Plot and Character

What is plot?

Plot Structure Book definition: sequence of related events in a story (see page 29)

Protasis, Epitasis, and Catastrophe Plot history Aristotle, 350 BCE – Plot is the most important element of a story Protasis, Epitasis, and Catastrophe

How does Freytag build on Aristotle’s ideas? Plot history Gustav Freytag, 1863 CE – Dramatic Arc, or Freytag’s Pyramid Also known as Dramatic/Progressive Plot How does Freytag build on Aristotle’s ideas?

Parts of the Dramatic Arc Exposition: Rising Action: Climax: Falling Action: Resolution/Denoument:

Discussion: How do you distinguish the climax of a literary work?

Other types of plot Apart from Dramatic/progressive, Episodic Parallel Nonlinear

Episodic plot Definition: a series of loosely related incidents tied together by a common theme and/or characters.

Parallel Plots  Two or more separate narratives linked by a common character, event, or theme.  Multiple conflicts

Nonlinear narrative Definition: events told out of chronological order or in other ways where the narrative does not follow the direct causality pattern of the events featured Common techniques: In medias res Flashback Foreshadowing Stream of consciousness Changing point of view Time travel 

Place notebook and book on your desk. You will need the Plot and Character notes page.

In medias res Latin: “In the middle of things” Example: The Odyssey, The Iliad Titanic

Stream of consciousness Describes in words the flow of thoughts in the minds of the characters “What a lark! What a plunge! For so it always seemed to me when, with a little squeak of the hinges, which I can hear now, I burst open the French windows and plunged at Bourton into the open air. How fresh, how calm, stiller than this of course, the air was in the early morning; like the flap of a wave; the kiss of a wave; chill and sharp and yet (for a girl of eighteen as I then was) solemn, feeling as I did, standing there at the open window, that something awful was about to happen …”

Flashback

Flashback A character remembers an earlier event that happened before the current point of the story Also known as Analepsis Internal analepsis – events that happened within the narrative External analepsis – events that happened prior to the narrative

Foreshadowing Definition: an author hints about what is to come What are some types of foreshadowing?

Types of foreshadowing Chekhov’s Gun Prolepsis (flash forward) Red herring Prophecies and omens Symbolism (setting)

Chekhov’s Gun An element that will be used later on in the story.

Flash forward Prolepsis A scene in the future

Red herring An irrelevant topic introduced in an argument to divert the attention of listeners or readers from the original issue. Mislead readers or characters Induce them to make false conclusions Surprise ending

Prophecies/omens "It had a spell put on it by an old fakir," said the sergeant major, "a very holy man. He wanted to show that fate ruled people's lives, and that those who interfered with it did so to their sorrow. He put a spell on it so that three separate men could each have three wishes from it.“ "Well, why don't you have three, sir?" said Herbert White cleverly. The soldier regarded him in the way that middle age is wont to regard presumptuous youth. "I have," he said quietly, and his blotchy face whitened. - “The Monkey’s Paw” by Jacobs

Prophecy/omen Prophecy: words used to signify future events by the characters themselves Omen: event regarded as a portent of good or evil

Symbolism Abstract details or events Usually related to setting (weather, scenery)

Chapter 23, Jane Eyre, Charlotte Brontë "Are you in earnest?  Do you truly love me?  Do you sincerely wish me to be your wife?" "I do; and if an oath is necessary to satisfy you, I swear it." "Then, sir, I will marry you." "Edward--my little wife!" "Dear Edward!" But what had befallen the night?  The moon was not yet set, and we were all in shadow:  I could scarcely see my master's face, near as I was.  And what ailed the chestnut tree? it writhed and groaned; while wind roared in the laurel walk, and came sweeping over us… Before I left my bed in the morning, little Adele came running in to tell me that the great horse-chestnut at the bottom of the orchard had been struck by lightning in the night, and half of it split away.

Character

Types of characters Major/minor Protagonist/antagonist Static/dynamic Flat/round Stock Foil

Math analogy

Static vs. Dynamic Static: character remains the same, no development Dynamic: character changes over the course of the story

Flat vs. Round Flat: character has one or two traits Round: character is complex and sometimes contradictory “The test of a round character is whether it is capable of surprising in a convincing way.“ – E.M. Forster

Stock character Stereotype, flat, archetypal Instantly recognizable to most readers Plot time-saving technique “to move the story along by allowing the audience to already understand the character” Examples: Wicked Stepmother, Troubled Teen, Ruthless Businessperson Kamesha Jackson (2010). "stock character". In Ronald L. Jackson II. Encyclopedia of Identity. Sage Publications. Retrieved 22 January 2014.

Foil A character who contrasts with another character —usually the protagonist— in order to highlight particular qualities of the other character.

Foil examples

Characterization Stanley [bellowing]: Hey, there! Stella, Baby! [Stella comes out on the first floor landing, a gentle young woman, about twenty-five, and of a background obviously quite different from her husband’s.] Stella [mildly]: Don’t holler at me like that. Hi, Mitch. Stanley: Catch! Stella: What? Stanley: Meat! [He heaves the package at her. She cries out in protest but manages to catch it: then she laughs breathlessly. Her husband and his companion have already started back around the corner.] Stella [calling after him]: Stanley! Where are you going? Stanley: Bowling! (A Streetcar Named Desire (1947) by Tennessee Williams, page 1)

Characterization Direct characterization – explicit description of character traits Indirect characterization – implicit, indirect details that reveal character traits SPEECH - What does the character say? How does the character speak? THOUGHTS - What is revealed through the character’s private thoughts and feelings? EFFECTS - What is revealed through the character’s effect on other people? How do other characters feel or behave in reaction to the character? ACTIONS - What does the character do? How does the character behave? LOOKS - What does the character look like? How does the character dress? (Implicitly)

Indirect characterization example