LIT 201: Literary Elements Understanding PLOTCHARACTER PLOT and CHARACTER Professor Sarah L. Dye for 1/28/08 and 2/4/08 for 1/28/08 and 2/4/08

PLOT Generally the first element for literary analysis that readers consider and, in fact, for many readers the ONLY element they look at is PLOT.

Two levels on which we read literature: First: First: to enjoy the story for the action, the "what happens" part of the story. Second: Second: to analyze the various elements the author has used to construct his/her story. The end result should be a greater appreciation of the author's creation.

Defining PLOT PLOT is simply the action that takes place or the structure of events which are connected and which must contain CONFLICT or struggle between opposing forces, a situation which gives rise to the problems or questions to be resolved.

CONFLICT What types exist? THE INDIVIDUAL AGAINST NATURE? THE INDIVIDUAL AGAINST ANOTHER INDIVIDUAL? THE INDIVIDUAL AGAINST SELF? THE INDIVIDUAL AGAINST THE GODS?

PATTERNS OF PLOT

EXPOSITION 1- The introduction of the status quo, information necessary to understand the beginning of action. It introduces the CHARACTERS and their relationship to the environment. The length of the EXPOSITION and its placement varies greatly.

RISING ACTION 2. – The beginning of CONFLICT and the series of events which develop it. Also called the COMPLICATION, the largest section of the story.

CLIMAX 3- The high point, or turning point, where the ending of the story become inevitable.

DENOUEMENT 4. – The falling action, the literal unknotting of the conflict. Also called the RESOLUTION.

Freytag Pyramid

SOME QUESTIONS ON PLOT 1. Are the events plausible? Are they in a logical, well-motivated sequence? How is the reader prepared for the CLIMAX? For the RESOLUTION? 2. What are the most dramatic scenes? 3. What sort of ending is used -- CLOSED? OPEN? 4. Has the author used any special devices such as FLASHBACK or STORY-WITHIN- A-STORY?

PLOT Terminology to Know Plot Freytag Pyramid Unstable Situation Exposition Rising Action Climax Denoument (Falling Action) Falling Action Internal Conflict External Conflict Open Ending Closed Ending

An assignment for next Monday This document can be found on our class website under “PLOT” STOP 1/28/08

LITERARY ELEMENTS: CHARACTER 2/4/08

CHARACTER CHARACTER THE SECOND OF THE SIX LITERARY ELEMENTS WE WILL CONSIDER IN THIS UNIT IS CHARACTER. Mini-lecture for 2/4/08

Defining CHARACTER CHARACTERS are those who people the story, the living feeling beings about whom we make discoveries as we read and analyze the short story (or any other piece of fiction for that matter). There will be a PROTAGONIST (formerly called HERO, but the term is frequently not applicable in modern literature) or MAIN CHARACTER. Characters may be presented through summary of traits or dramatically through actions and dialogue, or by a combination.

Character: Terminology: CHARACTER – Any person who plays a part in the narrative PROTAGONIST – (Hero) The main character in the story ANTAGONIST – The character who is in real or imagine opposition to the protagonist MINOR CHARACTERS – Others in the story who affect action

Five Different Ways to Analyze a Short Story or Novel for Character: Use all of these methods to get the arrive at the fullest understanding of how the author develops and deals with character in the piece of literature.

First Way: Character Types ROUND CHARACTERS  Carefully drawn  Many-sided  Presented in some detail FLAT CHARACTERS  Frequently minor or supporting  Sometimes stock or stereotyped  Sometimes there to create illusion of populated setting

Second Way: Characters and Change STATIC CHARACTER  No change in values, attitudes, and/or behavior DYNAMIC CHARACTER  Change in values, attitudes, and/or behavior

Third Way: Character Presentation DIRECT PRESENTATION  Author TELLS what a character is like through explicit statements  Happens more in modern fiction INDIRECT PRESENTATION  Author SHOWS what character is like through actions, words, and/or thoughts  Happens more in earlier/older fiction

Fourth Way: Character Exposition WHAT THE NARRATOR SAYS  Generally reliable WHAT THE CHARACTER DOES  Involves the reader making inferences WHAT THE CHARACTER SAYS  The character’s mood  The situation – irony?  The relationship between characters  The consistency between words and actions WHAT THE CHARACTER THINKS  Very reliable

Fifth Way: Character Revelation  REVELATION THROUGH THE CHARACTER’S THOUGHTS  REVELATION THROUGH AN OMNISCIENT NARRATOR  REVELATION THROUGH THE CHARACTER’S ACTIONS  REVELATION THROUGH THE CHARACTER’S WORDS

Questions to use for analysis of character  What does the author tell us about the characters that make them either a major character or minor characters?  Is it easy to distinguish the major character from the other characters? How can you tell which are which?  How do the minor characters in the story relate with or to the major character?  Do the minor characters add to or detract from the major character’s part in the story? 25

 Who are the CHARACTERS in the story?  What are these CHARACTERS like?  Is there a common problem that all the CHARACTERS must face?  Do the CHARACTERS fall into particular groups? Are those groups against one another?  Is one of the CHARACTERS the MAIN CHARACTER, or are there several MAIN CHARATERS?  Does the author let you know a great deal about the CHARACTERS, or does the author tell you about the one MAIN CHARACTER only? 26

 If there are any MINOR CHARACTERS, what is their purpose in the story? To help move the plot along? To provide a change of pace in the story? To balance one CHARACTER against another, or to provide a contrast to a MAIN CHARACTER? To help explain the motivations of the MAIN CHARACTER or CHARACTERS?  Are the CHARACTERS realistic? Stereotyped? Unbelievable? Romantic?  Are all the CHARACTERS necessary to the story, or could the author have left some of it out? 27

 How important is our knowing more about the CHARACTERS, or do we appreciate the story without knowing much about the CHARACTERS? Does this factor indicate something about the author's purpose in writing the story?  Do the CHARACTERS change or grow as individuals, or are they alike throughout the story?  If the CHARACTERS change, is there a good reason for their change? If so, what is it? 28

 Can you identify with any of the characters in the story?  What details does the author give you in the way of physical appearance, actions, and reactions of the characters?  When you read the story, can you visualize the characters in your mind? 29

YOU ARE THE DIRECTOR EXERCISE If you were a movie casting director, based upon your reading of the story, our class’s discussion of the story, your knowledge of the author and the time in which the story is set, who would you hire to play the major role in your film of the short story? And why? Note: You may cast any actor, either living or dead, in this exercise. List the more important minor characters in the short story and identify what actor(s) you would hire to play those roles in your film of the short story. And again, why?