1. Character, Plot, Point of View & Setting

2. What is a character?
Character: “The aggregate of mental, emotional and social qualities that distinguish a person”(Lukens)
A character: Each of the living beings in literature (including fiction and nonfiction), films, plays

3. Familiar characters Who are they? What do we know about them?
How do we know?
Why do we care?

4. Character development
Shows the literary character with the complexity of a human being
Poorly developed - mediocre literature
Deep vs. shallow; rich vs. bland; vibrant vs. mundane

5. How do we learn about a character?
By appearance (physical description)
By speech and language
By actions
By connections and relationships
Through the eyes of others
By author revelations

6. By speech and language Words they use Regional patterns (accents)
Way they use words
Says or doesn’t say

7. By actions Does or doesn’t do Many facets
Do they fulfill our expectations or surprise us, other characters or even themselves?

8. By connections and relationships
Characters interacting
Others see them
Others talk about them
Contrast with other characters

9. By author revelations
Words of the author, directly telling us about the character

10. Protagonist Central character The hero or heroine
Most action revolves around this character

11. Antagonist
A character who stands in opposition to the protagonist or the main character. (In some cases, can be part of protagonist her/himself.)
The antagonist opposes the protagonist in her endeavors and thus the conflict ensues
“Once you have your first character you will need another to put into opposition… when both are working at their separate intentions, dragging in other characters as needed, you are well into your story.” –Shirley Jackson

12. Types of characters
Round
Semi-round
Flat
Dynamic
Static
Foil

13. Round characters Fully developed Multi-faceted
See them in variety of situations
We get to know them

14. Semi-round characters
Not as fully developed as round characters
Not flat either
We know something about them

15. Flat characters Not fully developed Few individual traits
Help carry the action
Can play pivotal role in the narrative
Stereotypes sometimes used

16. Dynamic character
Significant changes
Allow character to grow

17. Static character Don’t change during course of narrative
Provide contrast to dynamic and main characters

18. Foils Traits contrast with those of the protagonist
Foil is not necessarily antagonist

19. Stereotypes Represent assumptions Stock characters
Cultural, racial or gender stereotypes

20. Plot Defined
The plot is the sequence of events showing the characters in action.

21. Narrative order Order of events that tell the story
Chronological order
Flashback
Progressive plot: e.g. Home - adventure - home
Episodic

22. Conflict
Conflict is the struggle between the protagonist and an opposing force (antagonist)

23. Person against self
Protagonist must struggle with her/his own feelings, beliefs, sense of justice
Books with great conflicts are the ones we remember

24. Person against person
External, visible conflict between protagonist and antagonist

25. Person against society
Protagonist struggles against the norms of a collective group
Examples include racism, classism, sexism, homophobia, religious/political doctrines or beliefs, gender struggles

26. Point of view
Who is telling the story?

27. Types of point of view First-person (can be multiple) Omniscient
Limited omniscient
Objective (dramatic)

28. First-person POV The narrator is “I.”
We follow the story through her/his eyes, thoughts, and actions
Can be any character (does not have to be protagonist)
We only know what the narrator knows, see what the narrator sees
We can learn about narrator through her thoughts/observations
What is an unreliable narrator?

29. First-person diary/letter method (“epistolary” form)
The narrator tells us the story through a series of letters and/or journal entries
Can include s and text messages

30. Multiple first-person narration
More than one narrator
All in first person

31. Third Person Omniscient POV
Written in the third person
Author is able to describe the feelings and thoughts of the characters in the story
What are advantages?
What are disadvantages?

32. Limited omniscient POV
Third person but is focused on main character or protagonist

33. Objective (dramatic) POV
The author records the actions of the characters
The reader sees the action and hears the dialogue
Reader must determine the meanings of the actions and the speech
Like a play

34. Setting Time and Place How does the setting function in the story?
Change the setting and see what happens
Each reader brings experience
Where and when can clarify conflict
The setting may have a profound effect on the mood of the story

35. Integral setting
Integral setting occurs when the narrative, the characters and/or the theme are influenced by the setting
Setting may play a major role in controlling what the characters may or may not do
Historical fiction and biographical novels

36. Backdrop setting
Characters and their actions are barely influenced by the setting
Setting can possess a universal quality

37. Setting as antagonist The protagonist must struggle either against
The physical environment (person vs. nature)
The social environment (person vs. society)

38. Symbol
A person, object, situation, or action that operates on two levels of meaning, one literal and the other figurative
An extended symbol is called an allegory
In allegory, ideas (of good and evil, knowledge, or anything else) may be translated into characters, actions, or setting

39. That’s all - have a great week!