Why Read Fiction?

Escape Literature Written for entertainment Takes us away from the real world Forget our troubles Sole purpose is pleasure

Interpretive Literature Written to broaden awareness of life Takes us deeper into real world through imagination Helps us understand our troubles Purpose is pleasure plus understanding

Plot Sequence of incidents or events that make up a story

Incident An event or episode in a work of fiction that moves the plot forward or reveals character

Subplot A secondary series of events that are subordinate to the main story Story within a story

Flashback Reference to an event that took place prior to the beginning of a story or a play

Immature Reader Equates plot with content of work Reads chiefly for plot Places a high value on physical action

Mature Reader Uses plot to gain insights into life Reads for revelations that character or plot presents Places a high value on significant action

Conflict A clash of actions, ideas, desires, or wills. Conflict may be physical, mental, emotional, or moral

Conflict Man against man Man against environment Man against himself Man against society

Conflict Stories can consist of multiple conflicts. The protagonist may or may not be aware of conflict.

Protagonist The central character in the conflict (either sympathetic or unsympathetic)

Confidant/Confidante Someone that the protagonist talks to, enabling the audience or reader to become aware of the character’s motivation

Antagonist Forces arrayed against the protagonist, whether persons, things, society, or inner traits

Suspense A quality in a story that makes the reader ask, “What’s going to happen next?” In Interpretive Lit. the question becomes, “How is the protagonist’s behavior to be explained in terms of human personality and character?”

Mystery Unusual set of circumstances that requires an explanation Achieves suspense

Dilemma Protagonist must choose between two undesirable courses of action Achieves suspense

Surprise Unexpected ending or event The mature reader judges surprise in two ways: By the fairness with which it is achieved By the purpose that it serves A worthwhile surprise ending reinforces or reveals the meaning of a story.

Endings Immature reader usually demands happy ending that resolves conflicts Mature reader doesn’t evaluate ending by whether it is happy or unhappy. It is judged by whether it is logical in terms of what precedes it and by the fullness of the revelation it provides

Interp. Lit. often has Unhappy Endings Situations in life often end unhappily. To illuminate life, fiction must present defeat as well as triumph Unhappy endings force readers to ponder issues and consider implications Stories may also have indeterminate endings.

Artistic Unity Essential to an effective plot Nothing in the story should be irrelevant Everything should contribute to the total meaning No plot manipulation

Characterization Method by which author creates appearance and personality of imaginary persons Revealed through narration, actions, dialogue, or inner thoughts

Direct Presentation Author tells us straight out what a character is like or has another character tell us

Indirect Presentation Author shows us the character in action We infer what the character is like from what he says, thinks, or does

Dramatization Reader must “see” the character speaking and acting in order for the character to be emotionally convincing

Three Principles for Convincing Characterization: Characters must be consistent in their behavior Characters must be clearly motivated in what they do Characters must be plausible or lifelike

Flat Character One or two traits Summed up in a sentence

Round Character Complex and many-sided Requires an essay for full analysis

Stock Character A flat character Stereotyped figure His nature is immediately known E.G. “The mad scientist”

Static Character The same sort of character at the end of the story as he was at the beginning

Developing (Dynamic) Character Undergoes a permanent change during the story in some aspect of his character, personality, or outlook

Theme Different from topic Topics are typically words or phrases Theme is controlling idea or central insight Sometimes equivalent to story’s revelation of human character Usually it is implied

Theme Not always a “moral” or rule of conduct Themes of Escape Lit. are often widely accepted Themes of Interp. Lit. more likely to challenge conventional beliefs

Symbol Effective stories characterized by compression Nothing is wasted Each word/detail chosen for maximum effectiveness Symbol helps achieve compression

Literary Symbol An object, person, a situation, an action Literal meaning Represents other meanings as well

Name Symbolism Mr. Nilson “Nil’s son” – son of nil or nothing

What to Look for in Symbols Stories should furnish clue to symbolism through: Emphasis Repetition Position E.G. “The quince tree”

What to Look for in Symbols Meaning must be established and supported by entire context of story Must suggest a meaning different form its literal meaning May have more than one meaning E.G. quince could represent life, growth, beauty, freedom, joy, etc.

Motif A recurring image, word, phrase, action, idea, object, or situation that appears in various works or throughout the same work

Three Kinds of Irony Verbal irony - opposite is said from what is intended Dramatic irony – contrast between what character says or knows and what the reader knows to be true Situational irony – discrepancy between appearance and reality, or between expectation and fulfillment

Omniscient Point of View Told by author in 3rd person Knowledge is unlimited Can interpret behavior Can tell what characters are thinking or feeling

Limited Omniscient 3rd person from viewpoint of one character Can be a major or minor character

1st Person Author disappears into the mind of a character who tells the story Can be a major or minor character

Objective (Dramatic) Roving sound camera Reader as spectator at movie Camera goes anywhere Records only what is seen or heard Cannot comment, interpret, or enter character’s mind

Reliability The extent to which the narrator can be trusted or believed. The closer he is to the story, the more his judgment will be influenced by forces in the story

Archetype A pattern or model of an action, a character type, or an image that recurs consistently enough in life and literature to be considered universal

Mood Atmosphere or feeling created by a literary work Created by description or style of the description E.G. horror, mystery, childlike simplicity, etc.