What is a story? Is it something that is read? Viewed? Heard? Told?
What is your favorite story? Is it a fairy tale? Was it read to you when you were very young?
In this unit, you will learn what makes a story....a story!
You will learn about the following concepts and terms:
- symbolism
- flashback
- dialect
- point of view
- foreshadowing
- slang
Lesson One
Have you ever been so engrossed in a book that you just couldn't put it down? Or, maybe it was a short story and you just couldn't wait to see how it ended. An author elicits this feeling from his/her readers by creating tension. This is done very carefully, by building the plot one step at a time.
Step 1
The Introduction
In this part of the story, the reader is made familiar with the setting and the characters. Sometimes it is also called the exposition of a story.
The stars twinkled in the black sky as Sir Armando the Red Knight readied himself to slay the dragon. He could smell the green, spring-fresh and mossy, damp earth beneath his feet, and he could hear the roar of the dragon as it sang to itself in its musty cave. He would not let King Sylvester and Queen Sylvania down this time, nor the people of the village. They had been terrorized more than enough by the fire-breathing beast, and he would make sure that it didn't happen again. "Your majesties," he promised just a fortnight ago, "you have lost your last knight to this monster, the villagers have lost their last fair maiden, and you will once again rule the Kingdom of Blackthorn without any more peril to your people."
What is the setting in this story? What can you tell about the character?
Step 2
The Conflict
It is at this point that the reader becomes aware that there is some sort of problem or issue that drives the character. There are many kinds of conflict--some are internal and some are external.
What do you think that might mean? What might be an internal conflict? What might be an external conflict?
There are four main types of conflict...
Man versus Man
Man versus Nature
Man versus Society
Man versus Himself
What sort of conflict is represented in each of the following situations? Refer to the four choices above.
Four friends go on a camping trip for a wonderful weekend in the woods. When they arrive, they set up their tents and head for the river. While on
their floating excursion, a thunderstorm occurs, and the four are soaked. They return to camp to see that their tents have blown over. Still, they try again, and set up their tents once more. One person goes to gather wood, only to find that everything is too wet to burn. One person goes to catch a fish or two for dinner, but comes back empty-handed. They all decide to hike down the road to the nearest cafe. However, they see that the road is flooded from the storm, so they turn back. They get in their car and head for home--the big city.
It's the game of the year: the championship basketball game between Hilldale High and Valleyview High. The score is tied, and the coaches, as well as every player, are sweating buckets of nervous perspiration. It's the last shot before the buzzer sounds. Hilldale scores! The winners bound onto the court, the cheerleaders go beserk, and the crowd rushes from the stands to congratulate their hometown heroes.
Hector has been asked to join a gang. It's not a good gang, and Hector knows it. He's been in trouble before, and he knows if he makes any more wrong choices, that's it for him. Juvenile detention is just around the corner. He wants to be with the guys, be cool. It's who he's always been before, and he knows that's what everyone expects from him. Yet, he realizes that life is short. He gets one shot, and only one shot to make his family proud. His little brother Luis looks up to him, and ever since his cousin Danny died in a drive-by, he's the oldest "kid" in the family. Still, this is a rough place, and people have to do what they have to do...just to get by. It's a tough decision, but Hector is bound and determined to make the right one. Whatever that is....
Millionaire Marvin McGee. That's what everyone calls him now. Now that he's a lottery winner. He's happy to tool around in his Lamborghini, wearing his Armani suits and his diamond-faced Rolex watch. He dines at only the finest restaurants, always ordering the most expensive item on the menu, and he always picks up the tab of the tables to his right and left. He is everyone's favorite millionaire, and a friend to all. He gives to charities weekly, and spends every Sunday at a shelter for the homeless.
It's not uncommon to find Marvin mentioned in the newspapers and magazines, either. He finds this quite enjoyable and entertaining, until one day they, the journalists and newsmen, found out about his awful past. Millionaire Marvin used to be Meany Marvin--the meanest, crabbiest, nastiest neighbor around. He didn't give out candy at Halloween, he never, ever gave to charity, and he even used to trip old ladies (instead of helping them across the street). All this became public, thanks to the newspapers and magazines. Story after story hit the headlines, and soon enough--wouldn't you know--Millionaire Marvin McGee wasn't welcome anywhere anymore. Everyone in town knew about poor, rich Marvin. It was sad, the way things turned out, but hey, he had it coming....
Assignment: Read "The Moustache" by Robert Cormier.
Things to consider: Who do you know that is elderly? What are they like?
Things to know before you read: Ethel Barrymore, Chesterfield coats, fatigue jackets
Vocabulary: complex, antiseptic, lapse, lucid, conspiriatorial, merge, pretense, pathetic, serene, tentatively
Visit Dictionary.com to help you understand the vocabulary.
After The Reading: Assignment
Step 3
The Rising Action
Rising action builds on the story's problem, or conflict. It's where there are complications which arise, making it more suspenseful and challenging for the characters.
Let's talk about The Wizard of Oz
What is the setting? Who are the characters? What happens to them along their journey?
step 4
The Climax
This is the most exciting part of the story. By definition, it is the last time the antagonist and the protagonist come face to face and have it out. It is where the challenge comes to a head and goes POW! What is the climax in the Wizard of Oz? Click HERE to see a big clue.
Step 5
Falling Action
This is the part of the story where things are winding down. The problem is basically on it's way to being a non-issue, and everyone will go on about his or her way. The story is about to wrap up.
What scenes in the Wizard of Oz could be considered part of the falling action?
Step 6
The Resolution
The resolution, also called the denoument, is the point in the story where the conflict is completely solved. Quite often, there is very little falling action which leads to the resolution, and the story ends actually only a few moments after this point.
In The Wizard of Oz, the resolution is where Dorothy....
a. ends up in Munchkinland b. wakes up and realizes that she never really needed to go far to find her dreams
c. gets the ruby slippers d. makes it to Oz.
What do you think?
Lesson Two--symbolism and irony
When you see a heart, what does it make you think of? When you see a star, does it remind you of anything? How about a big, red octogon?
What these things have in common is that they symbolize something other than what they immediately represent. You probably thought, "Hmmm....red octogon....that means 'stop sign' in most places." Can you think of an object (either animate or inanimate) that represents you?
Authors often use symbols to convey meanings to the reader, as well. Very often these symbols are not "in-you-face" elements in the story, but are instead carefully placed and used to allow the reader to create his/her own interpretations or to figure out the meaning on his/her own.
Think about Robert Cormier's 
"The Moustache." Consider the following:
- In the main character's eyes, what symbolizes maturity and/or manhood?
- How do his decisions affect him and other characters in the story?
- How does the character get more than he bargained for?
- Have you ever been in a similar situation?
- What do you consider to be a symbol of maturity?
Another story which uses symbolism creatively is a famous tale by Guy de Maupassant called
"The Necklace."
How is the main character portrayed?
What does the necklace symbolize?
Irony, another important element of fiction, plays a large part in this story. Irony is an unexpected turn of events, usually occurring at the end or the most crucial part of the story.
What is the ironic turn in "The Necklace"?
Read "The Gift of the Magi." This famous story by O. Henry also uses a good deal of both symbolism and imagery.
After reading both, create a graphic organizer comparing and contrasting the two works.
Lesson Three
At this point we've learned that stories have plots with elements that usually follow a certain order. It's not all that simple, though. Authors do a lot to "spin their yarn" and get us involved in their work.
This lesson focuses on an element of fiction called foreshadowing.
Click HERE to read the definition and to hear the word.
Authors use foreshadowing to develop their plot and to build suspense and intrigue. It's the foreshadowing, and the sleuthing we do, as readers, which keeps us involved and interested in the story.
Ray Bradbury, a reknowned science fiction author, uses this technique in his futuristic story about the biggest and scariest safari of all time. In "A Sound of Thunder" the characters take on the biggest game hunt of all time.
As you read, take short breaks to make predictions about what might happen next in the plot.
After you finish reading the story, complete this foreshadowing chart. I think you'll see just how accurate your own "crystal ball" can be!
One very famous short story, "The Landlady," takes place in Bath, England. It's a very beautiful, old-world city which is now considered a World Heritage Site. In other words, when improvements to the city need to be made, they are executed with the utmost care so that the history and culture of the environment are preserved. All architecture must be completed within certain guidelines, as the buildings are very old. From the floors, to the doors, to the windows, everything must be historically accurate.
The next story takes place in England, at a World Heritage site. Here's your link to learn more about World Heritage Sites.
Click on the flags to take a couple small tour of Bath, England! 
Read Roald Dahl's "The Landlady" 
HERE.
OR....
You may listen to it here: "The Landlady
Take a break between each part and make a prediction about what comes next in the story. Use this
prediction chart to keep track. Then, follow up the activity by filling out a secondForeshadowing Chart.
Lesson Four
Believe it or not, you have an accent! Yes, you. Everyone does, and it is dependent upon where you live. People in all parts of the world speak differently, and it is really quite interesting. LIsten to the man who reads "The Landlady." Where do you think he is from? If you guessed somewhere in England, you're probably right.
Notice, too, that some of the words in the story are spelled differently. We spell realize with a "z" while the accepted spelling in the United Kingdom is with an "s."
Not to confuse the matter any, but let's add on another layer to this discussion of language. The words we use, as well as HOW we spell and actually SAY them is called dialect. What do you fry an egg in? Do you use a frying pan or a skillet? When you wash the floor, do you put the wet mop into a pail or a bucket? And when you're greeting your friends, do you say, "Hi y'all," "'Sup," or just plain, "Hello there"?
Even further, do you drop the end of -ing words to just an -in sound? Like I've been sayin' dialect is a fairly in-depth concept.
Authors like to bring their characters alive for you by sometimes using dialect. In the story "The Banana Tree," you will not only hear a very Carribean accent, but you will see how the author creatively spells the words in the dialogue so that you can hear in your mind how a person from that part of the world speaks.
About the Author
Hurricane Information 1
Hurricane Information 2
Watch some film clips about hurricanes (Discovery United Streaming):
Now, you're ready to read and/or listen to "The Banana Tree" by James Berry.
Complete the accompanying written assignments:
1."Understanding Dialect"
2."Analyzing Setting"
3."Spelling Connections"
Lesson Five--Characterization
Who is your favorite story character? What makes them come to life, or real, for you?
Characterization is the term used to describe the methods an author uses to make a character real.
Authors do this in several ways. The author will give his/her characters
physical description
speech
thoughts
actions
other characters' reactions
Think about the Wicked Witch of the West. What does she look like? What does she say and how does she say it? Are we allowed to know what or how she thinks? What does she do (her actions)? How do other characters react to her?
With all this in mind, how do YOU feel about the Wicked Witch of the West? Was the author, Frank Baum, successful in creating his character.
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