Story Devices
Mrs. Autry-1st period
Task
You need…your notebook, 4
different colored pencils or
crayons.
Turn to page 34 in your
notebook.
Color the 4 ipods…each one
a different color!!
Short Stories
Let’s think about the stories we’ve read so far…
Priscilla and the Wimps
The Landlady
Lamb to the Slaughter
Little Brother
Which one did you enjoy the most? The least?
What made the stories enjoyable?
Think about Little Brother…
“You’ll do no such thing.” Mommy said. She grabbed his
arm and spun him around. The spanking would come
next. But it didn’t. Instead he felt her fingers searching for
something at the back of his neck.”
In this story, we do not know how the story is going to end.
Is Mommy reaching for a switch? If Peter also a Little
Brother?
This is an example of a cliffhanger.
Cliffhanger
Let’s write the definition on the ipod.
Cliffhanger…
An ending to a section, chapter or story that
leaves the reader in suspense.
Here’s an example…
Cliffhanger
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qlz3bZIMjlc
Cliffhangers lead to…
Cliffhangers leave the reader/audience thinking about what
is going to happen next, AND wishing they knew what would
happen next!!
Are the Duplos going to take over lego land??????
Cliffhangers create a feeling of anxiety…what’s going to
happen next????
Therefore, cliffhangers lead to…
SUSPENSE
Suspense
Let’s write the definition on the ipod.
Suspense…
The anxiety the reader feels about what may
happen next
Here’s an example…
Suspense
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WP3J7Tu1oi0
Cliffhangers and Suspense
Both of these are called Story Devices.
Let’s define this…
Techniques writers use to make a story more interesting
and enhance the experience for the reader.
2 other Story Devices:
Foreshadowing
Flashbacks
Let’s explore those!!
Foreshadowing and
Flashbacks
Foreshadowing
definition…
Hints or clues suggesting
what may happen later
in the story
Let’s watch…
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LRVR
xvNYR7Y
Flashbacks definition…
Interrupting the plot of a
story to recreate an
incident of earlier times
Let’s watch…
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=
nl1EzrlIHl4
Review
You’ve learned about/reviewed the
following devices:
Cliffhanger
Suspense
Flashback
Foreshadow
Review
Story devices are
Techniques writers use to make their
stories, movies, shows, cartoon, etc.
more interesting and enhance the
experience for the reader/viewer.
Your Task
Today, you will explore these 4 techniques more in depth!!
You will read some examples of the devices as well as
provide some of your own.
You will also fill out a chart with some information from this
presentation.
So, let’s start by making the chart….that’s right…you are
making it!! #autryissavingpaper
Notebook
Device
 Turn to page 42 in your notebook.
1. Cliffhanger
 At the top, in marker, label Story
Devices.
2. Suspense
 Next, make and label the chart you
see next.
 Oh, you have messy handwriting
and line drawing skills? That’s
ok…use a ruler.
3.
Foreshadow
4. Flashback
Definition
(Own Words)
Why it Works
Example
(Summarized)
Cliffhanger: What is It?
A cliffhanger is a type of device in
which the end is curiously abrupt so that
the main characters are left in a difficult
situation without offering any resolution
of conflicts.
Cliffhanger: Why it Works! (Summarize these points.)
Cliffhangers really help out authors and
movie/show directors. #theyaregettingpaid
This device ensures that readers will buy the next
installment in order to read and find out what
happens, or watch the next show/movie.
Cliffhanger…Did You Know?
 A successful story conclusion leaves the reader feeling satisfied, but
if you want to write a sequel to your story, add a cliffhanger to
make your reader eager to read more.
 The term cliffhanger comes from old movies which were serials. The
end of each segment left the hero or heroine in a dangerous
situation -- sometimes literally hanging off a cliff.
 Descriptive scenes, dialogue, and questions are all devices that
can be used in creating effective, successful cliffhangers.
Cliffhanger: Example
Give an example of a cliffhanger from a movie,
story or show you are familiar with. Write a
summary of this in your chart. (Make sure to
include the title of the book/movie/show!!
If you are not familiar with any, you can search for
one on the internet (YouTube works fine-provide a
summary in the chart and the video name.)
Bring me your notebook so I can make
sure you are completing your chart
correctly!
Suspense: What is It?
Suspense is a feeling of anxiety or
anticipation.
In literature, authors use that anxiety to
make readers concerned about
characters with whom they have
formed sympathetic attachments.
Suspense: Why it Works! (Summarize these points.)
Through suspense, authors/directors can create
scenarios that force readers to continue to read in
order to understand or see what may happen to their
beloved characters.
Suspense ensures the reader will have enough interest
to continue reading or watching throughout the
piece. If the author/director has done his job,
suspense will continue to increase up until the final
confrontation and turning point.
Suspense: Example
Give an example of suspense techniques from a
movie, story or show you are familiar with. Write a
summary of these in your chart. (Make sure to
include the title of the book/movie/show!!
If you are not familiar with any, you can search for
one on the internet (YouTube works fine-provide a
summary in the chart and the video name.)
Foreshadow: What is It?
Foreshadowing is a literary device in which a writer gives
an advance hint of what is to come later in the story.
There are various ways of creating a foreshadowing. A
writer may use dialogues of characters to hint at what
may occur in future.
In addition, any event or action in the story may throw a
hint to the readers about future events or action. Even a
title of a work or a chapter title can act as a clue that
suggests what is going to happen.
Foreshadowing: Why it Works! (Summarize these
points.)
Foreshadowing often appears at the beginning of
a story or a chapter and helps the reader develop
expectations about the coming events in a story.
Foreshadowing in fiction creates an atmosphere
of suspense in a story so that the readers are
interested to know more.
Foreshadowing in Literature
Here’s an example from “Little Red Riding Hood”:
Once upon a time, there was a little girl who lived with
her mother. Her mother asked her to take her old and
lonely grandmother some food one day. "Don't stop
along the way. Go straight to your Grandma's house
and back. Don't talk to any strangers and watch out for
the wolf in the woods! Now get along!"
See where Mother warned Little Red? This was
foreshadowing the events with the wolf.
Foreshadowing: Example
Give an example of foreshadowing, other than
from the previous slide, from a movie, story or show
you are familiar with. Write a summary of this in
your chart. (Make sure to include the title of the
book/movie/show!!
If you are not familiar with any, you can search for
one on the internet (YouTube works fine-provide a
summary in the chart and the video name.)
Flashback: What is It?
Flashback is a literary device where the author depicts
the occurrence of specific events to the reader/viewer,
which have taken place before the present time in the
story or movie.
Flashback devices that are commonly used are past
dialogues by characters, depictions and references of
dreams and memories.
Flashback: Why it Works! (Summarize these points.)
 Flashback is used to create a background to the present
situation, place or person. This gives the reader/viewer a better
understanding of the character or what is going on.
 You can see flashbacks used very often in movies.
 For example, it is common in movies for there to be a flashback
that gives the viewer a look into the characters life when they
were younger, or when they have done something previously.
 This is done to help the viewer better understand the present
situation.
Flashback in Literature
Here’s another example from “Little Red Riding Hood”:
 The wolf went up to Little Red Riding Hood and told her that he knew a shortcut. Little Red Riding
Hood thought back to what her mother told her. “Don’t talk to any strangers and watch out for
the wolf in the woods!” But it was too late, she had already listened to the wolf’s directions.
See where Little Red is thinking back to what her mom
told her? #motherknowsbest
Flashback: Example
Give an example of flashback, other than
from the previous slide, from a movie, story or
show you are familiar with. Write a summary of
this in your chart. (Make sure to include the
title of the book/movie/show!!
If you are not familiar with any, you can
search for one on the internet (YouTube works
fine-provide a summary in the chart and the
video name.)
Task: Complete!!
 Now, go back over your chart
and make sure it is neat. I am
going to be making a copy of it
or taking a pic and I need to be
able to read it.
 Next, see Mrs. Autry for your next
and last  short story.
 Read this story either with your
partner (hall) or to yourself (class).
 Are you ready?