The Short Story

ENG3U Summative 1 ENG3U – Literary Elements

Conflict -prime and necessary ingredient of fiction (without it, you don’t have a story) -usually represents some obstacle to the main character’s goals

The main forms of conflict are: a) person versus person – two people struggle physically, verbally, or emotionally. b. person versus himself/herself – a person struggles to decide something. c) person versus nature – a person struggles against a natural force. d) person versus society – a person struggles against the demands of a group. e) person versus the machine or person versus technology – this is rare

Characters

Protagonist  the main character of the story Antagonist  the character or force opposing the protagonist; the character or force that is standing in the way of the protagonist’s goal(s)

Types of Characters:

1. Round characters: characters who seems real and whose character is revealed to you in some detail. Round characters are usually dynamic.

2. Flat characters: characters who exist in the story but you know little about them. These characters do not change.

3. Stock characters: the use of a stereotype or caricature to represent a type of person (ie. the “dumb jock”).

4. Static characters: characters that remain primarily the same throughout a story or novel. Events in the story do not alter a static character’s outlook, personality, motivation, perception, habits, etc.

5. Dynamic characters: characters which change during the course of a story or novel. The change in outlook or character is permanent (also referred to as a developing character). ENG3U Summative 2

There are two types of characterization:

1) Direct Characterization The author explicitly tells the reader about the character’s looks and personality. • Eg. “He was a quiet man who didn’t say too much.”

2) Indirect Characterization The author gives certain information and lets the reader draw their own conclusions regarding the character of a person in the story. Authors use the following to reveal personality: a) Character’s name

b) Character’s appearance

c) What this character says

d) What character thinks

e) What other people think of the character

f) How animals react to character

And most common of all… • 7. What the character does (ie. how the character acts in a particular situation)

Narration

Narrator: The narrator tells the story. The narrator of the story can be a major character, a minor character or an outsider who doesn’t take part in the action at all.

Narrative point of view: The narrator may tell the story from one of several points of view: a) First Person. The narrator uses “I” to report personal thoughts and feelings as well as the actions of others. c) Third person limited. The narrator uses “he”, “she” or “they” to report the actions of the characters. The narrator sees only what an observant mortal might see. ENG3U Summative 3 d) Third person omniscient. The all-knowing narrator uses “he”, “she” or “they” to report the thoughts and feelings as well as the actions of the characters.

Plot Terms

Plot – the organized sequence of events in story.

a) introduction: the first few sentences, paragraphs or pages of the piece, in which the characters are introduced, the setting and mood are established and the action begins. b) initiating incident: an event or occurrence which causes the action to begin. c) rising action: conflict and action occurs and complications arise during this part of the plot. ENG3U Summative 4 d) turning point (or climax): At the turning point a decisive change occurs. It is the moment when the protagonist’s choices go well or poorly; events turn, for the last time, either for or against the protagonist. TIP: Figure out what the MAIN conflict of the story is, then find the moment when that conflict reaches it’s highest point of tension.

e) falling action: or denouement: After the turning point the level of tension decreases as the conflicts are resolved. This is usually the shortest section of the plot. f) conclusion/resolution

Tone  The author’s attitude, stated or implied, toward the subject matter and/or readers.  Tone may be pessimistic, optimistic, bitter, humourous, joyful, playful, formal, intimate, angry, outraged, baffled, depressed, etc.  An author’s tone can be revealed through choice of words (diction), stylistic devices and details.

Symbolism  Symbolism is being used when a person, object, action or word in a story takes on a meaning far beyond its usual meaning - used to represent an abstract idea.

Motif  recurring structures, contrasts, or literary devices that can help to develop and inform the text’s major themes

Style  Imagery, detail, description  Non-linear/non-chronological vs. linear/chronological  Flashbacks  Foreshadowing  Type of narrative (point of view, dual narrative vs. singular narrative)  Etc.

Setting  When, where and atmosphere ENG3U Summative 5  Atmosphere: the general feeling of the story; primarily achieved through setting (ie. rainy day = gloomy atmosphere)

 A theme is a sort of “life-lesson”  a generalization about life implied in a work which can be supported (proven) by specific details in that work.  You do not have to agree with what the author is implying about life, but you do need to be able to understand and express it.

PLOT vs. SUBJECTS/ISSUES vs. THEMES

PLOT  what actually happens

SUBJECTS/ISSUES  what it is about  The issues or subjects of a story can be expressed in a word or phrase (grief, love, betrayal, war, revenge etc.)

THEMES  the ideas implied about the subjects/issues  A real theme statement always implies an attitude toward that subject and which must be expressed in a complete sentence.

EXAMPLE: “Titanic”

PLOT  What actually happens A young woman is about to be trapped in a loveless marriage to a wealthy young man. She loses him and the working-class lover she meets on board the famous ship, who prevents her suicide, in the sinking of the ship. She survives.

SUBJECTS/ISSUES  what it is about  love  death and grief  the class system

THEMES  the ideas implied about the subjects  Pride (or class-based arrogance) can lead to disaster.  Class differences should not be a barrier to love.  Love grows when it encounters obstacles or challenges. ENG3U Summative 6

Notice that “love” itself is NOT a theme; it’s only a subject until you decide what the “message” or idea ABOUT love is.

Top Ten Rules for Theme Statements

(Rules # 1 – 4)

1. Themes must be stated as a ______sentence expressing a point about a topic.  Themes are not simply topics (ie. war children).  Themes must ______about a particular topic.

2. Themes must be stated as ______; avoid questions or “maybe” statements.

3. Themes must include a ______

Theme statements must answer the question “What does the author think is good or bad about the world/the situation/certain people etc.?” ENG3U Summative 7 4. Themes must be a ______point (a statement with which the reader either can meaningfully agree or disagree).

Top Ten Rules for Theme Statements - Continued (Rules # 5 – 10)

5. Themes must not be so ______that three strong arguments from the literature cannot be raised to support it.

6. Themes must be supported by moments gathered from ______.

Imagine a stool supported by three legs, two of which are very close together. This would be a pretty wobbly stool. Similarly, if you choose two specific moments from the literature that are very close together or are too similar, your support is also wobbly. Avoid the wobbly stool argument!

7. Themes must be ______to the writing but not so specific that they can’t apply to the lives of most readers. Themes must also be X ______in nature but not so Specific Vague universal that they are meaningless or vague.

8. Themes must not be too ______to handle; you must be able to prove it in only five-paragraphs. Do not bite off more than you can chew.

9. Themes must not be a cliché. You must use ______. ENG3U Summative 8 10. Themes must be ______to justify the author sitting his/her butt down in a chair for months or years in order to communicate this message to the public.