Plot, Character, Theme, Point of View, & Irony Chadrenne Blouin.
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Transcript of Plot, Character, Theme, Point of View, & Irony Chadrenne Blouin.
Plot, Character, Theme, Plot, Character, Theme, Point of View, & IronyPoint of View, & Irony
Chadrenne Blouin
What happens in the story; what the story is What happens in the story; what the story is aboutabout
The sequence of related events that make The sequence of related events that make up a story up a story
Applies to books, plays, short stories, Applies to books, plays, short stories, movies, TV shows, etc.movies, TV shows, etc.
The beginning of the story where the reader The beginning of the story where the reader is EXPOSed to the is EXPOSed to the ◦ SettingSetting◦ CharactersCharacters◦ DetailsDetails
Example: Example: Harry Potter & the Sorcerer’s Harry Potter & the Sorcerer’s StoneStone◦ Harry is left at the Dursley’sHarry is left at the Dursley’s◦ Voldemort is introduced through Dumbledore & Voldemort is introduced through Dumbledore &
McGonagall’s discussionMcGonagall’s discussion◦ Harry and life with the Dursleys is introduced Harry and life with the Dursleys is introduced
The “hook”The “hook” Where the action kicks into gear & it begins Where the action kicks into gear & it begins
to get interestingto get interesting Where the conflict is introducedWhere the conflict is introduced Example: Example: Harry Potter & the Sorcerer’s Harry Potter & the Sorcerer’s
StoneStone◦ Harry begins talking to the snake at the zoo & the Harry begins talking to the snake at the zoo & the
glass disappearsglass disappears
Takes up the bulk of the storyTakes up the bulk of the story The story gets more complicated & intense The story gets more complicated & intense
as the action risesas the action rises The series of events and complications that The series of events and complications that
increase the tension and suspense and increase the tension and suspense and make you want to know how the story is make you want to know how the story is going to turn out in the endgoing to turn out in the end
The point where the conflict reaches peak The point where the conflict reaches peak intensity & is resolvedintensity & is resolved
The emotional peak of the storyThe emotional peak of the story Often acts as the turning pointOften acts as the turning point Example: Example: Harry Potter & the Sorcerer’s Harry Potter & the Sorcerer’s
StoneStone◦ when Harry, Ron, & Hermione go through the when Harry, Ron, & Hermione go through the
challenges protecting the Sorcerer’s Stonechallenges protecting the Sorcerer’s Stone◦ When Harry faces Quirrell & VoldemortWhen Harry faces Quirrell & Voldemort
Where the author ties up loose ends that Where the author ties up loose ends that remain after the climaxremain after the climax
Example: Example: Harry Potter & the Sorcerer’s Harry Potter & the Sorcerer’s StoneStone◦ Harry wakes up in the hospitalHarry wakes up in the hospital◦ We find out Ron is okWe find out Ron is ok◦ Dumbledore tells Harry about Nicolas Flamel & Dumbledore tells Harry about Nicolas Flamel &
the fate of the Sorcerer’s Stonethe fate of the Sorcerer’s Stone◦ Gryffindor wins the House CupGryffindor wins the House Cup
Story wraps upStory wraps up Long-term effects of conflict are revealedLong-term effects of conflict are revealed Example: Example: Harry Potter & the Sorcerer’s Harry Potter & the Sorcerer’s
StoneStone◦ Exam resultsExam results◦ Packing upPacking up◦ Harry is picked up by the Dursley’s at the train Harry is picked up by the Dursley’s at the train
stationstation They meet Ron, his family, & HermioneThey meet Ron, his family, & Hermione Foreshadows Harry’s summer with them (and the Foreshadows Harry’s summer with them (and the
fact that they don’t know he can’t perform magic!)fact that they don’t know he can’t perform magic!)
Climbing the Climbing the
Plot LinePlot Line
Exposition
Rising Action
Climax
Falling Action
Resolution
Inciting Event
The main character of the story The main character of the story Is often considered the “Hero”Is often considered the “Hero”
The person, force, or thing opposing the The person, force, or thing opposing the protagonistprotagonist
It is possible for the protagonist to be their It is possible for the protagonist to be their own antagonistown antagonist
Time, place, or mood of the storyTime, place, or mood of the story
The basis of the story/plotThe basis of the story/plot Creates interest, suspense, & tension Creates interest, suspense, & tension The protagonist’s struggle against someone The protagonist’s struggle against someone
or something AND the reason why they are or something AND the reason why they are struggling struggling
Stories often contain multi-layered conflictsStories often contain multi-layered conflicts
InternalInternal ExternalExternal
Person vs. Person Person vs. Person ◦ protagonist vs. character antagonistprotagonist vs. character antagonist
Person vs. NaturePerson vs. Nature◦ Protagonist vs. nature antagonistProtagonist vs. nature antagonist
Person vs. SocietyPerson vs. Society◦ Protagonist vs. society antagonistProtagonist vs. society antagonist
Person vs. SupernaturalPerson vs. Supernatural◦ Protagonist vs. supernatural antagonistProtagonist vs. supernatural antagonist
Person vs. SelfPerson vs. Self◦ Protagonist vs. opposing ideas, needs, or Protagonist vs. opposing ideas, needs, or
emotions within themselvesemotions within themselves
There are two categories of There are two categories of character typescharacter types::◦ Flat OR RoundFlat OR Round◦ Static OR DynamicStatic OR Dynamic
AndAnd
There are two ways to There are two ways to characterizecharacterize::◦ Direct characterizationDirect characterization◦ Indirect characterizationIndirect characterization
FlatFlat: ◦ Characterized by a single dominant trait, role,
or function◦ Often a stereotypical character like
The whiny person who always dies in horror movies The sneaky servant The jealous lover
RoundRound:◦ Fully developed with multiple & sometimes
contradictory traits◦ The reader often sees their thoughts,
motivations, etc.◦ Character seems like a “real person”
StaticStatic: the character does : the character does NOTNOT undergo an undergo an important change in their insight, important change in their insight, understanding, values, etc. in the course of understanding, values, etc. in the course of the storythe story
DynamicDynamic: the character : the character DOESDOES undergo an undergo an important change in their insight, important change in their insight, understanding, values, etc. in the course of understanding, values, etc. in the course of the storythe story
The writer tells the reader what the The writer tells the reader what the character is likecharacter is like◦ Example:Example:
““The patient boy and quiet girl were both well The patient boy and quiet girl were both well mannered and did not disobey their mother.” mannered and did not disobey their mother.”
The writer is directly telling the reader the The writer is directly telling the reader the personality of these two children. The boy is personality of these two children. The boy is
“patient” and the girl is “quiet.”“patient” and the girl is “quiet.”
The reader must draw their own conclusions The reader must draw their own conclusions based on the character’s:based on the character’s:◦ SSpeechpeech
What does the character say? What does the character say? How does the character speak? How does the character speak?
◦ TThoughts houghts What is revealed through the character’s private thoughts and What is revealed through the character’s private thoughts and
feelings? feelings? ◦ EEffect on othersffect on others
What is revealed through the character’s effect on other What is revealed through the character’s effect on other people? people?
How do other characters feel/behave in reaction to the How do other characters feel/behave in reaction to the character?character?
◦ AActionsctions What does the character do? What does the character do? How does the character behave? How does the character behave?
◦ LLooksooks What does the character look like? What does the character look like? How does the character dress? How does the character dress?
The author’s message about lifeThe author’s message about life Implicit or recurring ideaImplicit or recurring idea Must be inferredMust be inferred Example: Example: NightNight
◦ SilenceSilence◦ Man’s inhumanity to manMan’s inhumanity to man◦ FaithFaith◦ The bond between father and sonThe bond between father and son
First PersonFirst Person Second PersonSecond Person
Third PersonThird Person
Story is told by one of the characters Story is told by one of the characters ◦ Character can be a participant or observerCharacter can be a participant or observer
Uses “I”Uses “I” Can include sometimes include excerpts Can include sometimes include excerpts
with second person point of viewwith second person point of view
Not frequently usedNot frequently used Narrator speaks directly to the reader using Narrator speaks directly to the reader using
“you”“you” Most common in letter or conversation Most common in letter or conversation
formats formats Example: Tom Robbins, in Example: Tom Robbins, in Even Cowgirls Get Even Cowgirls Get
the Bluesthe Blues, addresses the readers and makes , addresses the readers and makes them implied characters in chapter 100:them implied characters in chapter 100:◦ ““Reader, will you share a cup of the bubbly with Reader, will you share a cup of the bubbly with
me? You prefer French to domestic? OK, I’ll make me? You prefer French to domestic? OK, I’ll make it French. Cheers!"it French. Cheers!"
Three Types:◦ Limited/Limited Omniscient- most common today
“Over the Shoulder” perspective Narrator describes events perceived by the viewpoint
character Writers can shift perspective from one viewpoint character
to another
◦ Omniscient Narrator knows all the facts Injects narrator’s own perspective & reputation into story Common in classic novels
◦ Detached “Fly on the Wall” perspective Objective- without character’s thought or opinions Often used in newspaper articles
Dramatic, Situational, & VerbalDramatic, Situational, & Verbal
Chadrenne Blouin
The reader or audience knows something the The reader or audience knows something the character does notcharacter does not
A situation where words spoken by a character A situation where words spoken by a character in a play or narrative who, because of his in a play or narrative who, because of his ignorance of present or future circumstances ignorance of present or future circumstances that the audience is aware of, does not realize that the audience is aware of, does not realize how the words apply to his situationhow the words apply to his situation
Example:Example:◦ In a horror movie, the audience knows a killer is on In a horror movie, the audience knows a killer is on
the loose and that the couple should not go on a the loose and that the couple should not go on a romantic walk in the woods, but they think a moonlit romantic walk in the woods, but they think a moonlit stroll is romantic. Needless to say, they are the next stroll is romantic. Needless to say, they are the next victims!victims!
◦ Oedipus says, “Why I’d sooner marry my own Oedipus says, “Why I’d sooner marry my own mother than…”mother than…”
What is expected to happen is the opposite What is expected to happen is the opposite of what occurs, yet is also strangely of what occurs, yet is also strangely appropriateappropriate
Example:Example:◦ You break a date with your girlfriend so you can You break a date with your girlfriend so you can
go to a ball game with the guys. When you go to go to a ball game with the guys. When you go to the concession stand, you run into your girlfriend the concession stand, you run into your girlfriend with another guy.with another guy.
◦ After successfully going over Niagara Falls in a After successfully going over Niagara Falls in a barrel, the stunt man goes home, takes a shower, barrel, the stunt man goes home, takes a shower, slips on the soap, and breaks his leg.slips on the soap, and breaks his leg.
◦ In Night: “He liked my shoes; I would not let him have them. Later they were taken from me anyway. In exchange for nothing, that time.”
A writer or speaker says one thing, but A writer or speaker says one thing, but means something differentmeans something different
The most common form is sarcasmThe most common form is sarcasm Example:Example:
◦ Your boyfriend shows up for your date wearing Your boyfriend shows up for your date wearing ripped jeans and a stained t-shirt. With a smirk, ripped jeans and a stained t-shirt. With a smirk, you, in a nice dress, say, “Gee, I hope I’m dressed you, in a nice dress, say, “Gee, I hope I’m dressed nicely enough for where we’re going;” or “Oh! I nicely enough for where we’re going;” or “Oh! I see you dressed up for our date. We must be see you dressed up for our date. We must be going to a fancy restaurant!”going to a fancy restaurant!”