The document discusses various literary devices and elements used in writing narratives. It covers idiomatic expressions, creative words from myths and other languages, qualities of good titles, sensing character traits through description and dialogue, and the basic elements of narratives and short stories such as setting, characters, plot, point of view, theme. It provides examples to illustrate techniques for revealing characters and their traits, engaging the reader with an appropriate title, and maintaining a sense of reality, movement and focus in a narrative.

1. LITERARY APPRECIATION
I. IDIOMATIC EXPRESSIONS
Idiom – is an expression peculiar to a language. It is usually has more than one meaning that is
not gained from the meaning of its words taken separately. It is usually found in the daily speech
of people rather than in formal composition.
For example:
To shed crocodile tears, for example, does not mean “tears falling from the eye of a crocodile”
or shed tears in the form of crocodiles.” It means,“ to pretend to be sad over the loss or death of
something or someone.”
These are the various interesting activities to help the student gain mastery over the idiomatic
expressions:
a) Picture Talk – the literal meaning of an idiomatic expression is interpreted in picture or
other nongraphics. Then the expression is used in several sentences in its figurative
meaning. The student gives his own sentence using the idiom.
b) Context Clues –an idiomatic expression is used in various situations. From these the
students gain the meaning.
c) Games –a list of idiomatic expressions may be written on paper and distributed to a
group. (Group 1) Their meanings can be written on other slips of paper and given to
another group (Group 2). Group 1 members take turns calling out their idiomatic
expressions. Those of Group 2 look at their own meaning slips. After all expressions
have been called out, Group 2 people look their partners.
d) Writing –after learning about set of idiomatic expressions, the students can be made to
write a dialog, a description, or a narration of an event using as many of the expressions
as they can.
II. CREATIVE WORDS
Words from Myths
Myths are a very rich source of English words.
Loan Words
These are foreign expressions often used with their literal meaning.
III. GIVING TITLES
Title –a word or phrase that gives the general idea of what the passage or selection is about. A
well chosen title indicates the field of composition.
The following are the qualities of a good title:
1) Brevity –short titles are instantly recognizable and jump of the page. It is being concise.
2) Appropriateness
Imaginative titles should be reserved for imaginative subjects. When matters of
fact are to be presented, avoid vague, general or fanciful titles.
3) Attractiveness
A title that is attractive stimulates people to read further. In the case of stories, a
suggestive title, one that provokes curiosity.
IV. SENSING CHARACTER TRAITS

2. Trait –it is from the Latin tractus, meaning “to drag”, refers to a feature or a quality which
characterizes person or a thing or things.
In narratives, characterization is revealed in various ways:
1. By the author who describes the character as in following example:
The old man was selfish and arrogant, imposing his will on the family whom he ruled
with an iron hand.
2. By the character who reveals himself through his speech and actions as in the following
statements:
“Don’t you dare accuse me!” screamed the well-dressed girl with a hand raised strike
the saleslady. “Millionaire’s don’t steal.”
3. By other characters in the story who reveal through their speech and actions what they
think of a character. In the following passage the character of Doris is suggested:
“We better keep quite now,” warned Marie in a terse voice. “The slightest whisper of
our innocent adventure can grow into a heinous crime if Doris ever hears of it.”
V. NARRATIVES
Narrative –it comes from the Latin narrare, ‘to account’ and can be defined as “a story or an
account of an event, factual or imaginary.” A factual story may be an account of a personal
experience or that of others. On the other hand, an imaginative narrative originated from the
writer’s mind. The writer invents his plot, setting and characters but makes the reader feel that
these are real. It is possible however, that he draws inspiration from reality.
Narrative literature may be in the form of prose or poetry. Prose narratives include
folktales (e.g., legends, fables, myths) short stories, novels, biographies, histories, news reports,
and travel books. Narrative poetry includes epics, metrical, romances, ballads, dramatic
narratives, and plays.
Each of these types of writing has a different purpose as well as special problems and
techniques; but certain characteristics are common to them all:
1. A careful choice and sequencing of details.
This refers to the careful selection of relevant and meaningful details. In writing
the biography of a well-known personality, for instance, the biographer will select
only those details or incidents that help to reveal the character of the man.
2. A sense of reality.
All creative narrations must have a semblance or reality and truth. Good fiction
presents an honest picture of people and happenings. In Villa’s “The Son of
Rizal,” the story revolves around a man who claims to be the son of Rizal. Later,
we learn that the man is a megalomaniac, a man with a sick mind.
3. A sense of movement.
Something must happen in the story. There is conflict, action and movement
toward a climax or a goal or an illumination of character.
4. A well-defined point of view.
It is sometimes called the “focus of narration”, the point of view is related to the
question Who tells the story?
Four points of view are used in fiction:
a) First person –this is the point of view where a character in the narrative
tells his own story.
b) First-person observer –here, a character other than the hero or heroine
tells the story.

3. c) Third person –here, what happens is told in an objective manner as in a
dream; the writer or character comments on the incidents.
d) Omniscient author –when the writer tells his own story, makes his own
comments, and freely enters the minds of the characters.
Short Story –a brief, imaginative narrative unfolding a single predominating incident and
a single preeminent character. (Esenwain) it is marked by a unity of action, setting and
theme
Basic elements of Short Story
1. Setting- refers to anything in the story that fixes the time and place of its action. The
scenes described help supply the atmosphere needed for the story.
2. Characters- are the individuals who influence the events and are in turn, influenced
by them. They become involved in a conflict, either internal or external. The conflict
is internal or psychological when the opposing forces are within the character who
has to make an important decision. The conflict is external when the main character
has to fight another person, or a group (social); or against nature (physical) such as
fight for survival against the flood. Communication characters is revealed
through dialog.
3. Plot- called the framework of the story and it consists of the related events which
move from a conflict, progress to a crisis –the moment of fateful decision –and
finally to a denouement or result, where the complication is resolved and ends
happily or tragically.
4. Theme –refers to the underlying idea, the general truth, or the particular view or
observation of life which the story is intended to convey.
Reported by : GROUP 2 – BSED2C
Alvarado, Jhunna Mae
Bintad, Irene Joy
Despi, Leizel
Enricho, Andrea
Gallego, Shiela Mae
Guarin, Camille Joy
Guernela, Jonil
Obas, Joan Mae
Quilantang, Arlyn