Lesson 15

st
21 Century Philippine Literature:

Flash Fiction
O At the end of the lesson,
B you should be able to:
J a) Identify the elements of fiction
E at work in a story;
C
a) Make connections and generalizations
T
on how these elements of fiction are
I
used in the story; and
V
E b) Improve analytical and observation
S skills.
Definition
Flash Fiction is a style of
fictional literature or fiction of
extreme brevity.
It is a short fiction story of under
1500 words, usually under
1000 words.
 “Sweet
Summer”
by Cyan Abad-Jugo
originally published: (2004)
 Recalling summer’s stories
Finding Stories in Songs

Think of a song that

tells/summarizes your
childhood experience. Tell the
story in class.
 Recalling summer’s stories

How would you describe

your childhood days in
one word?
 “Sweet
Summer”
by Cyan Abad-Jugo
originally published: (2004)
Cyan Abad-Jugo
❖ (born 1994)
❖ She took her Master’s in
Children’s Literature at
Simmons College, Boston,
and is currently pursuing
a PhD in English Studies:
Creative Writing at the
University of the
Philippines.
Cyan Abad-Jugo
Abad-Jugo takes on
the perspective of a child
and tells the stories on an
innocent and carefree mood,
allowing her to regress into
childhood and remember the
good, old days—the
“simple” things—untainted
with the complexities of
adulthood.
 “Sweet
Summer”
by Cyan Abad-Jugo
originally published: (2004)
Sweet Summer
• It touches upon the issues of
growing up and growing old, losing
friends and attempting to make
new ones, getting lost and finding
one's way back, blossoming or
transforming into a different being
altogether.
Characterization
Lesson 15 -21 st
Century Philippine
Literature: Flash Fiction
 Types of
Characters
1. ANTAGONIST
2. PROTAGONIST
3. FLAT CHARACTER
4. ROUND CHARACTER
5. STATIC CHARACTER
6. DYNAMIC CHARACTER
an·tag·o·nist
• a bad guy, or an opponent of the protagonist
or the main character.
• The action in the story arises from a conflict
between the protagonist and the antagonist.
• The antagonist can be a person, an
inanimate object, an animal, or nature itself.
antagonist
• Lord Voldemort (Harry Potter)
• Professor Quirrell
• Nolan Sorento (Ready Player One)
• Ronan (X-Men)
pro·tag·o·nist
• the main character, who creates the
action of the plot and engages readers,
arousing their empathy and interest.
• often a hero or heroine of the story, as
the whole plot moves around him or
her.
flat character
• A flat character does not change
during a story.
• He or she usually only reveals one
or two personality traits.
Function of Flat Character
• Flat characters often play a supporting role in the story,
play, or novel.
• Though they are not very prominent characters, nor are
they unimportant, because they bring harmony, peace,
and comedy to the story.
• Writers use these characters to create a specific
atmosphere in the complex narrative structure.
flat character
• Bruce (Nemo)
• Mr. Filch (Harry Potter)
round character
• The round characters are well-developed and
complex figures in a story.
• They are more realistic, and demonstrate more
depth in their personalities.
• They can make surprising or puzzling decisions,
and attract readers’ attention.
round character
• Thor
• Woody (Toy Story)
• Ariel (Little Mermaid)
• Gru (Despicable Me)
• Harry, Ronald, Hemione, Prof. Snape
static character
• A static character remains the same
throughout the whole story. Even the
events in a story or novel do not change
character’s outlook, perceptions, habits,
personality, or motivations.
Function of a Static Character
The function of the static character is not less than the
hero with whom he is often found at every critical juncture in the
narrative. It happens that, whenever the protagonist is in some
dilemma, the static character is there to help him out. It is
because the main character or the protagonist cannot get there
on his own. He needs other characters to serve some purpose to
add to the plot or help outright. This is the static character who
helps the protagonist and also serves as a foil to a character
(contrast/highlight). Moreover, the foil helps reveal the
differences between the two characters.
static character
• Iron Man
• Professor McGonagall, Draco Malfoy
• Bellatrix Lestrange
dynamic character
• A dynamic character changes during the course of
a novel or a story. This change in character or
his/her outlook is permanent.
• sometimes called a “developing character”
Function of Dynamic Character
A dynamic character plays an important role in a narrative.
Often it is the main character of the story, which helps to build a
compelling and convincing story. By going through an important
transition, having a coming-of-age experience, pulling through
trials, gaining maturity, feeling a change of the heart, and
developing likable qualities, a dynamic character shows he has
made a full transformation. All these changes bring a flavor to
the story line and an element of surprise to the readers.
The Importance of Character

1. Characters allow us to enter the story.

2. Characters are what make the story
come alive for us as readers.
 Types of
Characters
1. ANTAGONIST
ROLE
2. PROTAGONIST
3. FLAT CHARACTER
4. ROUND CHARACTER PERSONALITY
5. STATIC CHARACTER TRAIT

6. DYNAMIC CHARACTER
Characterization
Lesson 15 -21 st
Century Philippine
Literature: Flash Fiction
 Character Trait
It is a personality
characteristic or inherent
value that someone has
which they are unlikely to
change and that helps to
make an individual into the
kind of person he is.
Definition
Characterization is
the process by which
the author reveals
the personality of
the characters.
Direct Indirect
The author The author
TELLS SHOWS
 Direct
Characterization
Example:
“The patient boy and
quiet girl were both at
the game.”
 Indirect
Characterization
Remember!
S.T.E.A.L. method
of indirect
characterization
S -speech
T -thoughts
E -effect on other characters
A -actions
L -looks
 Example:
SPEECH “Hey, we can have
lots of fun at camp
What does the this summer! I love
character say? being outside!”
How does the
character speak? This shows that the
character is upbeat and
happy.
 Example:
THOUGHTS “I wish it would stop
raining. I am tired of
What is revealed sitting inside!”
through the
character’s
thoughts and This shows that the
feelings? character is not happy
about the situation.
 Example:
EFFECT ON
The boy glared at his
OTHERS sister as she ate his
What is revealed through dessert.
the character’s effect on
other people?
How do other characters This shows that the
feel of behave in reaction
character is upset about his
to the character?
sister’s behavior and
inability to think of others.
 Example:
ACTIONS The girl rode the
lawn mower through
What does the
the house and into the
character do? garage.
How does the
character This shows that the
behave? character is not concerned
with rules or safety.
 Example:
LOOKS The little girl left the
game with slumped
What does the
shoulders and a
character look frown on her face.
like?
How does the This shows that the
character dress? character is not enjoying
herself and is upset.
Direct Characterization
TELLING

Indirect Characterization
SHOWING
Remember!
Indirect Characterizations are
like CLUES about the characters.
There is no mystery with direct
characterization because the author
tells us the information we need
to know.
The real story
is not the plot, but how
the characters
unfold by it.