Conflict, setting & figurative language! Devices of the Day

Internal vs. External conflicts an internal conflict is a psychological barrier or doubt that exists inside the character’s head that also prevents him or her from comfortably achieving a goal. For example, in The Lion King, Symba deals with his guilt over his father’s death. The external conflict is the one between a character and outside forces. Hero vs. Villain

Types of conflict Man vs. Man Man vs. Society Man vs. Nature In this type of external conflict, one character clashes with another character Most hero vs. villain stories fall into this category. Man vs. Society With this type of conflict, the main character challenges a law, tradition, or institution. The main character or characters may battle against the forces that represent these institutions.  What book did you read last year with this conflict? Man vs. Nature Here, the main character fights to endure or overcome forces of nature. He or she may struggle to survive harsh elements, navigate through a disaster, or meet his or her basic needs. What’s an example of this conflict?

Types of conflict Man vs. Self Man vs. Supernatural Man vs. Technology In this internal conflict, the main character battles him or herself. He or she might have a difficult decision or may struggle with identity or self-loathing. These are always internal conflicts. Man vs. Supernatural In stories with this type of conflict, the main character resists forces that are not of this world. Man vs. Technology Humanity’s innate skepticism about the wonders of technology has resulted in many stories in which antagonists use technology to gain power or in which technology takes over or becomes a malign influence on society.

Conflict reveals theme Regardless of type, a significant conflict that a character confronts in a work will give you as a reader clues to what the central message (or THEME) is. As you read, remember to look at the major conflicts and their outcomes to help you come up with a theme. For example, how did things end up for the stepsisters in Ashputtle? How did this reveal the theme?

Setting can influence/ shape conflicts, but what is setting? In literature, the word ‘setting’ is used to identify and establish the time, place and mood of the events of the story. It basically helps in establishing where and when and under what circumstances the story is taking place.

How does setting affect a story?

Setting & mood Settings are not only used to reinforce your characters, they can also enhance the different moods in your writing. A mood describes the emotional quality of something, whether it is a song, a painting or, in this case, a scene in your novel. It might help to think of mood as the way you want someone to feel while reading your novel.

Example from To Kill A Mockingbird Maycomb was an old town, but it was a tired old town when I first knew it. In rainy weather the streets turned to red slop . . . [s]omehow it was hotter then . . . bony mules hitched to Hoover carts flicked flies in the sweltering shade of the live oaks on the square. Men’s stiff collars wilted by nine in the morning. Ladies bathed before noon, after their three-o’clock naps, and by nightfall were like soft teacakes with frostings of sweat and sweet talcum. . . . There was no hurry, for there was nowhere to go, nothing to buy and no money to buy it with, nothing to see outside the boundaries of Maycomb County. But it was a time of vague optimism for some of the people: Maycomb County had recently been told that it had nothing to fear but fear itself.

Figurative language revisited Similes & Metaphors A '''simile''' is a technique that uses words such as "like" or "as" to compare two ideas. Even though similes and metaphors are both forms of comparison, similes allow the two ideas to remain distinct in spite of their similarities, whereas metaphors seek to equate two ideas despite their differences. For instance, a simile that compares a person with a bullet would go as follows: "John was a record-setting runner and as fast as a speeding bullet." A metaphor might read something like, "John was a record-setting runner. That speeding bullet could zip past you without you even knowing he was there.“ Simile: Curley was flopping like a fish on a line. Metaphor: Life is a dance you learn as you go.

Other figurative language Personification or Anthropomorphism Personification gives human characteristics to inanimate objects, animals, or ideas. This can really affect the way the reader imagines things. This type of figurative language is often used in children’s books, poetry, and fictional literature. Examples include: Opportunity knocked on the door. The sun greeted me this morning. The sky was full of dancing stars. Hyperbole A hyperbole is an outrageous exaggeration that emphasizes a point, and can be ridiculous or funny. Hyperboles can be added to fiction to add color and depth to a character. Examples are: You snore louder than a freight train. She is so dumb, she thinks Taco Bell is a Mexican phone company.   Alliteration Alliteration is the easiest of the examples of figurative language to spot. It is a repetition of the first consonant sounds in several words. Some good examples are: wide-eyed and wondering while we wait for others to waken

Let’s look at an example, yell out when you hear similes or metaphors! Leave It All Up to Me Major Jackson All we want is to succumb to a single kiss that will contain us like a marathon  with no finish line, and if so, that we land  like newspapers before sunrise, halcyon  mornings arrived like blue martinis. I am  learning the steps to a foreign song: her mind  was torpedo, and her body was storm,  a kind of Wow. All we want is a metropolis  of Sundays, an empire of hand-holding  and park benches. She says, “Leave it all up to me.”

First Reading: One of these Days * Use a star for significant information, devices, and strategies you notice. ! Use an exclamation point to indicate what you feel strongly about in the article. ? Use a question mark next for parts that are confusing or next to any information that you’d like to explore further.

F I D Second reading Figurative Language Imagery Details. (literary devices including similes, metaphors, allusions, personification) I Imagery (words or phrases that evoke the sensations of sight, hearing, touch, smell or taste) D Details. (Conflict)

Second Reading: “La Isla” * Use a star for significant information, devices, and strategies you notice. ! Use an exclamation point to indicate what you feel strongly about in the article. ? Use a question mark next for parts that are confusing or next to any information that you’d like to explore further.

F I D Second reading Figurative Language Imagery Conflict. (literary devices including similes, metaphors, allusions, personification) I Imagery (words or phrases that evoke the sensations of sight, hearing, touch, smell or taste) D Conflict. (Conflict/ Tension)

Exit Ticket: Literary Analysis Paragraph How does the setting of the poem and/ or story influence the conflict and ultimately contribute to the overall meaning of the work? Use evidence from the selection to support your answer.