Making a Story: An Introduction to Literary Elements Name: Date: Period: Directions: As we brainstorm on the board, take notes in the space provided below. Consider: Why do artists, or authors, create the specific works that they create? Is it all by happy accident? Why paint in an impressionist style? Why chose to compose a symphony in 3/4 instead of 7/8? Why write realism? Why write from the perspective of a two-year old child? Question: What makes a story? What are the factors that you MUST HAVE in order to be able to tell a story?
Consider: While we can refer to these parts of a story informally as who, what, when/where, how, and why, when in dialogue with the greater literary world, we need to use the standard vocabulary. Definitions: With your table, read the definitions below and highlight key words and/or concepts. Characterization/POV (Who) 1 st Person 1 st Person Peripheral 2 nd Person 3 rd Person Limited 3 rd Person Multiple 3 rd Person Omniscient Plot/Conflict (What) Authors must have characters (people, animals, or things which react in a more or less human manner to their surroundings and the challenges they face) to in order to tell stories. Thus, authors must choose how to characterize these members of their stories. Authors characterize characters either directly or indirectly. To characterize a character directly, the author simply tells the audience about the character ("Timmy was lazy child"). When authors directly characterize a character, the reader does not have to infer anything about that character; the author has done all the work for us! To characterize a character indirectly, the author paints a subtler picture of that character for us by providing the audience with a description of the characters speech, thoughts, effects on others, actions, and looks (STEAL). Additionally, author's can use point of view to characterize a character. The point of view is the voice of the story (the speaker who is narrating). Authors can chose to write with a first ("I"), second ("you"), or third ("she/he/they/it") person point of view. Additionally, point of view changes how we, the audience, experience the story. Plot is the sequence or pattern of events in a story (usually over time). Draw and label the Freytag model (standard) plot structure below... Possible Types of Conflict: Setting (When/Where) However, not all stories follow this model. Stories can start with a flashback, a flashforward, in medias res (in the middle of the action or climax), or stories can be framed (stories within a story). Most stories have a conflict or struggle between one or more opposing forces. Most frequently, the main character (the protagonist) struggles against a character or force opposing him/her/them (the antagonist). However, the conflict does NOT HAVE to be between two characters. A character can struggle against an internal or external force. Usually, it is the conflict which drives the story. The setting is the time, place, and feeling into which characters are dropped. Authors choose their settings carefully because settings are the foundations upon which any story grows and can infinitely influence, or even provide, the action/conflict of the story.
Diction, Tone, *Literary Devices (How) Diction is the author's word choice. All authors use diction, just as all painters use paint and all composers use notes; however, authors use specific kinds of diction to convey a specific theme. Can you think of any specific kinds of diction you have seen an author use? Tone is how authors convey an attitude or opinion about a subject to the readers. This might not actually be the author's opinion, but it is an opinion. Literary devices are the specific flourishes that an author uses to give depth to the story. There are many, MANY, literary devices, too many to completely list here. However, some examples include: Theme (What/Why) To express or to explore a theme is why authors write. The theme is what the author is trying to convey with her/his/their story--it is the universal message or "point" of the work. Directions: Now, consider the painting, The Yellow Scale 1907, by FRANTIŠEK KUPKA on the screen/below.
First, let us consider theme--what is Kupka's painting about? Subject: Theme: Directions: Now, let us describe the painting's literary (artistic) elements below. Character/Characterization: Plot: Setting: Diction/Tone/Devices: Theme:
Homework: Use the image below as inspiration for writing your own short story. You may type this story, or you may use the pages provided. Your story must be at least 2 pages long (double spaced if typed), but no more than 4. As you plan and write your story, consider how you choose and use literary elements. For example, do you want to follow the standard plot structure, or would you rather compose your story in media res. Do you want a first person narrator? A second person narrator? Above all, consider WHY you are making these choices... what theme (message) do you want to convey with your story. Remember that all artists, authors included, make conscious and unconscious choices which affect the effect their story has on the audience! Vincent van Gogh's The Night Cafe, 1888, oil paint. Your work will be graded as follows: 100--student has at least 2 pages of work; student has clearly considered and conveyed a theme and has realized the effect other literary elements have upon it; student's story has limited mechanical and grammatical errors which do not detract from the reader s understanding of the story. 85--student has at least 2 pages of work; student's story is complete but student has not fully utilized literary elements to convey theme; a theme is present, but not developed or clear; student's story is mostly free of mechanical and grammatical errors which do not detract from the reader s understanding of the story. 50--student has only provided a page of the story; student's story lack's clear theme; student's story is riddled with mechanical and grammatical errors that make it very difficult to understand. 0--no story present, less than a page of story.