Elements of a NarrativeAmerican Literature, Fall 2013

Characterization Who are the characters? How do we get to know each character?

Dialogue: when characters speak Inner monologue (3rd person omniscient)

Consistency throughout Actions and thoughts should remain consistent to the character

Static or dynamic Does the main character (or secondary characters) change or stay the same?

Primary characters: The main characters in the story Secondary characters: Everyone else

Point of View 1st person

I, me, us, we Told from one person’s perspective – how does

that alter a story? 3rd person

They, them, he, she Told from an objective narrator – how does that

alter a story? Which is more effective? What’s the

difference?

Sensory Details

Imagery Convey a vivid picture of

experiences, events, setting, and/or charactersTaste, smell, sight, sound, touchUse precise words, not a lot of

wordsShow, don’t tell!

Conflict Issue/problem

The story should revolve around the central conflict

Internal – happens within a characterExternal - occurs outside of the character

Was something learned as a result?Did the narrator or main character change?

Did the secondary characters change?What was the outcome?

Tone How the speaker or narrator feels

about or towards the subject; the attitude of the speaker or narrator Not to be confused with the tone of the author

– author and narrator are NOT the same thing Examples of tone: formal, informal, solemn,

serious, playful, sarcastic, ironic, guilty, cheerful, gloomy, pessimistic, optimistic, witty, suspicious, angry, pompous

Created through word choice, imagery, including or omitting details, etc.

There can be more than one tone in a piece (for example, it can be both humorous and sarcastic)

Mood The atmosphere created by the

writing or author’s words; the feeling that the reader gets from reading the words

The overall feeling of the work Created through imagery, dialogue, setting, plot Examples of mood: frightening, gloomy,

mysterious, joyful, melancholy, sorrowful, sentimental, frustrating, suspenseful

Mood is usually established at the beginning and carried on throughout the work

ThemeLesson learned; message of the

storyAvoid clichés, ie. “Don’t judge a

book by its cover” or “Walk a mile in another person’s shoes”

Satisfying conclusion Was there a resolution or did it just

stop?There is a difference between ending a

story and giving it a resolution

Literary/Narrative Techniques

Dialogue – when characters speak to each otherlets the characters tell the story

Description – utilizing sensory detailscreates word pictures in the reader’s mind

Repetition – repeating important lines or words throughout the storyemphasis

Literary/Narrative Techniques Pacing – the speed at which your story is told

not too slow, not too fast, but just right Reflection – thinking and relating to and

about one’s own experiencesdoes it cause the reader to reflect on their

experiences? Plot

Exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, resolution; setting

Choices! Choose the prompt that you feel will lend itself to your best narrative writing. Choose an artifact that is meaningful to you.

Write a multi-paragraph essay describing the artifact, its value, and how it has shaped you as a person. Be creative! For example, think about your favorite toy as a child – what does it say about you? How did it shape you? Help you grow? What did it see? Go beyond the literal and think about the metaphorical.

Write about a scar, broken bone, illness, or other injury you have experienced (it could be your own or it could be someone close to you). In a multi-paragraph essay, tell the story about what happened. How did it affect you? Change you? Shape you? What did you learn about yourself (and/or others) from the experience?