Character Plot Setting

LO: To revise short story writing

• In particular – to know and understand how short stories are constructed

Plot

• Plot is the sequence of events that go to make up a story

• Can be very simple, can be very complex.

• FOR YOUR SHORT STORY THEY SHOULD BE VERY SIMPLE. YOU ONLY HAVE AN HOUR.

• Using the sheet – try and think of any stories/films/tv shows whose plots match the 7 basic ones.

OVERCOMING THE MONSTERHero learns of a great evil threatening the land/their family/ the world, and sets out to destroy it.

Examples: Super Mario Bros. James Bond MoviesMockingjay.Harry Potter (The later books)Rocky IVTerminator

RAGS TO RICHESSurrounded by dark forces who suppress and ridicule him, the Hero slowly blossoms into a mature figure who ultimately gets riches, a kingdom, and the perfect mate.

TwilightHarry Potter and the Philosopher’s StoneKarate KidAladdin

THE QUESTHero learns of a great MacGuffin that he desperately wants to find, and sets out to find it, often with companions.

National TreasureIndiana Jones and the Last Crusade

VOYAGE AND RETURNHero heads off into a magic land with crazy rules, ultimately triumphs over the madness and returns home far more mature than when he set out.

NarniaThe Wizard of OzWhere the Wild Things AreThe Devil Wears Prada

COMEDYHero and Heroine are destined to get together, but a force is preventing them from doing so; eventually the Hero and Heroine are free to get together. This is part of a cascade of effects that shows everyone for who they really are, and allows two or more other relationships to correctly form.

50 first dates

TRAGEDYThe flip side of the Overcoming the Monster plot. Our protagonist character is the Villain, but we get to watch him slowly spiral down into darkness before he's finally defeated, freeing the land from his evil influence.

FrankensteinMacbethGoodfellas/The Godfather

REBIRTHAs with the Tragedy plot, but our protagonist manages to realize his error before it's too late, and changes to avoid defeat.

A Christmas CarolSleeping BeautyStar wars

Narrative structure

• Plots tend to follow the following narrative structure: They build to a rising action.

• Using one of the plots you discussed with your partner – plan out how the plot fits the narrative structure shown.

• Exposition• The exposition introduces all of the main characters in the story. It shows how they relate to one another, what their goals

and motivations are, and the kind of person they ar• Rising Action• Generally, in this phase the protagonist understands his goal and begins to work toward it. Smaller problems thwart his

initial success.– Climax

• The point of climax is the turning point of the story, where the main character makes the single big decision that defines the outcome of their story and who they are as a person.

• Falling action• Freytag called this phase "falling action" in the sense that the loose ends are being tied up. In this phase, the villain has the

upper hand. It seems that evil will triumph. The protagonist has never been further from accomplishing the goal.• Resolution• In the final phase of Freytag's five phase structure, there is a final confrontation between the protagonist and antagonist,

where one or the other decisively win

Groups

• David, Murray, Greig, Luke, Lewis• Jameel, Scott, Andrew, Andrew, Frances-Anne• Nicky, Laura L, Daniel Maweu, Laura M,

Marcus• Alice, Jack, Claire Louse, Mavis, Daniel• Isla, Dean, Bryan, Amelia, Ziad• Blythe, Samantha, Graeme, Liam, Aramis.

Primary CharactersClassic Hero = Good-

looking, selfless and everyone’s friend.

Tragic Hero = Has a fatal flaw that brings about their demise..

Anti-Hero =. A character who commits heroic acts but has few admirable traits. will probably have bad habits (drinking, bad language). Virtually all detectives (Taggart, Morse, Rebus) fit this mould.

Villain = A bad guy.

• Setting: should define a clear physical place and time. However, don’t worry about being too specific. For instance, it would be quite acceptable to write “Space/In the Future” or “Scotland/Now”.

Job Description

Character

Responsible for writing the final draft of the group’s ideas

Setting

Responsible for writing the final draft of the group’s ideas

Spokesperson

Answers all whole class questions

Illustrator

Provides any drawings the group deems necessary

Manager

Makes sure that everyone is working.

Secondary (stock) CharactersThese should be instantly recognisable to readers and have one clear trait. The reader should have met someone like this in real life. For instance, Henrik Ibsen includes a character in An Enemy of the People called “Fat Man”. Catherine Forde includes a character in Fat Boy Swim called “Dog Breath”.

Back-story

1. Write down the most significant events that has happened in your character’s life.

This is a note for your own purposes; it only needs to be detailed enough for you to understand it when you come back to it later.

Settings

1. Describe a setting that your character would be familiar with.

2. Describe a setting or situation that would not cope well in.

Character• In Pairs

• You are going to create a character using the prompts given.

• Include an image of your character and also be aware of the type of plot this character may lend themselves to.

• CHARACTER:• Think of a central character. • What is the frustration or conflict in • his/her life? • IDEA 1: • Boy – 15 – popular and successful – • moves to new school – feels like he’s • an outsider – gets drawn into the • wrong crowd – relationship with • parents begins to fall apart … • IDEA 2: • Elderly woman who feels abandoned by • her children. Decides to teach them a • lesson… • What is s/he like? What does s/he look • like? • What is her/his background? • Which other character(s) will s/he • come into contact with? • Create a mini-biography using bullet • points or note form

Setting

• Think of a bold and original location.

• In your notes about the location ensure you make some notes on SENSE DESCRIPTION

• Include:

• Key features• Senses• Colour

In pairs, use the information you’ve been given to plan out a basic plot for this character in this location.