Reading and Analyzing Fiction

1. Reading and Analyzing Fiction Definitions of Literary Elements with Examples from Lawrence’s “The Rocking-Horse Winner”

2. Short Stories • Designed to be read in a single setting • Moves through the elements (character, conflict, plot) without undue elaboration • Enriched by use of symbolism, point of view, theme, setting, and irony

3. Unique Types of Short Fiction • Myth—used to explain aspects of existence • Folktales, folklore, fairy tales, fable—cultural background which teaches a lesson and may contain supernatural elements • Parable—very short story designed to teach a moral or religion precept

4. Key Literary Elements in Fiction • Structure and Plot • Setting • Characterization • Theme • Motif • Tone • Point of View • Social and Economic Factors • Symbolism • Irony

5. External—chapters, divisions or sections or pace between sections Internal—passage of time, change of seasons Order of events One event may suggest a sequence of events Components of a plot: introduction (exposition) conflict, climax, resolution (denouement) Foreshadowing Structure Plot

6. Internal structure—passage of time as Paul ages Exposition—details of Paul’s mother, the house Conflict—Paul’s riding and winning, mother’s dissatisfaction Climax—Paul’s death Denouement—Uncle Oscar’s statement “The Rocking Horse Winner”

7. Setting • The time, place, objects, environment and ambience of a story • Time is stated early on or determined by inference by technology used or current events of the time • Place is shown by characters’ speech, dress, etc.

8. “The Rocking-Horse Winner” • Twentieth century—reference to auto • English urban area—reference to Eton, travel to seaside, English races • Ambience of perpetual unrest—mother’s short term employment, the quest for the impossible

9. Characterization • Direct or Indirect • Round or Flat • Protagonist—dominant character in the story • Antagonist—in direct opposition to the protagonist

10. Questions for Determining Major Character Information • Age, name, origin? • Family role/ • Interactions with others? • Personality as shown through moods, expression, gestures? • Coping with problems? • Notable physical qualities?

11. “The Rocking-Horse Winner”“ • Direct characterization of the mother • Static characters except Paul • Paul is the protagonist • Mother is the antagonist • Uncle Oscar and Bassett have supporting roles that enhance the conflict

12. Theme • Central idea of the story • Deeply embedded with the plot and characters • Themes in classical fiction contain a deep truth about human nature • Literary Motif is a repeated pattern or process. May be words, images, symbols or actions

13. “The Rocking-Horse Winner” • Man’s futile attempt to find contentment in material items • Man must deal with the conflict between materialism and our instinctive need for love and acceptance • Materialism can create an inability to love • Rocking-horse is a significant motif

14. Tone • The attitude a writer takes toward the reader, a subject, or a character • Reflects the full range of human emotions

15. ‘The Rocking-Horse Winner” • Ominous—sense of an undesirable outcome for the characters • Mystical—a sense of evil • Satirical—ridicules human greed to make the reader aware of it’s futility

16. Point of View • Perspective from which the story is told. • First Person—narrator is “in” the story as a major or minor character and communicates the narrator’s thoughts directly • Stream-of-consciousness– told through the thoughts of a major character • Third person—narrator has freedom to exist outside the confines of the plot • Third person omniscient—narrator knows what all or one of the characters think • Objective—narrator reports only actions and dialogue without entering the characters’ thoughts

17. “The Rocking-Horse Winner” • Third Person—story is reported but with some insight into mother and Paul’s character

18. Social and Economic Factors • Gender—Is it central to the conflict or theme? Do characters define themselves according to their gender? Are there gender stereotypes? • Social and Economic class—Is there an evident class system? Is the conflict promoted due to inequity in social or economic standing? • Age—How do the ages of the characters play into the conflict? • Race—Are specific races or ethnicities represented and do they influence the conflict, point of view, or theme?

19. “The Rocking-Horse Winner” • Social classes are significant with the mother and father’s push to be wealthy and socially prominent. There is an obvious suspicion of Bassett because he is a servant and shouldn’t have a close relationship with Paul. • Voices of instinct vs. social upbringing

20. Symbolism • A sign or something which stands for something else. • A clue that a detail is important • Supported throughout the entire story • Has more than literal meaning • May have multiple interpretations

21. “The Rocking-Horse Winner’ • Rocking-horse—futility of seeking material happiness • Paul’s eyes—intensity of his desire to be loved • House—emptiness of life without love

22. Irony • Verbal—saying something contrary to what is intended • Circumstantial—events that turn out opposite to what is expected • Dramatic—the reader knows details which a character does not

23. “The Rocking-Horse Winner” • Estranged relationship between Paul and his mother • Mother’s comment that Paul cares too much about the races • Paul’s ability