Name of Learner:

Grade & Section:

Date:
ENGLISH 10
QUARTER 1-WEEK 3
LearningTask 3.1

MELC: Appraise the unity of plot, setting and characterization in a material viewed to
achieve the writer’s purpose

CONCEPT NOTE:

Elements of fiction and elements of story in general can be used by the reader to
increase their enjoyment and understanding of different literary pieces. Once students
are aware that all stories have elements of character, setting, plot, theme, point of view,
style, and tone; they can be encouraged to ask themselves to identify the characteristics
of each for a particular story. The more familiar they become with the different kinds of
elements the better they will understand and critically analyze stories.

Directions: Read carefully the story entitled “Orpheus” by Alice Low. Answer the
tasks below.

ORPHEUS
retold by Alice Low

There were nine goddesses called Muses. Born out of Zeus and Titaness named
Mnemosyne, each muse presided over a different art of science.

Calliope, one of these sisters, was the inspiration of poets and musicians. She was the
mother of Orpheus (a mortal because his father was one) and gave to her son a
remarkable talent for music.

Orpheus played his lyre so sweetly that he charmed all things on earth. Men and women
forgot their cares when gathered around him to listen. Wild beasts lay down as they
gathered around him as if they were tame, entranced by his soothing notes. Even rocks
and trees followed him, and the rivers changed their direction to hear him play.

Orpheus loved a young woman named Eurydice, and when they were married, they looked
forward to many years of happiness together. But soon after, Eurydice stepped on a
poisonous snake and died.

Orpheus roamed the earth, singing sad melodies to try to overcome his grief. But it was
no use. He longed for Eurydice so deeply that he decided to follow her to the
underworld. He said to himself, “No mortal has ever been there before, but I must try
to bring back my beloved Eurydice. I will charm Persephone and Hades with my music and
win Eurydice’s release.”

He climbed into a cave and through a dark passage that led to the underworld. When he
reached the river Styx, he plucked his lyre again, and Cerberus, the fierce three-headed
dog who guarded the gates, heard the sweet music and lay still to let him pass.

Orpheus continued to play his lyre tenderly as he made his way through the gloomy
underworld. The ghosts cried when they heard his sad music. Sisyphus, who had been
condemned to roll a rock uphill forever, stopped his fruitless work to listen. Tantalus,
who had been sentenced to stand in a pool of receding water, stopped trying to quench
his thirst. And even the wheel to which Ixion was tied as punishment stopped turning for
one moment.

At last Orpheus came to the palace of Hades and Persephone, King and Queen of the
underworld. Before they could offer him to leave, he began his gentle song, pleading for
Eurydice.

When stern Hades heard Orpheus’ song, he began to weep. Cold Persephone was so
moved that, for the first time in all her months in the underworld, her heart melted.

“Oh, please, my husband,” she said to Hades, “let Eurydice be reunited with Orpheus.”
They summoned Eurydice, and the two lovers clasped each other and turned to leave.

“Wait!” said Hades to Orpheus. “Eurydice is yours to take back to earth on

one condition.”

What is that?” asked Orpheus

“She must follow you, and you must not look back at her until you are on earth again.”

“I understand,” said Orpheus, and “and I am forever grateful.”

Orpheus and Eurydice left the underworld and made their way through the dark passage
that led to the upper world. At last they reached the cave through which Orpheus had
descended.
“I can see daylight ahead” called Orpheus to Eurydice. “We are almost there.”
But Eurydice had not heard him, and so she did not answer.

Orpheus turned to make sure that she was still following him. He caught one last glimpse
of her arms stretched out to him. And then she disappeared, swallowed by darkness.

“Farewell,” he heard her cry as she was carried back to the underworld. Orpheus tried to
follow her, but this time the gods would not allow it. And so he wandered the earth alone.
He sang his sad songs to the trees and longed for the time when he, too, would die and
be reunited with his beloved Eurydice in the underworld.

SOURCE: Almonte, Liza R., Flandez, Lerma L., Hermosa, Angelina Lourdes A.,
Lagustan, Nedia, Mangaluz, Liberty A., Miranda, Elenita R., Mendoza, Paul
Anthony B, et al. “Grade 10 English Learner’s Material: Celebrating Diversity
through World Literature.” 1st ed. Pasig City: Department of Education, 2015. pg. 55

A. Directions: Read each question carefully and answer the comprehension questions.

1. What was the greatest strength of Orpheus? What was his weakness?
2. What effect did Orpheus’ music have on people and gods? Cite two examples of this.
3. Why did Orpheus decide to rescue his wife from the underworld?
4. Why did Orpheus look back to see if Eurydice was following him?
5. What reasons might the gods have for allowing Orpheus and Eurydice to be reunited?
6. Explain why the gods gave a condition to Orpheus and to his bride to return to earth.
7. What main characteristic of this text makes it a myth?
8. To whom does Orpheus owe his talent? Why was he able to win the sympathy of the
gods?
9. In what situations are the gods willing to help humans?

B. Supply each corresponding box given the plot of the story “Orpheus.” Write the
letter of the correct answer on the worksheet

ORPHEUS

Column A Column B

1. EXPOSITION
 2. RISING ACTION

3. CLIMAX

4. FALLING ACTION

5. RESOLUTION

Sentence Box:
A. Orpheus is a legendary musician, poet, and prophet in ancient Greek religion and myth.
He has the ability to charm all living things and even stones with his music.

B. Orpheus met and wooed the maiden, Eurydice. They were married. Directly after their
wedding, as the bride walks in the meadow with her bridesmaid, a viper bit her and
caused her death.

C. Orpheus went to the underworld and successfully convinced Hades and Persephone to
give his wife in a condition that he should not turn a glimpse to her until they reach the
world of the living. They pass the great doors of Hades to the path that would take
them out of the darkness. Climbing up and up. But when they almost there, and he
turned to her. It was too soon in the cavern. He saw her in the dim light and held out his
arms to clasp her, but on the instant, she was gone.

D. Desperately, he tried to rush after her and follow her down, but he was not allowed.
The Gods did not allow him to go down to land of the dead the second time, while he was
alive.

E. He wandered through the wild solitude of Thrace, comfortless except for his lyre,
playing, always playing, the rocks and the rivers and the trees him gladly, his only
companions.
Name of Learner:
Grade & Section:
Date:
ENGLISH 10
QUARTER 1- WEEK 3
LearningTask 5.1

MELC: Appraise the unity of plot, setting and characterization in a material viewed to
achieve the writer’s purpose

Directions: Identify what is asked in each item. Write the letters of your answers.

Exploring the Sea of Goodness (Excerpt)

Lee Emm

1.) Do you believe that the sea of goodness is possible in this world? 2.) I always
believe it is possible. 3.) Doing something good, no matter what the consequences are,
 will always make me contented and secure.
4.) There are a lot of ways I can do such, especially in doing something “good” for
others. 5.) The steps are easy but zealousness, humility, and consistency are the subtle
ways. Here are the simple ones:
6.) The first one I imagine that I am in the place of the other person I’ll do good to.
7.) Next, I’ll imagine how she’ll feel and react. 8.) That way, I’ll think doing good to
others will make me at least a better person. 9.) That will make me grateful that I have
done something good.
10.) With these simple but notable ways I can prove to myself, to others, and to God
that I can explore the sea of goodness in this ever-changing world. 11.) How about you,
can you explore it also? 12.) I bet you can!

Source: Celebrating Diversity through World Literature, pg. 3

_____1. The main point of the article is best expressed in the sentence no. ____.

a. 3 b. 4 c. 10 d. 12

______2. Exploring the sea of goodness, means you are practicing ________.

a. conscientiousness c. kindness
b. humility d. Sympathy

______ 3. The word subtle in sentence no. 5 means ___________.

a. clear b. Practical c. refined d. strained

______ 4. The kind of evidence used by the writer to support her stand is through _.
a. anecdotes b. examples c. statistics d. video

______ 5. The generalization or statement about the passage on life or human

experience is to ___.
a. bring out the best in you c. struggle against the odds
b. stand up for one’s belief d. take strength to bear up the odds.
______6. In which part of the key elements of a short story reveals the problem of
the characters
a. exposition b. characterization c. theme d. conflict

______ 7. Which of these is the term for the “turning point of the story”?
a. Exposition b. Characterization c. climax d. conflict

______ 8. When the author gives some background or needed details to the story
this is known as what term?
a. characterization c. foreshadowing
b. exposition d. point of view

______ 9. The problem of the story also known as which story element?
a. character b. conflict c. exposition d. Resolution

______ 10. Which details the solution for the conflict of the story?
a. climax c. resolution
b. falling action d. rising action

______ 11. What type of conflict is best shown here?

a. character vs. character c. character vs. self
b. character vs. nature d. character vs. society

______ 12. Who is the person with which the main character has a conflict?
a. antagonist c. principal
b. bad guy d. Protagonist

______ 13. What is the time and location in which a story takes place?
a. Conflict c. point of view
b. Plot d. Setting

______14. The central, main character of the story is called____.

a. antagonist c. instigator
b. Investigator d. Protagonist

______ 15. What is a person or animal which takes part in the action of the story?
a. Character c. resolution
b. plot d. setting