Fiction Analysis THINGS THAT …from a Writer ’’’s AFFECT STORY! Perspective Credit: squidoo.com Credit: svguide.com First, there ’’’s Definition: GENRE! GENRE: …is the term for any category of literature. Genres can be singular or mixed. 1 Genre Types Then, there ’’’s Absurdist Historical Fiction Romantic Adventure Horror Saga “““ ””” STORY! Alphabet Book How to Book Satire Animal Book Legend Science Fiction Autobiography Memoir Short Story Biography Metafiction Suspense Color Book Modern Fantasy Tall Tale Comedy Mystery Thriller Creative Non-Fiction Myth Tragedy Dramatic Occupational Fiction Urban Fiction Epic Parody Western Essay Philosophical Fiction Young Adult Experimental Poetry Fable Political Fiction Fairy Tale Pulp Fiction Folktale Realistic Fiction Graphic Novel Religious Fiction Credit: breakthroughmarketingsecrets.com Definition: Next, there ’’’s PLOT! STORY: (otherwise known as Narrative Structure) …is the sequence of incidents found in the plot, plus the emotion, motivation, reaction, and personal involvement of the characters. Credit: i.dailymail.co.uk 2 Definition: There are PLOT (NARRATIVE STRUCTURE) : …is a sequence of TWO KINDS incidents in which the of PLOT! characters contest over the resolution of a dramatic problem. 2. NON-CHRONOLOGICAL 1. CHRONOLOGICAL (TIME): the plot is arranged in (TIME): the plot is arranged in straight line whatever order to tell the time, with a story. clear beginning, middle, and end. 3 This plot will have: Subplot Flash____________ A plot within Subplot 3 the major and plot and related to Major Plot the Flash____________ Subplot Subplot plot. 2 1 Subplot Freytag ’’’s Pyramid Major plot and sub-plot(s) must connect by the end of the story. 4 Dramatic Structure Then, there ’’’s Basic Dramatic Structure for Story: FORESHADOWING! (FREYTAG ’’’S Pyramid) 1. EXPOSITION: Sets the tone and the theme. 2. INITIAL INCIDENT 3. RISING ACTION 4. CLIMAX 5. FALLING ACTION 6. RESOLUTION (DENOUEMENT) Credit: s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com Foreshadowing builds FORESHADOWING: are hints or by hinting to the clues to suggest events that will SUSPENSE reader/audience of possible occur later in the story. events or situations to come. It Not all foreshadowing is OBVIOUS. allows the reader/audience to be Frequently, future events are merely "IN ON THE STORY." hinted at through dialogue, description, or the attitudes and Characters are NEVER aware of reactions of the characters. Foreshadowing, though the Narrator might be. 5 Now, it’s time for Recognizing Tone & Tone & Mood! Mood are important in discovering literary themes and appreciating an author ’’’s style. Credit: 2.bp.blogspot.com Mood Tone According to the Dictionary of Literary According to the Dictionary of Literary Terms, by Martin Gray… Terms, by Martin Gray… Mood is: TONE is: The climate of feeling in the work. It is the The author ’s attitude (stated or implied) atmosphere of the writing. toward the work, events, characters, or the reader/audience. The choice of setting, objects, details, A writer’s tone can be revealed through images, and words all contribute choice or words, imagery, description towards creating a specific mood. and approach to the subject.. 6 Next, is BUILDING A CHARACTER! STORY STARTS WITH CHARACTER!!! Definition: Definition: CHARACTER: REPRESENTATION: …is the REPRESENTATION …is the repeated display of of a personality in a literary ideas, issues, or themes in a or dramatic work of art. written piece of work. 7 Character: Is defined by: • Personality 2 + 3 = Character • Costume 2 Character Kinds & • Words (dialogue) 3 Character Types • Physical traits • Goals The Protagonist 2 Character Kinds Usually the MAIN CHARACTER(S) who wants to change or change something. Not always “The Good Guy!” 8 Example: The Antagonist The character(s) or thing that does not want change to occur. Not always “The Bad Guy!” Harry Potter Credit: vignette1.wikia.nocookie.net Example: 3 Character Types Tom Riddle (aka) Voldemort Credit: vignette1.wikia.nocookie.net 9 The Dynamic Character Example: Dynamic (Developing) Character: One who undergoes at least one permanent, important change in some aspect of their personality, nature, or attitude. Hermione Granger Credit: vignette1.wikia.nocookie.net Example: The Static Character Static Character: A character who does not change in personality, nature, or attitude; he/she is the same sort of person from the beginning of the story until the very end. Severus Snape Credit: vignette1.wikia.nocookie.net 10 Example: Example: Ron Weasley Draco Malfoy Credit: vignette1.wikia.nocookie.net Credit: vignette1.wikia.nocookie.net The Stock Character Definition: Stock Character: STEREOTYPE: A fictional character based on literary …is a standardized and simplified or social STEREOTYPES. Stock belief about groups or individuals characters rely heavily on cultural based on prior assumptions. types or names for their personality, By itself, a stereotype is not a negative thing. manner of speech, and other It allows for quick, albeit inaccurate, characteristics. understanding. 11 Example: Example: Dobby Peter Pettigrew Credit: vignette1.wikia.nocookie.net Credit: vignette1.wikia.nocookie.net Character = Conflict 4 Types of Character Conflict: Protagonist vs… Credit: 4.bp.blogspot.com 12 1. Protagonist-versus-ANTAGONIST 2. Protagonist-versus-NATURE Conflict: This conflict involves the (Antagonistic Force) Conflict: This conflict protagonist and an antagonist struggling involves something that must be defeated, over a problem or goal. endured, or sent on its way—a disease, a beast, an alien life-form, a storm, a natural power, and so on. Anger Management . Photo still courtesy of Revolution Studios . 3. Protagonist-versus- 4. Protagonist-versus- “““THE SELF ””” “““THE SYSTEM ””” (Antagonistic Force) Conflict: This conflict features inner, Conflict: This conflict pits the protagonist personal conflicts that test the protagonist ’s against a faceless bureaucracy. values, beliefs, or morals. The Matrix . Photo still courtesy of Groucho II Film Partnership . Me, Myself & Irene . Photo still courtesy of Conundrum Entertainment . 13 The main cause of a weak conflict is a ’ weak ANTAGONIST . Now, let ’’s go deeper into One of the surest ways to beef up a weak story Character! is to beef up the antagonist by making the character or force: • OBSESSIVE • CHARMING • CLEVER • POWERFUL • DIABOLICAL Hannibal . Photo still courtesy of Dino De Laurentiis Company . • or whatever turns the antagonist into a THREAT . Credit: kunstfabrik-schlot.de When we meet people for the first time, We form expectations, predictions, and we immediately begin evaluating and attitudes about a person based on these judging them based on: criteria. • Their Actions Everything that you • Their Language read, see, or do • Their Thoughts -- no matter what it is -- • Their Body Language is always filtered • Their Physical Description • Their Values through you. • and on how WE relate to them. It ’’’s Called Inference! Credit: csc.web.cern.ch Credit: lh5.googleusercontent.com Credit: media.photobucket.com 14 The same values and judgments we place on real people…we also place on Let’s see what this is like. literary characters. In the following slides, you will Getting to really know literary characters enriches our reading, and our lives. see nine photos of famous and not so famous people. None of which will you know, probably. Credit: sixcentpress.files.wordpress.com Instructions: On a sheet of paper, list the SINGLE most striking characteristic of the person you see. Then, explain what evidence you relied upon to Here make your inference. Evidence equals connections you make to the photo from: We • Your life (memories and experiences) • What you know (facts and information) • What you’ve read or seen Go! Finally, share your “first impression ” with your us. 15 1. 2. Credit: culture24.org.uk Credit: media.photobucket.com 3. 4. Credit: seasonsofthemoon.com Credit: media-cache-lt0.pinterest.com 16 5. 6. Credit: cafedesartistes.bangordailynews.com Credit: thisiscolossal.com 7. 8. Credit: thisiscolossal.com Credit: thisiscolossal.com 17 Rating Roommates 9. Credit: thisiscolossal.com Credit: tulsakids.com Character Clues Character Clues Write this sentence down exactly as you see it. Do it six (6) times. “____________ is ____________ because (name) (characteristic) he or she ______________________.” (evidence from the text) 18 Character Clues Point of View Look at your number at your table (1-4). Read the instructions at the top of each page. Now, complete that sentence for each person that matches your number. Credit: cdn.thewritepractice.com Definition: Narrator Definition: POV: The way a story gets told and who tells it. The character or "voice" that It is the method of narration that speaks or tells the story. determines the position, or angle of vision, from which the story unfolds. IT IS NOT THE SAME AS Point of view governs the reader's access THE AUTHOR! to the story. 19 Definition: First Person POV For our purposes, we’ll deal Here the narrator speaks as "I” with seven (7) types of and the narrator is a character in narrators…seven types of the story who may or may not points of view. influence events within it. If you see “I,” “me,” or “we,” you know it’s 1 st Person POV First Person POV Example: (Past Tense) Here the narrator is remembering events that have happened to her in the past. She is the protagonist, and we are inside her head as she recounts the events she has experienced, as she believes them to have happened. Credit: veronicasicoe.com 20 First Person POV Example: (Present Tense) A little more modern, here the narrator is not remembering past events, but is narrating events as they happen to him, the way he believes them to be happening. Credit: veronicasicoe.com Unreliable POV Example: “““If you really want to hear about it, the first thing you ’’’ll probably want to The Unreliable Narrator: is a know is where I was born, and what my 1st Person narrator who describes lousy childhood was like, and how my events in the story, but seems to make parents were occupied and all before obvious mistakes or misinterpretations they had me, and all that David that may be apparent to a careful Copperfield kind of crap, but I don ’’’t reader.