(All of this information can be found in your Literature Book.)
Elements of Plot:
Exposition: Introduces the setting and the characters. Sets up or hints at the conflict.
Rising Action: Shows how the conflict unfolds and becomes more complicated. Builds suspense.
Climax: Is the most exciting moment and the turning point. Often results in a change for the main character.
Falling Action: Eases suspense. Reveals how the main character begins to resolve the conflict.
Resolution: Ties up loose ends. Sometimes offers an unexpected twist before the story ends.
Rising Action: Shows how the conflict unfolds and becomes more complicated. Builds suspense.
Climax: Is the most exciting moment and the turning point. Often results in a change for the main character.
Falling Action: Eases suspense. Reveals how the main character begins to resolve the conflict.
Resolution: Ties up loose ends. Sometimes offers an unexpected twist before the story ends.
Types of Conflict:
External Conflict:
is a struggle between a character and an outside force. This force might be another character, a group of characters, or nature.
Example:
A sea captain attempts to guide his boat to shore in the middle of a deadly storm.
(Sea captain vs Nature)
Internal Conflict:
is a struggle within a character's mind. This kind of conflict happens when a character must deal with opposing thoughts or feelings.
Example:
A girl strongly disagrees with her friends, but she wants them to like her. Should she speak her mind or stay silent?
(Girl vs Herself)
is a struggle between a character and an outside force. This force might be another character, a group of characters, or nature.
Example:
A sea captain attempts to guide his boat to shore in the middle of a deadly storm.
(Sea captain vs Nature)
Internal Conflict:
is a struggle within a character's mind. This kind of conflict happens when a character must deal with opposing thoughts or feelings.
Example:
A girl strongly disagrees with her friends, but she wants them to like her. Should she speak her mind or stay silent?
(Girl vs Herself)
"Seventh Grade" by Gary Soto
Victor enters seventh grade determined to make Teresa "his girl." During French class, he tries to impress her by claiming to know the language. His teacher, realizing Victor's motive, does not expose him. As a result, Teresa thinks Victor knows French and asks him to help her study. Victor happily assents.
"Rikki-Tikki-Tavi" by Rudyard Kipling
In "Rikki-Tikki-Tavi," a young mongoose comes to live with a British family in colonial India. When he learns that there are cobras in the garden, Rikki-tikki knows it is his destiny to fight and kill them. In a series of exciting encounters, he outsmarts and outmaneuvers that cobras Nag and Nagaina, killing them and also destroying their nest of eggs.
Assignments
- Webquest
- "Rikki-Tikki-Tavi" Project - You will be creating a booklet that describes the plot elements of the short story "Rikki-Tikki-Tavi". This project is to be done outside of class. It should be colorful, neat, and reflect sufficient effort on your part as this will count as a test grade. Requirements: a front and back cover, four inner pages, and colorful illustrations.
Vocabulary List 1
- quiver (v) 8. revive (v)
- linger (v) 9. cunningly (adv)
- portly (adj) 10. cower (v)
- ferocity (n) 11. gait (n)
- sheepishly (adv) 12. fledgling (n)
- unison (n) 13. consolation (n)
- valiant (adj) 14. singe (v)
"Three Century Woman" by Richard Peck
and "Charles" by Shirley Jackson
In "The Three-Century Woman," Great-Grandma Breckenridge is interviewed for TV because she has lived in three centuries. When the reporter annoys her, she invents memories involving famous historical events.
In "Charles," the narrator's son, Laurie, begins kindergarten. He comes home each day with stories about an outrageous troublemaker in his class named Charles. At a PTA meeting, Laurie's mother finds out that he is Charles.
In "Charles," the narrator's son, Laurie, begins kindergarten. He comes home each day with stories about an outrageous troublemaker in his class named Charles. At a PTA meeting, Laurie's mother finds out that he is Charles.
"Dark They Were, and Golden-Eyed" by Ray Bradbury
The Bitterings, an American family, move to Mars and become stranded there after a nuclear war stops all rockets from Earth. Despite Mr. Bittering's desperate struggle to retain his identity, he and his family gradually adopt Martian ways and the Martian language. When an Earth rocket finally arrives more than five years later, they are no longer recognizable as human.
Vocabulary List 2
- ascend (v) 9. evasive (adj)
- beckon (v) 10. foray (n)
- chaotic (adj) 11. foresighted (adj)
- cohort (n) 12. languish (v)
- copious (adj) 13. posterity (n)
- daunting (adj) 14. reproof (n)
- disarray (adj) 15. retaliate (v)
- disembodied (adj)
"A Crush" by Cynthia Rylant
In "A Crush," Ernie, a man with mental disabilities, admires Dolores from afar. Dolores, who works in a hardware store, appears to most townspeople as an unlikely choice for a crush. However, Ernie's deep feelings inspire him to use his most valued possession - a box of seed packages - to grow flowers for her. With help from his friend Jack, Ernie secretly delivers a bouquet to the store each week.
"The Last Dog" by Katherine Paterson
In this story set sometime in the future, Brock's society lives inside a dome and believes that Earth is too poisoned to support life. One day, Brock goes outside the dome and finds a puppy. Scientists want to experiment on her, so he decides to leave the dome permanently. Once outside, he realizes that Earth is habitable. He and his puppy start a new life.
Vocabulary List 3
- convivial (adj) 8. muse (v)
- cynically (adv) 9. pendulum (n)
- dwindle (v) 10. raucous (adj)
- flimsy (adj) 11. recede (v)
- forlorn (adj) 12. renounce (v)
- incredulously (adv) 13. subtly (adv)
- insolently (adv) 14. venerable (adj)
Drama:
"The Monsters Are Due on Maple Street" by Rod Serling
The residents of Maple Street are first puzzled and then frightened when all the machines in their neighborhood stop working. After a boy suggests that aliens from outer space are behind the odd events, everyone's prejudices come to the fore. The crowd quickly becomes a mob, turning its accusing eye from one person to the next. The climax occurs when one neighbor kills another. Meanwhile, the real "monsters" observe the scene and comment on how easy it is to make humans destroy each other.
Myths, Legends, and Tales
Movies, songs, books, magazines, interviews, blogs—people today have many different ways to share their stories and tell what is important to them. Even though the ways of telling stories have changed through the ages, basic story themes have remained the same, crossing all barriers of time and place. Today we love stories of courage, adventure, justice, love, and humor—just as people of old did.
Characteristics of Traditional Stories
Myth
Legend
Fable
Tall Tale
Characteristics of Traditional Stories
Myth
- a traditional story that was created to explain mysteries of the universe
- often explains how something connect with humans or nature came to be
- reveals the consequences of both good and bad behavior
- features gods or other beings who have supernatural powers as well as certain flaws
Legend
- a story passed down through many generations that is believed to be based on real people and events
- tells about a hero who has unusual powers
- focuses on the hero's struggle to defeat a powerful force
- highlights a positive quality or way of behaving
Fable
- a brief story that teaches a lesson, or moral, about human nature
- usually includes animal characters that stand for specific human qualities, such as kindness or dishonesty
- has a moral that is directly state at the end or indirectly communicated through what happens in the fable
Tall Tale
- a humorously exaggerated story about impossible events
- stars a hero who is larger than life- that is, bigger, stronger, and even louder than a regular person
- uses exaggeration to emphasize the abilities and achievements of the hero
"Prometheus" & "Orpheus and Eurydice"
“Prometheus” tells how the Titan Prometheus defies Zeus by giving people fire. As punishment, Zeus has Prometheus chained to a mountain to be continually attacked by vultures.
“Orpheus and Eurydice” tells how the musician Orpheus tries to lead his beloved Eurydice out of the underworld. At the last moment, he cannot resist looking back at her. Whispering a sad farewell, Eurydice slips away from him, just as Hades had warned.
“Orpheus and Eurydice” tells how the musician Orpheus tries to lead his beloved Eurydice out of the underworld. At the last moment, he cannot resist looking back at her. Whispering a sad farewell, Eurydice slips away from him, just as Hades had warned.
"Icarus and Daedalus" & "Phaethon, Son of Apollo"
“Icarus and Daedalus” tells of a father and son’s flight on homemade wings. Icarus ignores his father’s warning about the sun, and his wings melt.
In “Phaëthon, Son of Apollo,” Phaëthon convinces his reluctant father to let him drive the chariot of the sun. He embarks on a ride so disastrous that Zeus strikes him down.
Both disobedient sons fall to their deaths.
In “Phaëthon, Son of Apollo,” Phaëthon convinces his reluctant father to let him drive the chariot of the sun. He embarks on a ride so disastrous that Zeus strikes him down.
Both disobedient sons fall to their deaths.
From "Young Arthur"
This excerpt from Young Arthur tells the legend of how the lost heir to Britain’s throne discovered his identity. Taken for safekeeping as a baby from his father, King Uther, Arthur grows up ignorant of his royal lineage. On a trip to London with his foster family, Arthur pulls an enchanted sword from a stone—an act possible only for the true king of Britain. His destiny revealed, young Arthur is hailed as king.
From "Sir Gawain and the Green Knight"
In this excerpt, the Green Knight bursts into King Arthur’s New Year’s feast. He challenges any knight to chop off his head and take a return blow in a year and a day. Sir Gawain accepts the task. When the deed is done, the Green Knight picks up his head, reminds Gawain of his promise, and rides off, leaving a stunned court behind him.
Vocabulary List 4
- chafe (v) 9. grimace (n)
- cherish (v) 10. improbable (adj)
- contour (n) 11. intricate (adj)
- discreetly (adv) 12. jauntily (adv)
- disciplinarian (n) 13. somber (adj)
- excess (adj) 14. taut (adj)
- exuberantly (adv) 15. usher (v)
- gaunt (adj)