7. Paz
Latorena
Paz Latorena was born in Boac, Marinduque in January 17, 1908.
Her story, “The Small Key”, on the third prize in Jose Garcia Villa’s Roll of
Honor for the Best Stories of 1927.
Aside from The Small Key, her best works are “Sunset”, “Myrrh” in Graphics,
“Years snd a day” in Tribune, and “Desire” in Literary Apprentice.
8. The
Small
Key
A Women in her mid-twenties named
Soledad and Her Husband Pedro Buhay
lived in a hut within a prosperous farm
away from neighbors. Soledad looked at
the beginnings of an abundant harvest
with familiarity and discontent.
9. The
Small
Key
She planned to mend some of her
husband's shirts, which were in alocked
trunk. Pedro took out from his pocket a
string which held twokeys: one large and
shiny, the other small and rusty. He gave
Soledadthe large key to his trunk and put
the small key back in his jacketpocket.
Soledad was pained at the look of his face
as he held the smallkey.
10. The
Small
Key
It was hot that morning, and he absently
removed his jacket before leaving to work
in the field. When he was gone, Soledad
began to fold the jacket and the small key
fell to the floor.
Soledad knew that the small key opened
another trunk: a small one that lay half-
concealed and untouched, which
contained the clothes of Pedro's first wife
who passed away long ago. She kept busy
to distract herself from thoughts of how it
threatens to destroy her relationship with
her husband but ended up opening it in
the end.
11. The
Small
Key
Pedro returned home to find Soledad in
bed supposedly with a fever. He watched
over her all evening until the doctor
arrived and told him that she was not
sick.
The next morning Pedro discovered a pile
of ashes and half burnt clothing in the
backyard. He realized what Soledad had
done and rushed to look in the trunk to
confirm it. Soledad has indeed burned his
first wife's clothing.
12. The
Small
Key
Pedro tried to not get angry. He hoped
that the incident can be recalled without
bitterness. He knew that the time would
come that she would explain and
apologize, and that he would forgive her
because he was young and he loved her.
But he knew he would always resent her
for it.
13. 6 Elements of a story
Setting Plot Character
Conflict Theme
Moral
of the
story
15. Plot
Soledad found a
small key
The key opens a trunk that
containes the clothes of pedro’s
dead ex wife.
Soledad burned the
clothes
Pedro tried to not get
angry
Pedro forgives
Soledad
17. Conflict
When Soledad saw the
small key, and opened an
old trunk garments of
Pedro's first wife. Then,
Soledad felt angry and
jealous because Pedro still
treasure the things of his
first wife.
