English_2nd Monthly
Short Story
Character, Setting, Conflict, Plot, Theme
Understanding a Story’s Plot
Plot
Plot is the literary element that describes the structure of a story
It shows how events and actions occur within a story
It’s a way to understand how a story develops from beginning to end
Plot Basic Parts: Beginning, Middle, End
Plot is a crucial element in storytelling
It helps us understand how a story moves forward
Freytag’s Pyramid
Freytag’s pyramid uses five main parts to describe a story’s plot
It is a visual representation that shows how stories can be constructed
Each part has a specific role in shaping the story’s development
The Freytag’s Pyramid provides a useful framework to study the story effectively
Its main parts are; exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution
Gustav Freytag
He developed Freytag’s Pyramid
German Novelist
Playwright
In mid-19th century
Exposition
Introductory Part of the story
Where essential background information is provided
Rising Action
Refers to series of conflicts and crises in the story that lead to the climax
Climax
Turning point of the story
Can be the most intense moment, either in action or how characters feel
Falling Action
Events that occur after climax
Leads to resolution
Resolution
Conclusion of the story
Often Provides a sense of closure
Characters
Any person, animal, or figure represented in a literary work
Antagonist - Protagonist
Author may depict or describe a character by disclosing the following information:
His / Her physical appearance
What the person feels, says, and even dreams
What this person does or does not do
What the other say about this person and how others react to him or her
Three Kinds of Character in a Story:
Individual
Developing
Static
Point of View
The perspective used in telling the story
First Point of View
Told from the perspective of a character in a story
Second Point of View
Uses the pronoun “you”
Third Point of View
Told by the narrator who is not part of the story
Theme: The controlling ideas or central insight which the author tries to convey in the story.
Modals
“Modal verbs and their meaning” (n.d.) describes modals as special verbs which behave irregularly in the English language.
In addition, they are used to indicate modality allow speakers to express certainty, possibility, willingness, obligation, necessity, ability.
Must
Show strong obligation
Logical conclusion / certainty
Suppose something to be with strong evidence
Can
Shows ability, permission
Informal, “yes” is the expected answer
Possibility (what the speaker believes as general fact)
Could
Shows ability in the past,
Permission (polite),
Possibility (slim chance of happening)
May
Shows permission (more polite),
Possibility (same as could)
Might
Shows permission (Polite, rarely used)
Possibility (same as could and may)
Will
Shows of promise of action,
Predictions (better chance of happening)
Shall
Shows future action (used with I/you)
Possibility (something that will definitely happen)
Would
Shows condition (wishful thinking),
Past of “will”,
Repetition in the past
Imagery
Imagery is a visual symbolism, or figurative language that evokes a mental image or other kinds of sense impressions, especially in a literary work.
Imagery refers to language that stimulates the reader’s senses.
By evoking those senses through touch, taste, sound, smell, and sight, the writer imparts a deeper understanding of the human experience, connecting with the reader through a shared sensory experience.
Take a moment to conceptualize something in your mind: an object, a sound, a scent.
Transcribe whatever you think about into language, transmitting to the reader the precise experience you had in your brain. This is imagery in literature—a powerful literary device that communicates our everyday sensory experiences.
Various Types of Imageries
Vinan
Visual Imagery
Graphics, Visual Scenes, Pictures, or the sense of sight
Aunan
Auditory Imagery
Sounds, Noises, Music, or the sense of hearing
Oinan
Olfactory Imagery
Odors, Aromas, Scents, or the sense of smell
Gunan
Gustatory Imagery
Flavors or the sense of taste
Tanan
Tactile Imagery
Physical textures or the sense of touch
Orgnan
Organic Imagery
Personal Experiences of a character’s body, including emotion and the senses of hunger, thirst, fatigue, and pain
Context Clues
Definition / Explanation Clue
Meaning of a word is revealed by an explanation immediately following
Contrast / Antonym Clue
Meaning of a word is revealed by an statement of the opposite meaning
Tone and Setting Clue
Meaning of a word is revealed by the actions or setting
Inference / General Clue
Meaning of a word is revealed elsewhere in the test. Relationships inferred or implied
Restatement Clue
Meaning of a word is revealed by a simple restatement or synonym