Transcript English I: SHORT STORIES - Greer Middle College Charter

ENGLISH I: SHORT STORIES
Comprehension and Analysis
Harvard Reading Skills
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Look “around” the text
Annotate
Outline, Summarize, Analyze
Look for repetitions and patterns
Contextualize
Compare and Contrast
“The Most Dangerous Game” pp 19-36
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Plot: the events/circumstances that make up a story
Exposition- The introductory material which gives the
setting, creates the tone, presents the characters, and
presents other facts necessary to understanding the
story.
Conflict- The essence of fiction; it creates plot. The
conflicts (or obstacles/problems) we encounter can
usually be identified as one of four types (see below).
Rising Action- A series of events that builds from the
conflict. It begins with the inciting force and ends with
the climax.
Plot continued
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Climax- The climax is the result of the crisis. It is the
high point of the story for the reader. Frequently, it
is the moment of the highest interest and greatest
emotion. The point at which the outcome of the
conflict can usually be predicted.
Falling Action- The events after the climax which
close the story.
Resolution- (aka denouement) Rounds out and
concludes the action.
Plot Triangle
Climax
Rising Action
Exposition
Falling Action
Resolution
Types of Conflict
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Internal: problem within oneself (person versus self)—
examples: a major decision, insanity, difficult emotions
External: person has a problem with outside forces
Person v PersonPerson against another person—could be
mental, emotional, physical, etc.
 Person v Society Person against a collective group—could
be oppressive society, etc.
 Person v Nature Person against natural forces—ex: weather,
terrain, etc.
 Person v Supernatural Person versus forces that aren’t
natural—ex: God, superheroes, etc.
 Person v Technology Person against science/technology—ex:
Terminator, robots, etc.
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Setting
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Definition: Where and when the plot takes
place (ex: 1915; London, England)
Importance: Setting can influence the action of
the story, and can also help establish mood
“Papa Who
Wakes Up Tired
in the Dark”
Point of View (POV)
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Definition: the narrator’s position in relation to the story
being told
TYPES
 First person—I, me, my, our, we—the narrator is directly
involved in the story
nd person—you, you all (usually in self-help books,
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guide books, and DIY manuals)
rd
 3 person—they, he, she, it—the narrator is removed
from the action in the story/ not a character (most
common POV used in novels, short stories, etc.)
Omniscient—knows thoughts and actions of characters
 Limited—limited to only what is observed/heard; doesn’t
know thoughts
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Diction
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Diction: Element of style an author’s word choice;
affects tone; determined based on purpose and
audience
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Example:
"Dearest reader, I humbly entreat you to eschew the latest
celebrity tittle-tattle and instead devote your attention to
diction and tone." Sophisticated/elevated word choice—
very formal
versus
"Listen up! Drop the gossip magazine and get with the
diction/tone program!" Informal/colloquial word choice—
used with peers/friends/people of equal or lower “status”
Tone
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Definition: implied attitude of the author/speaker
toward the subject/audience; determined by diction
Review the tone descriptors on your handout—these
are great words to use to describe the author’s
tone!
How does tone influence the meaning of a text?
(Part of our essential question today!)
Connotation and Denotation
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Denotation: the literal, “dictionary definition” meaning of a word
Connotation: the commonly understood, subjective cultural
association of meaning with a word, in addition to the dictionary
definition
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For example, we use many different terms for young people. While “little
one” and “brat” both literally refer to a young person, “little one” usually
has a positive connotation (association), whereas “brat” typically has a
negative connotation. You wouldn’t want to compliment a young mother by
calling her child a “cute little brat.”
Other examples:
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“Stink” versus “aroma”
“Reckless” plan versus “daring” plan
“Easygoing” friend versus “lazy” friend
Answer with “arrogance” versus answer with “confidence”
Positive, Negative, and Neutral
Connotations
POSITIVE= “LITTLE ONE”
NEUTRAL=CHILD
NEGATIVE=BRAT
Positive, Negative, and Neutral
Connotations
POSITIVE= “STROLLING”
NEUTRAL=“WALKING”
NEGATIVE=“TRUDGING”
Character and Characterization
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Characterization— the process of revealing the personality of a
character
Character- a person in a story, poem, or play (sometimes animals)
Ways to reveal character:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
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Letting us hear the character speak
Describing how they look or dress
Letting us listen to the character’s inner thoughts and feelings
Revealing what other characters think or say about the character
Showing us what the character does— how they act.
Tell us directly what the character’s personality is like: cruel, kind,
sneaky, etc.
Indirect Characterization- (first 5 ways) we have to use our own
judgment to decide what a character is like, based on the evidence
the writer gives us.
Direct characterization- (#6) we don’t have to decide; we’re told
Character (continued)
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Characters are classified as:
Static- one who does not change much (ex: Zaroff in MDG)
 Dynamic- character changes as a result of the story’s events (ex:
Rainsford in MDG)
 Flat- has only one or two traits (ex: Ivan in MDG)
 Round- like a real person, has many different character traits
(usually, protagonists in novels, plays, etc.)
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Motivation- the fears or conflicts that drive a character (ex:
vengeance, fear, greed, love, boredom)
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Motivation plays a role in characterization as well—by analyzing
motivation, we can make judgments re: character traits
Character Classification
Static—always mean
Dynamic—changes
Character Classification
Flat—just evil
Round—stubborn, tenderhearted, playful, loyal, etc.