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English
Quarter 1 - Module 4
(Lesson 9-10)

Department of Education ● Republic of the Philippines

What This Module is About
. This module is all about the lessons on inferring the theme of literary text and
summarizing texts based on elements.

What I Need to Know

This module will help you develop your skill in inferring the theme of a literary text.
You will also learn to summarize the summative text based on elements.

How to Learn from this Module

To achieve the objectives cited above, you are to do the following:
• Take your time reading the lessons carefully.
• Follow the directions and/or instructions in the activities and
exercises diligently.
• Answer all the given tests and exercises.

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Lesson

9 Inferring the Theme of Literary Text

What I Need to Know

At the end of this lesson, you are expected to:

Infer the theme of literary text
EN5RC-lb- 2.9.1

What I Know

Let us determine how much you already know about this topic.

Pretest
Lesson 9

Directions: Read the story entitled “Two Were Left”. Then, find out the
message of the story that the author would try to convey.
One winter, on a floating ice island, Noni-the boy and Nimuk-the dog were
marooned on the ice. Both were watchful of each other’s moves as they thought of
what to do to survive. Noni planned of killing his pet dog for food. But Nimuk
thought of no harm to his best friend. But Noni attempted to kill Nimuk with a knife.
Each struggled. Noni lay unconscious but alive. Nimuk whined feebly. The pilot of a
plane descended on the iceberg to rescue the two upon seeing the glare of the knife
which signal him that there’s life stranded in the island.

What do you think is the message of the story?

_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________

What’s In

Identify the element of the literary text being described.

characters plot middle

setting beginning ending
1
_______________1. They are the people or animals in the story.
_______________2. It is made up of the events that happened in the story.
_______________3. It talks about the place and the time that the events in
the story happened.
_______________4. It gives the problem faced by the main character.
_______________5. It gives the solution to the problem.
What’s New

The theme of a narrative of a story can be revealed through its characters, setting, and
other elements like the plot. It refers to the author’s message or insight about life or human
nature he or she tries to convey through the story.

Read the narrative silently then write the theme.

The Ant and the Grasshopper

from Aesop’s Fables
In a field, one summer day, a grasshopper was hopping about, chirping and singing to its heart
content. An Ant passed by carrying an ear of corn. It was a very heavy load, but he did not stop. He
was taking the corn to his nest.
“Why not come and play with me?” said the grasshopper. “The day is too nice to be working so
hard.”
“I am helping to lay up food for the winter,” said the ant. “I think you should be doing the same.”
“Why worry about the winter?” the grasshopper said. “We had plenty of food now.”
The ant was tired from his work, and he thought it would be fun to join the grasshopper. But
he went on his way and went on working until he had filled his nest with corn.
Winter came as it always does, and the grasshopper had no more food to eat. He was dying of
hunger while the ants were eating every day from the corn they had stored away. Then the grasshopper
knew that it is the best way to prepare for the days ahead.

Answer: __________________________________________________________
(Pupil’s answer may vary)

What Is It

You have learned that as an element of narratives, the theme refers to the authors
message or insights about life or human nature that he/she intends to convey through the
story. A theme maybe expressed using universal truths or motives such as love, peace, and
friendship. Most quotable quotes about life also expresses themes like “Time is gold”.
Being able to identify the elements of the story you read shows that you understand
the story very well.

Read the short selection. Then, answer the questions that follow.

Ann is having a birthday party. She is six years old today. Ann told her mother she
would like a very special cake for her sixth birthday. She said she wanted a birthday cake
with three layers: a large layer on the bottom, a medium-sized layer in the middle and a
small layer on top. Her mother went into the kitchen. She is very happy because her
mother baked her cake exactly like she wanted.

1. How did mother make Ann happy?

___________________________________________
2. Why do you think mother bake her the cake exactly like she wanted?
___________________________________________
3. What do you think is the theme of the short selection?
___________________________________________

What’s More

Read the story “Inside the Canteen “and identify the elements of literary text.

Inside the Canteen

by Jean Paul V. Banay
It was 9:30 in the morning at Ozamiz City Central School. It was already breaktime for Grade V-
Sampaguita. Children line up in a queue to go the canteen to have their recess.
At the canteen the children lined up in a queue waiting for their turn to buy their food. Luke, a
Grade 3 pupil rushed in front of the queue and shouted at the canteen manager for food.
Calmly, the canteen manager said to Luke “Luke it is not nice to shout at people especially
when you’re at the canteen. And we should observe the rules inside the canteen. Look at
these children, they line up in a queue and wait for their turn. You should do the same.” said
the canteen manager.
After that day, Luke lined up in the queue and asked politely for food.

What is the theme of the above selection? ___________________________________

What I Have Learned

Kindly complete the statement below by filling out the missing information.

The ____________ is the subject of the story and what the author wants to
convey to the readers.

The elements of literary text are __________________, plot,

______________________, and ______________________.

What Can I Do
Read the story “The Fox in the Well”. Find the theme/moral lesson of the story and
answer the wh- questions given below.
The Fox in the Well
Aesop’s Fable
One day a fox fell into a well. He jumped and jumped but he could not get out. The well
was too deep. Soon he began to feel cold and hungry.
Suddenly there was a noise from above. A goat had come to drink from the well.
It looked in and saw the fox. “ Why, what are you doing down there, Mr. Fox?” asked the goat.
The fox was very cunning. Quickly, he thought of a way to trick the goat.
“ Oh, I’m drinking,” he said.
“ Down there? But there’s water in the bucket up here.”
“ Yes, I know,” said the fox. “ But the water down here is much sweeter.
“ Why don’t you come down and taste it for yourself?”
“ I think I will do that.” And the silly animal jumped into the well. At once the fox leapt
on to the goat’s back. And from there he soon jumped out of the well.
“ Hey! Where are you going?” cried the goat. “ What about me? How am I going to get
out of here? “
1. Who was trapped in the well?
a. fox b. goat c. monkey

2. Who came passing one day?

a. fox b. goat c. monkey

3. What convinced the goat to go down the well?

a. to get food b. to drink much sweeter water c. to swim

4. How did the fox get out of the well?

a. he leapt on to the goat’s back b. he swam c. he ran

5. What is the theme or moral lesson of the story?

a. be timid b. be humble c. be smart

Assessment

Directions: Choose the most appropriate theme for each reading text. Write
your choice on your paper.

1. My Gift
by Christina Rosetti

What can I give Him,

Poor as I am?
If I were a shepherd
I would bring a lamb
If I were a Wise Man,
I would do my part---
Yet what can I give Him,
Give my heart.

a. Sincerity and generosity

b. Giving one’s heart
c. Generosity with material wealth

2. The Fox and the Mask

A fox somehow got into the storeroom of the theater. He

was poking around when suddenly he saw a face staring at him!
He jumped in fright.
But then he looked closer. He found it was only a mask,
such as an actor wears over his face.
“Ah,” said the fox to the mask, “You look very fine. It’s a
shame you don’t have any brains.”

a. Outside worth
b. Inner worth
c. Face Value
Additional Activities

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Lesson Summarize Narrative Texts Based on

10 Elements
(Character, Setting, Plot, Theme)

What I Need to Know

In this lesson, you will learn to:
Summarize narrative texts based on elements
(theme, character, setting and plot) (EN5RC-Ic-2.23)

What I Know

Let us determine how much you already know about this topic.

Pretest
Lesson 10
10
Directions: Read the story entitled “The Greedy Boy”. After, answer the guide
questions in paragraph form.

The Greedy Boy

There lived a twin brother called Sam and Tom in a village! They were identical twins,
even their mother found it too hard to differentiate between them during the initial months of
birth. However, they were like two poles when it comes to everything other than their
appearance. They neither agree with anything nor do they share even one single trait!

Sam had no friends, whereas for Tom the world was friendship. Sam loved sweets and
Tom loved to eat spicy foods. Sam was mommy’s pet and Tom was daddy’s pet. While Sam
was generous, Tom was greedy!

As they grew up, their father wanted to share his fortune equally. However, Tom did
not agree and he argued that whoever is more intelligent and strong, will gain higher share of
wealth than other.

Sam agreed. Their father decided to organize a competition between the two. And they
ordered the two sons to walk as long as they can and they should return home before the sunset.
Whoever covers the longer distance and returns home before sunset will get huge amount of
wealth proportionate to the distance they covered. They don’t carry watch to calculate time.

Both started to walk a long way during a sunny day. Sam walked slowly and steadily,
while Tom urged to win over Sam started to run instantly.
The distance they cover until mid-noon will be equal to the distance they would reach
home before sunset. It was mid-noon and Sam decided to return back as he could reach home
on time.

However, Tom, with his greediness to earn more wealth, did not turn his way back
home even after mid-noon. He walked two times longer distance that what Sam was covered
and decided to return back before the sunset. He urged to return home as the Sun turned orange
in the evening. Unfortunately, he could not even make half way to home and the moon rises.

He lost the race and was defeated because of greediness!

Guide Questions:

1. What is the title of the story? _______________________________________

2. Who are the characters in the story? __________________________________
3. What is the setting of the story? _____________________________________
4. Give the plots. ___________________________________________________
5. What do you think is the message of the selection? _______________________
Answer in paragraph form.
____________________
Title
___________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________

What’s In
Choose from the box the elements of literary texts referred to:

Setting characters middle beginning

Plot moral lesson ending

1. The _________is made up of the events that happened in the story. It consists
of the beginning, the middle, and the ending.
2. The ______________ are the people or animals in the story.
3. The ------------- talks about the place and the time that the events in the story
happened.
4. The _____________ gives the problem faced by the main character.
5. The _______________ gives the solution to the problem.

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What’s New
Directions: Complete the table by filling in the empty boxes with details
found in the story “The Greedy Boy”. Then write your answer in
paragraph form.
Elements of the Story Which word/s in the story gave you an idea?
Title
Setting

Characters

Plot:
Beginning
Plot:
Middle
Plot:
Ending
Theme/ moral lesson of the story

What Is It
Based on your details in the table, write a summary in paragraph form:
____________________
Title
___________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________

A summary tells the most significant parts of a selection. A good summary should be
brief and concise.

To summarize, you must give the specific points of information based on the
elements of literary text which include the characters, setting, plot and the theme.
What’s More
Directions: Read the story “The Queue” connect the following boxes to make
a story map which will help you understand the story better.

The Queue
by Jean Paul V. Banay

It was 9:30 in the morning at Labuin Elementary School. It was

already break time for Grade V-Coral. Children line up in a queue to go to
the canteen to have their recess.
At the canteen, the children lined up in a queue waiting for their
turn to buy their food. Luke, a Grade 3 pupil rushed in front of the queue
and shouted at the canteen manager for food.
Calmly, the canteen manager said to Luke “Luke, it is not nice to
shout at people, especially when you’re at the canteen. And we should
observe the rules inside the canteen. Look at these children, they line up in
a queue and wait for their turn. You should do the same.” said the canteen
manager.
After that day, Luke lined up in the queue and asked politely for
food.
STORY MAP:

Title of the Story

1
.

Characters Setting
2 3

Plot: Beginning
4

Plot: Middle
5

Plot: End
6

Theme / Moral Lesson

7

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What I Have Learned
What elements are referred to in each number?
1. It was 9:30 in the morning at Labuin Elementary
School.
2. Luke, a Grade 3 pupil
3. Luke rushed in front of the queue
4. The canteen manager told Luke about the rules inside
the canteen.
5. Following rules inside the canteen is the right thing
to do.
How do you summarize?

What I Can Do
Based on the elements in the box above, write a summary in paragraph form.

___________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________

Assessment
Read the selection. Write a summary based on the characters, setting, plot, and
theme. Answer in paragraph form:

____________________
Title
___________________________
________________________________
________________________________
________________________________
________________________________

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Additional Activities

Read the selection. Write a summary based on the characters, setting,

plot, and theme. Answer in paragraph form:

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