Writing About Literature: Plot and Point of View

1. Chapter 18 Writing About Literature :

2. Student Will be Able To: • Identify the elements needed for a writing assignment on literature. • Critically analyze each element: • Plot • Point of View • Character • Settings • Symbols • Irony • Theme • Apply and improve passed writing techniques: Focusing, gathering information, writing, revising, and editing.

3. Plot Plot factors. Plot is the series of events that moves narrative along. The conventional plot introduces characters and sets the stage for what happens These actions gradually build up to the climax (the point of highest dramatic tension)

4. Plot Plot factors. To organize the plots writers use various techniques: • The writer may hint out the story creating interest. • Or he may introduce you in a trickery so that you enjoy being in on it. • A flashback sequence were the flow of events is interrupted in order to reveal facts before the events making the plot thicker thus, more interesting

5. Plot Plot factors. Modern stories lack distinct plot divisions They focus on psychological conflicts.

6. Plot Plot factors. Writers may abandon traditional plot structure by presenting disorganized sequence that helps accomplish a literacy purpose.

7. Plot Writing About Plot. Don’t repeat what happens in the story. Instead, help your reader understand the story and how the plot functions. Note to your reader if it builds suspense, confusion. Explain how it helps reveal a theme.

8. Plot Writing About Plot. 1. What are the key elements of the story? Do they unfold in conventional fashion or deviate from it in the some way? Before writing, answer the following questions:

9. Plot Writing About Plot. Before writing, answer the following questions: 2. Does the writer use foreshadowing or flashbacks? If so, for what purpose?

10. Plot Writing About Plot. Before writing, answer the following questions: 3. Is the plot believable and effective, or does it display weakness of some sort?

11. Plot Writing About Plot. Before writing, answer the following questions: 4. Does it include any unique features?

12. Plot Writing About Plot. Before writing, answer the following questions: 5. Is it similar to the plot of another story or some type of story?

13. Plot Writing About Plot. Before writing, answer the following questions: 6. What plot feature could I write about? What examples from the story would support my contentions.

14. Point of View Point of View Factors. The point of view is a vintage point from which the writer views its events. First-person Third-person

15. Point of View Point of View Factors. First Person. The narrator takes part in the action. He may not reveal the unspoken thoughts of others.

16. Point of View Point of View Factors. Third Person The narrator stays completely out of the story and is never mentioned in any way. Limited omniscience Full omniscience

17. Point of View Point of View Factors. Third-person A new type in contemporary fiction. Moves as if recording the the characters’ action without revealing any thoughts

18. Point of View Writing About Point of View. The writer chooses to use different point of view to show characters’ thoughts. By choosing the right vintage point the writer will have increased the emotional impact of the climax. Cause-and-Effect format

19. Point of View Writing About Point of View. Before writing, answer the fallowing questions: 1. What characters offer the potential for a paper?

20. Point of View Writing About Point of View. Before writing, answer the fallowing questions: 2. What are their most important features, and where in the story are these features revealed?

21. Point of View Writing About Point of View. Before writing, answer the fallowing questions: 3. Do the characters undergo and changes? If so, how and why do the changes occur?

22. Point of View Writing About Point of View. Before writing, answer the fallowing questions: 4. Are the characters believable, true to life? If not, why?

23. Point of View Writing About Point of View. Before writing, answer the fallowing questions: 5. What focus would produce an effective paper?

24. Point of View Writing About Point of View. Before writing, answer the fallowing questions: 6. What textual evidence could support the discussion?

25. Character Character Factors. There are different types of character: Centers of physical and mental action. Created to give humor. Act as narrators. To give out information. As foils. As symbols. Or to populate landscape.

26. Character Character Factors. The writer may present the characters’ in several ways: Directly. Stupid, self-serving, stiff. Indirectly. By saying how they look and act.

27. Character Character Factors. Some characters remain static; others change as the story unfolds. They may change from one to the other as the story continues.

28. Character Writing About Character. Usually it is important to write about the main character, but you might choose the adversary or some minor character. Most main characters change, seldom less ones do.

29. Character Writing About Character. Think about the characters credibility. Is the character true to life. Stereotypes don’t square with real life people, who are a mixture of many traits.

30. Character Writing About Character. 1. What characters offer the potential for a paper? Before writing, answer the following questions:

31. Character Writing About Character. Before writing, answer the following questions: 2. What are their most important features, and where in the story are these features revealed?

32. Character Writing About Character. Before writing, answer the following questions: 3. Do the characters undergo many changes? If so, How and why do the changes occur?

33. Character Writing About Character. Before writing, answer the following questions: 4. Are the characters believable, true to life? If not, why?

34. Character Writing About Character. Before writing, answer the following questions: 5. What focus would produce an effective paper?

35. Character Writing About Character. Before writing, answer the following questions: 6. What textual evidence could support the discussion?

36. Symbols Symbol Factor. Used to strengthen and deepen messages. Persons, objects, places, colors or actions give a significance beyond their surface meaning. Symbols may be very obvious and sometimes misleading. Private Conventional

37. Symbols Symbol Factor. Private. A Private symbol has special significance within the literary work but not outside it.

38. Symbols Symbol Factor. Conventional A Conventional symbols are deeply routed in our culture, and almost everyone knows what they represent.

39. Symbols Writing About Symbols. To locate a symbol, read the work carefully, looking for items that seem to have an extended meaning. Sometimes a symbol changes meaning during the course of the work

40. Symbols Writing About Symbols. Before writing, answer the following questions: 1. What symbols are used and where do they appear?

41. Symbols Writing About Symbols. Before writing, answer the following questions: 2. Are they private or conventional?

42. Symbols Writing About Symbols. Before writing, answer the following questions: 3. What do they appear to mean?

43. Symbols Writing About Symbols. Before writing, answer the following questions: 4. Do any of them undergo a change in meaning? If so, how and why?

44. Symbols Writing About Symbols. Before writing, answer the following questions: 5. Which symbol(s) could I discuss effectively?

45. Symbols Writing About Symbols. Before writing, answer the following questions: 6. What textual evidence would support my interpretation?

46. Irony Irony Factors. Sometimes a character says one thing and means another. Irony is also seen when a character realizes one thing the other doesn’t.

47. Irony Writing About Irony. Check the statement that says one thing and means another. Situation where only one character seems to know something and other don’t. Tell the reader what was the intention of the irony.

48. Irony Writing About Irony. Before writing, answer the following questions: 1. Where does Irony Occur?

49. Irony Writing About Irony. Before writing, answer the following questions: 2. What does it accomplish?

50. Irony Writing About Irony. Before writing, answer the following questions: 3. What could my thesis be, and how could I support it?