1. Jens Kirk, Dept. of Culture and Global Studies Tekstanalyse og -historie Session Two

2. Jens Kirk, Dept. of Culture and Global Studies Agenda Transition from film studies Transition from film studies An Introduction to story, plot, character, and characterization An Introduction to story, plot, character, and characterization Group Work: analysing plot in ”The Law of Life” Group Work: analysing plot in ”The Law of Life” Group presentations and discussions Group presentations and discussions

3. Jens Kirk, Dept. of Culture and Global Studies Transition from film studies Cinematographic narratology: Story and plot Plot in ”The Adventure of the Cardboard Box:” short story and adaptation Plot and meaning

4. Jens Kirk, Dept. of Culture and Global Studies An Introduction to story and plot Story/ fabula/ the level of the told = the chronological sequence of events and actions Story/ fabula/ the level of the told = the chronological sequence of events and actions Plot/ sjuzhet/ discourse/ the level of the telling = the events and actions as ordered or designed towards acheiving particular artistic and emotional effects

5. Jens Kirk, Dept. of Culture and Global Studies

6. A famous example of plot: Julius Caesar’s message to the Roman senate describing his recent victory in the Battle of Zela (47 BC). Veni, vidi, vici (I came, I saw, I conquered) Story = The Battle of Zela Plot/ sjuzhet/ discourse/ the level of the telling = Caesar’s telling, rendering, and ordering of that chronological sequence of events The artistic and emotional effects of Ceasar’s message?

7. Jens Kirk, Dept. of Culture and Global Studies The story / plot model Story (future) Plot (end) I came I saw I conquered Story (past) Plot (beginning) Plot (middle)

8. Jens Kirk, Dept. of Culture and Global Studies Four levels of design in plot Order: beginning, middle, and end Order: beginning, middle, and end Chronology Chronology Anachrony: flashback (analepsis), flash forward (prolepsis) Anachrony: flashback (analepsis), flash forward (prolepsis) Ellipsis: Gaps, omissions, absences Ellipsis: Gaps, omissions, absences Duration: the time of the telling and the time of the told Duration: the time of the telling and the time of the told Frequency: the number of times an event is told Frequency: the number of times an event is told

9. Jens Kirk, Dept. of Culture and Global Studies ”I Spy”: Order Story (future) Plot (end) ”Charlie Stowe waited …” (flashback, summary) ”He was twelve years old… ” ”Charlie Stowe had no sense of safety…” Story (past) Plot (beginning) Plot (middle)

10. Jens Kirk, Dept. of Culture and Global Studies Another way of discussing plot Rising action Rising action Exposition – an initial situation of stasis in the life of the hero Exposition – an initial situation of stasis in the life of the hero Complication – something unsettling happens in the hero´s life. A conflict between the protagonist and antagonist develops. Complication – something unsettling happens in the hero´s life. A conflict between the protagonist and antagonist develops. Climax – the high point of the hero´s fortunes Climax – the high point of the hero´s fortunes Falling action Falling action Crisis – the turning point of the hero’s fortunes Crisis – the turning point of the hero’s fortunes Catastrophe/ denoument – mysteries, conflicts, misunderstandings are cleared away. Catastrophe/ denoument – mysteries, conflicts, misunderstandings are cleared away.

11. Jens Kirk, Dept. of Culture and Global Studies Plot and ”I Spy”: storyline 1 Rising action Rising action Exposition – ? Exposition – ? Complication – happiness unsetteled at school: the other boys begin mocking him for not smoking. Complication – happiness unsetteled at school: the other boys begin mocking him for not smoking. Climax – (After descending the stairs in order to steal a smoke,) Charlie eventually puts a cigarette in his mouth, looks around for matches Climax – (After descending the stairs in order to steal a smoke,) Charlie eventually puts a cigarette in his mouth, looks around for matches Falling action Falling action Crisis – but someone suddenly enters the shop Crisis – but someone suddenly enters the shop Catastrophe/ denoument – and after some time Charlie goes back to his room without having smoked a cigarette. Catastrophe/ denoument – and after some time Charlie goes back to his room without having smoked a cigarette.

12. Jens Kirk, Dept. of Culture and Global Studies Plot and ”I Spy”: storyline 2 Rising action Rising action Exposition – Charlie loves his mother, who is always present, but not his father, who is mostly absent Exposition – Charlie loves his mother, who is always present, but not his father, who is mostly absent Complication – his father suddenly becomes present and Charlie discovers that his father is ”very like himself” Complication – his father suddenly becomes present and Charlie discovers that his father is ”very like himself” Climax – and that he would llike to tell him that he loves him Climax – and that he would llike to tell him that he loves him Falling action Falling action Crisis – but Charlie can’t since his father is absent again. Crisis – but Charlie can’t since his father is absent again. Catastrophe/ denoument – Charlie is alone in the house with his mother Catastrophe/ denoument – Charlie is alone in the house with his mother

13. Jens Kirk, Dept. of Culture and Global Studies An Introduction to character and characterisation Character = a represented person Character = a represented person Protagonist, hero, heroine, antagonist, villain, foil Protagonist, hero, heroine, antagonist, villain, foil Two aspects of character: inner and outer Two aspects of character: inner and outer Characterisation = how a person is represented Characterisation = how a person is represented Showing (the dramatic method) Showing (the dramatic method) Telling (the intrusive method) Telling (the intrusive method)

14. Jens Kirk, Dept. of Culture and Global Studies Story, Plot, Character, Characterisation and Theme Plot and characterisation are ways of designing a theme in order to pursuade your readers about it. What does Greene want to pursuade us about? Plot and characterisation are ways of designing a theme in order to pursuade your readers about it. What does Greene want to pursuade us about? Why does his plot have two storylines? And what do they have in common? Why does his plot have two storylines? And what do they have in common? Failure – is Green suggesting that we’re doomed to fail in our relations with other people and ourselves? Failure – is Green suggesting that we’re doomed to fail in our relations with other people and ourselves?

15. Jens Kirk, Dept. of Culture and Global Studies Jack London, ”The Law of Life” Map out the events according to the story / plot model Map out the events according to the story / plot model What’s the point in rendering and ordering the events and actions in this manner? What’s the point in rendering and ordering the events and actions in this manner?