Reading a Story
Fiction
a name for stories not entirely
factual, but at least partially
shaped, made up, or imagined.
It is subjective in nature.
Two types: novel & short story
Literary Fiction
• Not the commercial product (detective
or romance novels); it is more deeper
in meaning and demands attention and
insight-lending participation.
Varieties of Fiction
• Fable-- a brief story that sets forth some
pointed statement of truth leading to a
moral (a message). The characters are
often animals.
• Parable—brief narrative teaching a moral
but plot is more realistic and characters
are human—usually more mysterious and
open to interpretation.
• Tale--short story that is summarized
without detail to the characters. Told out
loud, so therefore limited.
PLOT 14-16
A series of events which make up the
framework of a story.
• Exposition—sets the scene, exposes the
characters and setting
• Rising action—introduces the complications,
problems/conflict
• Climax—most intense moment in the story/ brings
about turning point
• Resolution—also called denouement (the untying
of the knot).
How does “Godfather Death” follow the plot
framework?
Protagonist/Antagonist 15
• Protagonist—main character (not always
the good guy)
• Antagonist—who or what is going against
the protagonist (not always bad guy)
Point of View
The perspective from which a story is told.
This identifies the narrator (speaker) and
describes the part he/she plays in a piece
of literature.
Narrator a participant :
major/minor character
written in first person (I/me)
Narrator a nonparticipant:
third person (he/she/they)
All knowing omniscient:
the narrator sees into the
minds of various characters
• Editorial:
• Impartial:
• Limited:
narrator adds opinion
narrator does not judge
characters-presents info.
Without bias
narrator sees events through
eyes of one character (major
or minor)
Point of View con’t.
• Objective:
narrator does not enter the
mind of any character but
describes events from the
outside. Called “fly on the
wall”
» What if “A & P” were told from a
different point of view? Would the story
be the same?
Opinions of a narrator aren’t
always those of the author.
• Innocent narrator:
character failing to
understand implications
of a story
• Unreliable narrator: deluded
or deranged point of view
• Stream of consciousness:
the procession of thoughts passing
through the mind. A selective
omniscience including
interior monologue
(character’s thoughts)
Character
In literature, a character is often an
imagined person who inhabits a story.
Characterization
How an author uses detail to create a picture in
the reader’s mind.
Have you ever read a book
and then saw the movie
version? Harry Potter?,
50 Shades of Gray? Did
the characters match the
way you envisioned?
Different Types of Characters
• Stock:
known for some outstanding trait
often stereotyped (coach/prince
charming)
• Flat:
has one outstanding trait (mad
scientist)
• Round: portrayed in great depth, three
dimensional often change/become
enlightened
• Static:
the fixed character/less complex
“A Rose for Emily”
• William Falkner portrays Miss Emily Grierson
as a static character who is less complex
than most protagonists, yet feared by others.
Although She is described as a “tradition, a
duty, and a sort of hereditary obligation upon
the town”(30) she remains resolute with her
expectations of preferential treatment. She
remains resolute when asked to pay her
taxes. “ I have no taxes in Jefferson.” This is
repeated to the mayor and the sheriff. When
members of the
• board try to investigate the smell in her
house, she sat in silence, “ motionless as
that of an idol” (32). Here Faulkner shows
readers how even a less complex
character can be portrayed as an
intimidating force throughout the course of
a story.
• Dynamic:
usually the main
character/changes
throughout the story
• Antihero:
a protagonist lacking in
the usual attributes of a
traditional hero (usually
confused or frustrated)
Setting
Refers to the time and place of a story.
Often known as Locale -- refers to the
physical environment. It can
• Prompt characters to act
• Bring them to realizations
• Cause them to reveal inner nature
Naturalism
Where writers see characters as the
products and victims of environment
Tone
Whatever leads us to infer the author’s
attitude. It communicates/implies
feelings of the author
Note:
The author’s and narrator’s
feelings may not be the same
Style
• Refers to the individual
traits of a piece of writing
particular ways of
managing words the
reader comes to recognize.
A “trademark” the author
leaves behind.
• Often indicates the language a writer
uses
• Indicates diction (choice of words) &
sentence complexity
Faulkner uses metaphors and similes
to aid in describing events.
Updike uses simple construction of
sentences and swift dialogue
Symbol
A thing that suggests more than its literal
meaning. They point, hint, and imply various
meanings.
Example: In “A Clean, Well-Lighted Place” the
café represents and island of refuge.
Allegory: A symbolic story in which persons ,
places, and things form a system of clearly
labeled equivalents.
Irony
• Verbal Irony:
when a speaker’s
meaning is the opposite of what the words
indicate (sarcasm) It implies a contrast
between what is said and what is meant.
• Ironic Point of View: a sharp distinction
between the narrator of a story and the
author. Example: “A Clean Well Lighted
Place”
• Cosmic Irony (a.k.a. Irony of Fate):
Suggests that some malicious fate is
deliberately frustrating human efforts
Theme
Theme is whatever general idea or
insight the entire story reveals.
• It sometimes may be the
moral/message of the story
or
• It may be the main idea (what the
happenings add up to).
You may have more than one
theme to a story:
Example: “A Clean, Well-Lighted Place”
• Solitary people who cannot sleep need a
cheerful, orderly place where they can drink
with dignity.
• It is important to sympathize and respect the
lonely.
• Lonely people need refuge from their terrible
awareness that their lives are essentially
meaningless.
When developing a theme it is
important to consider the
following:
•
•
•
•
What does the title indicate?
Does the main character change?
Is there a new insight about human nature?
Is there any significant repetition,
symbolism, or description?
Analysis Essay
Compose an analysis of either
Metamorphosis or “The Yellow Wallpaper”
in which you discuss three literary devices
the author uses to effectively develop
his/her narrative.
Analysis
Separating a story into its
components and selecting one or
more parts (character, point. of view,
tone, imagery, etc.) for close study.
When analyzing literature you
must do the following:
• Stay in third person point of view.
– Do not write “I think” or “I believe” or “As you
can see.” If you must refer to yourself or
others use the term “the reader.”
– Example:
Through effective characterization, the
reader can tell…”
Stay in present tense when
referring to literature
• Treat the work as though it is alive
today. This should help you to avoid
shift changes throughout your paper.
• Example:
Faulkner chooses to describe Miss
Emily as a portrayal of a woman who
struggles…
Remember the objective of your
essay. Don’t dance around it!
• Do not retell the story. I know it!
Determine what literary device or
devices you are analyzing and provide
examples from the work to back up
your discussion.
The Introduction
• Your first paragraph should
introduce the topic in a general
way and then be narrowed down
into a clear, specific thesis
statement which tells the reader
what your essay will be
discussing.
In literature, authors use the literary
device of characterization to effectively
portray their characters. The words can
either give the reader a vivid
description of the characters and their
surroundings or just enough detail to
draw the reader into the text. In the
stories, “A Rose for Emily” and “The
Storm,” the main characters are both
described as women with dark, hidden
secrets; however, the way they react to
these secrets is portrayed quite
differently via their characterization.
Grammar
• Short stories get “ “ and lengthy pieces
get underlined or italicized.
Example
“Teenage Wasteland” vs. Hamlet
• Give page number in parenthesis
Example
“Her eyes were dark with fatigue” (31).
Reading a Poem Ch. 14 p. 640
• Poetry is meant to
be read slowly,
carefully,
and attentively.
• It is best to read a
poem twice
– First read open mindedly—don’t dwell on
difficult language
– Second reading—get a better
understanding, and try to put into your
own words
Try to paraphrase poems (put
into your own words)
• Short poems: read the entire piece
• Lengthy poems: Stanza by stanza
• Read “The Lake…” page 642
Paraphrasing poetry
helps you determine
what the poem is about
and gain insight to the
poem’s theme.
Why is poetry so confusing?
Do not take poems literally
Poetry is filled with symbolism,
metaphors, and analogies
Poems are often interpreted
differently depending on
your own perceptions.
Read “Road Not Taken” 986
Types of Poetry
Lyric Poetry:
Originally, these were poems sung to the
music of a lyre. Today it is a short poem
expressing the thoughts and feelings of a
single speaker. It is often short and written
in first person.
Sundays too my father got up early
and put his clothes on in the blueblack cold,
then with cracked hands that ached
from labor in the weekday weather made
banked fires blaze. No one ever thanked him.
I’d wake and hear the cold splintering, breaking.
When the rooms were warm, he’d call,
and slowly I would rise and dress,
fearing the chronic angers of that house,
Speaking indifferently to him,
who had driven out the cold
and polished my good shoes as well.
What did I know, what did I know
of love’s austere and lonely offices
Those Winter Sundays
by Robert Hayden
Narrative Poetry:
Read “Out, Out—” page 647
One whose main purpose is to tell a story (it
has a plot and characters)
Epic: A long, narrative poem which tells the
deeds of a hero (The Odyssey)
Dramatic Poetry:
Presents the voice of an
imaginary character speaking
directly without any additional
narration by the author. It is verse written for
the stage. Shakespeare was famous for this
Dramatic monologue: a poem written as a
speech made by a character (other than the
author) at some decisive moment.
When analyzing a poem
Look at various elements within the
poem in addition to theme and
symbolism.
Tone is important.
It can convey the
attitude toward the
person addressed, the
attitude of the situation
addressed, and/or the
reader’s own
attitude.
• Read “My Papa’s Waltz” 656
The Person in the Poem
• Speaker may be a persona—a fictitious
character—not the poet
• Speaker may be nonhuman
• Tone in poetry can reflect dialect
Example: “Mother to Son”
Page967
Irony
often the distinction between the poet
and the words of a fictitious character
• Verbal Irony: like sarcasm
• Dramatic Irony: character’s knowledge is
limited
• Cosmic Irony: cruel trick to
a human “Richard Corey”
page 755
Words in Poetry
Most poems cannot be taken literally.
Instead, they are filled with figurative
language: that which is based on a
comparison that is not literally true.
Example:
I’m going to go to bed vs.
I’m going to hit the sack
In order to truly understand a
poem, you must acknowledge
Diction--The choice of words used by
the poet. They may be…
Concrete: What we may
perceive with our senses
(dog, tree)
Abstract: Words that express ideas or
concepts (love, truth)
Read “Aftermath” page 685
Figures of Speech
Personification: giving human qualities to
nonhuman things
Example: The waves danced/
The wolf laughed at my fear.
Apostrophe: addressing someone/something
invisible ordinarily not spoken to
Example: “Death, ain’t you got no shame?”
Hyperbole:
To emphasize a point by
exaggeration.
Example: I have a million things to do!
Understatement:
To imply more than what is
said.
Example: “I’m a little short on change.”
said the homeless fellow.
Metonymy: When the name of a thing is
substituted for that of another closely
associated with it.
Example: The White
House decided….
Synecdoche: A type of metonymy that uses a
part of a thing to stand for the whole of it or
vice versa
Example: She lent a hand (actually she lent
her entire presence)
Paradox: appears as self-contradictory but
may actually make sense.
Pun:Play on words-a word that reminds us
of another word.
Example: What’s a metaphor? Well it’s
good for keeping cows!
Homework
• In DJ read the poem, “The Fish” and
respond to questions 1-3 at the end of
the poem.
• We will be working on a poetry essay
next class. You will need to find a
poem (from the text—minimum of 10
lines) in which you will discuss the
various poetic devices (2-3) which
make the piece so effective.
The Research Paper Ch. 49
Page 1889
• Your paper will be a critique of a particular
author & his/her work. You will need to
choose one of the following critical
methods:
• FORMALIST (p. 1890): Examines a work
for its specific literary features. It
analyzes the specific devices and
techniques used to make the piece(s)
effective.
• BIOGRAPHICAL (p. 1892):It examines
an author’s own life and how it is
reflected in his/her writing.
• HISTORICAL (p. 1895): Investigates the
social, cultural, and intellectual context
that produced the work. Explores the
historical significance behind the piece
and the possible ways in which the
meaning of the text has changed over
time.
The Research Paper
• 1500-2000 words (approximately 6-8
pages)
• Cite/document a minimum of 7 sources.
• Mix your sources and
techniques (paraphrase,
direct quotations,
summarize).
• Follow MLA format
The paper must include the
following:
–Cover sheet
–Research (6-8 pages)
–Works cited page
Note: Your handbook reviews
Research techniques on pages
STEP 2: Assembling a Working
Bibliography
• Once you have your topic, you need to
see if you can find enough resources you
will need to complete the project (library
activity).
• Make sure to copy down all appropriate
bibliographical info. of sources you will
use
• Note: Upon your initial search for
sources, you may need to adjust the
scope and emphasis of your topic
• Save the last 15 pages of your journal to jot
down notes from the sources.
• Use separate pages for
EACH source.
• At the top of the page, write out the
bibliography of the source.
• Skip a line and then jot down notes from
source.
• If applicable, place the author’s name and pg.
at the bottom of the paper.
Types of notes
• Summary: Condenses material, presents
core ideas in YOUR OWN WORDS!
• Paraphrase: Restates material in your own
words without condensing it.
• Direct Quotation: A direct copy of original
material. Make sure to use “ “ when
copying in your journal.
STEP 4: Writing the First Draft
– Plan your thesis - Reveal your
main idea/organizational plan
in your introductory section.
– Stick to your outline and use
transitions to connect your
ideas.
Rubric
• Research Notebook
• Media Center Activity
• MLA format
•
•
•
•
10 points
5 points
10 points
Sources/documentation techniques 30 points
Organization of material
25 points
Grammar/mechanics
10 points
Works cited page
10 points
TOTAL POINTS
100
Using Research
• When conducting research, it is imperative
to use the most relevant and reliable
sources in your writing.
• Effective research can be conducted
– Library catalogues
– Online databases
– Reference books/online sites
– Academic Journals
– Newspapers/Magazines
Gathering Information From
Sources
• When gathering information, you must
keep accurate records of what your
sources say and synthesize this
information appropriately.
– Summary
– Paraphrase
– Direct Quotations
NOTE: All require source citations!
Quotations
Using another author’s exact words
– Use when the exact words are important
– Use when you are analyzing primary sources
– Use when you take issue with the author’s
statement or he/she seems especially
authoritative
ENCLOSE IN YOUR TEXT IF THE QUOTATION
IS SHORTER THAN FIVE LINES. IF LONGER,
SET APART FROM THE REST OF THE TEXT.
Paraphrase
• When you put someone else’s ideas
into your own words & sentence
structure
• You must credit the source even
though you are using your own
words—you are still borrowing the
source’s ideas.
Summaries
• Condensing the material
by another author into a
briefer form.
• Most useful when you want
to record the gist of an author’s
idea without the background evidence.
Punctuation
• Ellipses . . . If you want to condense a
lengthy quotation place an ellipsis in place
of the omitted words.
• Brackets [ ] If you find something within a
quotation is not clear and you need to add
information so your readers will
understand it better, use brackets.
MLA Style Citations
• Every source cited within the body of the
paper must appear in the works-cited list.
• The in-text citations work in conjunction
with the list of works cited to provide
readers detailed information about the
sources.
Introductions
• In your introductory paragraph, you want
to begin with an overview of the author.
Save the very detailed information for your
supporting paragraphs, but provide a
summation of what the author is known
for.
• Ex: E.A. Poe was a master of the
written word, especially when it came
to the macabre and dark forces of
human nature…
Biographical criticism:
• After your introdction
• Make a claim discussing how the life of the
author connects with his/her work and is
notably portrayed in such selections as
_____, ______, and ______.
Historical Criticism
• Make a claim discussing how the time
period (of the work) has a significant
connection with that the author has
written, especially in _____, _________,
and _________.
Formalist Criticism
• Make a claim discussing an overview of
the author’s style of writing and other
literary devices (make sure to specifiy)
prevalent in selections such as _____,
________, __________.