Instruction on Completing a Story

Short Story:
 Fictional narrative in prose
 500-15,000 words, requires half an hour to two and half an
hours to read
 Very few characters
 Single setting of time, place and society
 Single incident
Completing a Story
For academic purpose, two sorts of stories are seen in the question
paper. One is fables/historical incidents which have a clear moral or
instruction. The other is real-life based situations which do not have
any direct lesson.
At first, let’s see how to present a fable or historical incident.
1. Start with a suitable title. The moral should not be used here.
Rather, use the lesson. For example – Strength of Unity
instead of (Unity is strength) in the case of the story of the old
farmer having quarrelsome sons.
2. If there is a beginning in the question, do not start fresh. Cope
with the beginning. Bolden your first word. Make a paragraph
with the first five/six lines.
3. Keep the dialogues in Direct Narration. It will make the story
natural. Besides, it is safer in grammatical point of view.
4. In the case of Class IX-X, if the question instructs, limit the story
within ten new sentences (including the concluding sentence).
Try to use Complex and Compound or Multiple sentences much
to accommodate your ideas. But, avoid using more than two
Conjunctions in a single sentence.

5. Finish the story with a conclusion in a separate paragraph. You

can write more than one moral/teaching if you can find out. For
example – (For Fables/Biography/Historical Incident) –

This (fabulous/didactic/instructive/enlightening/educative)
story/incident of Aesop, a (legendary /prominent /eminent
/famous /renowned) Greek philosopher, (imparts us/reminds us
of/teaches us) the (very/invaluable/priceless/precious)
(moral/lesson/teaching/maxim)-

‘Unity is strength.’
or
‘United we stand, divided we fall.’

(For a Realistic Situation) –

(Question-part)
Once a school boy named Sourav was returning home from
school. He was walking casually as usual on a footpath.
Suddenly, he stood still. An old woman was lying senseless on
his way. .................

(Finishing)
This is not (just/sheer/merely) a story for the (sake/necessity) of
a story. (Rather/Instead), it (inspires/encourages/teaches) us (to
raise our helping hand to a man in danger)/(that we should raise
our helping hand to a man in danger).

(Do not show any moral separately for such stories.)

 Suitable Title & Morals for Stories

Fables

SL Story Title Morals

Quarrelsome ‘Unity is strength.’ or
Distress for (Disunity/
1 Sons/ Dividing a ‘United we stand, divided
Discord/Dispute)
Loaf we fall.’
A Magic Goose ‘Grasp all, lose all.’ or
(Consequence/Result) of
2 King Midas ‘The more we get, the
(Greed/Discontent)
A Greedy Dog more we want.’
‘Even the tiniest can help
The Lion & the
Prize of the mightiest.’ or ‘Good
3 Mouse
Compassion/Fellowship deeds never go
A Dove & an Ant
unrewarded/unnoticed.’
‘Honesty is the best
An Honest Reward for Honesty/
4 policy.’ or ‘Honesty never
Woodcutter Prize of Integrity
goes unrewarded.’
‘Who is to bell the cat?’ or
Challenge of Execution/
5 To Bell the Cat ‘It is easy to say but
Difficulties of Doers
difficult to do.’
(Prize/Power) of ‘Where there is a will,
Perseverance/ there is a way.’ or
6 A Thirsty Crow
Wonder of Willpower/ ‘Necessity is the mother of
Magic of Necessity invention.’
Two Friends and a ‘A friend in need is a
7 Test of Friendship
Bear friend indeed.’
Consequence of Lying/ ‘Never tell a lie.’ or ‘To
8 A Liar Shepherd
Effect of Falsehood tell a lie is a great sin.’
Frogs and Consequence of ‘What is play to a cat is
9
Naughty Boys Indifference/Carelessness death to a mouse.’
‘Sharing brings
10 A Selfish Giant Joy of Sharing
happiness.’
Punishment of Pride/ ‘Pride goes before fall.’
A Hare and a
11 Effect of Inconsistency/ or, ‘Slow and steady wins
Tortoise
Irregularity the race.’
12 A Fox without a Cost of Underestimation/ ‘Too much cunningness
Tail Cunningness overreaches itself.’ or, ‘All
 can not be befooled.’
The Pied Piper of
13 Cost of Betrayal ‘Promises should be kept.’
Hamelin
In Search of a Content ‘The more we get, the
14 A Grand House
Man more we want.’
‘No pain, no gain.’/ ‘No
An Ant & a sweat, no sweet.’/
Grasshopper/ Value of Industry/ ‘Industry is the key to
15
A Farmer & His Dignity of Labour success.’/ ‘As you sow, as
Idle Sons you reap.’/ ‘Make hay
while the sun shines.’
‘Sharing brings
16 A Selfish Giant Joy of Sharing
happiness.’
17 A Hungry Fox Solace of Failure ‘Grapes are sour.’
Necessity of Physical ‘A rolling stone gathers no
18 An Idle King
Labour moss.’
‘Happiness lies in
A Content
contentment.’/ A beggar
19 Cobbler/ Root of Happiness
may sing before a pick-
Woodcutter
pocket.
‘Too much courtesy, too
20 A Crow & a Fox Trap of Flattery much crafts.’/ ‘Do not
believe a flatterer.’
Consequence of ‘A stitch in time saves
21 An Idle Farmer
Indolence nine.’
A Farmer and a An Example of ‘Nobility lies in work, not
22
Noble Man Nobleness in word.’
‘A book is not always
judged by its cover.’/ ‘Be
A Crow with happy with what you are
23. Thirst for Show/Beauty
Peacock Feather and what you have.’/ ‘One
should be judged by one’s
content, not by colour.’
 Biography/Historical Incident

SL Incident Title Moral

‘All that glitters is not
Saadi’s Wit/Easy Value of Attire/ gold.’/ ‘Dress does not
1
Going Einstein Tit for Tat make one great.’/ ‘Don’t
judge a book by its cover.’
‘Failure is the pillar of
Prize of
2 Robert Bruce success.’ or, ‘Never
Perseverance
give up trying.’
‘Heaven lies at the feet
3 Bayejid Bostami Devotion to Mother
of mother.’
King Solomon &
Queen Bilkis/ Ready Wit of ‘An easy solution often
4
Dispute of Two Solomon lies in ready wit.’
Mothers
‘Man is mortal.’ or, ‘None
Lord Buddha & a Death-A Common
5 can escape
Mother Fate
death.’
Zilani’s
6 Power of Truth ‘Truth reigns the world.’
Truthfulness
A Righteous Judge ‘All are equal in the eye
7 Equality of Law
& a Just Ruler of law.’/ ‘Law is blind.’
Price of ‘Death is preferable to
8 Alexander & Puru
Dignity/Honour dishonour.’
Practice of
9 Queen Victoria ‘Waste not, want not.’
Prodigality
Newton’s ‘Danger never comes
10 Cost of Carelessness
Carelessness after warning.’
Generosity of
Hatem Tai/ Power/Loftiness of
11 ‘Love conquers all.’
Prophet (Sm) and Love
an Old Waman
Prophet (Sm) and ‘Falsehood breeds all
12 Source of Evils
a Thief evils.’