Mood

At the end of the module, students should be able to:

1. Discuss the mood as an element of a short story;
2. List words that express emotions of a selection;
3. Point out the feelings expressed by the sentence in the selection; and
4. Describe the characters in relation with the mood of the story.
Have you ever done something you knew you should not have done and
gotten away with it? Think about how you have felt about that experience.
This lesson will present how emotions and feelings help you enjoy and
understand a short story.

Mood
Mood is the feeling or atmosphere that an author creates in a literary work.
The mood can suggest an emotion, such as fear or joy; it can also suggest the
quality of a setting, such as gloom or airiness. For example, if an author
described marriage separation as sad, lonely and disgusting, a pensive mood
would have been created.
Below are lines that suggest feelings or emotions. The feeling or emotion
evoked in you is called mood.
 The death of a loved family member.
 Winning a championship game in some sport following several losing
seasons.
 Waking after a full night of sleep and remembering that the entire day
is free to do exactly as one pleases.
 Waking from two hours of sleep and remembering that one must
explain the car’s shattered front windshield to one’s parents.
In this set of examples, note the darkened words. They are examples of
words that suggest mood.
 A child is terrified of a huge, menacing dog that is chained up next to
the sidewalk where the child must walk.
 A child is so excited when s/he learns s/he will be going on a vacation
to Disneyland World in two days.
 An adult watching a TV show that his/her children chose to watch is
bored.
 A furious teenager is walking toward a bedroom after being
grounded.

Identify the changing moods, as well as the overall mood of the story, “The
Wedding Dance” by Amador Daguio. You can read the story here:
Course Module
 http://www.seasite.niu.edu/tagalog/literature/Short%20Stories/Wedding
%20Dance.htm

References
Alcantara, R. (2000). World literature: An adventure in human experience.
Quezon City: Katha Publishing Co. Inc.
Bascara, L.R. (2003). World literature: A tertiary textbook for literature
under the new curriculum. Manila: Rex Bookstore.
Castillo, T.T. and Medina B.S. (1974). Philippine literature from ancient to
present. Quezon City: Philippine Graphic Arts Inc.
CCP Encyclopedia of Philippine Arts. Panitikan Series
Chin, B.(2002). Glencoe literature: the reader’s choice. New York:
Glencoe/MacGrawHill.
Ecrivain-Public arts literature writing professionals(2008). Retrieved June
10, 2010 from http://www.ecrivain-public.viz
Guiyab, R.G. (2005). Philippine literature: beyond forgetting. Makati City:
Grandwater Publication.
Kahayon, A. H. (2000). Philippine literature: through the years. Mandaluyong
City: National Bookstore.
Myers-Shaffer, C. (2000). The principles of literature: a guide for readers and
writers. New York: Barron’s Educational Series.
Lombardi, E. Literature. Retrieved May 28, 2010 from classiclit.about.com.
Lumbera, B. and Lumbera, C. (1982) Philippine literature: a story and
anthology. Manila: National Bookstore.
Marquez, S.T. (2009). Developmental; Reading 2. Quezon City: Lorimar
Publishing.
Oak, M. Importance of literature. Retrieved July 30, 2010 from
www.buzzle.com/articles/importance-of-literature.html
Tan, A. B. (2001). Introduction to literature, 4th ed. Mandaluyong City:
Academic Publishing Corporaton
Today in Literature. Retrieved June10,2010 from
http://www.todayinliterature.com
 Character and Setting
At the end of the module, students should be able to:
1. Discuss how ideas, culture, values and beliefs are made as parts of the
setting
2. Identify how setting creates the mood or atmosphere of the story
3. Describe the setting of the story
Making a decision among the young is a very critical and hazardous task. It is
during youth that most actions are done hastily and aggressively especially
those who are not exposed to various experiences.
This lesson will introduce you to a young man, who grew up without
experiencing hardships along the way, and then made a hasty decision that
would teach him a great lesson in life. You will also find out how it feels to
stay in the barrio with less exposure to the adversities of life.

Character
Creating characters is an art in the craft of storytelling. Characters, especially
the developing ones, take you on a journey. One of the keys to understand a
short story is its characters. They act out from the beginning to the end for
the fulfillment of some issues of human need as they engage the attention of
the readers.
When the author introduces his characters, he sees to it that the characters
remain the focus of the story. For example, if courage is the main issue in a
story, the storyteller can set a character into an environment designed to
compel them to act. That's how a story's premise is made visible. It
establishes both why characters act and why the readers should care.
Readers want to believe how the characters can accomplish. That is how the
readers believe in themselves too. When the protagonist experiences pain
and hurt, success and happiness in the story, the readers also feel the same
way.
The author should be very careful in creating his characters because they are
used by the readers as their models and they unconsciously acquire the
characteristics presented by these characters. For example, in Romeo and
Juliet, the main characters are created to be strong-willed characters in love
with the idea of love. They are characters who refuse to allow anything, even
death, to be obstacles to their love proving itself. By their actions, they bring
this story about love to life in a way readers have enjoyed for centuries.
Because their actions arise from the story's dramatic purpose, they manifest
the story's movement to fulfillment.
Once the storyteller understands the role their characters serve for an
audience, they can better perceive why such characters should be introduced
in a particular manner. It is very important for the storyteller to introduce
characters for the readers to determine who the characters are and what
issues they have to resolve.
Course Module
 In a short story, it is very convenient for the writer to use only one or two
main characters in a scene so that the readers can clearly identify with and
understand the issues of the character. The characters that are instrumental
in advancing the story are given prominent introduction and those that do
not have dramatic purpose are introduced at a later time.

Setting
The setting is an element that authors use to influence the reader’s
imagination.
It tells us what time of day it is, what the weather is like and where the story
is located. The setting uses details to bring the story alive – these details are
based on the five senses. These five senses enable you to imagine the story as
if you can hear it, see it, taste it, smell it and touch it.
Setting plays an important role in the success of stories. Three examples of
this importance can be explained through “How My Brother Leon Brought
Home a Wife”.
The setting used in that story sets the reader’s mood. A good writer’s
depiction of setting puts the reader right into the story. In the story, “How My
Brother Leon Brought Home A Wife”, Nagrebcan, the hometown o f Leon
affects the humble and simple character of Leon and Baldo.
This setting is vital to the story because the place – the wide fields, papaya
plants, singing birds, etc. become the characters’ especially Maria’s basis of
showing a reserved, friendly and plain character. The ideas, customs and
beliefs, sights and sounds are hints for the reader to identify the setting.
You may read the story here:
http://www.seasite.niu.edu/tagalog/literature/Short%20Stories/How%20
My%20Brother%20Leon%20Brought%20Home%20A%20Wife.htm
Supplemental Reading:
You may explore the colorful characters and vivid settings in “Footnote to
Youth” by Jose Garcia Villa here:
http://literature-westfieldsos.blogspot.com/2010/07/footnote-to-youth-by-
jose-garcia-villa.html

References
Bascara, L. R. (2003). World Literature: A tertiary textbook for literature
under the new curriculum. Manila: Rex Bookstore.
Castillo, T.T and Medina B.S. (1974). Philippine literature from ancient to
present. Quezon City : Philippine Graphic Arts Inc.
CCP Encyclopedia of Philippine Arts. Panitikan Series.
 Chin, B. (2002). Glencoe Literature: the reader’s choice. New
York:Glencoe/MacGrawhill.
Croghan, R.V.S.J. (1997). The development of Philippine literature in English.
Quezon City: Phoenix Publishing House Inc.
Ecrivain-Public Arts literature writing professionals(2008). Retrieved June
10, 2010 from http://www.ecrivain-public.viz.
Guiyab, R.G.(2005). Philippine literature: beyond forgetting. Makati City:
Grandwater Publication.
How to write a short story. Retrieved May 30,2010 from www.chow.com.
Kahayon, A.H. (2000). Philippine literature: Through the years. Mandaluyong
City: National Bookstore.
Lacia, F.C.(2003).the literatures of the Philippines. Manila:Rex Bookstore.
Lombardi, E. Literature. Retrieved May 28, 2010 from classiclit.about.com
Lumbera, B. and Lumbera, C. (1982).Philippine literature: A story and
anthology. Manila: National Bookstore.
Merchand, M.Elements of the short story. Retrieved May 8, 2010 from
www.lessonplanpage.com.
Myers-Shaffer.C.(2000). The principles of literature: A guide for readers and
writers. New York: Barron’s Educational Series.
Marquez, S.T. (2009). Developmental Reading: Reading 2. Quezon City:
Lorimar Publishing.
Oak, M. Importance of literature. Retrieved July 30, 2010 from
www.buzzle.com/articles/importance-of-literature.html.
Patron, I.(2002).Interactive reading – responding and writing about
Philippine Literature. QuezonCity: Great Books Trading.
Tan, A.B.(2001).Introduction to literature. 4 th ed. Mandaluyong City:
Academic Publishing Corporation.
Tips for writing a short story. Retrieved May 8, 2010 from
www.write101.com
Today in literature. Retrieved June 10, 2010 from
http://www.todayinliterature.com

Course Module