Structure in Literature
- 2. Structure • Plot – The sequence of events through which an author constructs a story • Structure - the way the writer arranges the plot of a text – not the action itself • The author uses the structure to create meaning that is not directly stated • The author has made a conscious choice to arrange the actions and events in a particular order or format to convey something about the narrative and characters
- 3. Types of Plots • Chronological Order – the story is told in the order that the events happened • Flashback – an event or scene that took place before the present time in the narrative is inserted into the chronological order of the text • In media res (in the middle of things) – the narrative starts in the middle of the action with out exposition
- 4. Analyzing Meaning Young Goodman Brown • We look for elements that are repeated • Dialogue – “I will not go any further” • Action – He continues to walk deeper into the forest • Description – The forest grew darker
- 5. Analyzing Meaning • We look for shifts in: • Direction • Focus • Time • Place
- 6. Analyzing Meaning • When the author makes these choices in the structure the reader must pay attention • The author is communicating a deeper meaning • The significance of the action is more important than the action itself
- 7. Young Goodman Brown Freytag’s Plot Structure Climax: “I have lost my Faith!” “Come Devil!” Rising Action: Meets the Falling Action: Walks to the Traveler – family stories, ceremony, “Look up!” Sees his mentors Exposition: Leaves Faith at home Resolution: Wakes up, rejects himself and the community, goes mad
- 8. Young Goodman Brown • Hawthorne uses the structure to communicate Goodman’s Brown realization of his own sin • As the events progress he also uses the setting – Goodman Brown walks deeper into the darkness and into sin • The dream at the end is another plot device – Goodman, as well as the reader, is not sure if it actually happened.
- 9. Structure in Poetry • In poetry structure refers to the pattern or organization of the poem – the form of the poem • examples: sonnet and free verse • The author makes a conscious choice to write in this structure and this conveys a specific meaning
- 10. Structure in Poetry • In poetry structure refers to the pattern or organization of the poem – the form of the poem • examples: sonnet and free verse • The author makes a conscious choice to write in this structure and this conveys a specific meaning