21st Century Literature Module 8: Creative Literary Adaptations
Read a parable entitled, “The Story of the Pencil” which is an excerpt from the novel written by Paulo
Coelho, “Like the Flowing River”. It is a thought-provoking story about a nondescript object that gives
a powerful message. Read the story aloud to yourself and find out how the author creatively portrays
the parable.
Before you read, familiarize yourself first with the author’s achievements.
THE STORY OF THE PENCIL
by Paulo Coelho
The Grandchild was looking at his grandma writing for a letter. Suddenly he asked: “Are you
writing a story about us? Is it by chance a story about me?”. The grandma stopped writing, smiled
and said to her grandchild:
“Indeed I am writing about you, however more important than the words is the pencil I am
using.
“I hope you will be like this pencil when you grow up”.
The child, looked at the pencil curiously, but could not see anything special.
“But . . . it is exactly the same as every other pencil I saw in my life”.
“It is all in the way you look at things. There are five qualities in that pencil that, if you will be able to
maintain, will make you a man in peace with the whole world.
First quality: you can make big things, but never forget that there is a hand guiding your steps.
This hand we call it God, and he will always have to address you towards his will.
Second quality: sometimes I have to stop writing and use a sharpener. This makes the pencil suffer a
little, but at the end it will be sharper. So, learn to bear a little pain because it will make you a better
man.
Third Quality: the pencil always allows us to use an eraser to cancel mistakes. Understand
that correct something we did is not necessarily a bad thing, but something fundamental to keep us
on the right path.
Fourth quality: what is really important in the pencil is not the wood or the shape, but the
lead that is inside. So, be always careful of what happens inside of yourself.
At the end, the fifth quality is: always leave a sign. In any case, be aware that everything you
do in your life will leave trails; try to be conscious of every single action”.
Parable and fable are being compared with one another most of the time, because of their confusing
characteristics. Both have many aspects in common, with more similarities than differences.
1
Multimedia is an essential avenue to transform unique adaptations of a literary genre, thus,
making learning outputs interesting and productive. To have a creative adaptation of literary genres,
the following concepts have to take into considerations.
A. Multimedia and its Concepts
A multimedia is any electronic application used to teach lessons or to further educate learners
on a particular topic. It is a presentation of material that uses both words and pictures in a
combination of text, voice, picture or video. Using interactive digital tools to tell a story is called
digital storytelling and often uses a combination of multimedia venues to complete the task. The use
of multimedia allows educational ideas and materials to be presented in a more artistic, inspired and
engaging way.
B. Uses of Multimedia and its Formats
There are many uses of multimedia for a deeper understanding of a lesson. Audiobooks are ideal for
second-language learners. Song files and music videos can be used to compare social norms in
different eras. Multimedia can offer students a better understanding of the lesson.
The multimedia formats from various media includes: text and graphics for slideshows,
presentations, diagrams and infographics. Audio has podcasts and recordings. Screen captures,
lecture captures and animation are examples of video components of multimedia. Other multimedia
components include blogs, vlogs, webinars and other interactive content. Multimedia applications
include the interaction of different media types like animation, video, text and sound. It has become
a part of our lives as soon as we entered the digital age. Before the modern technology, there are tools
helping us appreciate some of the types of multimedia such as videos on television. There are various
components of multimedia such as:
1. Videos
2
Digital video is a primary component in multimedia, especially those that appear online and on
television. The different formats of these types of multimedia include wmv, avi, mped and flash. Some
of these formats are better than others because they load faster and can be viewed or loaded using
different platforms and operating systems. Many videos have changed formats ever since the mobile
phone industry became more advanced in technology. Many of the video formats require plug-ins on
browsers and specific mobile applications to load.
2. Animation
Animation is a form of art for most people, especially those that are in the business of producing
animated movies. Right now, animation has become interactive, allowing users to directly affect the
outcome of animated components and events. Flash is the most common platform for animation, and
using this component, the interactivity of animation is enhanced.
3. Text
Text has always been and will always been the most common among the types of multimedia
components in different applications. Text in combination with other media components can make
any application more user-friendly. By using text, interactivity is increased. Text elements are
particularly important for accessibility purposes. Users of an application need to input text for the
system to identify them. Text is also used to create a digital signature, such as in passwords.
4. Images
Digital image files are needed to create videos and animation. A user would sooner go to a website
filled with colourful photographs than one that contains only text elements. Familiar image formats
include jpeg and png. These formats permit editing. Images are created by graphic designers using
various software.
5. Audio
Voiceovers comprise a tremendous number of the types of multimedia components. Audio files
include background music and special effects. Any audio in an application is designed to improve a
user’s experience.
technology of multimedia can also be used to make the information be conveyed more easily to the
rms of
media together.
3
https://www.educba.com/best-free-multimedia-software/
D. Benefits of Using Multimedia
cific subject and
increases skills such as writing, researching and reading.
the classroom is used for self-directed learning or SDL.
time and assess what needs to be included in their learning activities. This
style of learning is used mostly with older students who already know how to manipulate many of
the multimedia venues available to them.
GROUP ACTIVITY:
Read the fable entitled “The Ants and a Grasshopper” and have an artistic and interesting way of
presenting its story and moral lesson using multimedia. You can refer to the given multimedia
formats below. Refer to the format/file table to clarify their descriptions.
MP4, AVI, WMA.. Another alternative presentation is using Microsoft PowerPoint (MS PPt) for slide
presentation.
RUBRIC FOR SCORING:
CREATIVITY – 40%
VISUAL - 30%
TECHNICAL QUALITY – 30%
To be submitted on Monday, January 15, 2024
The Ants and the Grasshopper
A Grasshopper spends his summer singing and dancing, while a team of Ants has worked hard all
summer collecting food for the winter. He doesn’t understand why the Ants work so hard. When
winter comes, the Grasshopper finds himself dying of hunger and sees the ant serving up food to
survive. He, then understands why the Ants were working so hard. The Lesson: There’s a time for
work and a time for play! Just because you don’t think something is important right now, doesn’t
mean you should ignore it or put it off. It’s okay to have fun, but make sure your work is done before!
Always be prepared for what’s ahead!
4
21st Century Literature Module 9: Flash Fiction: The Plot
This lesson focuses on flash fiction and story plot. A flash fiction, one of the genres of fiction,
is a short story with much lesser words. Typically, a flash fiction story has no longer than 1000 words
in length. Some literary writers find writing a flash fiction extremely difficult because they have to
cover the beginning, rising action, climax, and conclusion of the story with very few words. Despite
this challenge, many flash fiction stories still possess those elements, all within the strict word count.
The word limit provides a very creative challenge.
Story plot, an important element of a story, is also present in flash fiction. Plot tells the reader
how the story goes. It is basically the sequence of the events in the story. It is important to remember
that the plot is what carries the readers thoughout the story. Therefore, the plot should be related in
sequence and every event must be connected to the previous or the next one.
At the end of this lesson, you are expected to do a self- and/or peer assessment of the creative
adaptation of a literary text based on rationalized criteria.
FLASH FICTION
The story you read is an example of a flash fiction. A flash fiction, also known as short-short story,
typically contains less than 1000 words which is most often used to describe short casual written
works. Although a flash fiction may be written in any genre, the most famous ones are in romance,
thriller, horror and sci-fi. Even with only a number of words, a flash fiction also bears the essential
elements of a short story. The paramount of all the elements for this type of literature is the plot.
A flash fiction is similar to a short story is some ways. Both tell a complete story with a beginning,
middle and end with the elements of storytelling in place. However, they, too, have differences.
Flash Fiction Vs. Short Story
5
Characteristics of Flash Fiction
When writing a flash fiction story, it is important to know how they are similar and different to longer
stories. Flash fiction is shorter, but it should not feel too short. Here are some traits of strong flash
fiction stories.
1. Story Structure: A flash fiction story is not the shortened version of a longer story; it still follows
the elements of plot, including a beginning, middle and end, as well as a conflict and satisfying
resolution.
2. Setting: Most flash fiction stories take place in one setting, as moving between locations uses up
too much space. It allows the writer and reader to focus on the plot.
3. Characters and Backstory: Flash fiction pieces are plot-driven and include no more than three or
four characters. They may include some character development, but too much backstory can use
valuable space.
4. Description: One may think that flash fiction stories are short on description to save space.
However, a strong piece can balance vivid descriptions with a quick-moving plot. Stories that lack
description are not satisfying to read, and a flash fiction piece should feel complete.
The PLOT
Every written story has a plot- the series of events and characters’ actions that includes a beginning,
a middle and an end. Also, every written story has a plot structure or a narrative arc. Although it is
important for a story to have all its essential elements, the plot is the major element of all as it is what
the story is all about. The plot is the actual story. Without it, a writer has not penned anything.
Two types of plot
A writer can create a story using one of the two types of plot- a unified plot or an episodic plot. A
unified plot has a story that is realistic with a central character and action and the story happens in
one place during a short span of time- a day, several hours or even just for an hour. An episodic plot,
on the other hand, has a story that happens in a much extended period of time. A writer who employs
the episodic plot frequently uses the technique of ‘flashback’ to lay out background details of the
story. But similar to the unified plot, an episodic plot also has a central character, setting and action.
There are three other ways to write a plot. A plot may be written as a movement in casualty, a
movement in time and a movement in dramatic tension.
PLOT – a movement in time
The plot is a movement in time when the story transpires on a particular period of time such as an
hour, a day, a week, a month or even a year.
PLOT - movement in casualty
The plot is a movement in casualty when the story is established on a series of casual events that
happen one after another. Here, the writer is to create a story based on the principle of cause and
effect that is, the first event sets off the second and the second event sets off the third and so on.
Hence, every new event has a casual relationship to the old ones.
6
PLOT - a movement in dramatic tension
The plot is a movement in dramatic tension when the story has dialogue, action, details, descriptions
and scenes that amplify the tension and persuade the reader to turn the page and continue reading.
The techniques of foreshadowing, flashback and epiphany are oftentimes employed in this type of
plot.
The following are the components of a plot structure or parts of the narrative.
a. Exposition – This is the beginning of the story, also known as the inciting incident. This is where
the author introduces the characters, identifies where the story is happening, and establishes the
main conflict. This includes events, actions or even decisions that build conflict, pressure or
disturbance to the main character.
b. Rising Action – This is also known as the plot complication where the writer fully introduces the
conflict or the obstacle that will prevent the main character, the protagonist, to achieve his goal.
c. Climax – This part is considered as the most exciting part of a story. This part has the most tension
or most exciting event compared to all other events in the story. Also, this is where important
decisions are made or important things are discovered.
d. Falling Action – This point occurs after the climax as the problems in the story start to work
themselves out. The excitement becomes less and less as the conflict is resolved.
e. Resolution/End – This is the solution to the problem in a story. When a writer brings resolution to
end the story, he can end the story with either an open or closed ending. When a writer uses a closed
ending, the resolution is done by answering all unanswered questions that were implied or explicitly
stated. A death is an example of a closed ending. When a writer uses an open ending, he leaves the
readers to think, wonder or speculate what happens after the story has ended.
JAKE
by Jim Bartlett
Jake’s eyes snap open, and he quickly turns to the side. But like his aching heart, the spot where Max
always sat on the couch remains empty. He takes in a long, deep breath – really more of a sigh – and
squeezes his eyes closed, hoping that by slipping into the darkness of a nap, he will temporarily mask
his sorrow.
For fifteen years they were inseparable. Always side by side. The walks on the beach with the gentle
waves calling, the seagulls cawing. All those hikes on the trail where the trees canopied over like
arches, wrapping them in a soft cool shade on a hot sunny day. Even just a ride to the grocery store
for something Martha may have forgotten, they always went together. Though he knows that in some
ways he should be thankful for just having their time together – those moments forever etched in his
heart – and that the sickness took Max quickly rather than dragging out the pain for weeks, maybe
even months, he still feels cheated. That somehow he is missing years that could have been. Unable
to sleep, he looks around the all too empty room, letting his gaze fall upon the leash, which still hangs
from the peg by the door. It seems to wait patiently, ever ready for that next big adventure. As his
eyes well up, he realizes for the first time how much his grief weighs, how hard it is to even rise with
such a heaviness inside.
7
It is then he hears a shuffle from behind and turns to see Martha standing in the doorway, her
shoulder resting against the frame. “I thought you might be in here,” she says. She looks down at him
for only a moment before her stare drifts to the couch. “I miss him, too, Jake. More than you’ll ever
know.” There’s a faraway melancholy tone to her voice, but he knows that her heart, like his, has a
hole too big to fill. His head drops and he gives off another long sigh, which seems to prompt her to
come over and kneel down onto the carpet beside him. She slides a hand under his chin and lifts it
up, then tucks back his long, floppy ears, such that their teary eyes can meet. “I guess you do know,
don’t you, Jake.”
INDIVIDUAL ACTIVITY: Directions: Fill out the story grammar below. Base your answer from the
story that you have just read.\
Title: JAKE
Character/s: Jake,Max , Martha
Setting: ___________________________________________________________________
Plot:
EXPOSITION
RISING ACTION
CLIMAX
FALLING ACTION
RESOLUTION
To be submitted on Tuesday, January 18, 2024
8