Presentation is loading. Please wait.

Presentation is loading. Please wait.

Characters and conflict

Published byLewis Reynolds Modified over 6 years ago

Similar presentations

Presentation on theme: "Characters and conflict"— Presentation transcript:

1 Characters and conflict
Short Story Unit Characters and conflict

2 Elements of a Short Story
Characters Protagonist: the main character Antagonist: the person or thing that opposes the main character, creating conflict Setting Time Hour, season, historical era Place General location, specific country, city, and any specific locations

3 Conflict: a struggle or problem characters face
External: takes place between a character and an outside force (character, society, nature) Internal: struggle a character experiences between her own feelings, desires, or beliefs Plot Theme

4 Genre and Structure Genre: classification of literary works that share certain elements Realistic Believable characters facing true to life problems in a realistic setting Science Fiction Often set in the future in which actual or imagined science and technology play a central role

5 Historical Story set in the past that combines fictional characters with historical figures or events Humorous Comical characters and situations intended to amuse Parody An imitation of another story or writing style, intended to comment on or poke fun at the original

6 Genre and Structure Structure: the way in which events of the plot unfold and the reader learns about characters and situations Can be shaped by genre Ex: Mystery stories intriguing problem and a protagonist who seeks to solve itlots of plot twists and turnslogical, but surprising resolution Chronological Order: events of the story are told in sequence from beginning to end

7 Flashbacks: interrupt the flow of chronological events to describe earlier events
Provide insight into a character’s past or motivations Parallel Plots: when author develops two distinct storylines, with two sets of characters, usually joining together into a single unified tale Pacing: speed or rhythm of the writing

8 Elements of Style Suspense: a feeling of anticipation that something risky or dangerous is about to happen Used to keep reader’s interest and make reader more interested and sympathetic to the protagonist Author’s create suspense by using Details and descriptions Onomatopoeia Unfamiliar settings Foreshadowing Irony

9 Elements of Style Irony: an effect created when a writer sets up a contrast between readers’ or characters’ expectations and reality May involve a difference between Appearance and reality Expectation and outcome Stated meaning and intended meaning Three types of Irony Situational: an event directly contradicts expectation Verbal: a character says the opposite of what she means Dramatic: the reader knows something the character does NOT Paradox: a statement that seems contradictory but reveals some deeper truth

10 IRONY OR PARADOX? I SEARCH EVERYWHERE FOR MY GLASSES, ONLY TO REALIZE I’M WEARING THEM SITUATIONAL IRONY SOMEONE KNOCKS MY BOOKS OUT OF MY HAND IN THE HALLWAY, AND I SAY, “THANKS.” VERBAL IRONY JUMBO SHRIMP PARADOX

11 IRONY OR PARADOX? SOMEONE TELLS YOU THEY ARE A COMPULSIVE LIAR.
PARADOX: A LIAR WOULDN’T TELL THE TRUTH I’M NOBODY. PARADOX A man looked out of the window to see the storm intensify. He turned to his friend and said “wonderful weather we’re having!” VERBAL IRONY

12 IRONY OR PARADOX? Deep down, you're really shallow. PARADOX
Being thirsty in the sea SITUATIONAL IRONY In Toy Story, human characters are not aware that the toys speak and move while the audience is aware DRAMATIC IRONY

13 Elements of Style Atmosphere:
Refers to the emotions or feelings an author conveys through the descriptions of objects and setting Ex: JK Rowling’s Harry Potter series—whimsical and exciting It is an unspoken hunger we deflect with knives – one avocado between us, cut neatly in half, twisted then separated from the large wooden pit. With the green fleshy boats in hand, we slice vertical strips from one end to the other. Vegetable planks. We smother the avocado with salsa, hot chiles at noon in the desert. We look at each other and smile, eating avocados with sharp silver blades, risking the blood of our tongues repeatedly. Here Terry creates a dangerous atmosphere where hazardous atmosphere is created as she presents knives and avocados. In fact, when an author tries to establish atmosphere by using objects, these objects represent unspoken reality. Besides, appearance of two characters also adds to a sexually charged atmosphere.

14 FORESHADOWING and FLASHBACK
Foreshadowing: the use of details that hint at later events Not all foreshadowing is obvious. Frequently, future  events  are merely hinted at through dialogue,  description, or the  attitudes and reactions of the  characters. Foreshadowing frequently serves two purposes.  1) It builds suspense by raising questions that  encourage the  reader to go on and find out more about  the event that is  being foreshadowed.  2) Foreshadowing is also a means of making a  narrative  more believable by partially preparing the  reader for events  which are to follow.

15 FLASHBACKS Flashback: a technique that involves a switch from present time of the narrative to a past time Come in the forms of Dreams Memories Sequences that interrupt—stories of the past told by one character or an interruption by the author Flashback is useful for exposition, to fill in the reader about a  character or place, or to explain the background to a conflict.

16 FLASHBACKS How to find a Flashback in literature
Look for a place where the writer breaks up the chronological order of the plot to tell about something that took place earlier. Look for time words such as years ago, in the past, and then: Examples I thought about what had happened earlier.... Images from years ago flooded my brain.... A memory from the distant past surged up.....

17 FLASHBACKS How to find a Flashback in literature Look for dates, characters' ages, and words about youth or old age Examples When Carlita was nine, her father taught her to swim...... Before I became the old man you see before you...... Look for time words such as now, today, and these days. Such phrases can indicate the stopping point of a flashback. Examples: Now I am a grownup..... These days I live more slowly than when I was in the army.

18 IMAGERY AND CONFLICT Imagery: The use of vivid or figurative language to represent objects, actions, places, or ideas To create imagery, authors use Sensory Details Sensory Details are any detail that draws on any of the five senses. Sight Visual Imagery Sound Auditory Imagery Taste Gustatory Imagery Touch Tactile Imagery Smell Olfactory Imagery

19 IMAGERY PRACTICE WHICH SENSE DOES THE FOLLOWING IMAGE APPEAL TO?
And straightway like a bell Came low and clear The slow, sad murmur of the distant seas, Hearing What type of imagery is this? Auditory Imagery

20 IMAGERY PRACTICE WHICH SENSE DOES THE FOLLOWING IMAGE APPEAL TO?
And bubbling sea-weeds as the waters go Swish to and fro SIGHT WHAT TYPE OF IMAGERY IS THIS? VISUAL IMAGERY

21 IMAGERY PRACTICE WHICH SENSE DOES THE FOLLOWING IMAGE APPEAL TO?
Their long, cold tentacles of slimy grey. WHAT SENSE DOES THIS APPEAL TO? COLD AND SLIMY TOUCH GREY TENTACLES VISUAL WHAT TYPES OF IMAGERY ARE THESE? TACTILE IMAGERY AND VISUAL IMAGERY

22 CONFLICT Without conflict, there is no plot!
Introduced during the rising action Faced head-on during the climax Begins to work itself out during the falling action Is resolved during the resolution

23 CONFLICT Internal Character vs Him- or Herself
Struggle takes place in character’s own mind Usually something to do with choice or overcoming emotions or mixed feelings

24 CONFLICT External Character vs Character Protagonist vs antagonist
Character vs Nature Usually character is struggling to survive Character vs Society Group of characters fighting against society Character fights against social traditions or rules

25 CONFLICT OTHER TYPES OF CONFLICT Character vs Supernatural
Gods, ghosts, monsters, spirits, aliens, etc. Character vs Fate Fight for choice; fight against destiny Character vs Technology Computers, machines, etc.

26 CONFLICT MAN V. ? Nature

27 CONFLICT Man v. ? Charles decided to break all the rules the day he decided to steal that car. He was immediately arrested and sent to jail to await his trial. He should have known better than to mess with the “rules.” Man V. Society

28 CONFLICT Man V. ? “I don’t care who you talk to!” screamed Sarah to West. “I just wish I had never met you!” Man v. Man

29 CONFLICT Man V. ? Tom found a dry spot to sit down in the dark and began to feel guilty over an argument he had had earlier in the day with his mother in which he had said, “I hope I never see you again!” Man v. Self

Download ppt "Characters and conflict"

Similar presentations

Short Story Terms.

Short Story Terms.
Literary Terms for Study

Literary Terms for Study
Conflict in Stories. Conflict In a story, conflict is the struggle between opposing forces. In a story, conflict is the struggle between opposing forces.

Conflict in Stories. Conflict In a story, conflict is the struggle between opposing forces. In a story, conflict is the struggle between opposing forces.
Short Story Unit Notes.

Short Story Unit Notes.
Literary Terms We will be using these literary terms throughout the school year. There WILL be literary terms used on your FINAL EXAMS in May!! You need.

Literary Terms We will be using these literary terms throughout the school year. There WILL be literary terms used on your FINAL EXAMS in May!! You need.
SHORT STORY ELEMENTS. 1.Setting 1.Setting the place and TIME of the action of the story the place and TIME of the action of the story 2.Plot 2.Plot series.

SHORT STORY ELEMENTS. 1.Setting 1.Setting the place and TIME of the action of the story the place and TIME of the action of the story 2.Plot 2.Plot series.
Literary Elements. Plot: the sequence of events in a story.

Literary Elements. Plot: the sequence of events in a story.
Literary Term Notes 9.10.2010. Setting Where and when the story takes place: Time of day, place, season, time period, etc.

Literary Term Notes Setting Where and when the story takes place: Time of day, place, season, time period, etc.
Novels/Short Stories.

Novels/Short Stories.
Short Story Notes Elements of Fiction

Short Story Notes Elements of Fiction
DO NOW Think about a recent problem or conflict you have had. What was it about? Who was it with? Has it been resolved. If you are lucky enough to never.

DO NOW Think about a recent problem or conflict you have had. What was it about? Who was it with? Has it been resolved. If you are lucky enough to never.
Literary Terms English Mrs. Maxwell.

Literary Terms English Mrs. Maxwell.
Literary Terms 2.

Literary Terms 2.
ALLUSION A passing reference to historical or fictional characters, places, or events, or to other works that the writer assumes the reader will recognize.

ALLUSION A passing reference to historical or fictional characters, places, or events, or to other works that the writer assumes the reader will recognize.
Elements of Fiction. series of related events that make up the action of the story and give the story structure. What happens, to whom, and when. Plot.

Elements of Fiction. series of related events that make up the action of the story and give the story structure. What happens, to whom, and when. Plot.
Literary Elements PlotPoint of ViewMood SettingForeshadowingCharacters FlashbackConflictTheme IronyMotivationSuspense Symbol.

Literary Elements PlotPoint of ViewMood SettingForeshadowingCharacters FlashbackConflictTheme IronyMotivationSuspense Symbol.
ELEMENTS OF LITERATURE. Allusion An indirect reference to another literary work or to a famous person, place or event.

ELEMENTS OF LITERATURE. Allusion An indirect reference to another literary work or to a famous person, place or event.
A Guide to Interpreting Short Stories

A Guide to Interpreting Short Stories
Short Story Literary Terms English. Essential Question What literary devices are used for analyzing short stories?

Short Story Literary Terms English. Essential Question What literary devices are used for analyzing short stories?
 Plot › Sequence of related events that make a story hang together.  Includes characters who experience some conflict or problem.  Details are filled.

 Plot › Sequence of related events that make a story hang together.  Includes characters who experience some conflict or problem.  Details are filled.

Similar presentations

Ads by Google