The Elements of Fiction

Transcription

1 The Elements of Fiction

2 What Is Plot? Plot is what happens in a story the sequence of related events that makes a story hang together.

3 Exposition The first part of a story is the exposition. The writer introduces: a character who wants something very much the setting

4 Conflict The main conflict in a story may be internal or external. External conflict: a struggle between a character and an outside force Internal conflict: a struggle within the character s own heart or mind External: climbing wall Internal: fear

5 Conflict Types of Conflict Internal conflict man vs. himself External conflict man vs. society man vs. man man vs. nature man vs. supernatural

6 Exposition and Conflict Quick Check In a forest of mixed growth somewhere on the eastern spurs of the Carpathians, a man stood one winter night watching and listening, as though he waited for some beast of the woods to come within the range of his vision and, later, of his rifle. But the game for whose presence he kept so keen an outlook was none that figured in the sportsman s calendar as lawful and proper for the chase; Ulrich von Gradwitz patrolled the dark forest in quest of a human enemy. from The Interlopers by Saki What is the exposition? What conflict does Ulrich face?

7 Rising Action Next, a series of complications arises events that make the character s situation more difficult and heighten the suspense. Complication: If only on this wild night, in this dark, lone spot, he might come across Georg Znaeym, man to man, with none to witness-that was the wish that was uppermost in his thoughts. And as he stepped round the trunk of a huge beech he came face to face with the man he sought. from The Interlopers by Saki

8 Climax The plot reaches a climax. The climax is the most exciting or suspenseful moment decides the outcome of the conflict Ulrich von Gradwitz found himself stretched on the ground, one arm numb beneath him and the other held almost as helplessly in a tight tangle of forked branches, while both legs were pinned beneath the fallen mass..... At his side, so near that under ordinary circumstances he could almost have touched him, lay Georg Znaeym, alive and struggling, but obviously as helplessly pinioned down as himself. from The Interlopers by Saki

9 Denouement After the climax, is the Falling Action, or denouement. This is generally a fast movement towards the end, like a snowball gathering speed going downhill. It often involves buttoning-up unfinished business, fixing broken relationships, and/or resolving old conflicts.

10 Resolution The last part of the plot is the resolution. The problems are resolved in some way. The story ends sometimes happily, sometimes not. Who are they? asked Georg quickly, straining his eyes to see what the other would gladly not have seen. Wolves. from The Interlopers by Saki

11 Copy and answer 4-Square Mastery What are the five elements of plot? Understanding Why is the exposition so important to the plot? Interpersonal Think about a short story you have read. What was your favorite part of the story? Self-Expressive What would happen if a story had no conflict?

12 Mapping You will chart the plot of the story we will read by using a diagram like the one below. Copy this example so that you may successfully complete the mapping assignment. Climax Exposition Event Event Rising Action Event Denouement Resolution

13 Setting Setting draws us into the world of a story. Details of setting tell us where and when events are happening how the situation feels who the characters are what challenges the characters face

14 Characters The protagonist is the main character and the focus of readers attention. A good protagonist is complicated and contradictory, like a real person has both strengths and weaknesses

15 Characters The antagonist is the force that blocks the protagonist from getting what he or she wants. The antagonist may be: another character a nonhuman force

16 Direct Characterization The writer tells readers directly what a character is like. Direct Characterization Oh, but he was a tightfisted hand at the grindstone, Scrooge! A squeezing, wrenching, grasping, scraping, clutching, covetous old sinner! from A Christmas Story by Charles Dickens

17 Indirect Characterization Indirect Characterization The writer reveals characters traits through appearance dialogue private thoughts actions effects on others

18 Dynamic Characters Dynamic characters change or grow as a result of the story s action. They... are main characters gain a new understanding, make an important decision, or take a crucial action help reveal the meaning of the story

19 Static Characters Static characters are usually exactly the same as the story ends as they were when it began. They... are almost always subordinate characters support the plot without distracting readers from the main action the protagonist s conflict and growth

20 Flat Characters Flat characters have only one or two character traits can be described in a few words are usually minor characters

21 Round Characters Round characters have many character traits are complex, like real people are often major characters

22 4-Square Copy and answer Mastery Define indirect and direct characterization. Understanding Compare and contrast dynamic and static characters. Interpersonal Think of a movie, show or story you ve read/viewed recently. Classify the characters. Self-Expressive What information would have to be added to the play Romeo and Juliet to make Paris a round character rather than a flat character?

23 Point of View Point of view is the vantage point from which a writer narrates or tells a story.

24 Omniscient In the omniscient point of view, the all-knowing narrator think fairytale. plays no part in the story knows and can tell what any character is thinking and feeling knows what is happening in all of the story s settings

25 Omniscient Quick Check The feud might, perhaps, have died down or been compromised if the personal ill will of the two men had not stood in the way; as boys they had thirsted for one another s blood, as men each prayed that misfortune might fall on the other, and this wind-scourged winter night.... from The Interlopers by Saki How can you tell that this excerpt is written from the omniscient point of view?

26 Third-Person-Limited In third-person-limited point of view, the narrator... plays no part in the story knows and can tell what a single character is thinking and feeling

27 Third-Person-Limited Quick Check She grieved over the shabbiness of her apartment, the dinginess of the walls, the worn-out appearance of the chairs, the ugliness of the draperies. All these things, which another woman of her class would not even have noticed, gnawed at her and made her furious. from The Necklace by Guy De Maupassant How can you tell that this excerpt is written from the thirdperson-limited point of view?

28 First-Person In first-person point of view, the narrator... is a character in the story knows and can tell only what he or she thinks and feels may be reliable and trustworthy or an unreliable narrator

29 First-Person Quick Check The thousand injuries of Fortunato I had borne as best I could; but when he ventured upon insult, I vowed revenge. You, who so well know the nature of my soul, will not suppose, however, that I gave utterance to a threat. At length I would be avenged; this was a point definitively settled but the very definitiveness with which it was resolved precluded the ideas of risk. How can you tell that this excerpt is written from the firstperson point of view? from The Cask of Amontillado by EA Poe

30 4-Square Copy and answer Mastery List as many first and third person pronouns as you can. Understanding Why are most fairy tales told from the omniscient point of view? Interpersonal If you were making a movie of The Interlopers where would you place the camera? Why? Self-Expressive Imagine Romeo and Juliet told from Lady Capulet s point of view.

31 Irony Irony is the contrast between expectation and reality. Three kinds of irony are verbal irony situational irony dramatic irony

32 Verbal Irony In verbal irony, a speaker says one thing but means the opposite. Verbal irony is the simplest kind of irony can become sarcasm if taken to a harsh extreme

33 Situational Irony In situational irony, what actually happens is the opposite of what is expected or appropriate. Situational irony is often humorous may mock human plans and intentions

34 Situational Irony... she was fresh from Harland and Wolff s Belfast yards, strong in the strength of her forty-six thousand tons of steel, bent, hammered, shaped, and riveted through the three years of her slow birth. Can you explain the situational irony in the ship sinking on its first voyage?

35 Dramatic Irony Dramatic irony occurs when the reader or the audience knows something important that the character does not know. adds greatly to the tension in stories, plays, and movies heightens the sense of humor in comedies and deepens the sense of dread in tragedies

36 Quick Check After tripping over his own feet, the teen exclaims, That was graceful! The movie audience knows that a hostile alien is just past the door. Don t go in there! one viewer yells at the screen. Check Yourself Identify each item as one of the following: verbal irony situational irony dramatic irony The guest opens his mouth to compliment the chef, but before he can speak, he burps long and loudly.

37 4-Square Copy and answer Mastery When you are speaking to someone, what other clues, besides tone of voice, would help you recognize that someone is using verbal irony? Understanding How would a story s point of view affect your ability to recognize verbal irony? Interpersonal How ironic! or Isn t that ironic? are statements you may have heard. What were the circumstances? Self-Expressive Create an ironic situation and describe how it is ironic.

38 Theme A work s theme is the central idea or insight about human life that it reveals. Many elements contribute to a work s theme. characters plot Theme conflict setting

39 Theme The theme of a work of literature is its root. It gives meaning to the work s characters and events reveals the writer s personal attitude toward the world and the people in it may give readers insight into life and human nature or help them realize the importance of what they already know

40 Theme A work s theme is sometimes confused with its subject what the story is about plot the events of the story moral the rule of conduct that the story teaches These parts of a story are important, but they are not its theme.

41 Theme Quick Check What Is Theme? Listen to your elders. Three siblings go swimming in a creek even though their grandfather warns them not to. One sibling is almost swept away by the current. Identify each item as one of the following: subject plot moral theme The story of a dangerous swim Young people s overconfidence can put them in danger; young people often learn a lesson the hard way.

42 Theme Identifying a work s theme is not easy but can help the reader understand the work more fully. The theme is rarely stated outright and must be inferred. A long and complex work may present more than one theme, or insight into human life.

43 Theme Here are some guidelines for discovering theme. Think about the title. Consider how the protagonist changes. Pay attention to story s conflict and how it is resolved. Consider the work as a whole.

44 Theme Think about the title. Readers may find clues to the theme in the first words they read, the work s title. The Bass, the River, and Sheila Mant How might these three things a fish, a river, and a girl affect the main character s life?

45 Theme Consider how the protagonist changes. Often what the main character learns about life is the truth the writer wants to reveal to the reader. At the beginning... There was a summer in my life when the only creature that seemed lovelier to me than a largemouth bass was Sheila Mant. I was fourteen.

46 Theme Consider how the protagonist changes. Often what the main character learns about life is the truth the writer wants to reveal to the reader. At the end... Poor Sheila! Before the month was over, the spell she cast over me was gone, but the memory of that lost bass haunted me all summer and haunts me still.... I never made the same mistake again.

47 Theme Pay attention to story s conflict and how it is resolved. Conflict is central to most literature and often contains clues to the theme. I think fishing s dumb, she said, making a face. I mean, it s boring and all. Definitely dumb.... I would have given anything not to appear dumb in Sheila s severe and unforgiving eyes. What conflict does the protagonist face? How does he initially respond to the conflict?

48 Theme Consider the work as a whole. Other elements of the story, such as setting or characters, may also contribute to the theme. Eric said I have the figure to model, but I thought I should get an education first. I mean, it might be a while before I get started and all. I was thinking of getting my hair styled, more swept back...? How does the development of Sheila s subordinate character add to your understanding of the theme?

49 Theme You should use at least one complete and complex sentence, written in third-person, to state the theme of a work. Express the theme as a generalization about life or human nature. Do not refer to specific characters or events in the work. The Bass, the River, and Sheila Mant reveals the extremes to which people will go when they are in love and reminds readers that these sacrifices often fail to win love.

50 Theme What the title suggests: Steps to Determining a Theme How the main character changes: How the conflict is resolved: What, in general, the story reveals about life and people: The story s theme: YOU WILL DO THE WORK: Copy this chart and when reading a story, use it to help you discover and then state the story s theme. Compare your statement with those of other students.

51 Theme What do short stories and Kool Aid have in common? Write a one page QuickWrite on this question.