creative writing

1. Creative Writing
Quarter 2 – Module 3:
Elements of One-Act Play:
Character, Setting and Plot

2. Creative Writing – Grade 11/12
Alternative Delivery Mode
Quarter 2 – Module 3: Elements of One-Act Play: Character, Setting and Plot
First Edition, 2020
Republic Act 8293, section 176 states that: No copyright shall subsist in any work of
the Government of the Philippines. However, prior approval of the government agency or office
wherein the work is created shall be necessary for exploitation of such work for profit. Such
agency or office may, among other things, impose as a condition the payment of royalties.
Borrowed materials (i.e., songs, stories, poems, pictures, photos, brand names,
trademarks, etc.) included in this module are owned by their respective copyright holders.
Every effort has been exerted to locate and seek permission to use these materials from their
respective copyright owners. The publisher and authors do not represent nor claim ownership
over them.
Published by the Department of Education, SDO Nueva Ecija
Schools Division Superintendent: Jessie D. Ferrer, CESO V
Assistant Schools Division Superintendent: Mina Gracia L. Acosta, PhD, CESO VI
Ronilo E. Hilario
Printed in the Philippines by Department of Education – Region III – Schools Division
Office of Nueva Ecija
Office Address : Brgy. Rizal, Santa Rosa, Nueva Ecija, 3101
Telefax : (044) 940-3121
E-mail Address : nuevaecija@deped.gov.ph
Development Team of the Module
Writer: Sherine Angelica F. Pitpit
Editor: Mira Pearl A. Baldoviso
Reviewer: Ma. Checilia S. Bagsic, PhD
Layout Evaluator: Ron Allen F. Busuego
Cover Designer: Mark G. Asuncion
Management Team: Jayne M. Garcia
Ma. Checilia S. Bagsic
Beverly T. Mangulabnan
Eleanor A. Manibog, PhD

3. 1
What I Need to Know
This module was designed and written for the learners. After going through
this module, the learner is expected to:
Conceptualize characters /setting/ plot for a one-act play.
(HUMSS_CW/MPIj-IIc-17)
What I Know
Directions: Choose the letter of the correct answer. Write your answers on a
separate sheet of paper.
1. It is a short piece of drama that has usually one or more scenes but
does not exceed one act.
A. Satirical Play C. Full-Length Play
B. One-Act Play D. Dramatic Monologue
2. The following are the three dramatic unities EXCEPT for one:
A. Unity of Action C. Unity of Time
B. Unity of Place D. Unity of Characters
3. The __________ holds the highest point of interest in the entire play.
A. Exposition C. Conflict
B. Climax D. Denouement
4. Which of the following statements is NOT TRUE about one-act plays?
A. It focuses on one central theme and conflict.
B. It is lengthy and has several sub-plots.
C. It requires a maximum of seven characters.
D. Its exposition is usually short.
5. Which statement best describes the appropriate setting of one-act
plays?
A. There should be one (or few) settings for continuity of action.
B. There should be plenty of settings for quality presentation.
C. The setting should show themes involving fantasy.
D. Settings should be changed per scene.

4. 2
Lesson
1
Elements of One-Act Play:
Character, Setting and Plot
People then and now have ways to provide and enjoy different modes of
entertainment. While many of us in the present generation love to watch
Teleseryes, Korean Dramas and shows via social media and online streaming,
people of the past has watched or staged dramas as form of entertainment.
These dramas became not only a part of history but also a huge contribution
in literature. One type of drama is the One-Act Play.
One-act plays were written and staged during the 18th and the 19th centuries
as opening and closing performances of actual dramas, with the purpose of
amusing the audience.
The origin of one-act play may be traced from the Ancient Greece, where the
one-act play “Cyclops” (a one-eyed monster) was written by Euripides.
Early forms of one-act plays were written in poetry verses. It was Henrik Ibsen,
a Norwegian playwright who made prose the medium of his one-act plays. He
made drama simple and real, bringing it closer to real-life events.
Modern versions of one-act plays were still staged at the present time. The
creation of this literary type provides a venue for creativity and self-expression
of people from this generation even in the midst of technological
advancements. One-act plays are still artistic depictions not only of history
but also of our present way of life and other relevant issues.

5. 3
What’s In
In the previous lesson, we talked about Intertextuality as a literary device
making use of a textual reference within somebody of text, which reflects
again the text used as a reference. Let us review your knowledge by analyzing
these examples:
Activity 1
Directions: Let us review the three main types of Intertextuality. In this part,
you should identify whether the given statement is an Appropriation,
Allusion or Parody.
Remember:
Appropriation is an adaptation, reuse or reinterpretation of a text in
reference to other texts.
Allusion is a reference to a person, place or event in literature, culture, Bible
or history, and;
Parody is a funny imitation of a serious piece of literature, writing, art or music.
Use the following codes in writing your answers:
AP-Appropriation
AL-Allusion
PY-Parody
1. She had found her soul mate as if it was a perfect fit of glass slippers.
2. My sister, who is a wedding organizer, has the “Midas Touch”- her
work has a gold standard.
3. A Good Samaritan helped her during the accident.
4. Mr. Bean’s face was used in Da Vinci’s Mona Lisa.
5. The top-grossing film “She’s Dating the Gangster” is from a Wattpad
story.
6. My classmate has Einstein’s Brain.
7. This place is like the Garden of Eden.
8. Darna is the Filipino film version of Wonder Woman.
9. Taylor Swift’s song, “Love Story” is derived from Shakespeare’s “Romeo
and Juliet.”
10. The apple in the cover of Stephenie Meyer’s book, “Twilight” is
replaced by a poke ball in another image.

6. 4
What’s New
Directions: Read the lines from famous playwrights and authors about drama
then share your own interpretation about it.
1. William Shakespeare (from All the World’s a Stage):
“All the world’s a stage,
And all the men and women merely players.”
-
My Interpretation:
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
2. Stewart Stafford: “The curtain rises even on an actor’s worst day.”
My Interpretation:
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
3. Alexander Pope: “Act well your part; there all the honour lies.”
My Interpretation:
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
4. Victor Hugo (from Lés Miserables): “Even the darkest night will end
and the sun will rise.”
My Interpretation:
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________

7. 5
What is It
A One-act Play is a short piece of drama that consists of only one act. It
usually has one or more scenes, but does not exceed one act.
Here are some definitions of one-act plays by experts:
Percival Wilde: “A one-act play is an orderly representation of life, arousing
emotion in an audience.”
Bernard Grebanier: “A one-act play is the elaboration of a single, significant
event.”
To be able to write a One-Act Play, we must remember the following.
Tips in Writing One-Act Plays:
1. The plot should focus on one single central idea and conflict.
2. One-act plays are limited from twenty to sixty minutes playing time.
3. Unnecessary actions should be strictly avoided because the play is
staged for only a short period of time.
4. The scenes should be simple yet realistic, showing events of daily life.
5. Use a meaningful theme in which the audience can relate to and learn
life lessons from.
6. Introduction should be short and there must be a continuous flow of
action to keep things interesting.
7. A clear conflict should be presented at the beginning and resolved at
the end of the play.
8. Use a maximum of seven characters, clarifying who the main
characters are.
9. Characters should be believable and interesting.
10. The setting should be realistic and suited to the plot.
11. Create a mood and atmosphere suitable to the plot.
12. Maintain the element of suspense.
13. Language should be simple and can be easily understood by the
audience.
14. Dialogue is an important part, so it should be believable.
15. Stage directions are added as guide to readers, stage actors and
actresses.

8. 6
Differences Between One-Act Play and Full Length Play
One-Act Full Length
Characters Maximum of 7 only can exceed 7 characters
Plot Simple and focused on
one single plot
Complex plot, sometimes
has sub-plots
Length Short, can last from
twenty minutes to one
hour
lengthy
Elements of One-Act Plays
Example of One-act Play Plan
(with identified Characters, Setting and Plot)
“The Judgment of Paris”
From Homer’s Iliad
Characters
Prince Paris of Troy -thought of as an “excellent judge of
beauty”
Hera- goddess of women and marriage
Athena- goddess of wisdom
Aphrodite- goddess of love
Setting Mount Ida near the city of Troy
Plot Exposition: (Short Background: The goddess of mischief, Eris
was not invited in the wedding of Thetis, a sea-nymph and
Peleus, a mortal king, thus she aimed to stir dispute by throwing
a golden apple in the banquet hall with the note that says “For
the Fairest.”)
Conflict: The three goddesses Hera, Athena and Aphrodite
wanted it so badly that they asked Zeus to decide who should
get it. Zeus, wanting to be fair, instructed them to go to Mt. Ida
and let Prince Paris choose whom to award the golden apple.
The three goddesses offered Prince Paris rewards in exchange of
the apple. Hera said that she will give him the power to be the
Lord of Europe and Asia. Athena promised that she will give him
the wisdom defeat the Greeks in war. Aphrodite offered to give
her Helen, the fairest woman in the world.
Climax: Paris chose Aphrodite’s offer and awarded her the
golden apple.
Denouement: Aphrodite promised to keep her end of the
bargain.

9. 7
What’s More
Activity 1. Modified True or False
Write T if the statement is TRUE about one-act plays and Change the
underlined word if the statement is FALSE. Write your answers on a separate
sheet of paper.
1. In one-act plays, characters should be limited to ten.
2. One-act plays are limited from twenty to sixty minutes playing time.
3. There is no full development of characters in one-act plays.
4. Scenes should be realistic, depicting the daily lives of normal people.
5. The plot of one-act plays is composed of six parts.
6. Climax is also known as the “backbone” of the one-act play.
7. The Exposition serves as the introduction of the one-act play.
8. A full-length play is simple and focused only on one single plot.
9. Unity of Place states that actions portrayed should not take place in
more than 24 hours.
10. The Plot contains the play’s beginning, middle and end.
Activity 2. Below is an example of a one-act play framework, with parts which
are not in order. Identify the Characters, Setting and Parts of the Plot by
writing the LETTER of your answers on a separate sheet of paper.
1. Characters: ________
2. Setting: ________
3. Exposition: ________
4. Conflict: ________
5. Climax: ________
6. Denouement: ________

10. 8
A It turned out that the rich-looking woman’s card got declined
and has no money to pay for the limited edition shoes. While
the poor-looking woman is actually an owner of a million-
dollar company who is willing to pay in cash.
B The saleswoman learned her lesson to “not judge the book by
its cover”
C A saleswoman
A salesman
A poor-looking customer
A rich-looking customer
D A poor-looking lady came into the shop and asked if she could
try on the pair of limited edition heels, but the saleswoman
refused and rather entertained a rich-looking woman. The
salesman assisted her instead.
E Shoe shop
F New limited edition shoes just came in and the two sales
personnel (man and woman) wanted make a sale to get a
commission.
Based on the video, “Shoe Saleswoman humiliates poor woman, then instantly regrets
her decision.” Dhar Mann Studios©, uploaded June 18, 2020

11. 9
The Three Dramatic Unities
Parts of the Plot
Elements of One-act play
What I Have Learned
A. Directions: Complete the graphic organizers with the concepts that you
have learned from our lesson.

12. 10
What I Can Do
A. Directions: Conceptualize your own original one-act play. Think of your
own characters, setting and parts of the plot. Follow the format below.
Characters:
Setting:
Plot: Exposition:
Conflict:
Climax:
Denouement:
Topic suggestions:
1. A funny situation in your house.
2. A teenage romance formed in social media.
3. A memorable distance learning experience.
4. Finding a lost item at home.
5. Taking care of pets.
**Note: These are only suggestions; you can always think outside the box and use
your own creative topic to conceptualize your one-act play

13. 11
Assessment
Directions: Choose the letter of the correct answer. Write your answers on a
separate sheet of paper.
1. The following are CORRECT differences between one-act play and
full-length plays, EXCEPT:
A. Full-length plays have a simpler theme than one-act plays.
B. Full-length plays have more characters than one-act plays.
C. Full-length plays are lengthier than one-act plays.
D. Full-length plays have more complex plots than one-act plays.
2. This short piece of drama elaborates a single, significant event.
A. Full-length play C. Lyric Play
B. Musical Play D. One-act play.
3. Which of the following is NOT a good tip in writing one-act plays?
A. Element of suspense should be maintained.
B. There should be no limit to the number of characters.
C. Scenes should be simple and realistic.
D. There should be a continuous flow of action to keep things
interesting.
4. Characters of one-act plays are:
A. not fully developed, because of time limitations.
B. realistic.
C. perfectly good or bad.
D. limited to seven only.
5. Why is it best to have only one setting for one-act plays?
A. It will increase production cost.
B. It impedes continuity of action.
C. It will confuse the audience.
D. It prevents the message of the play from being relayed.
6. This part of the plot is the pinnacle of suspense.
A. Exposition C. Conflict
B. Climax D. Denouement
7. It comes immediately after the Climax.
A. Exposition C. Conflict
B. Climax D. Denouement
8. This part introduces necessary details for the audience to
understand the play.
A. Exposition C. Conflict
B. Climax D. Denouement

14. 12
9. What part of the one-act play develops the drama and creates
suspense?
A. Exposition C. Conflict
B. Climax D. Denouement
10. Which of the following dramatic unties state that events in one-
act play should move towards one goal or outcome?
A. Unity of Time C. Unity of Place
B. Unity of Theme D. Unity of Action
Additional Activities
It’s your chance to be creative! Supply parts of the plot suited to the given
characters and setting.
Characters Sandra and Samantha- Senior High
School best friends
Jacob- a transferee from another
school
Setting School garden area
Plot Exposition:
Conflict:
Climax:
Denouement:

15. 13
Answer Key
What
I
have
learned
(Answers
may
be
in
any
order)
ELEMENTS:
1.
Character
2.
Setting
3.
Plot
PARTS
OF
THE
PLOT
1.
Exposition
2.
Conflict
3.
Climax
4.
Denouement
DRAMATIC
UNITIES
1.
Unity
of
Place
2.
Unity
of
Action
3.
Unity
of
Time
What
I
can
Do
Answers
may
vary
What’s
New
Answers
may
vary
What’s
More
Activity
1
1.
Seven
2.
T
3.
T
4.
T
5.
Four
6.
Conflict
7.
T
8.
One-act
play
9.
Time
10.
T
Activity
2
1.
C
2.
E
3.
F
4.
D
5.
A
6.
B
What
I
Know
1.
B
2.
D
3.
B
4.
B
5.
A
What's
in
1.
AL
2.
AL
3.
AL
4.
PY
5.
AP
6.
AL
7.
AL
8.
AP
9.
AP
10.
PY
Assessment
1.
A
2.
D
3.
B
4.
C
5.
C
6.
B
7.
D
8.
A
9.
C
10.
D
Additional
Activities
Answers
may
vary

16. 14
References
A. Websites:
Collinsdictionary.com. “Meaning of Conceptualize”
https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/conceptualize
Dhar Mann. 2020. “Shoe Saleswoman humiliates poor woman, then instantly
regrets her decision.”
https://web.facebook.com/dharmannofficial/videos/555207871786232
Genre Study on One Act Plays.”
https://facultyweb.cortland.edu/kennedym/genre%20studies/playsoneact.
htm
Goodreads.com. Theater Quotes.
https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/tag/theatre?
Hansen, Kailey.2018. “27 Memorable Lyrics from Lés Miserables”
https://theatrenerds.com/27-memorable-lyrics-from-les-miserables/
Homer. “The Judgment of Paris in Greek Mythology.”
https://www.greeklegendsandmyths.com/judgement-of-paris.html
Kahalifa, Majeed Hammadi. University of Tikrit. “The Main Characteristics of One-
act play.”
https://cedw.tu.edu.iq/images/%D9%A7-
%D9%A2%D9%A0%D9%A1%D9%A8/mated/Lecture_7.pdf
Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster. “meaning of Conceptualize.”
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/conceptualize. Accessed 20
Nov. 2020.
Sarkar, Somnath. 2018. “Three Unities of Drama: Literary Term”
https://www.eng-literature.com/2018/07/three-unities-of-drama-literary-
term.html
Shaurya, Ria. 2015. “The One Act Play”.
https://riashaurya.wordpress.com/2015/07/06/the-one-act-play/