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!”