Knowledge About LanguageKAL

Looking Critically at Short Stories

Six Important Areas of Inspection…

• Setting• Plot • Character• Conflict• Narrative perspective• Themes (big ideas)

Setting

•Where – geographical location

•When – date, time of day/ year

•Weather – season, weather conditions

Appropriate Settings

• My story is set on a spaceship in the Alpha Quadrant. Its setting in time is the year 2785 AD. The spaceship has a massive cargo hold which contains thousands of aliens that have been cryogenically frozen to transport back to zoos on Earth, where they will be reanimated. The crew of the ship spend most of their time in the canteen, as well as the leisure room which has various Virtual Reality experiences on offer.

Now You Try…

• Think of a setting for the following genres of story:

GHOST WAR HORROR

• For each setting, write a short paragraph describing it in more detail, like in the example.

Paired Discussion Task

• Think about the very popular books, films and TV programmes listed on the next slide.

• Try to agree with your partner on three that you both REALLY like.

• Discuss where and when they are set.

• DOCTOR WHO EASTENDERS

• TITANIC THE ALEX RYDER NOVELS

• FINDING NEMO HARRY POTTER

• LORD OF THE RINGS STAR WARS

• LOST NEIGHBOURS

• FRIENDS CARS

• CASUALTY KING KONG

• THE BILL BRAVEHEART

Now…in your pairs…

Think about the three texts that you have selected from the list.

Is the setting in time or place important in making each one successful?

Think about how setting adds to the impact of all three.

Plot (Storyline)

• Turning Point

• Climax

• Denouement

• Twist

Turning PointThis phrase is used to describe the point in the story where there is a definite change in direction. An example might be that we begin to feel sorry for a character that we disliked before or vice versa! It might also be where the atmosphere changes and becomes more tense or even more relaxed.

Turning Point Task

• Think about your favourite film or novel again.

• Try to identify one or two clear turning points.

• For each turning point explain what is different after the turning point compared to before…

Climax!

This word is used to describe the most exciting, tense or dramatic point in the plot.

It is often, but not always, at or near the end of a short story.

DenouementThis comes from the French word for “unknotting”.

The word denouement is used to describe the point (often but not always near the end) where events come to a head and the complications in the plot are resolved... A misunderstanding could be cleared up, a character might face the consequences of a mistake or learn something important.

DENOUEMENT TASK

• Think about Harry Potter & The Philosopher’s Stone (book or film version).

• What do you think the denouement is in that particular story?

• Now, choose your favourite book or film. What do you think the denouement is in that particular text?

Twist

This word is used to describe a point in the plot where something unexpected happens that surprises us.

Example: In “Star Wars”, when Luke Skywalker finds out that Darth Vader is his father.

Can you think of a plot twist in a book or film that you like? Explain it to your teacher…

CHARACTER

You probably know that a character is a person in a work of fiction.

However, there are other words that are useful to know to help you when you are writing about character. Pay attention to the slides that follow… Write the words down as they come up.

Protagonist

The central character in a story who is involved in a conflict of some sort.

This character drives the plot and is typically changed the most based on what he or she encounters.

We usually sympathise with this character as the plot develops.

Antagonist

This is a character who is in opposition to the protagonist.

Usually, we are opposed to this character and want him/her to come off worse in the conflict with the protagonist.

First Impressions

The way that we feel about a character after he or she has been introduced to us is called our first impressions of the character.

Characterisation

This is the name given to the way that an author develops a character.

This is done through describing the appearance, speech and actions of a character as well as through what other characters say about him or her during the course of the story.

Dialogue

This is the word used to describe what characters say during the story.

Character ExercisesIdentify the protagonist and antagonist in the following texts:

HARRY POTTER

TANGLED

ALADDIN

TITANIC

ConflictConflict

• InternalInternal

• ExternalExternal

External ConflictExternal Conflict is when a character is in conflict with other characters, forces of nature, animals or organisations.

Internal ConflictInternal Conflict is when a character struggles with him or herself, e.g. to make a decision about right or wrong, whether to trust someone, what should be done about something, etc.

Often an internal conflict is like opposing voices inside a character making him or her want to do different things.

Conflict ExampleConflict Example

A schoolboy is in conflict A schoolboy is in conflict with a bully at school, so he with a bully at school, so he runs away from home and runs away from home and ends up in danger.ends up in danger.

In this example, the conflict drives the plot of the story – what do you think that means?

Narration and Point of View

• Point of View is the angle we see events in a story from.

• Narration is the way that an author chooses to tell a story.

First Person Narrative

• First Person Narrative is when the story is told by the protagonist or one of the other characters in his or her own words.

• The words “I” and “we” are used by the narrator.

• This means we only see and hear what the character narrating the story does. It also means that we can only see the thoughts of the narrator and not the other characters being described.

Third Person Narrative• Third Person Narrative is when the story is told by the author as if

someone not involved is watching the events unfold.• The words “he”, “she” and “they” are used by the author.

• Omniscient means all knowing and is a word that is used to describe having God-like powers to know everything.

• An omniscient narrator tells the story in third person and is able to see inside the heads of all the characters and tell us what is going on in lots of different locations at the same time.

• Sometimes a story can be narrated in third person but the author deliberately restricts us to the point of view of just one character.

• This is called limited perspective.

Paired TaskJot down as much as possible about how the following opening is narrated

Passage 1: From “For Ever” by Paul JenningsEvery kid in the class was laughing at Richard.Well everyone except Tim. He felt more like crying. After all, Richard was his brother.Even Ms. Fish, the teacher, had to bite her tongue to stop herself chuckling. She stared out of the window, watching Richard leap around in the playground. “Tim,” she said.Tim sighed. Then he picked up his crutches and swung his way to the door. Another gale of laughter rocked the room as he left. Richard was at it again. Toilet paper. Why was Richard so mad about toilet paper? Why couldn’t it be newspaper? Or paper bags? Why did it have to be toilet paper? Today it was worse than usual.In the past Richard had wrapped up letter-boxes and sticks and garden spades. But today took the cake. Richard had wrapped himself. He looked like a mummy risen from the dead. Bound head to foot in toilet paper. Loose bits flapped in the breeze as he danced around the playground.

Paired TaskJot down as much as possible about how the following opening is narrated

Passage 2: “A Mouthful” by Paul JenningsParents are embarrassing. Take my Dad. Every time a friend comes to stay the night he does something that makes my face go red. Now don’t get me wrong. He is a terrific dad. I love him but sometimes I think he will never grow up.He loves playing practical jokes. This behaviour first starts the night Anna first comes to sleep over. Unknown to me, Dad sneaks into the room and puts Doona, our cat, on the spare bed. Doona loves sleeping on beds. What cat doesn’t?Next Dad unwraps a little package that he has bought at the magic shop. Do you know what is in it? Can you believe this? It is a little piece of brown plastic cat poo. Pretend cat poo. Anyway, he puts this piece of cat poo on Anna’s pillow and pulls up the blankets. Then he tip-toes out and closes the door.

Theme

A theme in a story is an important idea running through it. It is like the story’s engine.

being a good friendbullying

the dangers of taking drugsthe cruelty of war

greed

Identifying Themes

• The next slide has a The next slide has a plot plot summarysummary of a story called of a story called The DancerThe Dancer (write this heading down in your jotter now).

• Look at the plot, then identify the central themes in the story.

• If you get time try to identify a conflict in as well, just for the banter…

Tanya wants to be a professional dancer. Her parents feel that it is an unrealistic ambition. They try to talk her into leaving school at the age of 16 to work in the family business. Tanya refuses to give up. She applies to a dance school and is accepted. Her father is furious. He cuts off all contact with her and refuses to give her financial help. Tanya takes on part-time jobs while at dance school. Tanya manages to complete her training despite the hardships. She gets a job with a prestigious ballet company. On the opening night of her first major performance, she is nervous but it is a triumph. Unknown to Tanya, her parents are in the audience. They approach her after the show, as she leaves the theatre. Her father admits he was wrong and asks her to forgive him. She does…