21st Century Literature

from the Philippines

and the World
CRISTINE PEARL G. MAMAUAG
Elements of a
Short Story
• Character– A character
in a short story is a
person, in some stories
an animal, who takes
part in the action of the
story or other literary
work.
• The protagonist is
considered as the main
character or most
important of all the
characters.
• The antagonist is the
character that challenges
the main character. It has
no concern for the well-
being of the main
character.
Setting– The place (locale)
and time (period )when the
story happens is called the
setting. The setting may be
based on real place and real
time or it may also be based
on the author’s
imagination.
Plot – is the series
of events and
characters’ actions
that lead to the
highest point of
interest in a short
story
Exposition – This is the beginning of the
story. This is where the author introduces
the characters, and identifies where the
story is happening.
Rising Action – This event occurs as you
begin to move throughout the story. This
is where conflicts start to build.
Climax – It is the most exciting part of a
short story. This is the part in the story
when important decisions are made or
important things are discovered.
Falling Action – This point occurs after
the climax as the problems in the story
start to work themselves out. The
excitement becomes less and less as the
conflict is resolved.
Resolution – This is the solution to the
problem in a story. The solution may not
be what you hoped for but as long as it
fits the story in tone and theme, the
conflict has been resolved.
Conflict – Every story needs
to have a problem and this
problem is called conflict.
The main character, also
called the protagonist, needs
to have someone or
something to challenge him.
man against nature (a mother and her child evacuating at the
height of typhoon Yolanda)

man against man (a student being harassed by a bully classmate).

man against society or culture

man against himself or herself

Theme - This is the central idea in a
short story and a general truth. This is
considered as the author’s message to
the readers.
Point of View – This is the way the
story is told or narrated. The following
are the types of point of view in a short
story:
• First Person – the narrator participates in
and tells the story using the pronoun ‘I’.

• Limited Third Person – the narrator is not in the

story and narrates using the pronouns ‘she’ or
‘he’. Also, the narrator is unable to see into the
minds of the characters
• Omniscient Third Person – the narrator is
not in the story and tells the story using the
pronouns ‘she’ or ‘he’. In this point of view,
the narrator can tell the thoughts of the
characters as he can see into their minds.
 FIRST I, me, my, mine, our, ours,
PERSON myself, we, ourselves

SECOND You, your, yours, yourself

PERSON
She, her, he, him, they, them,
THIRD herself, hers, himself, his,
PERSON themselves, their, theirs
Point of View – This is the way the
story is told or narrated. The following
are the types of point of view in a short
story:
 SINIGANG
Marie Aubrey J. Villaceran
The story starts with a girl named Liza, and her Tita
Loleng, preparing Liza's favorite dish, Sinigang.
Usually, it was never Liza's turn to help her Tita
Loleng in cooking sinigang. But not today, Liza was
the one tasked by her Tita Loleng to pick out the
vegetables to use in the Sinigang.
While cooking, they had a conversation about Liza,
attending the funeral of her half-brother, Lem. Lem
died of cancer, but it was evident that he was her
father's son.Lem was not always the kindest to Liza
when he was still alive. Though he was an acolyte
for the church, he would always call
Liza "sinverguenza", the shameless daughter.
During the funeral, Liza recalled that she was greeted
by Lem's mother. She described that she was not as
pretty as her mom. Lem's mother asked for
forgiveness, to whom Liza just nodded without any
emotions. Lem's mother took this as a yes and
hugged Liza. She recalled that she smelled like
perfume and sweat, but didn't move so as not to be
rude.
Growing up, Liza always wondered who the boy
who kept calling his father on the phone everyday.
And now that she had the answer, it broke her heart.
She was always Daddy's girl. When it was time for
Lem's burial, as they watch his coffin being lowered,
Liza's father looked at her, and said sorry.
The sinigang she and her Tita Loleng cooked will be
served for dinner. Everything will be just the same,
but different. Her dad will tell her mom about his
day, and then ask each of them about theirs, her
father will compliment her about the Sinigang they
cooked and she would smile at her father like she
always did. But this time, her smile won't even reach
her eyes.
1. Where did the story happen?
2. Who were the characters in the story?
3. What do you think led to the emotional
separation of Liza from her father?
4. What was the story all about?
5. Who narrated the story?
Identify the six (6) elements from the short story
Sinigang.
1. Setting
2. Characters
3. Plot
4. Conflict
5. Theme
6. Point of View
Create a blog on moral values that you got from the
short story "Sinigang" and its impact to you as a 21st
century learner.
Uses graphics and/or images to clarify 20 pts.
information.
Presents relevant content based on 10 pts.
the theme of the story.
Shows considerable originality and 10 pts.
inventiveness.

Presents the ideas in a unique and 10 pts.

interesting way