A Little Bit Literary Because everyone could use a good review

Characterization A static character is one that does not undergo important change in the course of the story, remaining essentially the same at the end as he or she was at the beginning. A dynamic character, in contrast, is one that does undergo an important change in the course of the story. HOWEVER, the changes that we are referring to as being "undergone" here are not changes in circumstances, but changes in some sense within the character in question -- changes in insight or understanding (of circumstances, for instance), or changes in commitment, in values. The change at stake is a change "in" the character.

Characterization continued A round character is a character that has a fully developed personality A flat character is a character that has only one or two personality traits; often a stereotype.

Characterization HOWEVER, the changes that we are referring to as being "undergone" here are not changes in circumstances, but changes in some sense within the character in question -- changes in insight or understanding (of circumstances, for instance), or changes in commitment, in values. The change at stake is a change "in" the character.

For Example: If a character inherits a million dollars from a rich aunt in the course of a story, this may or may not result in the sort of change in his personality or values or in his general outlook on life that would make him count as an instance of dynamic character in this special sense. He might remain the same cheerful, humble, easy-going, out-going fellow he was before this fortunate turn of events. Or he might remain the same bitter, cynical, resentful, suspicious, selfish person he had always been. Or he might continue to be the same smug, arrogant snob he's already exhibited himself to be. In any of these cases, we'd have an instance of static character. Of course such a drastic change in one's circumstances (whether good fortune or bad) might motivate a change in one's outlook on life. And if -- but only if -- it results in this sort of change, we are confronted with a dynamic character.

To clarify: While we want to take account of what the story implies as the motivation of a "change in character," we don't want to include causal or conditional factors as part of our description of the change in character if s/he is dynamic.

Note, by the way, that what is going on "inside the body" counts as "external circumstance.”

Practice with “The Scarlet Ibis” Doodle is round or flat? The narrator is round or flat? Doodle is static or dynamic? The narrator is static or dynamic? Flat! Round! Static! Dynamic!

Plot Points Exposition : The story begins, often setting, characters are introduced here. The exposition ends when the conflict is introduced. “It was in the clove of seasons…” Rising action : The portion of the story where the conflict develops and increases. Doodle’s physical limitations ---- The narrator’s battle with pride External conflict Internal conflict

Plot Points continued… Climax: The peak of the action and conflict Rainsford jumps off of a cliff into an ocean to avoid General Zaroff and his dogs, ensuring his life for the third night (He wins the most dangerous game.) Falling action: The portion of the story where the conflict decreases. Even though Rainsford has won the game, he sneaks back to the mansion and hides in Zaroff’s room. (Creepy) Denouement: The final outcome of the conflict/ the resolution of the story.

Point of View P. O. V. - The vantage point from which a story is told. If the text: Uses I, me and my = First Person Uses you = Second Person Outside Narrator focus on one person’s thoughts/feelings = Third Person Limited Outside Narrator can only tell what can be observed= Third Person Objective Outside Narrator can tell thoughts and feeling of various characters= Third Person Omniscient

Protagonist vs. Antagonist Protagonist: The hero of the story! All the action revolves around this main character. Antagonist: The opposition to the protagonist, a.k.a. the villain of the story. Note: The reader is generally meant to sympathize with this character, but if the character is well-written and flawed, the reader may not always like the protagonist. Is Doodle an antagonist? Yes and no. His physical limitations oppose the desires of the narrator, so he works as an antagonist, but he is innocent and likeable and doesn’t literally antagonize the narrator.

Old Woman Swamp – Symbol or not? Of Course it is! Weren’t you listening to the geography lecture? EVERYTHING can be symbolic. “Doodle was my brother and he was going to cling to me forever, no matter what I did, so I dragged him across the burning cotton field to the only beauty I knew, Old Woman Swamp. His eyes were round with wonder as he gazed about him, and his little ands beach to stroke the rubber grass. Then he began to cry…’It’s so pretty,’ he said. ‘So pretty, pretty, pretty.’ After that day Doodle and I often went down into Old Woman Swamp.” (2). “Sometimes we descended into the cool greenness of Old Woman Swamp and climbed the rope vines or boxed scientifically beneath the pine where he had learned to walk. Promise hung about us like the leaves, and wherever we looked, ferns unfurled and birds broke into song” (5).