Literary Elements & Devices English 9

1.Fold the paper in half HAMBURGER. 2.Fold the paper again in half HAMBURGER (4 sections). 3.Unfold back one fold. 4.Cut a little more than HALFWAY down the middle fold. 5.Completely unfold. 6.Refold HOT DOG. 7.Fold again, hamburger. 8.Fold AGAIN hamburger. 9.Unfold to the hot dog. 10.Pull the middle out, creating the book. WARM-UP: Create FOUR Booklets

Once you have made your four booklets, label them on the covers with your name and the following (one per book): ELEMENTS OF FICTION WRITING PROMPT VERBS PLOT PROGRESSION LITERARY DEVICES Hang on to these – they will be your own set of reference books to use all year. WARM-UP: Create FOUR Booklets

Question # 1: Why Do We Read Stories? In your group, list your three main reasons for reading stories. In your group, list your three main reasons for reading stories.

This means take notes!

What is Fiction?  Fiction is a work of prose writing that has imaginary elements.  It might have some factual elements, as well – as in Historical Fiction, for example.  There are two main forms of fiction:  Novels  Short Stories

Why Do We Write Stories? There are two different styles of fiction writing: Commercial and Literary Commercial Fiction- Written and published primarily to make money. Examples- legal thrillers, romance novels, fantasy, and horror. These are often the big bestsellers. Stephen King is a commercial author. Who else is probably a commercial author? Commercial Fiction- Written and published primarily to make money. Examples- legal thrillers, romance novels, fantasy, and horror. These are often the big bestsellers. Stephen King is a commercial author. Who else is probably a commercial author? Literary Fiction- Written by someone with serious artistic intentions who hopes to broaden, deepen, and sharpen the reader’s awareness of life. Think of the classics. Edgar Allen Poe is a literary author. Who else might be a literary author? Literary Fiction- Written by someone with serious artistic intentions who hopes to broaden, deepen, and sharpen the reader’s awareness of life. Think of the classics. Edgar Allen Poe is a literary author. Who else might be a literary author? These two styles are not clearly defined; many works fit both categories. Can anyone think of an example that works for both?

The Elements of Fiction All stories contain the following BASIC elements: Plot: the sequence of events in a story (what happens?) Conflict: the struggle between two opposing forces (usually the center of the plot) Character: the people, animals, or other active participants in the story Theme: the central idea of the story – what truth does the story reveal? Setting: the time, place, and season in which the story takes place Point of View: the vantage point from which the author has decided to tell the story.

Plot Plot is the sequence of incidents or events through which an author constructs a story. The plot is not merely the action itself, but the way the author arranges the action toward a specific end. Important Elements of Plot: Conflict - A clash of actions, ideas, desires, or wills. Protagonist - The central character in a conflict. The hero. Antagonist - Any force arranged against the protagonist- whether persons, things, conventions of society, or the protagonist himself/herself. Suspense - The quality in a story that makes readers ask “what’s going to happen next?”. Usually produced through two devices; either mystery (an unusual set of circumstances for which the reader craves an explanation) or dilemma (a position in which a character must choose between two courses of action.)

The Six Stages of a Plot 1. Exposition – the introduction that gives background about the characters and reveals the setting. 2. Narrative Hook – the moment that catches the reader’s attention and establishes the conflict. 3. Rising Action - introduction of complications, building suspense, developing the conflict in detail. 4. Climax – the turning point of the story, where the suspense reaches a peak. This is when the outcome of the story is decided. 5. Falling Action – the outcome of the climax. 6. Resolution - the ending of the story.

ACTIVITY: Drawing a Plot Diagram Complete a blank plot diagram like the one below with the six stages of plot development: Beginning of the story. End of the story. Share your diagram with a partner. Did you choose the same points?

Point of View Point of View is simply who is telling the story. First Person: One of the characters is telling the story. Uses the pronouns “I” and “we” to talk about him/herself. Other characters are called by name or “he/she/they”. The reader only knows what the person telling the story knows. Omniscient: This means ‘all knowing’. The story is told in third person by a narrator who has unlimited knowledge of events and characters. The narrator can see inside the minds of the characters. They NEVER use “I” or “We”. Third Person Limited: The narrator only knows how one person in the story feels. Second Person: Uses the pronoun “you”. Infrequently used. Allows the reader to become the protagonist in the story.

Introducing… The Characters! WHO ARE THE CHARACTERS? Character: a person, animal, or other life-form active in the plot. Character: a person, animal, or other life-form active in the plot. Protagonist: the main character (the hero). Protagonist: the main character (the hero). Antagonist: the person who causes conflict. Antagonist: the person who causes conflict. CLASSIFYING CHARACTERS: Static Character: does not change much during the story. Static Character: does not change much during the story. Dynamic Character: changes or has an epiphany during the story. Dynamic Character: changes or has an epiphany during the story. Flat Character: Few traits, not very interesting. Flat Character: Few traits, not very interesting. Round character: three-dimensional, with many traits. Seems like a real person. Round character: three-dimensional, with many traits. Seems like a real person.

More About Those Darn Characters! What Things Tell You About A Character? WITH A PARTNER/GROUP: Can you list 5 things that tell you something about another person/character? Can you list 5 things that tell you something about another person/character? Who can list 10 things? Who can list 10 things? Who can list the most things? Who can list the most things? (10 minutes!)

WHAT IS Characterization? Characterization is the process of revealing the personality of a character in a story. It is how the character is presented to the reader. Characterization is the process of revealing the personality of a character in a story. It is how the character is presented to the reader. Indirect Characterization is taking clues from the author to figure out for yourself what the character is like. (Making a judgment.) Indirect Characterization is taking clues from the author to figure out for yourself what the character is like. (Making a judgment.) Direct Characterization is when the author says exactly what the character’s personality is like. Direct Characterization is when the author says exactly what the character’s personality is like.

Characterization, Continued… Analyzing characterization is hard to do! It is much easier to describe what a person has done instead of who a person is. Analyzing characterization is hard to do! It is much easier to describe what a person has done instead of who a person is. In commercial fiction, characters are often two-dimensional, the protagonist easily identified with and fundamentally decent. In commercial fiction, characters are often two-dimensional, the protagonist easily identified with and fundamentally decent. In literary fiction, the protagonists are less easily labeled. Because human nature is often not entirely good or bad, literary fiction is made up of three-dimensional characters; ‘real people’. In literary fiction, the protagonists are less easily labeled. Because human nature is often not entirely good or bad, literary fiction is made up of three-dimensional characters; ‘real people’.

Setting The setting of a story is the where, when and under what circumstances the story occurs. Setting as Place - the physical environment where the story takes place. Can be real or imaginary. Setting as Time - includes time in all of its dimensions. This could be a time in history, a time of day, season of the year, etc. This could be the past, present, or future. Setting as Cultural Context - the social circumstances of the time and place. The story may be effected by the historical events and political issues of the time.

Setting The setting creates atmosphere, gives insight to characters, and provides connections to other aspects of the story. How the characters respond to the setting can provide or add to the conflicts in the story.

One More Thing about the Setting… Every story has a MOOD. The MOOD is the atmosphere or feeling of the story. How do YOU respond to the events as you read them? The setting is an important way to set the mood in a piece of fiction.

Your Turn! Where are we? When is it? On a sheet of paper, write your name and the Day/Block. This will be handed in for a journal grade. When you get it back, please keep it in the journal section in the back of your binder. 1.Using complete sentences, describe any classroom in the school. This may include the layout, the lighting, the decorations, the floor, who is in the room, the mood of the room, or anything else that you feel is important. DO NOT SAY WHO THE TEACHER IS. 2.Describe what day it is, what time it is, and a few things that are important about this moment. What does this moment make you feel? Are you hungry? Tired? Why?