Parts of Literature
What is plot? in a story - sequence that creates a beginning, middle and end. in the story: What happens? To whom? How? Why? Plot is usually determined by a causal relationship: A causes B, which causes C, which causes D Inciting incident Rising action and complications Climax Falling action Resolution
Pieces of the plot : Who is the story about? Motivations: What do they want? and complications: What keeps characters from getting what they want : What is it that makes this journey interesting? What hurts the characters? What helps them? Climax: What is the turning point? : How does it all end? Read sample passage...what is the first action in passage, then what happens..and then? Chart it!
chronological order - the story is told in the order events happened - the story is interrupted with an event from the past - the story is interrupted with an event (or possible event) from the - planted clues within the story that hint at something that will happen later in the
is the place of the story: The where and when - includes things like country, planet, environment, town, room - -includes things like year date, time of day, season We need both the where and when to understand the setting Knowing the setting and why it matters helps us to understand the,, and
Elements of Plot Conflict and and Mood Author's Perspective and
Plot structure Plot structure is what gives to a story Provides backbone for the action Basic structure of any story Beginning Middle Conflict Complications End
Beginning Exposition where we get important background information about characters, time, and place Start to learn characters and their motivations, or needs and desires Exposition occurs throughout the story,
Middle Story transforms into the middle or body at the inciting incident. This is the introduction of the main conflict Sometimes a story will begin in the middle of things. this means that we being at, or just after, the inciting incident. Inciting Incident and Conflict What is introduced into the story that affects the character's needs and desires? How does it keep the characters from achieving their needs and desires? What must the characters do to overcome this obstacle?
Middle Rising Action - sequence of events that hinder or help the characters, called complications. Often events in rising action help create tension and suspense. Cause and effect - complications in the plot have effects a causes b, which causes c Main body (middle) transforms into the falling action and resolution
The End This happens at the climax - everything in the story comes to a point, all characters, events, complications, effects and suspense reach this. Climax leads us to the end of the story Climax takes us into falling action which turns into have accomplished a quest or journey, completed an adventure, answered a question. (use a story they already read for examples) At the end, things aren't as they were in the beginning. characters and setting has changed
Plot and Subplot refers to and conflict in the story Short stories, plays or poems often have a single plot Usually a single conflict refers to additional that arise Longer stories, novels, epics, full-length plays and films often have subplots in addition to the main plot This helps create interest,
Conflict and Resolution Defining Conflict - Struggle between Protagonist: The of a story, out to achieve a goal Antagonist: The of force that keeps the protagonist from the goal
Types of Conflict External Conflict Character vs. Character vs. Character vs. Internal Conflict Character vs. Character vs.
Identifying Conflict Stories often have multiple conflicts Primary Conflict - Established within the main plot of the story and directly related to the of the action Secondary Conflicts - found within the of the story, and used to enhance the action and.
Conflicts and Characters - The conflict is directly related the characters in the story. - - What does the protagonist want? How does the motivation shape the conflict? - - How will the (and other characters) end up. - How will the conflict be resolved?
Resolution -Resolution ties up all the loose ends of the conflict -It occurs after the climax and falling action -In the resolution, everything returns to "normal - Remember that the characters have changed in some way, because of the central conflict
Setting and Mood When and where of the action...work together to create setting. What else helps establish setting? How do we understand or interpret clues about the plot from the setting? Mood is the emotional tone established in the story. Writer can set the mood in many ways, but most often it is through the setting.
With a clamor of bells that set the swallows soaring, the Festival of Summer came to the city Omelas, bright-towered by the sea. The rigging of the boats in harbor sparkled with flags. In the streets between houses with red roofs and painted walls, between old mossgrown gardens and under avenues of trees, past great parks and public buildings, procession moved. From "The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas," by Ursula K. Le Guin
Mood What effects do words have on mood of the story? How does the setting describe the mood and vice versa? How does the setting affect the plot?
Author's Perspective and Tone refers to a particular point of view. This isn't just first-persona or (all knowing) point of view but also writer's point of view. What does the writer have to say? Why? What is the purpose behind writing these lines What is Williams trying to say and why? Author's perspective also includes Passages or details in the text reveal the purpose and perspective.
This Is Just To Say by William Carlos Williams I have eaten the plums that were in the icebox and which you were probably saving for breakfast Forgive me they were delicious so sweet and so cold
Perspective, Purpose and Tone The author's perspective and purpose can also be revealed by the, or the attitude the writer has about an issue, person, event, object or even the. How would you describe the tone of "This is just to say?" Why? (remorse, apologetic, curious) Sometimes, it is easier to understand perspective and tone in pieces of literature (essays, articles or personal accounts).
Character What is character? 2002 book magazine published a list of 100 greatest fictional characters since 1900. Jay Gatsby, Sherlock Holmes, Charlotte, Winnie the Pooh, Harry Potter What makes these characters great? Who would be on your list?
Types of characters vs. vs. vs. Character is a matter of interpretation - you have to figure out how to read the character.
Methods of Interpretation Motivation Static and Dynamic Characters Character Interactions Relationship between Characters
Motivation Motivation is closely related to the What does the character want? What will this character do to get it? What is keeping this character from getting it?
Static and Dynamic Characters characters Flat or stock characters Play role Sometimes the heroes and sometimes very fully developed - they just don't change Dynamic characters go through Full, round characters, Protagonists,, the ones who pull us into a story in your face excitement Changes for better or worse throughout the story
Character interactions Look carefully at how they interact with each other. In fiction, their interactions are often determined by the conflict and their motivations. What do they want and what is keeping them from getting it? lead to relationships between.
Relationships between characters are integral to story How do they know or think they know each other? What kinds of relationships do the characters want to have? When you use all of the information you have been able to discern about a character, you should start to form an opinion about him or her. This is the start of your interpretation. Why do you have these feelings about the character? How did you get to this interpretation? So what? Why does this interpretation matter?
Character: Motivation "What's my motivation?" What is an actor really asking? What is it that an actor needs to know to play his part well? A character's is about two things: - for survival - the that enhance survival
Needs: Maslow's We can apply these ideas to : When the characters have one level of the pyramid, they move to the next. Everyone is trying to reach the top
: Beyond basic needs, what do characters want? A desire goes beyond basic. It is something that enhances living act a certain way for a reason. Discovering a character's motivation helps us discover that reason. Motivation is often. It explains character actions and reactions and why a character takes the next step forward.
Static and Dynamic Characters Slide 30 If dynamic characters are the interesting ones, why are there static characters?..can't write a story with out dynamic round characters..need both for plot actions characters support role of dynamic change (can see change) Prince Farquar? (Shrek) Shrek and Fiona
Character Interactions - etymological speaking (break apart and look at pieces) inter - prefix meaning "between, among, in the midst of, mutually, reciprocally, together, during : process of doing, performing, carrying out being - interaction: performing or being among Character interaction refers to the Exchanges or interactions are crucial to understanding the characters, plot, conflict, and resolution
How do characters interact? : through speech How do people interact through speech Talk, Argue, Insult, Question : Both have the same goal.
Non-verbal. What are these interactions? Why are they important to the characters? Why are they important to the characters? How does this affect their interactions?
As you read How are interaction between characters affected by: How do these thing affect interactions?
Relationships between characters Interactions vs. Interactions are defined by actions doesn't need a relationship Relationship, includes interactions, defined by Think about relationships in life. They also appear in
Identify the relationship Who are the participants in the relationship? What is the conflict in the relationship? What is the emotional connection?
As you read Who is involved in the relationship? What kinds of interactions do these characters have? How does this relationship affect elements of the story including plot, theme, characters, setting conflict and resolution?
Understanding Theme What does it mean? What is being revealed Theme it not: It is the
Understanding Theme Finding the in the action. How does the change? How is the action resolved? What can the tell you? "Simile" N Scott Momady poem
Simile by N. Scott Momaday What did we say to each other that now we are as the deer who walk in single file with heads high with ears forward with eyes watchful with hooves always placed on firm ground in whose limbs there is latent flight
Theme is often stated in complete sentence using generalized and terms. Remember, the theme is a There isn't one right answer. For this poem, we could say that the theme is One wrong word can ruin a relationship. Language can hurt but also help two people in a relationship. tells us why the piece is important and what we should learn from it
Stated vs. Implied Themes themes: Revelations that are explicitly asserted within a work of literature. themes: Revelations that require and interpretation to discover. Stated themes are often more easy to discover and discuss than implied themes but both require!
The Road Not Taken, Robert Frost Two roads diverged in a yellow wood, And sorry I could not travel both And be one traveler, long I stood And looked down one as far as I could To where it bent in the undergrowth. Then took the other, as just as fair, And having perhaps the better claim, Because it was grassy and wanted wear; Though as for that the passing there Had worn them really about the same. And both that morning equally lay In leaves no step had trodden black. Oh, I kept the first for another day! Yet knowing how way leads on to way, I doubted if I should ever come back. I shall be telling this with a sigh Somewhere ages and ages hence: Two roads diverged in a wood, and I-- I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference.
"I took the one less travel by, and that has made all the difference" (stated theme) One easy road, one difficult one...he took the difficult one/less popular path...encouraging us to take chances
Fire and Ice, Robert Frost Some say the world will end in fire, Some say in ice. From what I ve tasted of desire I hold with those who favor fire. But if it had to perish twice, I think I know enough of hate To say that for destruction ice Is also great And would suffice.
"Fire and Ice" Frost End of the world theories..fire or ice Desire = burning Hate= ice both destructive opposites Implied theme: extreme emotions are destructive (we shouldn't have them)
Analyzing Theme When we ask the, we are asking about theme. You have just finished reading a great story and then your teacher asks, What does it mean? Why does a story have to mean anything? Cant we just read it and enjoy it? What is the writer trying to? What are we supposed to take away from this story?
Analysis: breaking something down into its component parts in order to better understand it. classification categorization outline list cluster
Puzzle Pieces of Literature Break the literature down into its parts images symbols and metaphors
Guiding your analysis: How does the change? How is the action resolved? What can the title tell you Notice. They are often directly connected to the theme. State the theme Use and state the theme in a complete
Reminders: The theme is not specific to the story; it is a revelation about life or humanity as a whole The theme is not a plot summary or the author's purpose It does tell us why the story is important and what we should take away from it.
As you read Identify the characters, setting and conflict involved in the story How do these things change (or not)? Theme is about interpretation. Use your active and careful reading skills to draw conclusions about the theme.
Universal themes A theme is a revelation that writers incorporate into their work. It may teach, persuade, or enlighten but it should resonate with the reader somehow. When we talk about the theme, we refer to a general statement rather than something specific to this particular story. When we call a them universal, we mean that it is an idea that goes beyond just the story.
extend beyond genres, cultures and historical periods to reach many in many places and times. Example: Courage Wizard of Oz Finding Nemo Diary of Anne Frank
Narrator and Voice Narrator refers to the one who tells the story, author, a character, a bodiless speaker or a combination. Point of view first person 3rd person limited 3rd person omniscient 2nd person (don't deal with it much)
Types Objective - reports the action without any opinions Intrusive - offers a perspective on events and sometimes influences the reader's emotions Reliable -undoubtedly trustworthy Unreliable - honesty is in question
Narrator Purpose Why do we need a narrator? Why should we pay attention? Exposition History Perspective Tension and Suspense
Defining Voice Voice refers to the behind the narrator and author. As readers, we are very aware of an Look for voice in fiction, non fiction, prose, and poetry. Persona - author and narrator combined Examples
Four major elements of a writer s voice - attitude toward the subject or audience Mood - emotional Diction - word and choices - use or technique of the language
since feeling is first, e.e. cumings since feeling is first who pays any attention to the syntax of things will never wholly kiss you; wholly to be a fool while Spring is in the world my blood approves, and kisses are a better fate than wisdom lady i swear by all flowers. Don't cry - the best gesture of my brain is less than your eyelids' flutter which says we are for each other; then laugh, leaning back in my arms for life's not a paragraph And death i think is no parenthesis
Heart, we will forget him a poem by Emily Dickinson Heart, we will forget him, You and I, tonight! You must forget the warmth he gave, I will forget the light. When you have done pray tell me, Then I, my thoughts, will dim. Haste! lest while you re lagging I may remember him!
Point of View The way a story gets told by an author, including setting, character, dialogue and actions Author constructs a to communicate this point of view person(i, me, we, us, our) reliable or unreliable 3rd person (he, she, they) (all knowing) or Limited - Give opinion Objective - Second person (you)
Sample sentences - consider how the point of view changes your experience as a reader "My mother is the surviving half of a blindfold trapeze act, not a fact I think about much even now that she is sightless, the result of encroaching and stubborn cataracts." - first person, child The woman was blind, delicately feeling her way along. Years ago, she had been a trapeze artist. Now her partner was long dead and she was blind. - 3rd person (objective, could be limited or omniscient)
Years ago, I flew on the trapeze. I did it blindfolded. Ironic, isn t it, that after so many years of working without my eyes, now that I'm retired, cataracts have blindfolded me again. first person, mother How is each point of view different? emotional investment personal involvement reliability objectivity
To help you determine point of view, ask yourself these questions: Who is telling the story? What is the involvement in the action? How much does the narrator know and understand?? How much information is being revealed? How much is being concealed?
Tone of the narrators attitude toward subject or audience. Narrator is not necessarily the author but a. Expressing Tone a narrator creates the of a piece through word choice and style example (text, email)
Understanding the tone is to understanding the piece as a whole. What is the (and perhaps the writer) trying to say?? Look at and punctuation.
Narrator and Theme How do these things fit together? - who writes the story - who tells the story - the persona of the narrator - the attitude of the narrator - the meaning or revelation of the story Think of it as a.