ENGLISH 220:STUDIES IN THE

NOVEL AND SHORT FICTION

Professor Adia Edwards, M.A.

COURSE OBJECTIVESIn this course, we have two major goals:1. To identify and analyze the literary

characteristics from a cross-cultural sample of American short stories and novels: presentation of setting, conflict, characterization, dialogue, theme, figurative language, and symbol.

2. To demonstrate literary judgment by applying the techniques of analyses, criticism, and evaluation in critical essays.

WEEK 1Introduct

ion to

Fiction

WHY DO WE READ & TELL STORIES?In the book, Zenzele: A Letter to my Daughter

Zimbabwean writer N. Nozipo Maire writes,

“What is a life after all but a story- some truth and some fiction. In the end there are words- they are the

very manifestations of our immortality.”

WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?Basically, we ALL have a story to tell and

even when we die, our stories will live on through words (written and oral). Examples include:

Our obituaries Stories our families tell about us Journals/Diaries Gossip that is passed in communities

WORDS OUTLIVE US!

WHAT IS PURPOSE OF FICTION?People have been telling stories orally

since the beginning of time to teach, to entertain and even to explain events.

Then people began to draw pictures along with their stories & they saved these writings to share with later generations.

FICTION Now people all over the world create

and share stories with one another. Fiction allows us to use our

imaginations. When we read fiction, we are reading

stories that are created (fake characters, imaginary places, etc.)

Sometimes they are based on the truth but the author may add untrue elements.

IN THIS CLASS: We will look at stories across different

cultures. We will read about 7 short stories & one

novel by the critically-acclaimed African-American writer Toni Morrison.

We will try to make connections between the stories we read- the characters, settings, etc. and learn from them.

READING FICTION We are going to read for meaning, to

understand the characters and their lives.

Please take lots of notes when you read. Read each story twice to really get the

meaning. We will look critically at each story. We will examine certain literary

elements in each story.

LITERARY ELEMENTS OVERVIEW In this class, we will examine these

literary characteristics or parts that make up a story:

Setting Conflict Characterization Plot Theme Figurative language Symbolism

SETTINGSETTINGDetails that

describe:FurnitureSceneryCustomsTransportationClothingDialectsWeatherTime of dayTime of year

Time and place are where the action occurs

ELEMENTS OF A SETTING

Setting

Place

Atmosphere

Time

History

EraLife

Mood

Weather

Feelings

WordChoice

Location

Physical

Day

Use as activator to activate prior knowledge. Write the web on the board or overhead and students create one at their seats. Then as class share and fill in.

THE FUNCTIONS OF A SETTING To create a mood

or atmosphere To show a reader a

different way of life To make action

seem more real To be the source of

conflict or struggle To symbolize an

idea

We left the home place behind, mile by slow mile, heading for the mountains, across the prairie where the wind blew forever. At first there were four of us with one horse wagon and its skimpy load. Pa and I walked, because I was a big boy of eleven. My two little sisters romped and trotted until they got tired and had to be boosted up to the wagon bed.

That was no covered Conestoga, like Pa’s folks came West in, but just an old farm wagon, drawn by one weary horse, creaking and rumbling westward to the mountains, toward the little woods town where Pa thought he had an old uncle who owned a little two-bit sawmill.

Taken from “The Day the Sun Came Out” by D. Johnson

TYPES OF CHARACTERS

People or animalsMajor charactersMinor charactersRound charactersFlat characters

CHARACTERIZATION

A writer reveals what a character is like and how the character changes throughout the story.

Two primary methods of characterization:Direct- writer tells what the character is likeIndirect- writer shows what a character is like

by describing what the character looks like, by telling what the character says and does, and by what other characters say about and do in response to the character.

ELEMENTS OF CHARACTER

Character

Main

Flat

Minor

Not Fully Developed

FriendsRelativesFully

Developed

Protagonist

AntagonistCo-Main

Enemy

FACTORS IN ANALYZING CHARACTERS

Physical appearance of character Personality Background/personal history Motivation Relationships Conflict Does character change?

PLOTPlot is what happens and how it happens in a narrative. A narrative is any work that tells a story, such as a short story, a novel, a drama, or a narrative poem.

DIAGRAM OF PLOT

Inciting incident/Opening situation

Introduction

Dev

elop

men

t/

Ris

ing

Actio

n

Climax

Resolution

Denouement

SPECIAL TECHNIQUES OF PLOT Suspense- excitement or tension Foreshadowing- hint or clue about what

will happen in story Flashback- interrupts the normal

sequence of events to tell about something that happened in the past

Surprise Ending- conclusion that reader does not expect

CONFLICT

Conflict is a struggle between opposing forces Every plot must contain some kind of conflict Stories can have more than one conflict Conflicts can be external or internal

External conflict- outside force may be person, group, animal, nature, or a nonhuman obstacle

Internal conflict- takes place in a character’s mind

GREAT STORIES HAVE A CONFLICT

Man vs. Man

Man vs. Nature Man vs. Society Man vs. HimselfMan vs. Machine

THEMEA central message, concern, or insight into life expressed through a literary work

Can be expressed by one or two sentence statement about human beings or about life

May be stated directly or impliedInterpretation uncovers the theme

EXAMPLE OF THEME

“Every man needs to feel allegiance to his native country, whether he always appreciates that country or not.”

From “A Man Without a Country” by Edward Hale pg. 185 in Prentice Hall Literature book

FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE Figurative Language is language that

does not mean exactly what it says. For example, you can call someone that

is very angry, “steaming.” Unless steam was actually coming out of

your ears, you were using figurative language.

Involves imaginative words that use the senses.

SYMBOLISM The use of one thing to represent

another. For example, a dove is a symbol for

peace.

READING RESPONSE PAPER This week you will read the short story,

“The Tell-Tale Heart.” In addition, you will read the first section

of the novel, The Bluest Eye Write a one-page typed response paper

to what you have read.

READING RESPONSE PAPER CONT… Include this information in your

response:Give a short (one paragraph) summary of

what you read for both or one of the selections

How did you like the character(s)?Where did the story take place?What did you like or dislike about what you

read?

READING RESPONSE PAPER CONT… You can earn up to 15 points each week

for your reading response paper. You will be graded on completeness and

the quality of your thought (not grammar).

Take a moment to proofread your response.

READING RESPONSE PAPER CONT… Each response should be double-spaced,

Times New Roman 12 font. E-mail your instructor your reading

response via an attachment each week by Friday at midnight.

Two points are automatically deducted per day for responses handed in AFTER Friday.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS CONT….

You can earn 15 Points each week for engaging in dialogue on the Discussion Board.

Give your insights and thoughts, be honest while being respectful of your classmates.

Do not simply repeat or “copy” what one of your classmates wrote.

You can post on the discussion forum from Tuesday evening until Sunday evening each week.

IF YOU HAVE ANY ?S REGARDING WEEK 1 ASSIGNMENTS, EMAIL OR CALL ME AND I WILL GET BACK TO

YOU. GOOD LUCK!

Enjoy reading “The Tell-Tale Heart” and

“The Bluest Eye”