Name: ___________________________________ Grade & Section: ________________ Date: ________

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GRADE 10 ENGLISH
Quarter 1 / Week 4

Topic: Appraising the elements of Short Story: Plot, Setting, Characters

Learning Competency: Appraise the unity of plot, setting and characterization in a material viewed to
achieve the writer’s purpose (EN10VC-IVc-29)

“Appraise” in Merriam Webster.Com Dictionary, is to evaluate the worth, significance, or status of…or
to give an expert judgment of the value of… which means that it is an act to evaluate or judge a certain story, etc.
to know its worth. On the other hand, writer’s purpose refers to the Why or reason/s of writing about the story.
Basically, the author’s purposes in writing are to inform, to persuade, and to entertain. To inform
means the author gives the readers facts and information of something, while to persuade means the author
influences or convinces the readers to agree with his point of view or opinion and make an action. Further, the
author presents his opinions and makes emotional appeals, gives facts but just a single point of view and the
information may be biased. On the other hand, to entertain means the author wants the readers to be amused or
to be delighted or to be entertained of the literary works like short story, novel, or poetry.
Reading a literary work, like short story, exposes us to significant human experiences and helps us
become a better person. Every story or any piece of literature must contain certain components to be able to
relate to readers. Below are the basic elements:
A. Plot refers to the sequence of events in a story. It contains the events that occur. There are five essential parts
of a plot: 1. Exposition, introduces the setting and characters;
2. Rising action, reveals the conflict or problem faced by the characters;
3. Climax, the most interesting part of the story considered to be the highest point;
4. Falling Action, the untangling of events where problems or mysteries show probability to be resolved;
5. Denouement or Resolution, the story comes in to conclusion that marks the ending. The conflict
or issue may or may not be resolved at the end.
B. The setting is the context in which the story takes place. It includes the time, the place, and the social
environment. It also covers weather condition where and when the story happens. Setting can also establish
the atmosphere, or mood, of a story or a specific scene. Establishing this mood allows the reader to relate to the
characters within a story. The setting is extremely important as it can have immense effects on the plot and the
characters.
C. Characterization is the way in which authors convey information about their characters. The characters are
people or other actors who move along the plot. In order to interest and move readers, characters need to seem
real. It is a technique used by a writer in creating and developing a character. Major and minor characters that
play significant role are present in a story.

Read the passage below and figure out how the major characters, setting and events unite with one
another to make up an interesting story.

Narcissus was a hunter in Greek mythology, son of the river god Cephissus and the nymph Liriope. He
was a very beautiful young man, and many fell in love with him. However, he only showed them disdain and
contempt. One day, while he was hunting in the woods, the nymph Echo spotted him and immediately fell for
him. When Narcissus sensed that someone was following him, Echo eventually revealed herself and tried to hug
him. However, he pushed her off and told her not to disturb him. Echo, in despair, roamed around the woods for
the rest of her life, and wilted away until all it remained of her was an  echo sound. Nemesis, the goddess of
retribution and revenge, learned what had happened and decided to punish Narcissus for his behavior. She led
him to a pool of water; there, the man, Narcissus himself, saw his reflection in the water and fell in love with it.
He did not realize in the beginning that it was just a reflection. He kept coming back to the deep well of water to
see the reflection of the man he felt in love with. It was only after a very long while when he understood that the
man he felt in love with was just his own reflection. He fell in despair that his longing for love could not be
realized.  

https://www.greekmythology.com/Myths/Mortals/Narcissus/narcissus.html

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What have you realized after reading the text above?

Remember!

Wright (2019) said that reading literature enables us to see the world through the eyes of others. It trains the
mind to be flexible, to comprehend other points of view—to set aside one’s personal perspectives to see life through
the eyes of someone who is of another age, class, or race. Reading literature nurtures and develops the power of
sympathetic insight. Indeed, Literature mirrors life. And reading is a lifelong skill. It helps you grow in wisdom.

ACTIVITY 1. LOOKING CLOSELY. Look at the image and answer the questions that follow.

What do you call this object?

How is this thing used?
Is this a musical instrument?
If yes, then where or when is this played?
Who do you think are interested to use or own this?
Describe a person who used to play with it.

ACTIVITY 2. IMAGE I SEE

Describe the two characters on this image.

Who do you think are they?
How are they related with each other?
Where do you think are they? Can you figure out
when was this scene taking place?
What could be the significant events or situations
that these two had to deal with?

ACTIVITY 3. PICTURE GALORE

Look at the collage below and make connections to make up an interesting story.

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_______________________________________________________________________________________
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ACTIVITY 4. WATCH AND LEARN

A. Log on to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BqILuGnxqR4 and be able to watch a video clip.

B. In case the Internet connection is not accessible at the moment, please read the text below:

Myths are stories about gods, goddesses, and heroes passed from one generation to another. Many
Greek myths have a great deal of influence on our culture. For ages, writers, artists, and musicians have
used mythological characters as their inspiration.

ACTIVITY 5. PERSONA REVEALED!

CHARACTERS DESCRIPTION / CHARACTER TRAITS / ROLE
Orpheus
Eurydice
Hades
Persephone
Describe the following major characters in the story that you have just learned by writing words or phrases
about their character traits based on their actions taken and words spoken in the story.

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ACTIVITY 6. PLOT THE PLOT
Use the graphic organizer below to present the essential elements of the story you have just learned. Write
briefly the details in the specific portion of the textual aid below.

ACTIVITY 7. UNITY OF THREE: CHARACTERS, SETTING, AND PLOT

Based on the activities above, state how important is the unity of characters, setting and plot in any story.
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
What could be the author’s purpose in telling the story? What does she want us to realize about life’s
realities?
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ACTIVITY 8. WIZ QUIZ

Read each item below closely. Write the letter that corresponds to your choice on the blank before each
number.

ORPHEUS
Alice Low

There were nine goddesses called Muses. Born out of Zeus and a Titan named Mnemosyne, each
muse presided over a different art or science. Calliope, one of these sisters, was the inspiration of poets and
musicians. She was the mother of Orpheus (a mortal because his father was one) and gave to her son a
remarkable talent for music.
Orpheus played his lyre so sweetly that he charmed all things on earth. Men and women forgot their
cares when gathered around him to listen. Wild beasts lay down as they gathered around him as if they were
tame, entranced by his soothing notes. Even rocks and trees followed him, and the rivers changed their
direction to hear him play.

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 Orpheus loved a young woman named Eurydice, and when they were married, they looked forward
to many years of happiness together. But soon after, Eurydice stepped on a poisonous snake and died.
Orpheus roamed the earth, singing sad melodies to try to overcome his grief. But it was no use. He
longed for Eurydice so deeply that he decided to follow her to the underworld. He said to himself, “No
mortal has ever been there before, but I must try to bring back my beloved Eurydice. I will charm
Persephone and Hades with my music and win Eurydice’s release.”
He climbed into a cave and through a dark passage that led to the underworld. When he reached the
river Styx, he plucked his lyre again, and Cerberus, the fierce three-headed
dog who guarded the gates, heard the sweet music and lay still to let him
pass. Orpheus continued to play his lyre tenderly as he made his way through
the gloomy underworld. The ghosts cried when they heard his sad music.
Sisyphus, who had been condemned to roll uphill forever, stopped his
fruitless work to listen. Tantalus, who had been sentenced to stand in a pool
of receding water, stopped trying to quench his thirst. And even the wheel to
which Ixion was tied as punishment stopped turning for one moment.
At last Orpheus came to the palace of Hades and Persephone, King
and Queen of the underworld. Before they could order him to leave, he began
his gentle song, pleading for Eurydice. When stern Hades heard Orpheus’
song, he began to weep. Cold Persephone was so moved that, for the first
time in all her months in the underworld, her heart melted. “Oh, please, my
husband,” she said to Hades, “let Eurydice be reunited with Orpheus.” And
Hades replied, “I, too, feel the sadness of Orpheus. I cannot refuse him.”
They summoned Eurydice, and the two lovers clasped each other and turned to leave. “Wait!” said
Hades to Orpheus. “Eurydice is yours to take back to earth on one condition.” “What is that?” asked
Orpheus. “She must follow you, and you must not look back at her until you are on earth again.” “I
understand,” said Orpheus, “and I am forever grateful.”
Orpheus and Eurydice left the underworld and made their way through the dark passage that led to
the upper world. At last they reached the cave through which Orpheus had descended. “I can see daylight
ahead” called Orpheus to Eurydice. “We are almost there.” But Eurydice had not heard him, and so she did
not answer. Orpheus turned to make sure that she was still following him. He caught one last glimpse of her
arms stretched out to him. And then she disappeared, swallowed by darkness. “Farewell,” he heard her cry
as she was carried back to the underworld.
Orpheus tried to follow her, but this time the gods would not allow it. And so he wandered the earth
alone. He sang his sad songs to the trees and longed for the time when he, too, would die and be reunited
with his beloved Eurydice in the underworld.

_____1. Orpheus’s journey to the underworld is unusual because

A. only the souls of the dead typically go there C. his stirring music brings the dead back to life
B. he takes Hades’ place as ruler of the underworld D. he finds the Underworld to be filled with strange
creatures
_____2. Who in the underworld was not soothed by Orpheus' song?
Cerberus B. Nobody C. Sisiphus D. The souls

_____3. How did Hades and Persephone react to Orpheus's song?

A. They were furious and cast him out of the underworld.
B. Both covered their ears and then fell asleep for a moment.
C. Hades and Persophone told him that they sympathised with him, but were unable to help him.
D. They were so touched by his song, that even they wept for him, and so agreed to grant his
request.
_____ 4. What happened when Orpheus turned around to Eurydice, to make sure she was following?
A. She pushed him. C. She started fading away.
B. Eurydice scared him. D. Orpheus was killed by Eurydice.

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_____ 5. Because of his impatience, Orpheus was
A. punished and torn himself apart. C. never again reunited with Eurydice.
B. held prisoner in the underworld. D. laughed at by the Greek gods.

_____6. Orpheus loses Eurydice a second time when he

A. looks back to see if she is following him. C. takes a wrong path out of the
underworld.
B. angers the creatures in the underworld. D. climbs too slowly to the uppe word.

_____ 7. For the ancient Greeks, one purpose of this myth was most likely to
A. examine death and the afterlife. B. show that music brings hope to people.
C. advise people never to give up on their dreams. D. portray a man who is transformed into a
different creature.
_____8 . Orpheus’s lesson learned was
A. to follow instructions. B. don’t be vain. C. be polite. D. be prepared.
_____9. The queen of the underworld, Persephone, is initially being described in this story as
A. young and lovely. C. mature and refined.
B. quiet and shy. D. pale and unemotional.
_____10. Which of the following words best characterizes Orpheus’s attitude toward Hades?
A. admiring B. distrustful C. loyal d. Submissive
____11. What characteristic of Orpheus which you like best? Why?
A. Being a music lover because I could feel it.
B. As a good musician since his music is the soul.
C. Being a faithful husband who loved his wife so much, so he distrusted the gods.
D. As a legendary hero because he was endowed with superhuman musical skills that made
him became the patron of a religious movement based on sacred writings said to be his own.
12. Check the box/es before the number below of the lesson/s you learned from the story
Orpheus.

1. being patient
2. being aggressive
3. keeping one’s faith
4. trusting both gods and in love
5. letting your head rule your heart
6. letting your heart rule your head

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References:
https://in01001403.schoolwires.net/cms/lib/IN01001403/Centricity/Domain/1196/Orpheus%20Questions.pdf
Janovsky, A. Setting in Literature: Definition, Importance and Examples. Retrieved on May 13. 2020 from
https://study.com/academy/lesson/setting-in-literature-definition-importance-examples.html
K-12 English 10 Learner’s Material. Celebrating Diversity through World Literature. pp 55-57.

Orpheus’ images. Retrieved on May 13, 2020 from

https://www.google.com.ph/search?
q=orpheus+images&sxsrf=ALeKk02FX466AxeChMGM_8LR_MRLicvT3A:1589483065601&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&v
ed=2ahUKEwjth4HshbTpAhVJE6YKHd-qD_EQ_AUoAXoECAsQAw&biw=1280&bih=645#imgrc=akuHQ5810ICjvM
Wright, D. (2019, January 9). Why read literature? Retrieved on May 13, 2020 from
https://www.memoriapress.com/articles/why- read-literature/#:~:text=Reading%20literature%20enables%20us%20to,age%2C
%20class%2C%20or%20race.
https://study.com/learn/lesson/authors-purpose-examples.html
https://www.greekmythology.com/Myths/Mortals/Narcissus/narcissus.htmls
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/appraise

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This worksheet is exclusive for DepEd Digos City Division use only. We welcome any comments for the improvement of this material. Please e-mail to
[email protected] for your suggestions.

Prepared by: BERNARDINO P. MAGNO, JR.

Digos City National High School

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