Short Story Analysis

Directions: Read the story, “May Day Eve” by Nick Joaquin. Use your own story map design to
show the elements of the story that you have read. Include all the elements of fiction in your
work.

Elements of Fiction

1. Characters (10 points)

 Anastasia – old woman, who is so obedient to her mistress, accused for being a
witch and believes in superstitious beliefs.
 Agueda – pretty, young woman who is so curious, hardheaded, brave and very
much willing to know her future husband.
 Dona Agueda – old lady who has gray hair, full of sentiments, emotional and
resentful.
 Dona Agueda’s daughter – a vain curious girl, who is persistent to know about
the past of her mother.
 Don Badoy Montiya – a great lover, emotional and full of sentiment old man,
who repents for what he has done to Agueda.
 Voltaire – Believe in superstitious belief and was like his grandma who at an
early age want to know who will he marry

2. Setting (5 points)
 Intramuros, Manila; In a room with a mirror on May Day Eve (written during world war II)

3. Plot (10 points)

 Exposition - Anastasia told the girls about the story that they would be able to know
their future husband by reciting an incantation in front of the mirror but if it gone wrong,
they would see a devil.
 Rising action - Agueda tried the incantation in front of the mirror then she saw
Don Badoy. They had some confrontation and she ended up biting Don Badoy’s hand
because he wouldn’t let her go. At that moment, he fell in love with her but he would still
make her pay for what she did.
 Climax - Don Badoy told his grandson, Voltaire, that he once saw a witch in front of a
mirror when he caught him doing the incantation in front of the mirror. Amazed by what
he said, Voltaire told him that his grandma once saw the devil in that mirror.
 Falling action - Don Badoy realized that he ponders on love that had been wasted.
They had shared a bitter and loveless marriage. His forgot his love to Agueda since that
May Day eve.
 Resolution - Don Badoy reminisced the time when he saw Agueda in front of the
mirror and when he fell madly in love with her. That old love had been blinded by hatred,
but it has now resurfaced but it’s too late because Agueda is dead.
4. Point of View (5 points)
 This story was written on a third person point of view, as the pronouns “he” or
“she” were used throughout the whole story.

5. Conflict (5 points)
 Man vs. Man in a way wherein Badoy was full of regret for not being able to
address his emotions with Agueda.

6. Tone (5 points)
 The tone may possibly show Agueda’s disgust towards the dominance of the
opposite gender. As to this, the said tone may clearly appeal the emotions of the
readers.

7. Symbolism (10 points)

 The main symbol used in the story is the mirror which refers to the physical
attractions of Badoy and Agueda for each other and the illusion brought about by
those attractions.

8. Theme (5 points)
 The main theme that is present in the story by Nick Joaquin is “Magical Realism”.
The theme centers on intense remorse caused by wrong decisions. Like
believing in superstitions.