ENGLISH I: SHORT STORIES
Comprehension and Analysis
Harvard Reading Skills
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Look “around” the text
Annotate
Outline, Summarize, Analyze
Look for repetitions and patterns
Contextualize
Compare and Contrast
“The Most Dangerous Game” pp 19-36
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Plot: the events/circumstances that make up a story
Exposition- The introductory material which gives the
setting, creates the tone, presents the characters, and
presents other facts necessary to understanding the
story.
Conflict- The essence of fiction; it creates plot. The
conflicts (or obstacles/problems) we encounter can
usually be identified as one of four types (see below).
Rising Action- A series of events that builds from the
conflict. It begins with the inciting force and ends with
the climax.
Plot continued
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Climax- The climax is the result of the crisis. It is the
high point of the story for the reader. Frequently, it
is the moment of the highest interest and greatest
emotion. The point at which the outcome of the
conflict can usually be predicted.
Falling Action- The events after the climax which
close the story.
Resolution- (aka denouement) Rounds out and
concludes the action.
Plot Triangle
Climax
Rising Action
Exposition
Falling Action
Resolution
Types of Conflict
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Internal: problem within oneself (person versus self)—
examples: a major decision, insanity, difficult emotions
External: person has a problem with outside forces
Person v PersonPerson against another person—could be
mental, emotional, physical, etc.
 Person v Society Person against a collective group—could
be oppressive society, etc.
 Person v Nature Person against natural forces—ex: weather,
terrain, etc.
 Person v Supernatural Person versus forces that aren’t
natural—ex: God, superheroes, etc.
 Person v Technology Person against science/technology—ex:
Terminator, robots, etc.
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Setting
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Definition: Where and when the plot takes
place (ex: 1915; London, England)
Importance: Setting can influence the action of
the story, and can also help establish mood
“Papa Who
Wakes Up Tired
in the Dark”
Point of View (POV)
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Definition: the narrator’s position in relation to the story
being told
TYPES
 First person—I, me, my, our, we—the narrator is directly
involved in the story
nd person—you, you all (usually in self-help books,
 2
guide books, and DIY manuals)
rd
 3 person—they, he, she, it—the narrator is removed
from the action in the story/ not a character (most
common POV used in novels, short stories, etc.)
Omniscient—knows thoughts and actions of characters
 Limited—limited to only what is observed/heard; doesn’t
know thoughts
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Diction

Diction: Element of style an author’s word choice;
affects tone; determined based on purpose and
audience

Example:
"Dearest reader, I humbly entreat you to eschew the latest
celebrity tittle-tattle and instead devote your attention to
diction and tone." Sophisticated/elevated word choice—
very formal
versus
"Listen up! Drop the gossip magazine and get with the
diction/tone program!" Informal/colloquial word choice—
used with peers/friends/people of equal or lower “status”
Tone
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Definition: implied attitude of the author/speaker
toward the subject/audience; determined by diction
Review the tone descriptors on your handout—these
are great words to use to describe the author’s
tone!
How does tone influence the meaning of a text?
(Part of our essential question today!)
Connotation and Denotation
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Denotation: the literal, “dictionary definition” meaning of a word
Connotation: the commonly understood, subjective cultural
association of meaning with a word, in addition to the dictionary
definition
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For example, we use many different terms for young people. While “little
one” and “brat” both literally refer to a young person, “little one” usually
has a positive connotation (association), whereas “brat” typically has a
negative connotation. You wouldn’t want to compliment a young mother by
calling her child a “cute little brat.”
Other examples:
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“Stink” versus “aroma”
“Reckless” plan versus “daring” plan
“Easygoing” friend versus “lazy” friend
Answer with “arrogance” versus answer with “confidence”
Positive, Negative, and Neutral
Connotations
POSITIVE= “LITTLE ONE”
NEUTRAL=CHILD
NEGATIVE=BRAT
Positive, Negative, and Neutral
Connotations
POSITIVE= “STROLLING”
NEUTRAL=“WALKING”
NEGATIVE=“TRUDGING”
Character and Characterization
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Characterization— the process of revealing the personality of a
character
Character- a person in a story, poem, or play (sometimes animals)
Ways to reveal character:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
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Letting us hear the character speak
Describing how they look or dress
Letting us listen to the character’s inner thoughts and feelings
Revealing what other characters think or say about the character
Showing us what the character does— how they act.
Tell us directly what the character’s personality is like: cruel, kind,
sneaky, etc.
Indirect Characterization- (first 5 ways) we have to use our own
judgment to decide what a character is like, based on the evidence
the writer gives us.
Direct characterization- (#6) we don’t have to decide; we’re told
Character (continued)
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Characters are classified as:
Static- one who does not change much (ex: Zaroff in MDG)
 Dynamic- character changes as a result of the story’s events (ex:
Rainsford in MDG)
 Flat- has only one or two traits (ex: Ivan in MDG)
 Round- like a real person, has many different character traits
(usually, protagonists in novels, plays, etc.)
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Motivation- the fears or conflicts that drive a character (ex:
vengeance, fear, greed, love, boredom)
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Motivation plays a role in characterization as well—by analyzing
motivation, we can make judgments re: character traits
Character Classification
Static—always mean
Dynamic—changes
Character Classification
Flat—just evil
Round—stubborn, tenderhearted, playful, loyal, etc.
“The Scarlet Ibis”
pp 333-344
“The Scarlet Ibis” pp 333-344
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Summary: The narrator has to care for his younger
brother Doodle, who is physically disabled. The
narrator is frustrated by this burden, but succeeds in
teaching Doodle to walk. After the narrator leaves
Doodle in the middle of a storm, Doodle dies trying
to meet the narrator’s expectations.
Setting: Southern America, ~1918 (WWI)
Characters: Doodle and Brother (narrator); Mama,
Daddy, Aunt Nicey, Bleeding tree, Scarlet Ibis, Mr.
Heath
“The Scarlet Ibis” Information (cont)
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Conflicts:
 Doodle’s disabilities
 Brother wanting a brother to play with—Doodle is more of a burden (p.
335)
 Brother and Doodle trying to overcome disabilities and walk, run,
paddle, etc.
 Scarlet Ibis dies in yard
 Thunderstorm—must get back to the house, but Doodle falls behind
Resolution:
 Doodle does learn to walk, and the boys become closer than they’d
probably ever imagine. While trying to teach Doodle to run (and being
somewhat mean-spirited), Brother leaves him behind in a storm. When he
goes back to get him, Doodle is dead and has blood on the front of his
shirt. His figure resembles that of the dead Scarlet Ibis from the yard
earlier that afternoon. Brother sounds serious and nostalgic in his tone
while portraying this event from earlier in his life, from which he most
likely felt significant guilt, sorrow, and helplessness.
Symbolism
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Definition: A symbol is a person, a place, an activity,
or an object that stands for something beyond itself.
Examples:
Symbolism in “The Scarlet Ibis”
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Red
Scarlet Ibis
Casket
“Blighted” summer
Rain
Dialogue
Some vocabulary to know…
 Dialogue= character conversation
 An
essential part of most short stories and novels. It is
always better to show or have happen than to explain or
to describe, and dialogue is one way to “show” and not
“tell.”
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Dialogue Tags= identify who is speaking
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Examples of common dialogue tags include:
I said
She said
Fred said
Mark commented
Sallie yelled
muttered Janice
said Max
asked William
Dialogue Rule 1
All talking needs to be surrounded by quotation
marks (").
"Go to your cupboard - I mean, your bedroom," he
wheezed at Harry.
The first (") is used just before the first word that the
person says, and the second (") is used just after the
last word. The comma has to go inside the quotation
marks.
Dialogue Rule 2
Instead of using a period at the end of the speech,
use a comma, if you are going to tell who is
talking.
"Las' time I saw you, you was only a baby," said the
giant. "Yeh look a lot like yer dad, but yeh've got yer
mum's eyes.“
After the word “baby,” Rowling used a comma
because she was letting the readers know it was the
giant speaking. But after the word “eyes,” she could
use a period to finish the sentence.
Dialogue Rule 3
If you use a question mark, you don't need to change to
a comma.
"What do they think they're doing, keeping a thing like
that locked up in a school?" said Ron finally. "If any dog
needs exercise, that one does.”
After the word “school,” Rowling used a question mark.
Usually, we use a comma before telling the readers who
the speaker is - but not with a question. The question mark
goes inside the quotation marks.
Dialogue Rule 4
If you use an exclamation mark, you don't need to
change to a comma.
"A stone that makes gold and stops you ever dying!"
said Harry. "No wonder Snape's after it! Anyone
would want it.”
After the word “dying,” Rowling used an exclamation
mark. Again, it needs to be inside the quotation
marks, and there is no need for a comma.
Dialogue Rule 5
If you have interrupted speech, to let the reader know who
is speaking, a comma is needed before the break, and
after the speaker's name.
"Professor," Harry gasped, "your bird - I couldn't do anything
- he just caught fire –”
After the word “Professor,” Rowling used a comma inside the
quotation marks to let the reader know that Harry was
speaking. When she wanted to start his talking again, she
used a comma after “gasped” to let the reader know about
the change. The second (") just before “your” let the readers
know that the talking started again.
Dialogue Rule 6
If someone is thinking about something, but doesn't say it
out loud, you can either use quotation marks or not.
Either way is acceptable.
Of course, he thought bitterly, Uncle Vernon was talking
about the stupid dinner party.
Rowling chose not to use quotations around Harry's thoughts.
She could just have easily used them like this...
"Of course," he thought bitterly, "Uncle Vernon was talking
about the stupid dinner party.”
Dialogue in “The Scarlet Ibis”
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I skipped through the rooms, down the echoing halls,
shouting, “Mama, he smiled. He’s all there! He’s all
there!” and he was.
I hadn’t expected such an answer. “So I won’t have to
haul you around all the time.”
“I can’t walk, Brother,” he said.
“Who says so?” I demanded.
“Mama, the doctor—everybody.”
“Oh, you can walk,” I said, and I took him by
the arms and stood him up.
“The Necklace” p 348
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Theme
Irony
 Dramatic
 Situational
 Verbal
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Protagonist
Antagonist
SEE HANDOUT FOR NOTES
“The Cask of Amontillado” p 285
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Imagery
Mood
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See notes
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“The
Lottery”
“The Lottery” HW Review
 Protagonist
 Antagonist
 Theme
 Tone
“The Lottery” HW Review
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Protagonist– The Village—story revolves around the community as a whole—the
lottery is a whole-group tradition/ritual for this community
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Antagonist– The Lottery—the actual lottery is the antagonist because it acts
against the community members by sentencing them to death
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Theme(s):
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Family—family is the unit for selection, but there is no true loyalty
Traditions—traditions that are actually harmful are upheld because they are “What
we’ve always done”
Nature of Violence—children seem to enjoy the stoning spectacle, while the parents
don’t shy from it, but don’t want it to be aimed toward them…these people don’t give
up the tradition, when they could (reasons for keeping it seem weak)…do humans enjoy
violence?
Tone– calm, normal, detached– “clear and sunny, with the fresh warmth of a fullsummer day”; “The lottery was conducted—as were the square dances, the teen
club, the Halloween program…”
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Highlights the horrific nature of the lottery by presenting it as realistic/ “normal”
Jackson clearly does not suggest that this violence is ideal, though…she is bring
attention to the violent nature of people and the danger of harmful traditions
“The Lottery” Discussion
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What's up with the children of the village –
specifically the boys – being the first to stockpile
stones? What, if anything, is Jackson trying to
suggest about children?
Who supports the lottery? Why? Who might want to
stop it? What kinds of arguments are produced for
and against the lottery?
“The Lottery” Discussion
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What are possible symbols in the story, and what
might they represent?
Do you agree with Mrs. Hutchinson – is the lottery
unfair? How or how not? Her friends and neighbors
point out that they all take the same risks in
participating.
Why message does Jackson seem to be conveying
through this “dark” story?
Foreshadowing
Definition: hinting to the reader about
what is to come without purposefully
spoiling the conclusion
Why Important? Foreshadowing builds
SUSPENSE by increasing the reader’s
anticipation of what will happen next.
Foreshadowing examples
1. Weather…i.e. Storm clouds might indicate forthcoming danger
2. Phrases about the future (i.e. “Put off your trip until morning and
stay here tonight” might foreshadow a dangerous event in the future
when the person doesn’t stay)
3. Character dialogue—i.e. Simba asks his father, Mufasa, “We’ll
always be together, right?” His father dies in the next few minutes of
the movie. Other example: Bambi’s mother warns him of the dangers
of the forest, including Man with his gun. She dies soon after, after
being shot.
4. Objects/events– i.e. In “The Scarlet Ibis,” when the bird dies, the
death foreshadows Doodle’s death because they are similar in their
weakness.
Foreshadowing in “The Lottery”
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1.
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2.
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3.
Foreshadowing in “The Lottery”
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1. Children put stones in pockets/ make piles of stones
in town square why?
2. Tessie is late to the lottery, which is how she is set
apart as a character from the others will she be
important?
3. Watson boy has to draw for himself and his
mother—where is father?
Suspense
Definition: When a work (story, novel, poem,
play, film, etc.) makes the reader
uncertain/anxious about the outcome of the
events
Why Important? Suspense draws the
reader’s attention in more deeply to the
story
Suspense Examples
1. A character is hanging from a ledge, has to jump across a
wide space, etc. WILL (S)HE SURVIVE?
2. In Toy Story 3, Woody and friends must escape from
nearly certain “death” in the garbage incinerator…Stressful!
3. In “The Cask of Amontillado,” why Montresor is seeking
revenge keeps the reader’s interest (even if that question is
never answered).The numerous occasions Fortunato has to
escape his doom provide suspense by drawing the reader
into emotionally (in hoping Fortunato gets away).
Suspense in “the Lottery”
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1.
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2.
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3.
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4.
Suspense in “the Lottery”
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1. Author doesn’t reveal what lottery is until later, when
stone hits Tessie
2. Reader learns tradition of lottery before knowing
what it is…keeps reader uncertain
3. Crowd is nervous; Tessie freaks out about “winning”
4. We learn what’s happening at end when the stone hits
Tessie’s head SHOCK
“Harrison Bergeron”
“Harrison Bergeron” p 66
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Homework Discussion:
How did you feel while reading this story? Give specific
details and support with textual evidence (either
plot/character details or quotations).
Dystopia
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Definition: A dystopia is the idea of a society,
generally in the imagined future, characterized by:
negative, anti-utopian elements
 environmental, political, and social issues
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Dystopian societies are often used to raise issues
regarding society, environment, politics, religion,
psychology, spirituality, or technology that may
become present in the future
Why are DYSTOPIAS important?
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Dystopias can be cautionary tales, in which readers
can see dangers in modern trends taken to
extremes (play the “what if?” game)
 Example:
In Brave New World, a fight for more
“liberal” rights ends with a culture with no morals
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They warn us of problems in our current cultures
 Example:
With governmental control, class structures,
ignorance/education, etc.

Discusses notion of good versus evil, in ourselves and
in the world around us
Dystopia Examples
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The Giver, The Hunger Games trilogy
Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
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1984 by George Orwell
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Guy Montag begins this classic novel as a fireman: meaning he is a man society calls on to burn all books, which
are outlawed. Unlike “1984″ or “Brave New World,” “451″ doesn’t speak politically against the left or the right
politically, but speaks against the dumbing down of society, specifically on how Hollywood pop culture slush and
TV entertainment can create an entire nation of people who are not only incapable of fighting for their rights, but
who don’t even realize the importance of doing so. This is a brilliant novel that shows Guy going from soldier of
the state to an independent free thinker who must go on the run to survive.
“1984″ is synonymous with tyrannical governments, fascism, and dystopian science fiction. Even the phrases “1984″
and “Big Brother” are now part of the common culture. Orwell’s detailed novel shows how a government can
manipulate the people by manipulating the truth and manipulating the news. This book is the source for arguing
against a government getting unfettered power.
Brave New World by Aldous Huxley

While this dystopian masterpiece and “Fahrenheit 451″ could be interchangeable as the top two, “Brave New
World” gets the nod because the writing itself is the best. This novel is incredible, showing a society where left
leaning thinking and self hedonism is taken so far to the extreme that one person’s utopia turns out to be an
appalling place where the irony of a peaceful existence has caused society to lose all concept of art, honor,
religious beliefs, or anything that often defines culture. The “utopia” has people who have no sympathy, no
empathy, and this vision of a future is as chilling as any other on this list.
How is “Harrison Bergeron” a
dystopia?
How is “Harrison Bergeron” a
dystopia?
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Society is designed to treat people equally– no “unfair
advantages” (taken to an extreme, though)
Society is an “improvement” over the “dark ages” of the
past when competition/inequality existed
Government has control—the United States Handicapper
General; government transmitters
Discusses social issues—competition, inequality
Being different than average person= danger to
government
Lack of emotional capacity; ignorance/ inability to think
independently
WHAT IS ESSENTIAL TO HUMANITY IS PROHIBITED.
Metaphor
Definition- implied comparison of two unlike
things that actually have something in common,
without using “like” or “as”
 Examples:

 “He
was a lion in the fight”
 “Love is a rose.”
 "The streets were a furnace, the sun an executioner.“
 "Humor is the shock absorber of life; it helps us take the
blows.“
 You come up with one!
Simile

Definition—direct comparison of two things, using
“like” or “as”
 “It’s
been a hard day, and I’ve been working like a dog.”
 “His skin was as cold as ice.”
 “He eats like a pig.”
 You come up with one!

Significance—similes add emphasis to words and can
make descriptions more vivid
…LIKE
A…
“The Pedestrian”
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REVIEW homework
SEE review activity handout