Short Story UnitShort Story Unit

Miller 2011-2012Miller 2011-2012

English IEnglish I

GenreGenre

►A category of literature A category of literature

►ExampleExample: short story, : short story, poetry, or dramapoetry, or drama

Short StoryShort Story DefinitionDefinition

►a fictional, prose, narrative of 12,000 a fictional, prose, narrative of 12,000 words or lesswords or less

►Fictional: not trueFictional: not true►Prose: written in sentences and Prose: written in sentences and

paragraphsparagraphs►Narrative: tells a storyNarrative: tells a story

PlotPlot

►The sequence of events The sequence of events (action) in a narrative(action) in a narrative

► Plotline Model

Flashbacks and Flashbacks and ForeshadowingForeshadowing

►Flashback: A Flashback: A scene that interrupts the scene that interrupts the action of a story to tell about events action of a story to tell about events that happened at an earlier time that happened at an earlier time

►ExampleExample: : In the In the Lion King,Lion King, during during Simba’s fight with Scar, Simba is Simba’s fight with Scar, Simba is hanging over the edge of the cliff and hanging over the edge of the cliff and the movie uses a flashback to revert to the movie uses a flashback to revert to the scene where Mufasa was hanging in the scene where Mufasa was hanging in a similar way. a similar way.

Flashbacks and Flashbacks and ForeshadowingForeshadowing

►Foreshadowing- Clues that hint at actions Foreshadowing- Clues that hint at actions that are to follow in the storythat are to follow in the story

►ExampleExample: Horror movies – any time a : Horror movies – any time a blonde screams at the beginning, she’ll be blonde screams at the beginning, she’ll be dead before the end of moviedead before the end of movie

Figures of SpeechFigures of Speech ► literary devices used by an authorliterary devices used by an author►simile- simile- A comparison between two unlike A comparison between two unlike

things using “like” or “as.”things using “like” or “as.” ►ExampleExample: You eat like a pig.: You eat like a pig.

►metaphor- metaphor- A comparison between two A comparison between two unlike things unlike things withoutwithout using like or as. using like or as.

►ExampleExample: You’re such a pig.: You’re such a pig.

Figures of SpeechFigures of Speech

► imagery- imagery- language that appeals to the five language that appeals to the five senses-taste, touch, sight, smell, hearingsenses-taste, touch, sight, smell, hearing

► ExampleExample: : mouth-watering chocolate; slick mouth-watering chocolate; slick and glistening streets and glistening streets

Figures of SpeechFigures of Speech ► irony- irony- A contrast between what is stated A contrast between what is stated

and what is really meant, or between what is and what is really meant, or between what is expected to happen and what actually expected to happen and what actually happenshappens

► ExampleExample: : Calling a 6’6’’ guy “shorty” /Calling a 6’6’’ guy “shorty” /

A guy gives up drinking, then he’s killed A guy gives up drinking, then he’s killed when a beer truck hits him.when a beer truck hits him.

ThemeTheme

►the message or messages the the message or messages the author is trying to show the author is trying to show the readerreader

Point of ViewPoint of View►the position from which the story is told the position from which the story is told

to the readerto the reader►First person-First person- the narrator is a character the narrator is a character

in the storyin the story►Innocent eye-Innocent eye- 1st person- when the 1st person- when the

narrator is a child in the storynarrator is a child in the story►ExampleExample: : The Wonder Years; A Christmas The Wonder Years; A Christmas

Story; Malcolm in the Middle Story; Malcolm in the Middle

Point of ViewPoint of View► Third person-Third person- the narrator is outside the the narrator is outside the

storystory► OmniscientOmniscient- all knowing; the narrator is - all knowing; the narrator is

outside the story and tells the reader outside the story and tells the reader everythingeverything

► ExampleExample: : The beginning of The beginning of Beauty and the Beauty and the BeastBeast starts with a hand opening a book and starts with a hand opening a book and stating, “Once upon a time…”stating, “Once upon a time…”

► Limited Omniscient-Limited Omniscient- narrator tells most of narrator tells most of the story the story

Types of ConflictTypes of Conflict► InternalInternal- a person is in conflict within - a person is in conflict within

himself (character vs. self)himself (character vs. self)

►ExampleExample: Simba’s inner struggle to get over : Simba’s inner struggle to get over his guilt and decide whether or not to face his guilt and decide whether or not to face his past by returning to the pride.his past by returning to the pride.

Types of ConflictTypes of Conflict►ExternalExternal- conflict arises from the outside- conflict arises from the outside► character vs. character-character vs. character- conflict conflict

between two charactersbetween two characters►ExampleExample: Simba versus Scar: Simba versus Scar

► character vs. nature-character vs. nature- conflict between conflict between character and naturecharacter and nature

► ExampleExample: : Survivor; The Amazing RaceSurvivor; The Amazing Race

Types of ConflictTypes of Conflict► character vs. society-character vs. society- conflict conflict

between character and societybetween character and society► ExampleExample: In : In Beauty and the BeastBeauty and the Beast, the , the

Beast struggles to fit into society despite his Beast struggles to fit into society despite his looks. looks.

► character vs. supernatural-character vs. supernatural- conflict conflict between ghosts, etc between ghosts, etc

► ExampleExample: : Aliens; TerminatorAliens; Terminator

Character TypesCharacter Types

static-static- Character’s personality Character’s personality does not change throughout the does not change throughout the storystory

ExampleExample: : Throughout the movie, Throughout the movie, Finding NemoFinding Nemo, Nemo remains courageous , Nemo remains courageous and adventurous.and adventurous.

Character TypesCharacter Types

dynamic-dynamic- Character undergoes a Character undergoes a change in attitude or personalitychange in attitude or personality

ExampleExample: : In In Finding NemoFinding Nemo, Marlin , Marlin (Nemo’s dad) changes as he learns to not (Nemo’s dad) changes as he learns to not let fear control his life.let fear control his life.

Character TypesCharacter Types

►stereotype-stereotype- the character the character represents an entire group of represents an entire group of peoplepeople

► ExampleExample: : The show/movie The show/movie CluelessClueless has has the “ditzy blonde” stereotype. the “ditzy blonde” stereotype.

CharacterizationCharacterization

► the way the author presents the character to the way the author presents the character to the readerthe reader

►directdirect-the author states in the text what the -the author states in the text what the character is like character is like

►ExampleExample: Henry is not intelligent.: Henry is not intelligent.

CharacterizationCharacterization ► indirectindirect- the character states what he or - the character states what he or

she is feeling she is feeling ►ExampleExample: “Boy, Henry you’re not too smart.”: “Boy, Henry you’re not too smart.”

► inferredinferred- the reader has to arrive at the - the reader has to arrive at the conclusion by interpreting the character’s conclusion by interpreting the character’s actions actions

►ExampleExample: Henry forgot to do his homework : Henry forgot to do his homework every day. every day.

Aspects of A Character Aspects of A Character

physical-physical- characteristics such as height, characteristics such as height, weight, hair, and eye colorweight, hair, and eye color

ExampleExample: Belle from : Belle from Beauty and the BeastBeauty and the Beast has has brown hair, thin, dainty-likebrown hair, thin, dainty-like

►psychologicalpsychological-what is going on in the -what is going on in the character’s mind and how he thinks, acts, and character’s mind and how he thinks, acts, and behavesbehaves

► ExampleExample: Belle is smart, kind, compassionate, : Belle is smart, kind, compassionate, open-mindedopen-minded

Aspects of A Character Aspects of A Character

►sociologicalsociological- where a character actually fits - where a character actually fits into societyinto society

► ExampleExample: Beast from : Beast from Beauty and the BeastBeauty and the Beast is ostracized/shunned by society because of is ostracized/shunned by society because of his looks his looks

Aspects of A Character Aspects of A Character

► PROTAGONISTPROTAGONIST- - Central character in a work Central character in a work of literature (not necessarily a hero or “good of literature (not necessarily a hero or “good guy”) guy”)

► ExampleExample: Simba: Simba

► ANTAGONISTANTAGONIST- - Character who opposes the Character who opposes the protagonistprotagonist

► ExampleExample: Scar: Scar

Levels of UnderstandingLevels of Understanding

► literal level-literal level- what the story is about- the plot what the story is about- the plot line/surface levelline/surface level

► interpretative level-interpretative level- the author’s the author’s

message(s) and understandingmessage(s) and understanding

►applied level-applied level- how do those messages how do those messages apply to your own personal life and to our apply to your own personal life and to our society society

Tone and AtmosphereTone and Atmosphere

►Tone-Tone- the author’s attitude toward his the author’s attitude toward his subjectsubject

►Atmosphere-Atmosphere- mood mood ►ExampleExample: scary, happy, sad, etc. : scary, happy, sad, etc.

World ViewsWorld Views

►How the author feels toward life and How the author feels toward life and existence existence

►Romantic-Romantic- positive; good, capable of positive; good, capable of change, happy endings, etc (Disney)change, happy endings, etc (Disney)

World ViewsWorld Views

►Realistic-Realistic- no emotions, facts only, no no emotions, facts only, no “good” or “bad” (Newspaper)“good” or “bad” (Newspaper)

►Naturalistic-Naturalistic- negative, people are not good; negative, people are not good; man is trapped in a mechanized society and man is trapped in a mechanized society and can’t help himselfcan’t help himself

Epiphany Epiphany

►a sudden understanding of a sudden understanding of something you didn’t understand something you didn’t understand before (AHA! Moment)before (AHA! Moment)