21ST CENTURY

LITERATURE
Folktales and Short Stories
FOLKTALES
Folktales are stories or tales of the
ancient times which usually project
lessons that could be imbibed by
young people. These are classified
into three:
Myth
• is a fictitious narrative presented as
historical, but without basis of facts.
Legend
• is either authentic or improbable stories
popularly known as explanation of the
origin of the phenomena.
Fable
• a brief story or tale invented to embody
morals and acted by animals or inanimate
things
• Damiana Ligon Eugenio (September 27,
1921 – October 10, 2014) was a Filipino
female author and professor who was
known as the Mother of Philippine
Folklore, a title she received in 1986.
What lessons do folktales
teach?
• Folktales are generally tales that have been
told orally over time. They are stories passed
down through generations of people. They
typically have a moral lesson and reflect the
values of the culture from which they come.
Often there are stories that are similar from
one country to the next.
• We study literature so that we can better
appreciate our literary heritage. Through a
study of our literature, we can trace the rich
heritage of ideas handed down to us from our
forefathers. By the help of our literature we
can understand ourselves better and take
pride in being a Filipino.
Short Story
an aFable- a brief
storieFable-a brief
stories or tales ShShort Story- It is a work of fiction that is usually written in prose, often in narrative format. It presents
one aspect of the life of a character. It could be an incident, an event, a description of a feeling, or even
a simple act. A short story can also impact a reader and even inspire them. For persons who cannot
read novels, enjoy reading the short stories. Moreover, in a short story, the characters also share their
innermost thoughts, their motives, their feelings, their emotions, and different notions.ort Story- It is a work of fiction that is usually written in prose, often in narrative format. It presents
one aspect of thShort Story- It is a work of fiction that is usually writtenShort Story- It is a work of fiction that is usually written in prose, often in narrative format. It presents
one aspect of the life of a character. It could be an incident, an event, a description of a feeling, or even
a simple act. A short story can also impact a reader and even inspire them. For persons who cannot
read novels, enjoy reading the short stories. Moreover, in a short story, the characters also share their
innermost thoughts, their motives, their feelings, their emotions, and different notions. in prose, often in narrative format. It presents
one aspect of the life of a character. It could be an incident, an event, a description of a feeling, or even
a simple act. A short story can also impact a reader and even inspire them. For persons who cannot
read novels, enjoy reading the short stories. Moreover, in a short story, the characters also share their
innermost thoughts, their motives, their feelings, their emotions, and different notions.e life of a character. It could be an incident, an event, a description of a feeling, or even
a simple act. A short story can also impact a reader and even inspire them. For persons who cannot
read novels, enjoy reading the short stories. Moreover, in a short story, the characters also share their
innermost thoughts, their motives, their feelings, their emotions, and different notions.
invented to
embody
morals and
acted by
animals or
inanimate
things. a brief
stories or tale
invented to Fable- a brief
stories or ta brief
stories or tales
invented to
embody
morals and
acted by
animals or
inanimate
things.ales
invented to
embody
morals and
acted by
animals or
inanimate
things.
embody
morals and
acted by
animals or
inanimate
things.s or tales
invented to
embody
morals and
acted by
animals or
inanimate
things.rmies.
It is a work of fiction that is usually written in prose,
often in narrative format. It presents one aspect of the
life of a character. It could be an incident, an event, a
description of a feeling, or even a simple act. A short
story can also impact a reader and even inspire them.
For persons who cannot read novels, enjoy reading the
short stories. Moreover, in a short story, the characters
also share their innermost thoughts, their motives,
their feelings, their emotions, and different notions.
Elements of a Story
Plot
• is "what happens" in the story. The action of
every story can be mapped out using a plot
diagram. There are five key points to the plot
of every story:
1. Beginning or Exposition
•-this is when characters and
problems are introduced to the
reader.
Example:
• Romeo and Juliet's families are enemies,
but Romeo and Juliet meet at a party and
like each other.
2. Rising Action
• -this is where the problem and characters are
developed through a series of actions that builds to
the . . .
Example:
• Romeo visits Juliet on a balcony one night, and then
she sends a message to him through her nurse. They
meet and secretly wed without their families'
knowledge. Romeo kills Juliet's cousin Tybalt, and he
is exiled. Juliet's father orders her to marry someone
else. Juliet fakes her death, sending a message to
Romeo to let him know, but he hears of her death and
doesn't get the message.
3. Climax
• -this is where the problem (or conflict) is resolved in
one way or another. The climax is often called the
"turning point" in a story.
Example:
• Romeo kills himself, and Juliet wakes from her
sleep, sees him, and kills herself.
4. Falling Action or
Denouement-
• this is where the reader learns what happens
as a result of the climax-or the way in which
the problem was solved.
Example:
•The two families mourn Romeo and
Juliet.
5. Resolution
• where the entire plot is wrapped up and
there is a sense of closure for the reader
Example:

•
Romeo and Juliet's deaths have ended
their families' feud and there is peace in
Verona.
Sample Plot Diagram:
Characters
• Narratives have characters. A narrative
has to have a protagonist, which is the
main character in the story, and one or
more antagonists, characters who are in
conflict with the protagonist.
Example:
• Romeo and Juliet are the protagonists.
Their conflict is with their families and
their parents, especially Juliet whose
parents wish her to marry someone else.
Conflict
• For there to be a narrative, the main character, or
protagonist, has to have a conflict, or problem.
Sometimes the conflict involves the protagonist and
another person (man versus man).
• Sometimes the conflict involves the protagonist and
the environment or nature (man versus nature).
• At other times, the conflict involves the protagonist
against himself (man versus self), as he attempts to
overcome a weakness or flaw.
Example:
• Romeo and Juliet's conflict is that their
families are in a feud, and they are not
allowed to be with each other
 Setting
•Narratives have a time and place
where the action is set.
 Example:
• Romeo and Juliet is set in Verona, Italy.
Theme

•Narratives have a theme, or main

• Romeo and Juliet is not just about "love,"