Inside Stories II

Short Stories Unit – Grade 10

The plot is the sequence of events in a story. It has a beginning middle and end Short stories usually only have one plot so they can be read in

one sitting. Plot has five essential elements:

1. Introduction/Exposition: The beginning of the story where characters and setting are revealed Gives background information

2. Rising Action: The conflict of the story is revealed. The plot begins to get complicated or thicken. The longest portion of the plot.

Notes on: PLOT

3. Climax The highest point of interest in the story. The turning point in the action. The reader wonders what will happen next. Will the

conflict be resolved?

4. Falling Action The events or complications begin to be resolved. The reader knows whether or not the conflict has been

resolved.

5. Resolution/Denouement: The final outcome of the story. The tying of loose ends.

Conflict is essential to plot. Without a conflict, there can be no

plot. Conflict is a struggle between two or more characters or forces. It usually involves the protagonist. There are four types of conflict:

Character Vs. Character (external conflict) The protagonist struggles with another person, animal or force of nature.

Character Vs. Circumstances (external/internal conflict) The protagonist struggles with fate, or the circumstances facing him/her.

Character Vs. Society (external/internal conflict) The protagonist struggles against ideas, practices, or customs of other

people. Character Vs. Himself/Herself (internal conflict)

The protagonist struggles within himself/herself with his/her own soul, ideas of right or wrong, physical limitations, choices, etc…

Notes on: CONFLICT

Vocabulary:

acute audacity death watches deputed derision dissemble dissimulation evil eye gesticulations hearkening refrained reposed sagacity stealthily suavity suppositions tattoo unperceived vehemently vexed

The Tell Tale Heartby Edgar Allan Poe

Read “The Tell-Tale Heart” on page 56-61.

Answer the following questions in full sentences:

1. What is the significance of the title? What kind of tale does the heart tell?2. Describe the narrator in detail. What is your first impression of him?3. The narrator insists from the very beginning that he is not insane. Which

characteristics does he say prove his sanity? Which characteristics suggest he is insane? Do as a T chart.

4. What is the narrator’s motivation for murder? Is it valid? Why or why not?

5. What are some of the conflicts in the story? What effect does telling the story from the narrator’s point of view have on the development of conflict?

6. What are the two main symbols in the story and what do they represent? What is one other symbol Poe might have chosen?

7. Name three detail, descriptions or actions that the author uses to create an atmosphere of horror.

The Tell Tale Heartby Edgar Allan Poe

Draw an eight panel comic strip for The Tell-Tale Heart. Ensure you cover

the introduction, rising action, climax, and denouement. You will need to decide how many squares you will need for each part of the story.

When designing your comic, keep in mind the point of view, and the camera angle. How will you depict each event? How can you make it the most effective? What will you emphasize? Through whose eyes will we see each frame? What are the most important events?

  Each comic must: have 8 squares on an 8 ½ X 14 piece of paper. (1 side) Include key elements of the story Be attractively presented Include lines from the story.

Tell Tale Heart Comic Strip Activity

The location where a story takes place. Sometimes the setting is very important to a

story, whereas other times it is not. There are many aspects of setting such as:

Place: Geographical location Time: Historical time period, time of the day, or

year. Weather Conditions: Is it sunny? Rainy? Mood: What is the feeling created by the story?

How do you feel?

Notes on: SETTING

The author’s underlying meaning or main idea

that is trying to be conveyed. The theme may be the author’s thoughts

about a topic or a view of human nature. The theme is not usually directly stated. The

reader must infer from the events of the story what the theme is.

Some simple themes: love is blind, believe in yourself, people are afraid of change.

Notes on: THEME

1. Vocabulary:apprehensive assailed contemptuousdistraught engulfed forebodingfrantic impenetrable indignationmenance obscurity poisedresentment somber virility

2. Read pg. 109-119

3. Answer Questions #1-4 on pg. 119 in full sentences.

THE LAMP AT NOONby Sinclair Ross

All stories have at least one character.

1. Protagonist: The main character in the story. Does not have to be the ‘good guy.’

2. Antagonist: A character who causes problems for the protagonist Does not have to be the ‘bad guy.’

3. Static Character: A character who does not change or grow throughout the story. Minor characters are often static.

Notes on: CHARACTER

4. Dynamic Character: A character who changes, learns something, or grows

in some way throughout the course of the story. The protagonist is often a dynamic character.

5. Flat Character: A one dimensional character who usually has only

one trait. An example of this is a stereotyped character

6. Round Character: A character with many traits. The protagonist is often a round character.

Vocabularyacrid admonition angora bazaarsblasé discourse hackneyed lithographmodicum pumps pungent salvertherapeutic unequivocal verbatim verve

Read pg. 65-81.

Answer questions #1-5 on pg 81.

THE METAPHORby Budge Wilson

The point of view is the perspective from which a story is told. The person telling the story is the narrator. There are three main points of view:

1. First Person: We the thoughts, feelings, and motivations of only one character. We see the story through this person’s eyes. The narrator uses the pronouns I, me, and we.

2. Omniscient (Third Person): The god-like perspective We see thoughts, feelings, and motivations of many characters. The narrator uses the pronouns he, she, they, etc…

3. Limited Omniscient (Third Person): We see thoughts, feelings, and motivations of selected characters that the

author or the narrator chooses to show us. The narrator uses the pronouns he, she, they, etc…

Notes on: POINT OF VIEW

Read pg 3-11.

Answer questions on pg. #1,2,3 & 5

CHOICESby Susan Kerslake