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

Jens Kirk, Dept. of Culture and GlJens Kirk, Dept. of Culture and Global Studiesobal Studies

Tekstanalyse og -historieTekstanalyse og -historie

Session TwoSession Two


AgendaAgenda

Transition from film studiesTransition from film studies An Introduction to story, plot, An Introduction to story, plot,

character, and characterizationcharacter, and characterization Group Work: analysing plot in ”The Group Work: analysing plot in ”The

Law of Life”Law of Life” Group presentations and discussionsGroup presentations and discussions


Transition from film studiesTransition from film studies

Cinematographic narratology: Story and Cinematographic narratology: Story and plotplot

Plot in ”The Adventure of the Cardboard Plot in ”The Adventure of the Cardboard Box:” short story and adaptationBox:” short story and adaptation

Plot and meaningPlot and meaning


An Introduction to story and An Introduction to story and plotplot

Story/ Story/ fabula/ the fabula/ the level of the level of the toldtold = the = the chronological chronological sequence of sequence of events and events and actionsactions

Plot/ sjuzhet/ discourse/ the level of the telling = the events and actions as ordered or designed towards acheiving particular artistic and emotional effects


A famous example of plot: A famous example of plot: Julius Caesar’s message Julius Caesar’s message to the Roman senate describing his recent victory in to the Roman senate describing his recent victory in

the Battle of Zela (47 BC). the Battle of Zela (47 BC).

Veni, vidi, viciVeni, vidi, vici (I came, I saw, I (I came, I saw, I conquered)conquered)

StoryStory = The Battle of Zela = The Battle of ZelaPlot/ sjuzhet/ discourse/ the level of Plot/ sjuzhet/ discourse/ the level of

the tellingthe telling = Caesar’s telling, = Caesar’s telling, rendering, and ordering of that rendering, and ordering of that chronological sequence of eventschronological sequence of events

The artistic and emotional effects of The artistic and emotional effects of Ceasar’s message?Ceasar’s message?


The story / plot modelThe story / plot model

Story (future)

Plot(end)

I cameI saw

I conquered

Story(past)

Plot(beginning)

Plot(middle)


Four levels of design in plotFour levels of design in plot

OrderOrder: beginning, middle, and end: beginning, middle, and end ChronologyChronology Anachrony: flashback (analepsis), flash Anachrony: flashback (analepsis), flash

forward (prolepsis)forward (prolepsis) EllipsisEllipsis: Gaps, omissions, absences: Gaps, omissions, absences DurationDuration: the time of the telling and the : the time of the telling and the

time of the toldtime of the told FrequencyFrequency: the number of times an : the number of times an

event is toldevent is told


””I Spy”: OrderI Spy”: Order

Story (future)

Plot(end)

”Charlie Stowe

waited …”

(flashback,summary)

”He wastwelve years

old…”

”Charlie Stowehad no sense of

safety…”

Story(past)

Plot(beginning)

Plot(middle)


Another way of discussing Another way of discussing plotplot

Rising actionRising action Exposition – an initial situation of stasis in the life of Exposition – an initial situation of stasis in the life of

the herothe hero Complication – something unsettling happens in the Complication – something unsettling happens in the

hero´s life. A conflict between the protagonist and hero´s life. A conflict between the protagonist and antagonist develops.antagonist develops.

Climax – the high point of the hero´s fortunesClimax – the high point of the hero´s fortunes Falling actionFalling action

Crisis – the turning point of the hero’s fortunesCrisis – the turning point of the hero’s fortunes Catastrophe/ denoument – mysteries, conflicts, Catastrophe/ denoument – mysteries, conflicts,

misunderstandings are cleared away.misunderstandings are cleared away.


Plot and ”I Spy”: storyline 1Plot and ”I Spy”: storyline 1

Rising actionRising action Exposition – ?Exposition – ? Complication – happiness unsetteled at school: the Complication – happiness unsetteled at school: the

other boys begin mocking him for not smoking. other boys begin mocking him for not smoking. Climax – (After descending the stairs in order to steal Climax – (After descending the stairs in order to steal

a smoke,) Charlie eventually puts a cigarette in his a smoke,) Charlie eventually puts a cigarette in his mouth, looks around for matchesmouth, looks around for matches

Falling actionFalling action Crisis – but someone suddenly enters the shopCrisis – but someone suddenly enters the shop Catastrophe/ denoument – and after some time Catastrophe/ denoument – and after some time

Charlie goes back to his room without having Charlie goes back to his room without having smoked a cigarette.smoked a cigarette.


Plot and ”I Spy”: storyline 2Plot and ”I Spy”: storyline 2

Rising actionRising action Exposition – Charlie loves his mother, who is always Exposition – Charlie loves his mother, who is always

present, but not his father, who is mostly absentpresent, but not his father, who is mostly absent Complication – his father suddenly becomes present Complication – his father suddenly becomes present

and Charlie discovers that his father is ”very like and Charlie discovers that his father is ”very like himself”himself”

Climax – and that he would llike to tell him that he Climax – and that he would llike to tell him that he loves himloves him

Falling actionFalling action Crisis – but Charlie can’t since his father is absent Crisis – but Charlie can’t since his father is absent

again.again. Catastrophe/ denoument – Charlie is alone in the Catastrophe/ denoument – Charlie is alone in the

house with his motherhouse with his mother


An Introduction to character An Introduction to character and characterisationand characterisation

Character = a Character = a represented personrepresented person

Protagonist, hero, Protagonist, hero, heroine, heroine, antagonist, villain, antagonist, villain, foilfoil

Two aspects of Two aspects of character: inner character: inner and outerand outer

Characterisation = Characterisation = how a person is how a person is representedrepresented

Showing (the Showing (the dramatic method)dramatic method)

Telling (the Telling (the intrusive method)intrusive method)


Story, Plot, Character, Story, Plot, Character, Characterisation and ThemeCharacterisation and Theme

Plot and characterisation are ways of Plot and characterisation are ways of designing a theme in order to pursuade designing a theme in order to pursuade your readers about it. What does Greene your readers about it. What does Greene want to pursuade us about?want to pursuade us about?

Why does his plot have two storylines? Why does his plot have two storylines? And what do they have in common?And what do they have in common?

Failure – is Green suggesting that we’re Failure – is Green suggesting that we’re doomed to fail in our relations with other doomed to fail in our relations with other people and ourselves?people and ourselves?


Jack London, ”The Law of Jack London, ”The Law of Life”Life”

Map out the events according to the Map out the events according to the story / plot modelstory / plot model

What’s the point in rendering and What’s the point in rendering and ordering the events and actions in ordering the events and actions in this manner?this manner?

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

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