21st Century Literature to the Philippines and the World

Lesson 2: Representative Texts and Authors from Each Region

Learning Objectives:
After reading this SLM, you are expected to identify the different elements of fiction and will be able to distinguish
representative texts and authors from the region in the sample story presented.

Introduction

What is Fiction?
Historically, the word fiction has been derived from Latin term “ fictus,” which means “to form.” However, in
literature, Merriam Webster defines it as, “literature composed of prose, especially novels, that describes imaginary
events and people.” So, fiction is a product of writer’s imagination. It is one of the two branches of literature, the other
one is non-fiction. Fictional works consist of stories, novels, and dramas based on made-up and fabricated stories
and characters. Fiction contains certain symbolic and thematic features known as “literary merits.” In other words,
fiction narrates a story, which aims at something bigger than merely a story. In this attempt, it comments on
something significant related to social, political, or human related issues.

What is a story?
A story is made up of prose, some are shorter and can be read in just a single sitting and some are longer and could
be considered as novel usually dealing with a few characters and aiming at unity of effect and often concentrating on
the creation of mood rather than plot. It is a work of fiction that is categorized by its length. Historically, short stories
are typically between 1,000 and 20,000 words long and can be consumed in a single reading session. However, as
time goes by it is being categorized as literary pieces evolved. Works longer than a short story but shorter than a
novel are classified as Novellas and works shorter than 1,000 words are increasing classified as very short stories,
short short stories, or flash fiction. Despite their brevity, short stories are complete works of fiction generally exhibiting
the common literary devices of; character, setting, plot, conflict, and theme which also comprised in the elements of
fiction with the other two, namely; point of view
and symbol.
Elements of fiction or Story
Elements of fiction plays an important part in creating a story. It is where the story being anchored. Without
the elements of fiction, no story can be crafted.
1. Plot - Used to describe the events that make up a story or the main part of a story. These events relate to each
other in pattern or a sequence. It is said to be the foundation of a novel or a story, without plot, no story can be
formed.

Elements of Plot

1.1 Exposition or Introduction - This is known as the beginning of the story where characters and setting are
established. The conflict or main problem is introduced as well.
1.2 Rising Action - which occurs when a series of events build up to the conflict. The main characters are
established by the time the rising action of a plot occurs and at the same time, events begin to get
complicated. It is during this part of a story that excitement, tension, or crisis is encountered.
1.3 Climax or the main point of the plot - This is the turning point of the story and is meant to be the moment of
highest interest and emotion. The reader wonders what is going to happen next.
 1.4 Falling action or the winding up of the story - Events and complications begin to resolve and the result of
actions of the main characters are put forward.
1.5 Denouement or Resolution - It is the conclusion or end of a story and ends with either a happy or a tragic
ending.

2. Setting - is a description of where and when the story takes place. In a short story there are fewer settings
compared to a novel. The time is more limited. It helps initiate the main backdrop and mood for a story.

Types of Setting

2.1 Physical - is “where” the story takes place. It talks about the place 2.2 Chronological – is “when” the story takes
place. It talks about the time or the sequence of events in the story. This might also involve dates of occurrences.

3. Character – As any person, animal or figure represented in a literary works. Every character created in a story
plays an important role. They are the ones who made up the story. Types of character depends on how the
characters in the story are described. In short stories, there are usually fewer characters compared to a novel.
They usually focus on one central character or protagonist.

Types of Character

3.1 Protagonist – this is the main character of the story, the star of the show and most of the action focussed
around them.

Example: SPO2 Ricardo Dalisay of “ Ang Probinsyano,” Harry Potter of “Harry Potter,” Frodo Baggins of “Lord of the
Rings,” and Katniss Everdeen of “Hunger Games”.

3.2 Antagonist – this is usually the villain of the story. They are the ones who made the protagonist star of the
show, without them the story is said to be dull and pointless. Their role is as important as the role of
the protagonist.

Example: Joaquin Tuazon of “Ang Probinsyano,” Voldemort of “Harry Potter,” Sauron of “Lord of the Rings,”
President Snow of “Hunger Games”

3.3 Deuteragonist – They are the supporting characters or the sidekicks to the protagonist.

Example: Benny of “Ang Probinsyano,” Ron and Hermione of “Harry Potter,” Samwise Gamgee, Lumiere and
Cogsworth of “Lord of the Rings,” Haymitch Abernathy of “Hunger Games”

3.4 Tertiary characters – These characters are just passers-by. Usually these are the guest character in the
movies. Their function is to look the movie more realistic. They are these who sells balloons at the
park, protesters in the rally, a barista in the bar, the random guy who sit next to the main character in
class, etc.

Example: Mr. Poe of “A Series of Unfortunate Events,” Radagast of “The Lord of the Rings,” Padma and Parvati Patil
of “Harry Potter,” Calo and Fabrizio of “The Godfather,” and Madame Stahl of “Anna Karenina”
 3.5 Foil character - A foil is someone whose personality and values fundamentally clash with the protagonist’s.
This clash highlights the main character’s defining attributes, giving us a better picture of who they
truly are.

Example: Draco Malfoy of “Harry Potter,” Effie Trinket of “Hunger Games,” Lydia Bennet of “Pride and Prejudice,”
George and Lennie of “Mice and Men,” and Kirk and Spock of “Star Trek.”

3.6 Dynamic/changing character - is one who changes over the course of story. They often evolve to become
better or wiser, but sometimes they can devolve as well — many villains are made through a shift
from good to evil, like Anakin Skywalker and Harvey Dent. The protagonist of your story should always
be dynamic, and most of the deuteragonists should be as well. However, you do not need to make the
changes super obvious in order for your audience to catch on. During your narrative journey, these
changes should come about subtly and naturally.

Example: Elizabeth Bennet of “Pride and Prejudice,” Don Quixote of “Don Quixote,” Ebenezer Scrooge of “A
Christmas Carol,” Neville Longbottom of “Harry Potter,” Han Solo of “Star Wars,” and Walter White of “Breaking Bad.”

3.7 Static/unchanging character - the one who does not change. Many static characters are simply flat and
having too many is usually a symptom of lazy writing. However, certain kinds can serve a larger
purpose in a story. These static figures tend to be unlikable, such as Cinderella’s stepsisters and Harry
Potter’s aunt and uncle — their ignorance to how they’re mistreating our hero makes them people we
“love to hate,” and boosts our sympathy for the protagonist. They may also impart a lesson to the
reader: you do not want to end up like me.

Example: Lola Flora of “Ang Probinsyano,” Mr Collins of “Pride and Prejudice,” Miss Havisham of “Great
Expectations,” Harry and Zinnia Wormwood (Matilda’s parents) of “Matilda,” Sherlock Holmes (a rare static
protagonist) of “Sherlock Holmes,” and Karen Smith of “Mean Girls.”

3.8 Round character - is very similar to a dynamic one, in that they both typically change throughout their
character arc. The key difference is that we as readers can perceive that the round character is
nuance and contains multitudes even before any major change has occurred. The round character has
a full backstory (though not always revealed in the narrative), complex emotions, and realistic
motivations for what they do. This does not necessarily mean they are a good person — indeed, many
of the best round characters are deeply flawed. But you should still be interested and excited to follow
their arc because you can never be quite sure where they will be led or how they will change. Aside
from that, most great protagonists are not only dynamic, but also round.

Example: Amy Dunne of “Gone Girl,” Atticus Finch of “To Kill a Mockingbird,” Randle McMurphy of “One Flew Over
the Cuckoo's Nest,” and Michael Corleone of “The Godfather”

4. Conflict – is defined as any struggles between opposing forces. Without conflict, stories are boring to read. It is the
conflict that the main character faces and trying to get through in the entire course of the story which made us
to flip the pages around because it keeps us engaged and entertained.

Types of Conflict

4.1 Internal Conflict - An internal or psychological conflict arises as soon as a character experiences two opposite
emotions or desires: usually virtue or vice, or good and evil inside him. This disagreement causes a character to
suffer mental agony. Internal conflict develops a unique tension in a storyline marked by a lack of action.
Uncertainties and complications can come from many sources: External interference: A character who battles
addiction, for example, has a ‘bad influence’, partying friend; Interpretation and framing: The stories they tell
themselves, framing experiences, may influence whether their ‘good’ or ‘bad’ self-wins; and Circumstances beyond
characters’ control: For example, a character who struggles with mental health and relies on medication for stability.
- Internal conflict is also known as Man vs. Self
or Person vs. Self.

Example: “The Call of the Wild”, in which the protagonist (in this case, a dog) is torn between a domesticated self and
wild self.

4.2 External Conflict - is marked by a characteristic involvement of an action wherein a character finds himself in
struggle with those outside forces that hamper his progress. The most common type of an external conflict is where
a protagonist fights back against the antagonist’s tactics that impede his or her advancement.

Types of External Conflict

4.2.1 Person vs. Person or Man vs. Man - Conflict that pits one person against another is about as classic as a story
can get. This type of conflict is pretty much self-explanatory, with one person struggling for victory over another.
There are countless examples of this type of conflict in literature.

Example: The story in Cinderella, Ang Probinsyano, Harry Potter, X-Men Origins: Wolverine, Ant Man, Spider Man

4.2.2 Person vs. Nature or Man vs. Nature - this type of conflict, humankind comes up against nature, battling for
survival against its unstoppable and indifferent force. The hero may be forced to confront nature, or the protagonist
may be seeking the conflict, trying to exert dominance over nature.

Example: Life of Pi, The Lost City of Z, 2012, San Andreas, Tsunami

4.2.3 Person vs. Society or Man vs. Society - The person-against- society conflict follows the storyline of an individual
or a group fighting (sometimes successful, sometimes not) against injustices within their society or government. It
illustrates a story driven by rebellion against a society, as the characters struggle against a corrupt power structure,
create a new society, and continue to experience struggles within the new society.

Example: Hunger Games, Divergent, Avatar, etc.

5. Symbol – it is a tangible physical thing which symbolizes means something else.

Example: Dove – represents peace, weighing scale – symbolizes justice, water – embodies purity

6. Point of View or (POV) – is defined as how the story being told, which can be identified through the flow of the
episodes.

Types of Point of View (POV)

6.1 First Person POV - the unfolding of events is told by the main character of the story, a narrator used the first-
person pronoun, I. So, the occurrences are the firsthand experiences of the author. He is the main character of the
story.

6.2 Second Person POV - is the first-person observer. The author is part of the story, but he/she is not the main
character. The writer may have a close relationship with the protagonist. He/she may be played the role of a best
friend, confidante, a family, or love interest of the leading character.

6.3 Third Person POV - is not narrated by the character in the story but rather an “invisible author”, using the third
person pronoun (he, she, or it). The writer is not part of the story.

7. Theme - The central and dominating idea in a literary work. The term also indicates a message or moral implicit in
any work of art. It is the underlying message or what critical belief about life is the author trying to convey. The
moral lessons that the reader may obtain after viewing or reading the story.