The 7 structures Enduring understanding: Authors often make specific and intentional choices in their stories

Allusion Think of an “inside joke.” It’s funny only because the people on the “inside” “get it.” If you don’t understand, then it’s not funny. Same with an allusion. If you don’t know what the author is alluding to, you won’t “get it. Some allusions come from the Bible, Shakespeare, or Greek myths. A more modern author will refer to something more famous and much older. Example: The phoenix in Harry Potter

Communion Any time two or more people sit down together to eat and/or drink something together, it is a communion. You do this all the time. Well, there is sometimes something symbolic about what you’re eating, how you’re sitting, what your conversation is like. Many times, authors will use a communion to help us better understand characters and their relationships. Example: Mr. and Mrs. Smith

Journey (or quest) Every time you go someplace, it is a journey. Some journeys are much longer than others. For example, your life is a journey, but so is a trip to the store. Some journeys have a specific purpose and that is a quest. The specific nature of the journey could be symbolic. For example, was it a trip by plane or boat? Was it on a road or was it off-road? The type of journey can tell you a lot. Example: “Where the Sidewalk Ends”

Symbolism We’ve already been working a lot with this. And truthfully, just about all of the other 6 overlap and have something to do with symbolism. Symbols by themselves can be very powerful. They can help the reader understand something in a new or more interesting way. Remember the features or characteristics of the thing itself needs to connect metaphorically with what it stands for or represents. Examples: Black train in the painting, HP’s lightning bolt scar, a rose, the brand-new action figures in 40-Year-Old Virgin

Vampires Yes, there are a lot of these all over. But don’t just think literal vampires. Think about what vampires do. What are they like? If you analyze the traditional vampire, they don’t like light (they’re out when it’s dark – symbolic?), they suck your blood, they turn their victims into something like themselves, etc. A vampire victimizes someone and steals something from them. It could be life, it could be money, it could be happiness. Broaden your definition to anything “vampire like.” Why would the author use a “vampire” in the story? Example: Fleance from “Macbeth”

Violence This is also everywhere. Movies, video games, real life. Sometimes movie include violence just to get people to watch. Well, sometimes authors include it for a purpose. This is especially true when the KIND of violence matters. A sword fight is very different from a gun battle. A slap in the face is different than Macbeth stabbing the king. Even a verbal argument could be “violent.” Remember: violence doesn’t have to be graphic for it to be important. Example: How some characters die in The Hunger Games (didn’t want to give anything away)

Weather There also is no escaping weather. Whenever characters do something, weather is normally a factor. It should be extremely hot or cold. It could be pleasant or miserable. Could be sunny, could be stormy. But there is usually something significant about the kind of weather that is happening during events of a story. Think symbolic. Sometimes weather can affect “mood” and “tone,” but often it is more than that. Example: Rain in The Notebook or the snow in Mulan