Elements of a Narrative Knowing these elements makes us better readers and analyzers of what we read.

Elements of a Narrative Point of View Setting Characterization Theme Conflict Plot

POINT OF VIEW

The point of view is the perspective of the story. “That rotten wolf tried to eat us!!!!” “I was framed! I just wanted to borrow a cup of sugar!”

Types of Point of View 1st Person 3rd Person Limited Omniscient

First Person Point of View The narrator does participate in the action of the story. When reading stories in the first person, we need to realize that what the narrator is recounting might not be the objective truth. Always subjective. Pronouns used: I, me, we, ours, etc.

Third Person Point of View The narrator does not participate in the action of the story as one of the characters, but lets us know exactly how the characters feel. We learn about the characters through this outside voice. Pronouns used: he, she, they, them, etc. Can be objective or subjective

Omniscient The narrator only shares thoughts and feelings of one character. Limited The narrator shares thoughts and feelings of any and all characters. “All-knowing”

Consider What point of view does the author use in the story we read? Is it limited or omniscient? How do you think the point of view affected the way you feel about the story?

SETTING

Details that describe: Furniture Furniture Scenery Scenery Customs Customs Transportation Transportation Clothing Clothing Dialects Dialects Weather Weather Time Time of day of year Time and place where action occurs Setting

Elements of a Setting SETTING TIME PLACE MOOD ENVIRONMENT

Functions of Setting To create a mood or atmosphere To make action seem more real To show a reader a different way of life To be the source of conflict or struggle To symbolize an idea

Time to Apply What was the setting of the story we read? What evidence can you find in the story that shows how: the setting affects the action? the setting affects the story’s mood? the setting is related to the conflict?

CHARACTERIZATION

Types of Characters Major Cinderella Minor Ugly Stepsister

Types of Characters Protagonist - the leading character, hero, or heroine  Antagonist - the adversary of the hero or protagonist  Dynamic/Round – changes or develops, many character traits  Static/Flat – not changing, one or few personality traits

Protagonists Antagonists

Characterization  A writer reveals what a character is like and how the character changes throughout the story.  Two primary methods of characterization: writer tells what the character is like Direct writer tells what the character is like writer shows what a character is like by describing what the character looks like, by telling what the character says and does, and by what other characters say about and do in response to the character. Indirect writer shows what a character is like by describing what the character looks like, by telling what the character says and does, and by what other characters say about and do in response to the character.

Example of Direct Characterization … And I don’t play the dozens or believe in standing around with somebody in my face doing a lot of talking. I much rather just knock you down and take my chances even if I’m a little girl with skinny arms and a squeaky voice, which is how I got the name Squeaky. From “Raymond’s Run” by T. Bambara

Example of Indirect Characterization The old man bowed to all of us in the room. Then he removed his hat and gloves, slowly and carefully. Chaplin once did that in a picture, in a bank--he was the janitor. From “Gentleman of Rio en Medio” by J. Sedillo

Factors in Analyzing Characters Personality Background/personal history Motivation Relationships How he/she handles conflict Physical appearance of character

Time to Apply Was there a protagonist in the story we read? If so, was he/she static or dynamic ? Was the author mainly using direct or indirect characterization? Example? What evidence from the story can you cite to show that the author made the main characters round? Describe a flat character in the story.

THEME

Theme  A central message, concern, or insight into life  Can be expressed with a short statement  About human beings or about life  May be stated directly or implied  Uncovered by reader through interpretation

A universal message or truth about life You can’t always get what you want A Theme Is:

Dream Deferred What happens to a dream deferred? Does it dry up like a raisin in the sun? Or fester like a sore— and then run? Does it stink like rotten meat? Or crust and sugar over— like a syrupy sweet? Maybe it just sags like a heavy load Or does it just explode? - Langston Hughes sometimes implied through simile A Theme Is:

Time to Apply What is the theme of the story we read? What evidence from the story can you use to support your ideas? Is the theme stated or implied? Cite passages.

CONFLICT

Conflict Conflict is the dramatic struggle between two forces in a story. Without conflict, there is no plot.

Types of Conflict Character vs Nature Character vs Society Character vs SelfCharacter vs Character Internal External

Time to Apply What conflicts are important to understanding the point of the story we read? Are these conflicts internal or external? How are the conflicts important to the theme of the story?

PLOT

describes the structure of a story. shows the causal arrangement of events and actions within a story. PLOT

Plot Components Climax: the turning point, the most intense moment—either mentally or in action Exposition: the start of the story, the situation before the action starts Falling Action: all of the action which follows the climax Rising Action: the series of conflicts and crisis in the story that lead to the climax Resolution Denoument/catastrophe: the conclusion, the tying together of all of the threads

Plot: Jack & the Beanstalk Exposition Rising Action Climax Falling Action Resolution/d’enouement 1. Jack’s mother sends him to town to trade cow for food. 2. Jack trades cow for magic beans. 3. Jack plants beans and beanstalk grows. 4. Jack climbs beanstalk and discovers giant’s castle. Jack steals giant’s goose which lays a golden egg. Jack and his mother live in poverty. Jack is chased by the giant. Jack chops down the beanstalk, causing the giant to fall to his death. Jack and his mother live happily in comfort thanks to the golden egg.

Time to Apply What is the exposition in the story we read? How does action build-up? What is the climax of the story? Describe the falling action. What is the resolution? How is the story told: chronological, flashback, or in media res?