What parts make up a story?

Story GrammarStory GrammarSettingCharactersPlot ClimaxThemeResolutionDenouement

SettingSettingSettingSetting

Details that describe:Details that describe:FurnitureFurnitureScenerySceneryCustomsCustomsTransportationTransportationClothingClothingDialectsDialectsWeatherWeatherTime of dayTime of dayTime of yearTime of year

Time and place are Time and place are where the action occurswhere the action occurs

Elements of a SettingElements of a Setting

Setting

Place

Atmosphere

Time

History

EraLife

Mood

Weather

Feelings

WordChoice

Location

Physical

Day

Use as activator to activate prior knowledge. Write the web on the board or overhead and students create one at their seats. Then as class share and fill in.

The Functions of a The Functions of a SettingSettingTo create a mood or

atmosphereTo show a reader a

different way of lifeTo make action seem

more realTo be the source of

conflict or struggleTo symbolize an idea

We left the home place behind, mile by slow mile, heading for the mountains, across the prairie where the wind blew forever. At first there were four of us with one horse wagon and its skimpy load. Pa and I walked, because I was a big boy of eleven. My two little sisters romped and trotted until they got tired and had to be boosted up to the wagon bed.

That was no covered Conestoga, like Pa’s folks came West in, but just an old farm wagon, drawn by one weary horse, creaking and rumbling westward to the mountains, toward the little woods town where Pa thought he had an old uncle who owned a little two-bit sawmill.

Taken from “The Day the Sun Came Out” by D. Johnson

People

Animals

Or Creatures

The protagonist is the “good guy”

Types of CharactersTypes of CharactersPeople or animalsMajor charactersMinor charactersRound charactersFlat characters

CharacterizationCharacterizationA writer reveals what a character is like and A writer reveals what a character is like and

how the character changes throughout the how the character changes throughout the story.story.

Two primary methods of characterization:Two primary methods of characterization:Direct-Direct- writer tells what the character is writer tells what the character is

likelikeIndirectIndirect-- writer shows what a character is writer shows what a character is

like by describing what the character looks like by describing what the character looks like, by telling what the character says and like, by telling what the character says and does, and by what other characters say about does, and by what other characters say about and do in response to the character.and do in response to the character.

…And I don’t play the dozens or believe in standing around with somebody in my face doing a lot of talking. I much rather just knock you down and take my chances even if I’m a little girl with skinny arms and a squeaky voice, which is how I got the name Squeaky.

From “Raymond’s Run” by T. Bambara

The old man bowed to all of us in the room. Then he removed his hat and gloves, slowly and carefully. Chaplin once did that in a picture, in a bank--he was the janitor.

From “Gentleman of Rio en Medio” by J. Sedillo

Character

Main

Flat

Minor

Not Fully Developed

FriendsRelativesFully

Developed

Protagonist

AntagonistCo-Main

Enemy

Factors in Analyzing Factors in Analyzing CharactersCharacters

Physical appearance of characterPersonalityBackground/personal historyMotivationRelationshipsConflictDoes character change?

Plot is what happens and Plot is what happens and how it happens in a how it happens in a narrative. A narrative is narrative. A narrative is any work that tells a story, any work that tells a story, such as a short story, a such as a short story, a novel, a drama, or a novel, a drama, or a narrative poem.narrative poem.

Parts of a PlotParts of a PlotInciting incident – event that gives rise to

conflict (opening situation)Development- events that occur as result

of central conflict (rising action)Climax- highest point of interest or

suspense of storyResolution- when conflict endsDenouement- when characters go back to

their life before the conflict

Inciting incident/Opening situation

Introduction

Dev

elop

men

t/

Ris

ing

Act

ion

Climax

Resolution

Denouement

Special Techniques of PlotSpecial Techniques of PlotSuspense- excitement or tensionForeshadowing- hint or clue about what will

happen in storyFlashback- interrupts the normal sequence of

events to tell about something that happened in the past

Surprise Ending- conclusion that reader does not expect

For example, if you hear this:

Then you know someone’s about to get eaten!

Man vs. Man

Man vs. NatureMan vs. Society Man vs. HimselfMan vs. Machine

ConflictConflictConflict is a struggle between opposing Conflict is a struggle between opposing

forcesforcesEvery plot must contain some kind of conflictEvery plot must contain some kind of conflictStories can have more than one conflictStories can have more than one conflictConflicts can be external or internalConflicts can be external or internal

External conflictExternal conflict- outside force may be person, - outside force may be person, group, animal, nature, or a nonhuman obstaclegroup, animal, nature, or a nonhuman obstacle

Internal conflictInternal conflict- takes place in a character’s - takes place in a character’s mindmind

ThemeThemeA central message, concern, or insight into life expressed through a literary work

Can be expressed by one or two sentence statement about human beings or about life

May be stated directly or impliedInterpretation uncovers the theme

“Every man needs to feel allegiance to his native country, whether he always appreciates that country or not.”

From “A Man Without a Country” by Edward Hale pg. 185 in Prentice Hall Literature book

“That rotten wolf tried to eat us!!!!”

“I was framed! I just wanted to borrow a cup of sugar!”

conflict

setting

point of view

climax

characters

protagonist

antagonist

foreshadowing

themeplot

resolution

denouement

How to Determine a Thesis

The Goal of AnalysisTo demonstrate some new understanding of

the literary workState this new understanding in the form of

an assertionSupport your analysis with evidence and

commentary.

What’s an AssertionAn assertion is an

opinion about a general subject, like life, relationships, gender or class that you think the author is making through some element (character, theme, symbol) of the novel

Think aloud: Finding an assertionI noticed that in Stargirl the main character

Stargirl changesStargirl changes twice during the novel: first

she is an eccentric, free-spirit, later she tries to conform to the behaviors of her peers, but finally she returns to her true individualistic self

What’s Next?Now make an assertion based on this analysis

of Stargirl:Ask: What new understanding about life,

relationships, gender or class does this present?

Answer: Stargirl doesn’t like this society…she finds it shallow and phony…so she quits it.

Formula to make an assertion:(author’s name) is making a point about

(general subject); the specific point s/he is making is that _____________________.

Example: In Stargirl, author Jerry Spinelli makes a point about the superficial nature of modern society; the specific point he is making is that society is shallow and does not value individuality and it therefore should be rejected.

From Formula to ThesisRevise your assertion statement adding that

the author is using the character(s) to make that specific point

Example: Jerry Spinelli, author of Stargirl, uses the protagonist Stargirl to argue that modern society is superficial and incapable of valuing individuality and should be rejected.

This then becomes the preliminary thesis.

Let’s try another one:I noticed that in The Pearl, the main

character, Kino, changes.Kino changes during the course of the novel.

First he is a young father and husband who is poor but content. However, after he finds a great pearl, he changes into a ruthless murderer.

What’s next?Now make an assertion based on this analysis

of Kino.

What new understanding about life, relationships, gender or class does this present? (In other words, why does he change? – this is your analysis.)

Answer: Kino changes because of his greed. He finds out that greed is a destructive force that can ruin one’s life.

Formula to make an assertion:(author’s name) is making a point about

(general subject); the specific point s/he is making is that _____________________.

Example: Author John Steinbeck makes a point about the destructive nature of greed in man; the specific point he is making is that placing one’s greedy needs over the more important intangible needs of family can destroy a man’s life.

From Formula to ThesisRevise your assertion statement adding that

the author is using the character(s) to make that specific point.

Example: Through Kino’s struggles with the pearl, Steinbeck demonstrates that placing one’s greedy needs over the more important intangible needs of family can destroy a man’s life.

Think Aloud: Character compare/contrastI noticed that Arthur, in Button, Button and

Chris in Hundred Bucks of Happy are similar in that both decide to do the right thing. Both characters are tempted by wealth, but choose to make good, selfless decisions

A Formula To Use To Make an AssertionUse the formulaRichard Matheson, author of Button, Button

and Susan Beth Pfeffer, author of A Hundred Bucks of Happy are making a point about self-sacrifice; the specific point they are making is that good people think of others before themselves.

Now turn this into a thesis.Revise your assertion statement adding that

the author is using the character to make that specific point.

The authors Matheson and Pfeffer are using their characters of Arthur and Chris to illustrate that to be a good person, one must put the welfare of others above one’s own desires.