVICES
- Foreshadowing
SiSILIM
- Diosdado Pangan Macapagal
SETTING
- At a public garden at the city
around late afternoon before
sunset.
CHARACTERS
• Lilia
- An 80 year old bachelorette who
moved to another town in hopes of
finding her lover who left days
before they are planned to flee
• Carlos
- An 80 year old bachelor who
decided not to get married
because the love of his life
betrayed him
• Claudio
- Lilia’s one great love
• Lourdes
- The woman who own’s Claudio’s
heart
• Rich Young Man
- Soon to be husband of Lilia
PLOT
1. Exposition
- As the sun sets, a child
accompanied an old lady to a
garden in the city proper. After
walking, the old lady sits on a
bench where an old man is also
seated. The two began to talk of
the younger years especially their
experience of love. The old lady
shared her story with Claudio.
2. Complication
- The parents of the old lady made a
fixed marriage between her and a
rich guy dated on May 25. So Lilia
(the old lady) planned to run away
with Claudio on May 15, the day of
her birthday.
- Conflict: Person vs Society
3. Crisis
- As their day of eloping drew nearer,
Lilia noticed a change in Claudio
as he refrained from meeting and
writing letters. Lilia dreaded that
Claudio’s love for her is not real and
his knowledge of her fixed marriage
will lead him to leave her.
4. Climax
- On May 15, Claudio did not show
up so Lilia went to his house where
she discovered from her sister that
Claudio has already left 5 days ago
without leaving any letter or
explanation. Without finding
Claudio, she remained unmarried
and kept Claudio in her heart. After
Lilia shared her story, Carlos, the old
man told her of his love, Lourdes
who was wealthy but he did not
love her for her wealth but for who
she was. Like Lilia’s story, they fell in
love in a garden and planned to
elope but things changed when he
saw an announcement of Lourdes’
wedding in a newspaper. He felt
betrayed that Lourdes chose a
wealthy man so he wandered just
so he can feel something other
than the pain of betrayal. He met a
lot of women along the way but his
heart still belonged to Lourdes thus
until then, he had no plans on
getting married.
5. Denouement
- After telling their stories, the old lady
realized that they had the same
story. The old man remained silent.
When the old lady was about to
leave, she told him that the real
name of her beloved is Carlos. The
old man was startled and asked if
the old lady’s name was Lilia. That’s
when they realized that they were
talking about themselves.
6. Ending
- As the dawn approaches, under
the light of the stars reflected in the
ocean, Carlos walked Lilia home.
Although they did not accomplish
their first plan to elope, love worked
mysteriously and a path was forged
for them once again.
POINT OF VIEW (POV)
- Third-Person Central POV
THEME
- True love does not count the pain
but sees the bliss worthy of suffering
LITERARY DEVICES
- Flashback
POETRY
- A patterned form of verbal or
written expression of ideas
concentrated, imaginative, and
rhythmical terms that often contain
the elements of sense, sound, and
structure.
- Regarded as the oldest literary form
- Has implied meaning/s which are
evoked in the carefully selected
words.
- Is often considered as the most
difficult and most sophisticated of
all literary genres
- Briefly written but suggests many
connotations
- More musical compared to there
literary forms
SENSE OF THE POEM
- Is revealed through the meaning of
words, images, and symbols.
• Denotation
- Is the dictionary meaning of a word
• Connotation
- Is the suggested or implied
meanings associated with a word
beyond its dictionary definition
• Imagery
- Use of sensory details or descriptions
that appeal to one or more of the
five senses; otherwise known as the
senses of the mind
- Using words to create a picture in
the reader’s mind.
• Figurative Language
- Language used for descriptive
effect in order to convey ideas or
emotions which are not literally true
but express some truth beyond the
literal level
FIGURATIVE SPEECH
- A kind of figurative language that
uses words, phrases, and sentences
in a non-literal definition but rather
gives meanings in abstractions
1. Allusion
- Is a reference in a work of literature
to a character, a place, or a
situation from references.
- Ex: Noah’s Rule, Achilles heel
2. Apostrophe
- Is an address to an inanimate
object, an idea, or a person who is
absent/long dead.
- Ex: where, o death thy victory?
3. Metonymy
- Is the use of one word to stand for a
related term or replacement of
word that relates to the thing or
person to be named for the name
itself
- Ex: remained loyal to the crown
4. Synecdoche
- Is the naming of parts to suggest
the whole
- Ex: respect is due for snowy hair
4. Simile
- Is a comparison between two
unrelated things using the word
‘like’ or ‘as’
- Ex: Hungry as a bear
5. Metaphor
- Is an implied comparison between
two usually unrelated things
- Ex: Her mind is a computer
6. Onomatopoeia
- The use of words that spell out
sounds;
- Ex: hiss, pop, crack, boom
7. Personification
- Is giving human characteristics to
inanimate objects, ideas, or animals
- Ex: The earth laughs
8. Hyperbole
- Is an exaggeration for the sake of
emphasis
- Ex: I may sweat to death
9. Litotes
- Is a deliberate sarcasm used to
affirm by negating its opposite
- Ex: It was not too bad.
10. Antithesis
- Is a disparity of words or ideas,
presentation of natural opposites in
a balanced or parallel construction
- Ex: Love is an ideal thing, marriage
is a real thing
11. Irony
- Is a contrast or discrepancy
between appearance and reality;
opposite of what you mean
- Ex: a pilot has a fear of heights
12. Oxymoron
 - Is putting together two opposite
ideas in one phrase or statement
- Ex: Busy doing nothing
14. Paradox
- Is a phrase or statement that seems
to be impossible or contradictory
but is nevertheless true, literally or
figuratively
- Ex: the beginning of the end
• Symbol
- An image that becomes so
suggestive that it takes on much
more meaning than its descriptive
value.
- A word or image that signifies
something other than what is
literally represented

TYPES OF POETRY
1. Narrative Poem
- Is a poem that tells a story
- Ex: epic, metrical romance, ballad

2. Lyric Poem
- Is descriptive or expository in nature
where the poet is concerned
mainly in presenting a scene in
words, conveying sensory richness
of his subject, or the revelation of
ideas or emotions.
- Ex: ode, elegy, song, sonnet and
corridos

3. Dramatic Poem
- Is a poem where a story is told
through the verse dialogue of the
characters and a narrator

4. Free Verse
- Poetry that follows no rules. No
rhyme, no rhythm, no meter

TONE & SYMBOL

• Tone
- The writer’s attitude towards their
subject, mood, and moral view.
- The feeling that the poem has
created in the reader.
- Communicated by the writer’s or
speaker’s attitude toward their
subject, their imagined audience,
of themselves.
- The emotional coloring of the work
which is indicated by the inflection
of the speaker’s voice