Reading Literature: Expressive/Literary Focus

Lesson 5: Narrative ElementsCompetency Goals: 5.01,

5.02

EOG Vocabulary: U NEED 2 KNOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

ActionAutobiographyBiographyCharacterCharacteristicClimaxComparisonComplication or conflictContrastDialogueTone

Falling actionFlashbackForeshadowingGenreMeaningMoodNarrativePlot ResolutionRising actionSettingSubplot

Practice:It was a dark and stormy night. Inside the creaky, old Victorian house her family had just moved into, Julie stroked her nervous cat on a crushed-velvet sofa. “Well, it’s a dark and stormy night,” Julie mumbled out loud. “I guess we’ll find out just what kind of protection this house has to offer.” A sudden flash of lightening, followed by thunder, caused her to add, in a trembling voice, “Won’t we, Sissy?” The cat responded with a long, drawn-out growl, her tail swishing wildly from one side to the other . . .

Questions to ask yourself:

What will this story be about?Who is(are) the main character(s)?What will probably happen next in this story?What type of story is this?

Types of Fiction:

Realistic fiction: story believable; could really happen; main character faces emotional conflict (Ex. Draper Novels, “Broken Chain”Fantasy: magical characteristics: time travel, talking animals, etc.Historical fiction: story set in specific time in history; sometimes include historical figures.Contemporary fiction: story set in today’s worldScience fiction: fantasy story set in a time where technology is advancedAction adventure mystery: action packed—no real “emotional stuff”Folktale: traditional story handed down by word of mouth including fables, tall tales, myths, legends, and epics.Mystery: a crime is committed and a detective must unravel the clues.

Tip #1:

Keep in mind the characteristics of the different types of narratives.

Tip #2:Recognize the building blocks of storytelling.

Who is the main character?What is the character like?What does the character want the most? Why?What is the main problem?How does the character change during the story?

Tip #3:

Get to know characters through what they say and do.

Dialogue (things that characters say to each other that’s in quotation marks “”)Direct characterizationIndirect characterization

Tip #4:

Pay attention to the point of view of a story.

1st person: narrator is main character; uses personal pronoun “I”3rd person: when a narrator refers to other characters by name; this narrator may not be a character in the story at all. This type of narrator knows something about all characters in the story.

Tip #5:

Look for details that describe the setting.

Setting can include any of the following information: physical location, time of day, time of year, point in history, the weather, the landscape, etc.

Tip #6

Setting can affect the mood, tone, and meaning.

Mood: the feeling(s) that a story leaves you with.Tone: this is the narrators attitude/feelings.Examples of both: sarcastic, serious, ironic, cheerful, hesitant, angry. . . what else?

Tip #7

Follow the development of the plot.

Exposition

conflict

Rising action (suspense)

Climax

Falling actionResolution

Interesting Plot Tricks!

Flashback: an interruption of the action to explain events that happened earlier.Foreshadowing: “shadowy” clues or hints about something that will happen later in the story.Subplot: a second, less important storyline within the story.

Tip #8:

Look for important comparisons and contrasts. Consider using Venn Diagrams

Let’s practice some . . .

Read aloud “Slom Season” (in parts)With a partner, answer (on paper that your taking notes, questions: 1 (pg.66), 2-3 (pg.68), 4-6 (pg. 69), 7-8 (pg. 70), 9-10 (pg. 72), 11-12 (pg. 73), 13 (pg. 74), and 14-16 (pgs. 75-76).