I.

Title: Literary Elements of Prose

II. Overview/Rationale
This module will assist in encouraging the learners to identify the literary elements of prose and to give
idea as to how they can use the literary elements to further enhance their reading and writing of
literary prose.

III. Objectives
1. distinguish the elements of a prose;
2. identify the elements of a prose in a particular selection;
3. perform and record a readers theater piece (Read Aloud Performance)
IV. Learning Activities
A. Preparation
Directions: Identify the title of the some Philippine literary pieces based on the pictures.

-Mind Game-

1. How are literary works categorized?

2. What is prose? How is prose different from poetry?
3. What specific characteristics does a prose have which other divisions of literature don’t
possess?
 B. Presentation
Prose, such as short stories and novels, need particular literary elements and literary techniques to make it
come alive. These techniques are important in engaging the readers to read on and think about what they
have read.

Literary elements are used by writers to make a text interesting to the readers. At the same time, these
elements can be used to analyze and understand the text better. These elements are the following.

Now, let us get to know these LITERARY ELEMENTS OF PROSE one by one.

1. The PLOT is the sequence of events that make up the story, told in either a chronological or a non
chronological order. The usual plot order is:

a. Exposition : introduces the character(s), setting, situation

b. Rising action : situation becomes complicated, action gains force
c. Climax : highest point of tension in the story
d. Falling action : events that lead to the resolution of the conflict
e. Resolution or Denouement : loose ends are tied up, other matters are drawn to a close

2. The ATMOSPHERE in prose refers to the creation of a mood or feeling by the use of descriptions and
setting.

Example: At low tide, when the bed was dry and the rocks glinted with broken bottles, the stone fence of the
Spaniard’s compound set off the house as if it were a castle. Sunrise brought a wash of silver upon the roofs of the
laundry and garden sheds which had been built low and close to the fence. On dull mornings the light dripped from the
bamboo screen which covered the veranda and hung some four or five yards from the ground.
- Excerpt from “The Bread of Salt” by N. V. M. Gonzalez
Explanation: The atmosphere set by the excerpt is a transition to light from darkness.
This can help in analyzing the story as a coming-of-age story.

3. CHARACTERIZATION in prose refers to how the author describes the character, either directly or
indirectly through action, using details or nuances to add depth.
Example:
The first children who saw the dark and slinky bulge approaching through the sea let themselves think it was an
enemy ship. Then they saw it had no flor masts and they thought it was a whale. But when it washed up on the beach,
they removed the clumps of seaweed, the jellyfish tentacles, and the remains of fish and flotsam, and only then did
they see that it was a drowned man.

- Excerpt from “The Handsomest Drowned Man in the World” by Gabriel Garcia Marquez

Explanation: The given excerpt from Gabriel Garcia Marquez’s “The Handsomest
Drowned Man” shows an example of characterization.

4. The problem or challenge faced by the character or characters in the story is called the CONFLICT.
There are three possible conflicts:
a. Man vs. Man / Person vs. Person
Some conflicts may be between a character and another character in the story. This is where the main
character’s opponent is a man or a woman one at a time.
Just like in the Philippine TV drama, “Ang sa Iyo ay Akin” (What’s Yours is Mine) emphasizes person vs. person through Ellice vs.
Marissa. These two ladies are friends in the beginning but later on become enemies due to wealth and other concerns in their
lives.

b. Man vs. Nature / Person vs. Nature

This kind of conflict arises when the hero of the narrative is struggling against forces of nature. This kind
of conflict is evident in epics from the Philippines and around the world. It is also present in certain biblical
stories.
For example, Noah faced a struggle against the great flood sent by God to the land. Also, Cagayan de Oro City was hit by
Typhoon Sendong last December 16, 2012.
c. Man vs. Himself / Person vs. Self
This kind of conflict is seen when a character is struggling in his or her decisions or actions. His or her
enemy is himself/herself.
In the Philippine fantasy drama, “Encantadia” has four Sang’gres or Princesses who are chosen to protect the four gems
(superpower) from the enemies. Perina, the oldest sister, at first, she is greedy of power and position leading her way out from
the path way. But later on, she found the right way when she humbly admitted all her faults in front of her three sisters.
d. Man vs. Society / Person vs. Society
This kind of conflict is seen when a character is confronted with people’s concern or decision about the
character. His or her enemies are the people in the society.
Just like in the movie “Train to Busan”, the main characters were forced to relinquish or to leave the group where they all are
hiding from zombies in order not to be contaminated with the virus. Without any choice, they opted to leave the group and had
their own hide out for themselves.
e. Man vs. Fate / Person vs. Fate
This kind of conflict is seen when a character is faced with problems that deals with his or her destiny as a
result of his or her decisions in life. Most of the time, this deals with life and death. The character’s enemy is
either to continue life and be successful or not or end life.

For example, the short story “Wedding Dance” by Amador Daguio talks about a couple who cannot have bear a child due to
infertility. Since in their culture, it is a shame for a man to can’t have a successor so, he marry another woman and have a child.
His first wife’s fate is very sad but she accepted it wholeheartedly that she cannot bear a child.

f. Man vs. Technology / Person vs. Technology

This kind of conflict is seen when a character is facing the threatening results of Science moving beyond his
or her control. This is the conflict between character and the results of Science discovery.

For example, “Frankenstein”, a novel by Mary Shelley, tells the story of gifted scientist Victor Frankenstein who succeeds in giving
life to a being of his own creation. However, this is not the perfect specimen he imagines that it will be, but rather a hideous
creature who is rejected by Victor and mankind in general. The Monster seeks its revenge through murder and terror.

5. The perspective or vantage point of the speaker or the narrator is called the POINT OF VIEW. There
are four common types of point view that can be used and observed in a literary work.
 a. First person - The character within the story is the one telling it and uses
his or her perspective. It uses the pronoun I in the main
narrative of the story .
Example: As I walked along the shore, the sun was setting, and the waves were starting to crawl to my
feet.
b. Second person - The narrator in the story is talking to the reader as if the reader is also a
character in the story. It uses the pronoun you in the main narrative of the
story.
Example: You are about to take part in a wonderful journey.

c. Third-person objective - The narrator gives an unbiased point of view since the telling of the
story does not mention the characters’ thoughts, opinions, or
feelings.
Example: Ms. Garcia entered the class. The whole class fell silent.
d. Third-person omniscient - The narrator is not part of the story but could see and narrate
what the characters are feeling and thinking. The narrator is
knowledgeable of the story.

Example: The students were all excited for the first day of class. Students of section Acacia did not know
who their adviser will be. Since their section is known to be the noisiest in their batch, most
teachers would like to avoid being their adviser. As Ms. Garcia, the strictest teacher in school,
entered their room, the whole class fell silent, and she thought it was just as well that they knew
they should be quiet in her class. Matt, usually the noisiest one, gulped and looked anxious,
already knowing his antics would not be tolerated when Ms. Garcia is around.

6. The SETTING is the time and place where the story is set. It can also include the weather, the social and
political climate, and the cultural environment.
Example: In Ernest Hemingway’s “Hills Like White Elephants,” the train station and its location serve
as a third character, representative of the psychological state of the two main characters.
7. THEME, on the other hand, is the central idea of the story, and to an extent, the
purpose for its utterance.
Example: One of the main themes in Samuel Beckett’s “Waiting for Godot” is the absurdity of human life.

At this point, let us determine the Literary Techniques Used in Prose.

Literary techniques are used in texts to convey its meaning. Literary techniques give more emphasis to a
writer's ideas to make them stand out. Here are two of the most common literary techniques used in prose:

1. A FLASHBACK is a scene or a passage that interrupts the present action of a plot to introduce a past
event.
Example: a scene of a woman taking care of her baby flashing back to the time when she
could not conceive and have been going to the hospital with her husband
2. FORESHADOWING, on the other hand, is the use of clues or indication suggesting at a future event in
the story. This is used to arouse the reader's’ curiosity and build up suspense.
Example: A locked cabinet mentioned early in the story turns out to contain a valuable art
piece that will save the protagonist from financial difficulties.
 The above list of literary elements of prose allow us to determine the elements found in any literary
piece either in short story, novel, and the like. These literary elements of prose help us understand better the
text of the literary piece. Failure to recognize the literary elements of prose leads us to shallow
understanding which sometimes put our knowledge at risk.
Now at this point, let us use a literary piece to dissect those literary elements of prose mentioned
above. We will be using Anton Chekhov’s story entitled “A Lady’s Story”. But before that, let us unlock some
difficult words that you will encounter as you read the story.

Unlocking of Difficult Terms

1. poplar ( noun ) - a tall tree that grows in cold climate.
We saw a lot of poplars when we went to Ireland in the Wintertime.
2. turret ( noun ) - a small tower attached to a larger tower.
Some old castles in the British countryside still have their turrets intact.
3. rapture ( noun ) - a feeling of intense joy.
It is difficult to compare anything to the rapture of accomplishing something you’ve
worked on for years.
4. disillusioned ( adjective ) - extreme disappointment that something/someone you thought
was good turned out to be bad.\
I became disillusioned when I saw that the singer I liked was mean to his staff.
5. fancy ( verb ) - imagine.
While on the plane, I passed the time by fancying that I was traveling through a kingdom of
clouds.

A Lady’s Story
by Anton Chekhov
Nine years ago Pyotr Sergeyitch, the deputy prosecutor, and I were riding towards evening in
haymaking time to fetch the letters from the station. The weather was magnificent, but on our way back we
heard a peal of thunder, and saw an angry black storm-cloud which was coming straight towards us. The
stormcloud was approaching us and we were approaching it. Against the background of it our house and
church looked white and the tall poplars shone like silver. There was a scent of rain and mown hay. My
companion was in high spirits. He kept laughing and talking all sorts of nonsense. He said it would be nice if we
could suddenly come upon a medieval castle with turreted towers, with moss on it and owls, in which we
could take shelter from the rain and in the end be killed by a thunderbolt....

Then the first wave raced through the rye and a field of oats, there was a gust of wind, and the
dust flew round and round in the air. Pyotr Sergeyitch laughed and spurred on his horse. “It’s fine!” he cried,
“it’s splendid!” Infected by his gaiety, I too began laughing at the thought that in a minute I should be
drenched to the skin and might be struck by lightning.

Riding swiftly in a hurricane when one is breathless with the wind, and feels like a bird, thrills one and puts
one’s heart in a flutter. By the time we rode into our courtyard the wind had gone down, and big drops of rain
were pattering on the grass and on the roofs. There was not a soul near the stable.
 Pyotr Sergeyitch himself took the bridles off, and led the horses to their stalls. I stood in the
doorway waiting for him to finish, and watching the slanting streaks of rain; the sweetish, exciting scent of
hay was even stronger here than in the fields; the storm-clouds and the rain made it almost twilight. “What a
crash!” said Pyotr Sergeyitch, coming up to me after a very loud rolling peal of thunder when it seemed as
though the sky were split in two. “What do you say to that?” He stood beside me in the doorway and, still
breathless from his rapid ride, looked at me. I could see that he was admiring me. “Natalya Vladimirovna,” he
said, “I would give anything only to stay here a little longer and look at you. You are lovely today.” His eyes
looked at me with delight and supplication, his face was pale.

On his beard and mustache were glittering raindrops, and they, too, seemed to be looking at me
with love. “I love you,” he said. “I love you, and I am happy at seeing you. I know you cannot be my wife, but I
want nothing, I ask nothing; only know that I love you. Be silent, do not answer me, take no notice of it, but only
know that you are dear to me and let me look at you.” His rapture affected me too; I looked at his
enthusiastic face, listened to his voice which mingled with the patter of the rain, and stood as though
spellbound, unable to stir. I longed to go on endlessly looking at his shining eyes and listening. “You say
nothing, and that is splendid,” said Pyotr Sergeyitch. “Go on being silent.” I felt happy. I laughed with delight
and ran through the drenching rain to the house; he laughed too, and, leaping as he went, ran after me.

Both drenched, panting, noisily clattering up the stairs like children, we dashed into the room. My
father and brother, who were not used to seeing me laughing and light-hearted, looked at me in surprise
and began laughing too. The storm-clouds had passed over and the thunder had ceased, but the raindrops
still glittered on Pyotr Sergeyitch’s beard. The whole evening till supper-time he was singing, whistling,
playing noisily with the dog and racing about the room after it, so that he nearly upset the servant with the
samovar. And at supper he ate a great deal, talked nonsense, and maintained that when one eats fresh
cucumbers in winter there is the fragrance of spring in one’s mouth.

When I went to bed I lighted a candle and threw my window wide open, and an undefined feeling
took possession of my soul. I remembered that I was free and healthy, that I had rank and wealth, that I was
beloved; above all, that I had rank and wealth, rank and wealth, my God! how nice that was!... Then, huddling
up in bed at a touch of cold which reached me from the garden with the dew, I tried to discover whether I
loved Pyotr Sergeyitch or not,... and fell asleep unable to reach any conclusion. And when in the morning I saw
quivering patches of sunlight and the shadows of the lime trees on my bed, what had happened yesterday
rose vividly in my memory. Life seemed to me rich, varied, full of charm. Humming, I dressed quickly and went
out into the garden.... And what happened afterwards? Why—nothing. In the winter when we lived in town
Pyotr Sergeyitch came to see us from time to time.

Country acquaintances are charming only in the country and in summer; in the town and in winter
they lose their charm. When you pour out tea for them in the town it seems as though they are wearing other
people’s coats, and as though they stirred their tea too long. In the town, too, Pyotr Sergeyitch spoke
sometimes of love, but the effect was not at all the same as in the country. In the town we were more vividly
conscious of the wall that stood between us. I had rank and wealth, while he was poor, and he was not even a
nobleman, but only the son of a deacon and a deputy public prosecutor; we both of us—I through my youth
and he for some unknown reason—thought of that wall as very high and thick, and when he was with us in the
town he would criticize aristocratic society with a forced smile, and maintain a sullen silence when there was
anyone else in the drawing-room.

There is no wall that cannot be broken through, but the heroes of the modern romance, so far as I
know them, are too timid, spiritless, lazy, and oversensitive, and are too ready to resign themselves to the
thought that they are doomed to failure, that personal life has disappointed them; instead of struggling
they merely criticize, calling the world vulgar and forgetting that their criticism passes little by little into
vulgarity. I was loved, happiness was not far away, and seemed to be almost touching me; I went on living in
careless ease without trying to understand myself, not knowing what I expected or what I wanted from life,
and time went on and on.... People passed by me with their love, bright days and warm nights flashed by, the
nightingales sang, the hay smelt fragrant, and all this, sweet and overwhelming in remembrance, passed
with me as with everyone rapidly, leaving no trace, was not prized, and vanished like mist.... Where is it all?
My father is dead, I have grown older; everything that delighted me, caressed me, gave me hope—
the patter of the rain, the rolling of the thunder, thoughts of happiness, talk of love—all that has become
nothing but a memory, and I see before me a flat desert distance; on the plain not one living soul, and out
there on the horizon it is dark and terrible.... A ring at the bell.... It is Pyotr Sergeyitch. When in the winter I see
the trees and remember how green they were for me in the summer I whisper: “Oh, my darlings!” And when I
see people with whom I spent my spring-time, I feel sorrowful and warm and whisper the same thing. He has
long ago by my father’s good offices been transferred to town. He looks a little older, a little fallen away. He
has long given up declaring his love, has left off talking nonsense, dislikes his official work, is ill in some way
and disillusioned; hehas given up trying to get anything out of life, and takes no interest in living.
Now he has sat down by the hearth and looks in silence at the fire.... Not knowing what to say I ask him: “Well,
what have you to tell me?” “Nothing,” he answers. And silence again. The red glow of the fire plays about his
melancholy face. I thought of the past, and all at once my shoulders began quivering, my head dropped, and
I began weeping bitterly. I felt unbearably sorry for myself and for this man, and passionately longed for
what had passed away and what life refused us now. And now I did not think about rank and wealth. I broke
into loud sobs, pressing my temples, and muttered: “My God! my God! My life is wasted!” And he sat and was
silent, and did not say to me: “Don’t weep.” He understood that I must weep, and that the time for this had
come. I saw from his eyes that he was sorry for me; and I was sorry for him, too, and vexed with this timid,
unsuccessful man who could not make a life for me, nor for himself.
When I saw him to the door, he was, I fancied, purposely a long while putting on his coat. Twice he
kissed my hand without a word, and looked a long while into my tear-stained face. I believe at that moment
he recalled the storm, the streaks of rain, our laughter, my face that day; he longed to say something to me,
and hewould have been glad to say it; but he said nothing, he merely shook his head and pressed my hand.
God help him! After seeing him out, I went back to my study and again sat on the carpet before the fireplace;
the red embers were covered with ash and began to grow dim. The frost tapped still more angrily at the
windows, and the wind droned in the chimney. The maid came in and, thinking I was asleep, called my name.

Summary of the Story

Natalya was once a happy and radiant young woman. Now an older woman, she reflects about
her youth. In particular, she thinks about the heavy emphasis she put on her wealth and the
relationships and experiences that it cost her. One man, Pyotr, loved her, but they both let their
different statuses in society prevent their love from having a chance. After years of
unhappiness and regret, Pyotr comes to visit Natalya.

Below is a sample analysis of the story based on the discussion:

Plot
● The plot follows a chronological sequence of events. It can be separated into three acts, the first
of which involves events nine years prior to the narrator’s current time and showed the blooming of
love between Pyotr Sergeyitch and Natalya Vladimirovna. The second act is transitional, showing
how that love was not acted upon and gradually cooled as obstacles, such as their rank and status,
became clear. The third act occurs in the narrator’s present, and details what happened during their
last meeting, when both had grown older and more disillusioned.
Atmosphere
● In the following excerpts, the author used vivid descriptions of the surroundings and weather
to illustrate the feelings of the two main characters. In the beginning, the two almost-lovers
experienced the excitement of their young love, likening its onslaught to a sudden storm.
○ “The weather was magnificent, but on our way back we heard a peal of thunder, and
saw an angry black storm-cloud which was coming straight towards us. The storm-
cloud was approaching us and we were approaching it.”
○ “Against the background of it our house and church looked white and the tall poplars
shone like silver. There was a scent of rain and mown hay.”
○ “Then the first wave raced through the rye and a field of oats, there was a gust of
wind, and the dust flew round and round in the air.”
○ “By the time we rode into our courtyard the wind had gone down, and big drops of
rain were pattering on the grass and on the roofs. There was not a soul near the stable.”
○ “The storm-clouds had passed over and the thunder had ceased, but the raindrops
still glittered on Pyotr Sergeyitch’s beard.”
● Near the end of the story, the author illustrates a very different mood. In contrast to the vivid
imagery shared at a rapid, almost manic pace from the first act, the imagery at the end is more
muted and somber, showing the morose turn the story went.
○ “After seeing him out, I went back to my study and again sat on the carpet before the
fireplace; the red embers were covered with ash and began to grow dim. The frost
tapped still more angrily at the windows, and the wind droned in the chimney.”
Characterization
● The following excerpts illustrate a very clear characterization of Pyotr Sergeyitch at the start
of the story. As a young man in love and living in the moment, the imagery around Pyotr was
flowery and cheerful.
○ “My companion was in high spirits. He kept laughing and talking all sorts of nonsense.
He said it would be nice if we could suddenly come upon a medieval castle with turreted
towers, with moss on it and owls, in which we could take shelter from the rain and in the
end be killed by a thunderbolt…”
○ “ His eyes looked at me with delight and supplication , his face was pale. On his beard
and mustache were glittering raindrops, and they, too, seemed to be looking at me with
love. ”
○ “The storm-clouds had passed over and the thunder had ceased, but the raindrops
still glittered on Pyotr Sergeyitch’s beard. The whole evening till supper-time he was
singing, whistling, playing noisily with the dog and racing about the room after it , so that
he nearly upset the servant with the samovar. And at supper he ate a great deal, talked
nonsense, and maintained that when one eats fresh cucumbers in winter there is the
fragrance of spring in one’s mouth.”
● In the second act, we see a more in-depth illustration of the characters of Pyotr and the
narrator, named Natalya Vladimirovna. The author informs us of their difference in rank and
status, and how this fact begins to dawn on both Pyotr and Natalya. The author also shows the
gradual muting of Pyotr’s cheerful character from the first act. And in the third act, we see that
time has completely extinguished Pyotr’s youthful optimism and gaiety.
○ “ I had rank and wealth, while he was poor, and he was not even a nobleman, but only
th son of a deacon and a deputy public prosecutor ; we both of us—I through my youth
and he for some unknown reason—thought of that wall as very high and thick, and when
he was with us in the town he would criticize aristocratic society with a forced smile, and
maintain a sullen silence when there was anyone else in the drawing-room .”
 ○ “He has long ago by my father’s good offices been transferred to town. He looks a
little older, a little fallen away. He has long given up declaring his love, has left off talking
nonsense, dislikes his official work, is ill in some way and disillusioned; he has given up
trying to get anything out of life, and takes no interest in living. Now he has sat down by
the hearth and looks in silence at the fire…”
● The following excerpts show the characterization of the narrator, Natalya Vladimirovna, in the
first act. From the descriptions, she initially was not a cheerful woman, but the blooming of first
love and her naivety on where that love would go led her to become more carefree.
○ “My father and brother, who were not used to seeing me laughing and light-hearted,
looked at me in surprise and began laughing too.”
○ “ I was loved, happiness was not far away, and seemed to be almost touching me ; I
went on living in careless ease without trying to understand myself, not knowing what I
expected or what I wanted from life, and time went on and on… ”
● However, in the second act, the characterization of Natalya slowly becomes bitterer. As she
matured, she watched other people whose love blossomed around her while she remained stuck in
the unfulfilled love from her youth. By the third act, the descriptions begin to paint the portrait of
a weary, bitter, and lonely woman.
○ “People passed by me with their love, bright days and warm nights flashed by, the
nightingales sang, the hay smelt fragrant, and all this, sweet and overwhelming in
remembrance, passed with me as with everyone rapidly, leaving no trace, was not
prized, and vanished like mist… ”
○ “My father is dead, I have grown older; everything that delighted me, caressed me,
gave me hope—the patter of the rain, the rolling of the thunder, thoughts of happiness,
talk of love—all that has become nothing but a memory, and I see before me a flat desert
distance; on the plain not one living soul, and out there on the horizon it is dark and
terrible… ”
Conflict
● The story makes use of the Man Vs. Man, Man Vs. Nature, and Man Vs. Himself types of conflict.
○ Man Vs. Man: We can consider the emotional conflict between Pyotr and Natalya a
“Man Vs. Man” conflict. From certain passages in the story, we can infer that Natalya
carries some resentment towards Pyotr for not acting on his feelings and fighting
harder for their love.
■ “There is no wall that cannot be broken through, but the heroes of the modern
romance, so far as I know them, are too timid, spiritless, lazy, and oversensitive,
and are too ready to resign themselves to the thought that they are doomed to
failure, that personal life has disappointed them; instead of struggling they merely
criticize, calling the world vulgar and forgetting that their criticism passes little by
little into vulgarity .”
○ Man Vs. Nature: This is evident in the conflict of the main characters, particularly
Natalya, who had a conflict with time. At some point, the passage of time becomes
Natalya’s worst enemy, as it goes by taking everything from her while giving nothing.
■ “ People passed by me with their love, bright days and warm nights flashed by,
the nightingales sang, the hay smelt fragrant, and all this, sweet and overwhelming
in remembrance, passed with me as with everyone rapidly, leaving no trace, was
not prized, and vanished like mist.... Where is it all? ”
 ■ “ My father is dead, I have grown older; everything that delighted me, caressed
me, gave me hope—the patter of the rain, the rolling of the thunder, thoughts of
happiness, talk of love—all that has become nothing but a memory, and I see
before me a flat desert distance; on the plain not one living soul, and out there on
the horizon it is dark and terrible… ”
■ “I felt unbearably sorry for myself and for this man, and passionately longed
for what had passed away and what life refused us now. And now I did not think
about rank and wealth.”
○ Man Vs. Himself is most evident in Pyotr’s character. He is constantly portrayed to
be battling against his cowardice and desire to simply go with the flow of societal
norms in order to be with Natalya; however, he always loses this particular conflict.
■ “In the town, too, Pyotr Sergeyitch spoke sometimes of love, but the effect
was not at all the same as in the country. In the town we were more vividly
conscious of the wall that stood between us.”
■ “ He has long given up declaring his love , has left off talking nonsense, dislikes
his official work, is ill in some way and disillusioned; he has given up trying to get
anything out of life, and takes no interest in living .”
■ “When I saw him to the door, he was, I fancied, purposely a long while putting
on his coat . Twice he kissed my hand without a word, and looked a long while into
my tear-stained face . I believe at that moment he recalled the storm, the streaks
of rain, our laughter, my face that day; he longed to say something to me, and he
would have been glad to say it; but he said nothing, he merely shook his head and
pressed my hand. “
○ The story also makes use of the Man Vs. Society form of conflict, as Pyotr and
Natalya are hindered from pursuing their feelings by societal norms.
Point of View
● The point of view used in the story is the first person point of view. We experienced the
events from the perspective of Natalya Vladimirovna, who is one of the two main characters.
This is also indicated by the text’s use of the words “I”, “me”, “we”, and “us” in the narration.
Setting
● The setting of the story is in Russia sometime in the past. This can be gleaned from the
following details:
○ “Nine years ago Pyotr Sergeyitch, the deputy prosecutor, and I were riding towards
evening in haymaking time to fetch the letters from the station .”
○ “Pyotr Sergeyitch himself took the bridles off, and led the horses to their stalls .”
■ The lines in bold indicates that during the setting of the story, people regularly
rode horseback and needed to go to the station in order to fetch letters. These
details indicate that the story happened in the past; far enough ago that horses
and handwritten letters were commonplace, but not so far back that stations did
not exist.
○ “Against the background of it our house and church looked white and the tall
poplars shone like silver.”
■ As poplars are trees that grow only in cold, Northern areas, we can infer that
the story happens in a Northern country, one of which is Russia.
○ “Pyotr Sergeyitch” and “Natalya Vladimirovna” are both Russian names. Therefore,
the story must have occurred in Russia.
Theme
● One of the main themes of “A Lady’s Story” is the destructive quality of regret and of love
unfulfilled.
Other Literary Techniques
● Foreshadowing
○ “The weather was magnificent, but on our way back we heard a peal of thunder,
and saw an angry black storm-cloud which was coming straight towards us. The
storm-cloud was approaching us and we were approaching it.”
■ The above passage, which appears early in the first act, can be
considered as foreshadowing. Although the storm can be interpreted as
the sudden and intense occurrence of the feelings of love between the two
main characters, it can also be interpreted more negatively. The
“magnificent weather” can stand for their naive youth, when love made
everything seem grand. The storm, which “was approaching us and we
were approaching it”, also stands for the arrival of the obstacles to that
love. At the time, societal pressures and norms were as inevitable as a
storm. The storm can also stand for the passage of time and the
destructive power of regret, as it washed away all the beautiful feelings
they had of their love in their youth.

C. Practice
1. Guided Practice
DIRECTIONS: Choose the letter of the correct answer. Write the chosen letter on a separate sheet of
paper.
1. Which element refers to the time and location where the story happens?
a. Plot b. Setting c. Conflict d. Characterization
2. The phrase, “Don’t judge the book by its cover,” is an example of
a. Mood b. Setting c. Theme d. Conflict
3. What do you call the most important character in a story?
a. antagonize b. protagonist c. antagonist d. instigator
4. Which plot structure creates tone, presents characters and other important details to introduce the
story?
a. Setting b. Theme c. Exposition d. Climax
5. Which element of a short story is known as the vantage point used to narrate the story?
a. Setting b. Theme c. Exposition d. Point of view
6. What do you call the character who contends with the main character in a short story?
a. investigator b. protagonist c. antagonist d. instigator
7. Which element of short story shows the author’s attitude or feelings?
a. Plot b. Theme c. Exposition d. Tone
8. What do you call the events that happen in a short story?
a. Setting b. Theme c. Plot d. Conflict
9. Which of the following is considered as the essence of fiction?
a. Setting b. Theme c. Conflict d. Climax
10. What do you call the series of events when things start to happen in the
story?
a. Rising Action b. Theme c. Exposition d. Falling Action
11. Which element is always presented at the final part of the story?
a. Resolution b. Theme c. Exposition d. Climax
12. Which element is considered as the high point in the story?
a. Setting b. Theme c. Exposition d. Climax
13. Which element refers to the series of events and character actions that relate to the central conflict?
a. Setting b. Theme c. Plot d. Conflict
14. Which is considered as the base or beginning of a story?
a. Setting b. Theme c. Exposition d. Climax
15. What comes after the climax when things or events begin to work out?
a. Rising Action b. Theme c. Exposition d. Falling Action
2. Independent Practice
Directions: Read the following selection then identify the narrative elements present in the text. Write your
answers in your answer sheet.

Aries – The Ram

Athamas, the legendary king of Thessaly, had two children, Phrixus and Helle. He had remarried and
Ino, the children’s stepmother, began to treat them very badly. They were treated so cruelly that Hermes
took pity on them and sent a magical ram to take them away and escape their stepmother’s wrath.

Mounted on the ram’s back, the children flew over land and sea to the east. Unfortunately, Helle
failed to get a good hold on the fleece of the ram and as they flew over the strait that separates Europe and
Asia, she fell off and was drowned in the sea far below. That sea is called Hellespont to this day in honor of
her memory.

Phrixus landed safely at Colches, which is on the edge of the Black Sea. Ingratitude for his safe
deliverance, Phrixus sacrificed the ram and gave its Golden Fleece to the king of that country.

In honor of the ram’s great sacrifice in saving the children, Zeus placed the ram’s constellation, Aries,
in the night sky. (adapted from “Constellation Legends”)

1. Characters

2. Setting

3. Conflict

4. Point of View

5. Plot
Exposition:
 Rising Action:

Climax:

Falling Action::

Resolution:

6. Theme

D. Performance

Readers Theater

DIRECTIONS: Form a Group of 5. Each group will o a

readers theater of the story The
Borrower and the Boy by Mary
Norton. The group will observe reading
fluency, expression, speed and volume
for a successful performance.

Record your group presentation and submit your output

in the designated submission portal below. Be guided
with the scoring rubrics attached.
V.Evaluation

DIRECTIONS: Answer the questions that follow:

1.Are you familiar with oration? If your answer is no, find ways to know its meaning or definition.
2.Have you tried delivering an oratorical piece? If yes, share your experience. What is your favorite
oratorical piece?
3.Have you experienced writing/composing an oratorical speech? If yes, what/who was your
inspiration/motivation?

Answer Key

A. Preparation
1. Like A Molave
2. The Two Faces of America
3. I Married the Newspaperman
4. Footnote to the Youth
5. Dead Stars
6. Bread of Salt