Narrative Techniques on Fleek I
What does the black box symbolize in "The Lottery?"
the power of tradition over people's logical thinking
A Midsummer Night's Dream follows four sometimes-intersecting stories of four different groups of characters. What narrative technique BEST describes this feature?
multiple plot lines
What are the "hero" and "villain" formally called in a work of fiction?
hero=protagonist; villain=antagonist
Jack says “Who’s going to join my tribe?... Who will join my tribe?... Who’ll join my tribe and have fun?... Who’ll join my tribe?” (Golding 150-1) - some iteration of the same phrase - several times throughout part of a scene. What type of "small moment" is exemplified in this dialogue that helps reveal Jack's character?
"Something in the story feels repeated"
What are two of three elements that reveal the perspectives of major characters?
desires/obstacles/shaping past experiences
Revealing actions is an example of a narrative technique. Describe William's revealing actions in "All Summer in a Day." Be as specific as possible!
William bullies Margot out of jealousy and resentment. He pushes her and, with the other students, eventually shoves her into a closet.
Ms. E's National Book Award-winning novel opens with a scene describing one of character Lexi's most formative past experiences before shifting back to the more recent timeline of the story. What is this narrative technique called?
flashback
What can be considered a subgenre of science fiction?
dystopian fiction
“He [Ralph] discovered with a little fall of the heart that these were the conditions he took as normal now and that he did not mind” (Golding 110). What are the 2 most fitting types of "small moments" in this quote that reveal Ralph's character?
"character faces difficulty" & "character seems to change"
How do we know that Lord of the Flies minor character Simon is an extra-perceptive visionary? Name at least two distinct elements.
dialogue/actions/behaviors
Give a correct example of metaphor.
(teacher's discretion)
the attitude or emotional perspective an author assumes in their writing toward a subject
tone
Name two predominant elements of sci-fi.
advanced tech/time and space/possibility of event happening/effect on humans
“Kill the pig! Cut his throat! Kill the pig! Bash him in!” (Golding 114). Besides repetition, what type of "small moment" is most aptly exemplified in this quote that serves to reveal Jack's character?
"characters use strong, loaded language"
Describe Jack's desires.
He desires dominating power and control of the group. He wants his way only. He thinks hunting for meat is the best survival strategy.
In Ms. E's Nobel Award-winning novel, the narrator alternates from chapter to chapter. For example, Chapter 5 is told from the author's perspective, while Chapter 6 is told from Lexi's perspective. What narrative technique is Ms. E using here?
multiple points of view
A first-person narrator speaks using what pronoun?
"I/me/my"
Name the four types of conflict typical to sci-fi. Man vs...
self, man, society, technology
You read in Ms. E's NYT-Bestselling novel that the protagonist Lexi, who is normally super-shy and avoids confrontation, stands up for herself to a mean girl. You are moved to tears by this pivotal scene. What two "small moments" best capture this situation?
"characters act in surprising ways" / "your emotions as a reader change"
Describe Ralph's desires.
He wants the group to be rescued and returned to society/order and civilization.
In Midsummer, readers know that Bottom's head has been transformed into that of a donkey... but he doesn't. What narrative technique captures this situation?
dramatic irony (reader knows more than the character)
In Ms. E's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, Lexi has a nightmare of a piano falling from the sky directly above her. In the next chapter, Lexi freezes as she is about to perform in her piano recital. What device best captures the nightmare in this context?
foreshadowing
Name one of our studied themes of science fiction. Remember that a theme is a core lesson.
self-knowledge/individual versus society/unexplained phenomena/humans and technology/people in time or space
Why is it important to look at characters' "small moments"?
The smallest moments in literature are often the ones in which character is truly revealed. It is important to look past big dramatic events and focus on smaller moments because they lead us to deeper understandings of characters.
Authors control readers' sympathy for characters by giving or restraining access to their ____.
inner thinking