Reader’s Response 1-29-2015 English Comp 1302 On a blank sheet of paper, record the following: Your name Today’s date The title of the assigned story for today The author of the assigned story for today READY? Do your best: draw the wallpaper.  Underneath your artwork, explain what you think is going on with this story. What’s the author’s point(s)? What does the wallpaper represent or symbolize? Come on, take a guess, even if you aren’t sure.

Fairy Tales, parables, and Fables all have a purpose-- To teach a moral. A moral tells us HOW to live or what to do—”If…then…always happens” statement For example: “If you don’t think before you act, then you’ll get into trouble.”

Central Idea/Theme Not an absolute statement but a generalization about a topic Shows us something about human nature through plot and other elements rather than just telling us what to think. It’s through the Central Idea that we should gain some insight into ourselves and increase our awareness of the part of our world that is presented in the story. For example: “Insensitive people who act without thinking sometimes get into trouble.”

We start with Central Idea because-- It drives the author’s choices about the other elements of the story—characterization, plot, conflict, point of view, setting, language/tone. A generalization in an interpretation of a text is the statement of the story’s central idea. The evidence that brought you to that generalization is made up of the other elements of the story listed above.

Common Interpretation Pitfalls Differing Interpretations—there is no single best way to express the central idea of a story. Complex Ideas—When you analyze a text, you have to come up with the best way to express your sensed meaning of the story. This expression may not come easily and may take several readings of the story. Ideas that Conflict with Your Own—You can’t ignore a theme of story just because it is one you don’t agree with. Don’t bend the story to fit your view. Part of the entertainment of reading literature is that it can challenge how we look at life. Meaning Beyond the Story—To interpret a story correctly, focus on what the action means rather than on the action itself. The characters and situations in the story represent something larger. Your job is to figure out what that larger point is.

Categories of Stories Provide Complex/Lasting Central Ideas: Provide Morals or Simplistic Theme: Psychological Stories— about individual human behavior Sociological Stories— about group behavior Philosophical Stories— address questions such as “Why are we here?” or “Is life worth living?” but don’t provide answers Didactic Stories—take a clear position on an issue, try to change the reader’s mind Escapist Stories—only meant to create an emotional response; central idea is simply “to entertain.” Analysis would be in deciding what emotion the story calls forth.

Characters- created by the author to advance the action Analyzing for character is not simply about determining if a character is a “good” person or a “bad” person. Rather, we should look at how they come alive to the reader (through what actions/reactions/motivation?). Characters should be complex enough to convey some sort of emotional truth to the reader to avoid sentimentality or stereotyping.

Character Types Round v. Flat Flat—one dimensional Round—many sides— complex, many details about their personality Static v. Dynamic Static—does not change in any basic way during the story Dynamic—undergoes a fundamental change in his or her nature * We expect plausible motivations for changes in a character’s personality.*

How Authors Develop Characters: Directly—”Jack was a nervous boy, easily frightened by the slightest noise and not comfortable in strange places.” Indirectly— Narrator’s words Character’s actions Character’s words Character’s thoughts “When the school bell rang, Jack was surprised, nearly jumping out of his seat. Later, when his family moved to their new house, he stayed in the car. At least that had not changed.”