THE BASICS OF NARRATION, EXPOSITION, AND POETRY

LITERARY ANALYSIS

LITERARY ANALYSIS OVERVIEW

FCAT questions related to literary analysis will most often give you a portion of text, and then ask you to identify key ideas or language.

You should be familiar with narrative and expository text.

Focus your study on the structure of different texts, and literary devices used in those texts

NARRATIVE TEXT OVERVIEW

A narrative text is a made-up story that recounts the course of fiction or non-fiction events, often referred to as a “story”.

It is the most common type of reading in primary grades. Narrative text is denoted by the use of a narrator with a

unique point-of-view. The narrator can be omniscient (knowing all) or limited

(not knowing all) *First person: Story is told from the perspective of a

person directly involved in the story. Uses first-person pronouns (I, me, my, our, us)

*Second person: Story is told from the perspective of a person in the story, but does not refer to her/himself directly. Uses second-person pronouns (you, your)

*Third person: Story is told from the perspective of a person not directly involved in the story. Uses third-person pronouns (He, she, they, them)

NARRATIVE PARTS

Narrative text is comprised of several key parts *Plot: What happens in a story; the storyline *Character: The people/things acting in a story *Setting: Where and when a story takes place *Mood: The emotions elicited in the reader *Tone: Attitude of the author *Theme: Main point(s) or “lesson” of the story *Figurative Language: Creative use of words that

creates an image in the mind of the reader.

PLOT OVERVIEW

The development of plot in a story follows a fairly predictable course:

*Exposition: Beginning of the story where the plot and characters are “exposed”

*Rising Action *Climax: The turning point of the story;

everything so far has built up to this point, and everything that happens after happens because of this point

*Falling Action *Resolution: End of the story; plotlines

and characters are resolved

STRUCTURE OF PLOT

Plot takes on a fairly predictable structure in a narrative.

Another word for the building from exposition to climax is suspense

CHARACTER

Characters are the people/things who perform action in the story.

The process of developing characters is called characterization.

Characters can be round (multi-dimensional) or flat (one-dimensional); static (not changing) or dynamic (changing)

Main characters in a story are usually round and dynamic.

The hero/main character in a story is called the protagonist; he/she who works against the protagonist is called the antagonist.

Characterization can occur in several ways. *Description by narrator *Description by characters *Dialogue/interaction with other characters *Internal monologue *Actions of character *Actions of other characters towards character

SETTING/MOOD/TONE

The setting (where and when a story takes place) and mood (the emotions elicited in the reader) are closely linked.

Often, setting exists to create mood. *A dark forest creates a mood of mystery

or fear. *A spring garden creates a mood of

happiness and peace. Mood is often confused with tone. *Mood refers to the emotion elicited in

the READER. *Tone refers to the emotion of the

AUTHOR .

THEME

Theme refers to the main idea(s) or lesson(s) from the story.

*Early childhood literature refers to theme as the “moral.”

*Often simplistic and didactic. Theme is usually dependent on the

interpretations of the text by the reader, and can change from reader to reader.

Theme is contingent on the experiences and context of the reader of the story.

The author’s theme may not be the reader’s theme.

FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE

There are several methods an author can use to present her/his message.

These methods often make use of figurative language.

Figurative language helps cement an image in a reader’s mind (imagery), making it a powerful tool.

POETRY

Poetry differs from narrative and expository text in that it doesn’t follow the same rules of structural composition and use of language.

Poetry is commonly used in the primary grades for its use of creative language and sound effects.

For the FCAT, familiarity with basic poetic effects is essential.

GENRES OF POETRY

Poetry can take many forms, each with its own unique characteristics, including

*Ballad: poem that tells a story like a folktale or legend; often has a “chorus” and reads most like a song.

*Epic Poem: Long poem that tells the story of a hero; most Greek myths were told as epic poems.

*Free Verse: Poem that has no set meter, rhyme scheme, or governing structure.

*Haiku: Japanese poem composed of three unrhymed lines of five, seven, and five syllables, often reflects themes of nature.

*Limerick: Light, humorous poem with the rhyme scheme AABBA.

*Nonsense Poem: Poem whose purpose is to entertain, often on humorous topic; often utilizes rhyme and rhythm.

POETRY TERMS

In addition to the terms related to figurative language, poetry has its own set of jargon. The most prominent terms with which to be familiar includes:

*Couplet: A pair of lines of the same length, often rhyming, forming a complete thought.

*Meter: The arrangement of a line of poetry by its number of syllables and pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables (foundation of rhythm).

*Quatrain: Stanza/poem of four lines. *Rhyme: Same or similar sounds at the ends of

words. *Rhyme scheme: Pattern of rhyme in a poem. *Stanza: Method of organizing like ideas in a poem;

similar to a paragraph in a composition.

SAMPLE TEST QUESTION

Read the following passage, then answer the five questions that follow.

The outlook wasn't brilliant for the Mudville nine that day,

The score stood four to two, with but one inning more to play.

And then when Cooney died at first, and Barrows did the same,

A pall-like silence fell upon the patrons of the game. A straggling few got up to go in deep despair. The rest clung to that hope which springs eternal in the

human breast. They thought, "if only Casey could but get a whack at

that. We'd put up even money now, with Casey at the bat."

(Casey at the Bat by Ernest Thayer)

QUESTIONS:

1. Identify the literary device used in underlined portion of the passage:

a. Metaphor b. Simile c. Alliteration d. Personification

QUESTIONS:

2. This passage is an example of ________ narration.

a. First-person b. Second-person c. Third-person d. All of the above

3. Which of the following lines best encompasses the mood of the text

a. If only Casey could but get a whack at that. b. The score stood four to two, with but one

inning more to play. c. The outlook wasn't brilliant for the Mudville

nine that day. d. A straggling few got up to go in deep despair.

QUESTIONS:

4. The rhyme scheme of the poem is best characterized by the pattern

a. ABABABAA b. AABBAABB c. AABBCDEE d. ABCDEFGH 5. This poem is an example of a. Limerick b. Haiku c. Epic Poem d. Ballad

EXPOSITORY TEXT

Expository texts are works whose main purpose is to explain a topic to the reader.

Expository text usually falls into one of six genres: Definition, Description, Persuasion, Analysis, Classification, Comparison

Examples of expository texts include: *Textbooks *Workplace documents *Letters *Scientific books/journals *Newspapers *Encyclopedias

EXPOSITORY TEXT VS. NARRATIVE TEXT

Expository Text Narrative Text

Non-fiction Fiction or non-fiction

No narrator Narrator

Purpose is to inform Purpose is to entertain

Defined structure Various structures

Standard language Figurative language

Non-biased Biased

CHARACTERISTICS OF EXPOSITORY WRITING

Title & author Headings & Sub-headings Headlines & Bylines Graphics Sources (primary and secondary)

TEST REVIEW QUESTION

Examine the text below, then answer the questions that follow

Colleges offering admission to displaced New Orleans students

Enrollment dates for many schools have passed, and will be indicated next to the school's entry

under the by-state list.

Tuesday, September 6, 2005

Due to the damage by Hurricane Katrina and subsequent flooding, a number of colleges and universities in the New Orleans metropolitan area will not be able to hold classes for the fall 2005 semester. It is estimated that 75,000 to 100,000 students have been displaced. In response, institutions across the United States and Canada are offering late registration for displaced students so that their academic progress is not unduly delayed. Some are offering free or reduced admission to displaced students. At some universities, especially state universities, this offer is limited to residents of the area.

(http://en.wikinews.org/wiki/Colleges_offering_admission_to_displaced_New_Orleans_students)

QUESTIONS:

6. “Colleges offering admission to displaced New Orleans students” is the article’s

a. Headline b. Byline c. Main text d. Supporting text 7. The article is an example of text one might find

in a a. Textbook b. Atlas c. Newspaper d. Encyclopedia