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