1. Short Story Unit Literary Terms: (Define in notebook)
Setting
Plot
Theme
Conflict
Point-of-view
Exposition
Voice (pg. 796)
Rising action
Stream of consciousness
Climax
Archetype (pg. 846)
Falling action
Flashback
Resolution
Hero’s quest (pg. 846)

2. Introduction to Modern Fiction
The Modernist movement in American literature spans roughly from 1910 to the early 1940s, a time period in which America experienced two world wars, the financial prosperity of the Roaring Twenties, and the utter despair of the Great Depression .
Notable fiction writers from the period include F. Scott Fitzgerald, Ernest Hemingway, William Faulkner, Zora Neale Hurston, and Katherine Anne Porter.

3. Characteristics of Modern Fiction
The following features are often found in modern short stories:
Understatement
Irony
Stream of consciousness
Antiheroes
Everyday settings
Themes of instability and loss
Plots without a clear climax or resolution

4. Ernest Hemingway-- “Hills Like White Elephants”
Modern Fiction is like an iceberg--“There is seven-eighths of it underwater for every part that shows.”—Ernest Hemingway

5. Ernest Hemingway Home

6. Six Toed Cats

7. “Hills Like White Elephants”
Directions: On your own paper, answer the following questions about the story.
From what point of view is the story told? (You may use your textbook to look at the definition for point of view and see the different types. pgs. R30-R31)
Briefly explain what this story is about. How do you know? Provide evidence from the story to support your answer.
Think of the title as a symbol. What might the symbol represent?
Introductory activity to modern short fiction: Students read this story, then answer the questions.

8. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n8VNieCwCq8 --Hills audio

9. “Hills Like White Elephants”
No real beginning, middle, or end (No clear climax or resolution)
No clear names given to characters--referred to as “The girl” (Jig) and “The American”
The characters are trying to make a decision about something. We have to figure that out on our own.
The story is about abortion—the narrator never states what really happens, though, at the end.
Characteristics: understatement, everyday settings, theme of instability and loss

10. Stream of Consciousness
Stream of consciousness is “a narrative technique that presents thoughts as though they were coming from a character’s mind” (Prentice Hall Literature).
In your modern fiction notes, write down the following information:
How does stream of consciousness work in short stories? Events in the story are mixed with a character’s thoughts, so the story does not usually unfold in chronological order but rather as the character thinks about them.

11. Stream of Consciousness Writing
Directions: Choose one of the topics below, and write about that topic for 5 minutes. Do not stop writing until I have called time. Put all your thoughts about the topic on your paper.
Write about a time that you were…
Worrying about passing a test or class
Having an argument or disagreement with your parents/friend/girlfriend/boyfriend
Hoping a guy/girl you liked would ask you out

12. “The Jilting of Granny Weatherall”
Granny Weatherall is eighty years old and on her deathbed. She is in denial about being sick, and is annoyed with the Doctor and Cornelia.
She has several flashbacks to:
When her children were younger and how she spent her days
Taking care of everything when her husband John passed away early
When she was “jilted” by George
Her daughter Hapsy who died
Thoughts of childbirth
Her last thought is as if she has been jilted again; then, we are led to believe that she dies

13. Journal Entry # 2: Hero’s Quest/Journey
In your composition notebook, respond to the following questions: (1 page in length)
Write about a journey you have taken or a journey that you are currently on. This may be a journey you have actually physically taken or something you hope to accomplish. (Examples: a trip, graduating high school, completing a goal, etc.)
Tell about your journey, obstacles you have faced/will face, what you hope to receive (goal) at the end.

14. Define the following in the lit
Define the following in the lit. section of your notebook (Modern Fiction Notes):
archetype—plot structure, character type, symbol, or idea that recurs in the literature of many different cultures across the world.
hero’s quest– an archetypal plot structure where one takes a journey, encounters obstacles along the way but overcomes them, and in the end achieves a goal or obtains something of great value.

15. Notes on “A Worn Path” Who: Phoenix Jackson
When: During the Great Depression (1930s); December
What: An archetypal hero’s quest where obstacles are overcome and a reward is received in the end
Where: A path through woods, fields, and streams in Mississippi

16. Notes on “A Worn Path” cont.
Phoenix Jackson is on a journey to retrieve medicine for her grandson.
She overcomes real and imagined obstacles.
Her character is revealed: tired, sometimes confused, and determined.
She leaves the doctor’s office with medicine for her grandson, proudly determined to buy him a Christmas gift.

17. A Worn Path Video
As you watch the video, on your own sheet of paper, list 5 things that you found similar to or different from the written story.
How does the video version help you to see this as a true “hero’s quest”?

18. Wrap-Up Activity
List the characteristics from each story that make them fall into the category of “Modern Fiction.” (Use your notes)
“Hills Like White Elephants”
“The Jilting of Granny Weatherall”
“A Worn Path”

19. Test tomorrow: 50 multiple choice questions 1 short answer
Turn in written notes on Modern Fiction and graphic organizers for “Granny Weatherall” and “A Worn Path” for a study guide grade!

20. Creative Writing
Each of the three short stories that we read are categorized as “Modern Fiction” meaning they contain understatement, are written in stream of consciousness, and/or contain everyday characters in everyday settings.
Choose one of those stories to write an alternate ending to. You may make the ending more clear or change what happened in the end. You could also completely rewrite the story from the beginning with different type characters/different type setting/put it in modern times.
Requirements: 1 page in length—story must be appropriate, legible, and organized.
“Hills Like White Elephants” (handout) “The Jilting of Granny Weatherall” (pg. 834) “A Worn Path” (pg. 848)