Evaluate narratives

based on how the author

developed the element:
-theme
Let’s Try This
Picture Prediction
Look at the picture
then answer the
following questions.
 What do you think are the red hen, the duck, the cat, and
the dog talking about? Do you think they agree with each
other?
 What do you think is the narrative going to be about?
Sharing One’s
Experience
 Have you experienced
asking someone to help you
carry out a task?
 Did he/she help you? How?
If not, why?
 How does it feel to be
turned down by your friends
after asking them a request or
favor? Explain your answer.
Let’s read
and learn
The Red Hen and Her Friends
 Once, there lived a hen with her
five chicks. The hen was as red as
beetroot. She had three friends: a
duck, a cat and a dog. They all lived
happily. One day, the red hen
stumbled on to a wheat seed. “Hey,
who among you wish to plant this
seed?" she asked.
“Not me, friend" refused the
duck. “Nor can I." declined the
cat.
“Count me not." the dog turned
his back. “All right. I will do it
then by myself," said the hen.
What do you think would the
red hen do?
Why do you think so?
 She planted the seed and
watered it. Alas! It grew quickly
to yield the brownish wheat. “Hi!
There, who among you wish to
harvest the wheat?" asked the
red hen.
“Not me, friend," the duck sounded
bored.
“Nor can I." shrugged the cat.
“Count me not!" avoided the dog.
“If so, I will do it by myself," the red hen
spoke up as she labored all day along. By
evening she had two gunny bags full of
wheat.
What did the red hen ask her
friends to do?
Did they help her?
What are the clues that tell you
that the red hen’s friends did not
help her?
“Hello pal! Who among you will lend me
a hand to grind this wheat? She queried.
All the three refused as usual. "I will see
that I grind this by myself. I will make
flour, knead dough and bake bread!" she
announced. The next day she baked
delicious bread.
What did the red hen ask her friends
to do? Did they help her?
What did the red hen do all by
herself?
“Howdy, who among you wish to eat
this bread?" she asked merrily. “I want
to!" answered the duck, smacking her
lips. “Me too!" said the cat with his
mouth watering. “Yummy, smells good,"
spoke up the dog, shuffling his feet
eagerly.
What did the red hen ask her friends to
do?
What was the reaction of the duck, the
cat, and the dog?
What do you think will be the response of
the red hen to her friends? Will she let
them eat the bread?
“None of you can have a bite!
I slaved in the field and at home.
Only my children and I are entitled
to eat this bread!" So saying, the red
hen fed her chicks and ate a
sumptuous meal that day.
What was the response of the
red hen to her friends? Did she
let them have a bite of the
bread? Can you identify the clues
that help you figure out the red
hen’s response?
Let’s Do this
Task 1. Questions for Discussion
1. Who are the characters in the story?
2. What did the red hen ask her friends to
help her with?
3. What did the three animals tell the red
hen when she asked them to help her?
4. What specific tasks did the red hen do
in the story?
5. When did the red hen’s friends finally
want to help her? Why?
6. Why didn’t the red hen let them eat the
bread?
Let’s Study This
UNDERSTANDING NARRATIVE
A narrative refers to a story or an account of
something, dealing with sequences of events
and experiences, though not necessarily in strict
order. It may be actual or fictional, and can be
expressed orally or in writing. (Harris and
Hodges, eds, 1995).
A narrative contains several elements, such
as characterization, plot and setting, that all
work together to construct the narrative’s theme.
UNDERSTANDING THEME

Narratives always contain at least

one theme. Single themes can build
on one another to convey a larger
message, or a work may stick to one
key theme.
The theme is the central message or idea
of a narrative. It tells the reader what the
literary piece is all about. It is expressed
through what the characters say, do and
think, and through the actions that take
place within the story. The theme is also
revealed in how the plot and setting of
the narrative are constructed and
presented.
By telling the reader what the story
is about, the theme expresses what
ideas or issues are raised within the
story. Though a longer narrative,
like a novel, might deal with several
themes at once, most narratives
contain one theme.
Examples of themes include
friendship, family, love, respect for
others, helping one another, world
peace, equality, patriotism and
nationalism, loyalty, cooperation,
determination to succeed, etc .
EVALUATING THE STORY'S END
The way a narrative ends can provide
key insights into the author's message.
If something bad happens to a
character, the author may be trying to
convey that the character made the
wrong choices or that the world is
unfair.
 In some narratives, the end of
the story attempts to sum up the
theme or provide additional clues
to the story's point, so pay careful
attention to any surprises in the
ending or any insight the
characters themselves offer.
Let’s Do More
Task 2. Let’s Read Aloud
Read the narrative “The Red Hen and
Her Friends”
Task 3. Pair and Share
Answer the following questions in each
column in the table. Write your answer
inside the box. Then, choose your
partner and discuss your answers with
each other. Share your common
answers to the class.
 Title of the Narrative:
The Red Hen and Her Friends
What have you What is your reaction What message do you
learned about the about the narrative? think the author tried
narrative? to convey in this
narrative?
(theme)
 Let’s Test
Ourselves
Task 4. Read and Analyze
Read the following narratives then
answer the questions that follow.
Narrative 1:
Long ago in a little town in the East, there lived a
couple. They lived in a modest house together with
their son and the father of the husband. For a while,
the old man lived happily with his son, his daughter-
in-law and his grandson.
But when he grew very old, he became very
feeble. Every time he ate at the table, he always
broke a plate because his hands trembled so much.
The old man’s awkwardness soon made his son
angry, and one day he made a wooden plate for his
father. The poor old man had to eat all his food on
his wooden plate.
When the grandson noticed what his father had
done, he took some tools and went down under the
house. The he took a piece of board and began to
carve it. His father saw him and said, “What are you
doing son?” The boy replied to him, “Father, I am
making wooden plates for you and my mother when
you are old.”
.

As the son uttered these words, tears

gushed from the father’s eyes. From that
time on, the old man was allowed to eat at
the table with the rest of the family. He was
no longer made to eat from a wooden plate.
.
1. What would happen if the man did not change his attitude towards his own father,
the old man?
A. He would have a peaceful and orderly life.
B. He would have lived happily and abundantly.
C. His own son would also be afraid of the old man.
D. His own son would be angry with him.

2. What human right is highlighted in the last two sentences of the selection?
A. Right to acquire property
B. Right to be respected
C. Right to education
D. Right to vote

3. What is the theme of the narrative?

A. Treat others as you would wish them to treat you
B. Presence of mind does more good than harm
C. The old man and the weak never deserve good treatment
D. Treat parents well only when they are young and capable
.Narrative 2:
A traveler once lost his way in a desert. The sun
was so hot. He was very tired and thirsty. Soon,
he came to an oasis. An oasis is a low fertile
place in the desert where there is water.
The weary traveler exclaimed, “I guess I’m too
lucky.” As the traveler, came to the water, he
saw lying upon the bank, a sack half filled with
something.
.“Oh, God!” he exclaimed as he knelt beside
the sack, opening it with his both hands.
“May there be some fruits or coconuts inside
so that I may have something to eat as well
as water to drink.” With his thought, he took
his knife and hurriedly cut the sack. When
he saw what’s inside, he said in a sad,
disappointed way, “How poor I am. It’s only
diamonds!”
.1. How did the traveler feel when he lost his way in a desert?
A. Happy and contented C. Tired and hungry
B. Afraid and worried D. Surprised and excited

2. What is the appropriate title for the narrative?

A. The Traveler and the Oasis
B. Only Diamonds
C. The Legend of Desert
D. The Poor Man in the Desert

3. What is the theme of the narrative?

A. Fruits are none existent in the desert
B. Priority of man depends upon his needs
C. A traveler can never appreciate diamonds
D. Disappointment is part of life
.Narrative 3:
There was once a shepherd boy who tended his sheep at the foot
of a mountain near a forest. His life was pretty boring, so he
thought of a plan to amuse himself and have a little fun. He ran
towards the village calling out "Wolf! Wolf!" and the villagers came
out to help him, only to find him laughing like a hyena. The boy
enjoyed his trick very much, so the next day he tried it again, and
fooled the villagers for the second time. But shortly after this, a
wolf actually did come out from the forest and began to chase the
sheep, and the boy of course cried out again, "Wolf! Wolf!" But this
time, the villagers didn’t pay attention to him, thinking the boy was
playing again with them. So the Wolf made a good meal of the
boy's flock and then went back into the forest.
1. What plan did the shepherd boy do to amuse himself?
.
A. He played with his sheep at the foot of a mountain
B. He told the villagers that a wolf was around
C. He called his friends to go to the forest
D. He went back to the forest and tried to hunt the wolf

2. How did the villagers respond to the boy after crying out that a wolf actually did come
out of the forest?
A. They did not believe him
B. They went out to help him
C. They showed concern towards him
D. They got mad at him

3. What is the theme of the narrative?

A. Take good care of animals
B. Regret is always at the end
C. The search for the truth is a never ending process one has to face
D. Liars are not believed the moment they speak the truth
 Let’s Enrich
Ourselves
.Task 5. The Search for the
Narratives
Complete the table below by writing
down the titles of the narratives that
you have read in the left column and
by identifying the theme in each
narrative in the right column.
. Title of the Narrative Theme

1.

2.

3.

4.
 Let’s
Remember This
.Themes in narratives are oftentimes
varied. They may be stated directly or
indirectly Therefore, it is necessary to
read, understand, and analyze the
entire narrative to figure out its
underlying theme – the message or
idea the author wants to convey in the
narrative.