The Duel
by Nikolai Dmitrievitch Teleshov
Plot: the Action of a Story
• beginning—introduction
• The plot follows a
– the BEST stories actually
general pattern of
start in the MIDDLE of the
increasing tension
ACTION
until close to the
• middle—development,
end of the story
explanation, movement,
motivation
when the conflict
• end—resolution or
is resolved
dénouement [the final
unraveling or solution of
the plot]
Rising
Action
Climax
Resolution
Characters: the Who
• dynamic—changing or
growing characters
– also “round”
• static—unchanging or
one-dimensional
characters
– also “flat”
Note: sometimes inanimate
objects play the roles of
characters
• protagonist—the
central character for
whom the reader feels
sympathy
– many times the hero
but not always
• antagonist—the character
who opposes the
protagonist
– opposing force
– not necessarily bad or evil
Setting
• the where
• the when
– may or may not be
important
– Both the where and
the when must fit—
often without notice.
– give clues
unobtrusively
Conflict in Literature
Man vs. power greater than
himself
— God –– Nature
Man vs. man
Man vs. self
The Duel
• Who is the central character?
• Whom or what is the central character
fighting against?
• How is the dominant conflict resolved?
• What is the secondary conflict in this story?
• How is the secondary conflict resolved?
The Duel
• What specific action confirms
that Vladimir was upset the
night before the duel?
• What were some specific clues
evidenced in Ivan’s behavior
that should have alerted
Pelageia Petrovna that
something was wrong?
• Was the conflict resolved
satisfactorily?
The Duel
• What
characters in
the Bible
experienced
man-againstself conflicts?
Assignment:
Write a formal literature response that analyzes Ivan’s inner conflict in
“The Duel.”
Use the General Format for Literature Responses as a template.
Remember: This is FORMAL writing
• NO FIRST OR SECOND PERSON PRONOUNS
• NO CONTRACTIONS
• NO SLANG
Format:
• notes today—handwritten; final copy due on Monday--typed
• double-space all!
• watch margins
• not on back
Write a formal literature response that analyzes Ivan’s inner conflict in “The Duel.”
You are NOT limited to 6-7 sentences. Any sentence can be expounded upon. “For
example . . .”
1. State the main character, the title of the book, or story, the
author and the lesson (theme) which is learned by the main
character.
2. Describe a character quality of the main character and an
event or action of the main character.
3. Describe how the main character responds to this situation.
Why?
4. Interpret how the main character’s response affects what
happens later.
5. Describe how the main character responds to another
situation. (Perhaps to another person?) and interpret how
the main character’s response affects what happens later.
Answer why.
6. Finally, the main character learns (or does not learn) a
(restated) lesson.