The document provides guidance on how to write a critique of a narrative work. It defines what a critique is, explains the key elements to analyze in a narrative like character, setting, plot, theme, and style. It provides questions one should consider for each element when evaluating a work. These include how well the setting, characters, conflict and plot are developed and feel realistic. It prompts the reader to outline the introduction, body, and conclusion sections of a critique and provides a short story example to practice critiquing.

1. COMPOSE
AN INDEPENDENT CRITIQUE
OF A CHOSEN SELECTION

2. REMEMBER ME??
• Read the following sentences taken from Anton Chekhov’s “A Day in the
Country,” and identify what narrative elements are described.

6. WHAT IS A CRITIQUE?
• A critique is an in-depth evaluation of a story,
novel, film, or other reading/viewing materials for
the purpose of giving the public an insight into the
text. Although a critique shares the same root with
the word “criticize,” it does not mean that the write-
up merely points out the faults or flaws in a story
or film.

7. • Instead, a critique seeks to shed light on the
content of a “text” (the story, novel, song,
movie etc.) in order to help future readers or
viewers understand better the material that
they are reading or viewing.

8. • Critical essays about texts are indeed very
important in helping us make sense of what we
just read or viewed. At times, it can also inform
our decisions on what other good materials we
can read or watch next.

9. • Critiques contain a careful evaluation mainly on
the following elements of a narrative:
Characterization Theme
Setting Dialogue
Conflict Plot
Style

10. • These aspects, as well as the manner that they
were presented in the material, are studied so
that the critic can come up with a valid
evaluation on whether or not the material is
good, beautiful, or significant especially for the
readers or viewers.

11. • In assessing the said elements, there are
certain questions that the critic should ask. David
Farland (2017) and other critics enumerated
some questions one might use to judge a story
or other narratives:

12. SETTING
•How well was the setting developed? Does
it appeal to more than one of the senses?
Does it inform or connect to other aspects of
the story such as character development
and narrative style?

13. SETTING
•Setting is where and when a story or scene takes
place. The where can be a real place like the city of
New York, or it can be an imagined location, like
Middle Earth in J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the
Rings. Similarly, the when can be a real time period
(past or present) or imagined (the future).

14. CHARACTERIZATION
• How well-drawn are the characters in the
story? Do we know enough about them
(life, attitudes, some type of history, etc.) to
make them interesting and relatable? Are
there unnecessary characters?

15. CHARACTERIZATION
•Characterization is the description of a
character's physical traits (how a character
looks), point of view, personality, private
thoughts, and actions.

16. CONFLICT AND PLOT
• Is there a conflict in the story? Is the plot
interesting, original and well-developed?
Are there unnecessary and confusing
subplots?

17. CONFLICT
• Conflict in a story is a struggle between opposing forces.
• Man vs. Self. This type of conflict is usually caused by something
external — but the battle itself takes place within. ...
• Man vs. Man. ...
• Man vs. Nature. ...
• Man vs. Society. ...
• Man vs. Supernatural.

18. PLOT
•Essentially, a story plot is what happens
in the story. More specifically, the plot is
the series of events that take place. It's the
action of the story that drives the narrative
forward.

19. THEME
• How well does the story speak to
the readers? Does it raise questions
about life, or provide profound
insights?

20. THEME
•A theme is a central, unifying idea.
It's the bigger issue that emerges as
the characters pursue their goals.

21. STYLE
• How distinctive or unique is the writing
style? Are there literary devices or
techniques used? Is it purposeful? Does
the style remind you of any other
authors you have read?

22. STYLE
•Style in literature is the literary element that
describes the ways that the author uses
words — the author's word choice, sentence
structure, figurative language, and sentence
arrangement all work together to establish
mood, images, and meaning in the text.

23. • Having the answer to all these questions does
not mean that the critique is complete. There
are other minor yet necessary details to
include, and everything must be properly
organized into a cohesive essay. Structure is
equally important.

24. • Now, try organizing the following steps to
develop a coherent and cohesive critique.
• Copy the statements and write them in the
correct box.

26. INTRODUCTION
BODY
CONCLUSION

27. HIT OR MISSED?
• Read the short story and do a simple
critique of it by answering the guide
questions in the table.

28. THE TWO BROTHERS
LEO TOLSTOY

35. GUIDE QUESTIONS
1. Is the main character relatable to
you? (Cite some qualities that
make you similar or different.)
2. Is the setting effective or useful
in making you visualize the scenes?
(Cite some lines that appeal to
your senses.)

36. GUIDE QUESTIONS
3. Is the plot interesting? (Cite
aspects of the story that make it
good or dull.)
4. Is the conflict clear and realistic?
(Indicate if it is something that
people are likely to experience in
life.)

37. GUIDE QUESTIONS
5. Is the theme relevant to human
experiences? (Besides an
explanation, write the theme you
inferred from the story.)