Vocabulary
This is the process through which an author creates, develops, and reveals a character.
The sequence of events that make up a story is called the________.
Plot
What is the motivation behind Roger's actions at the beginning of the story when he tries to steal Mrs. Jones's purse?
To get money to buy a pair of blue suede shoes
This literary device provides hints to later happenings in a story.
Foreshadowing
The time, place, and date in history that a text takes place is called this.
The setting
The exact words that characters say to each other in a story is called this.
Dialogue
This is the part of the story where the conflict is solved and the story comes to an end.
The Resolution
In "Thank You, M'am," what does Mrs. Jones's dialogue about her own past reveal about her character?
Her dialogue reveals that she was once in a similar situation as Roger, which makes her more empathetic and less judgmental.
A jump in a narrative that interrupts the chronological action by returning to a moment in the past is called this.
Flashback
The important actions or happenings in a story are known as what?
This term refers to the speed of the text, often described as fast or slow.
Pacing
This term refers to the speed of the story, which can be fast or slow, and linear or curvy.
Pacing
When Roger finally has a chance to escape from Mrs. Jones, he hesitates. Why is this a key event in the story?
It shows a change in Roger's motivation, as he begins to trust her and feel respected
In a story about a character moving to a new city, the author includes a flashback to a happy childhood memory. How does this flashback affect the reader's understanding of the character?
The flashback reveals the character's past, which can help explain their feelings or motivations in the present.
How the setting of a story can be a source of conflict for a character.
The setting can create a conflict by presenting obstacles or challenges, such as a harsh environment (man vs. nature), a dangerous city (man vs. society), or a lonely location (man vs. self).
This is the reason a character thinks, feels, or acts a certain way
Character Motivation
An author writing a short, choppy sentence in the middle of a chase scene is using this narrative technique to affect the reader's experience. What is the author doing?
What is changing the pacing to create tension?
Analyze how the author uses the setting of Mrs. Jones's apartment to develop the plot and reveal a change in Roger's character.
The sense of safety and trust in the apartment allows him to begin to change.
An author writes, "The old, creaking staircase seemed to moan a warning to the hero." What is the author doing to hint at a future event?
Using foreshadowing
How can an author use dialogue to show a conflict between two characters?
By having the characters argue, disagree, or say things that show their different opinions or motivations.
An author uses a flashback to show a character's memory of a past event. How does this narrative device help reveal the character's motivation in the present?
It shows a past event that is the reason or motivation for why the character acts a certain way now.
The resolution of "Thank You, M'am" shows that the main conflict was not about Roger stealing a purse. What is the real conflict that gets resolved at the end of the story?
The internal conflict of Roger's character vs. himself, as he decides whether to stay and accept Mrs. Jones's help or run away and continue his life of crime?
Analyze how the author uses description and character motivation to develop Mrs. Jones's character.
He uses her physical description ("large woman," "a big purse") to show she is a powerful force, and her motivation for helping Roger to show she is compassionate and forgiving
How can an author use description to affect the pacing of a story?
By using long, detailed descriptions to slow the story down and build suspense, or by using short, quick descriptions to speed it up?
Analyze how the exposition of a story can be used to foreshadow the central conflict and influence the resolution.
The exposition can introduce a character's flaw, a dangerous setting, or a mysterious object that serves as a hint (foreshadowing) for the main struggle (conflict), and the resolution then shows how that initial element is resolved.