Short Story Mini-Unit

1. Short Story Mini-Unit 9th Grade Language Arts

2. And Then There Were None QuizUsing the name bank, identify who said the quote:Vera Wargrave Lombard Inspector Maine Sir Thomas LeggeIssac Morris • From my earliest youth I realized that my nature was a mass of contraindications. I have, to begin with, an incurably romantic imagination. • And therefore, sir, there must have been someone else on the island. Someone who tidied up when the whole business was over. But where was he all the time-and where did he go? • Why did I never see his face properly before? A wolf-that’s what it is-a wolf’s face…Those horrible teeth… • So, that’s the reason for your womanly solicitude! You wanted to pick my Pocket! • Those whose guilt was the lightest should, I decided, pass out first, and not suffer the prolonged mental strain and fear that the more cold-blooded offenders were to suffer.

3. And Then There Were None 1. Talk about the characters—are any of them likable? Do you develop sympathy for anyone in particular? Why might Christie have put together such an unpleasant cast of characters?

2. Was there any one you originally suspected? 

3. Locate the various clues Christie leaves along the way... 1) clues designed to lead us off the path, as in a red herring, and 2) clues that point to the real culprit.

4. What is the point of the poem "Ten Little Soldiers" and the fact that after each death one of the figurines on the dining room table goes missing? How do both poem and figurines function in the story?

5. Why does Emily Brent write in her diary the name Beatrice Taylor as the murderer? Does Brent feel guilt for what she had done...or not? Do any of the guests come to regret their past actions?

6. Talk about class and gender distinctions. Do you find it strange that Rogers continues to serve the guests despite the death of his wife? Or that women are in charge of meals and clean-up? 

7. Talk about the motive behind the murders of all the guests—which then might lead you into a discussion of legal justice vs. philosophical justice. Each of the guests is guilty of a crime, but not one that could be prosecuted in a court of law. In other words, has true justice been accomplished by the end of the novel? Is the murderer insane as all the guests claim? Or is he/she acting with clear-headed logic and rationality?

8. Is the ending satisfying? Were you surprised by the identity of the murderer? Would you have preferred the final victim to discover who the killer was before dying? Why might Christie have withheld that information from readers, as well, until the epilogue? Questions by LitLovers.

4. Plot Development: Terms to Know • Plot- events that take place in the story • Exposition- background information reader needs to know to understand the story • Rising Action- events leading up to the climax • Climax- the high point of the action • Falling Action- result of the climax • Denouement/Resolution- how the story gets resolved

5. Plot Diagram The turning point of the story. Will the conflict be resolved or not? The complications begin to be fixed. Climax The conflict is introduced and developed Falling Action Rising Action Resolution The final outcome of the story Exposition Introduce characters

6. Plot Diagram-The Outsiders Climax Falling Action Rising Action Resolution Exposition

7. Plot Diagram-The Outsiders Johnny and Ponyboy run away The church catches on fire Johnny and Ponyboy save some kids Johnny dies in the hospital Ponyboy is deemed a hero and Johnny stabs and kills a Soc. Climax Johnny gets jumped by Soc’s, almost killed Ponyboy feels that Darry doesn’t like him Ponyboy meets Cherry at the movies Darry hits Ponyboy for coming home late Falling Action Rising Action Resolution Ponyboy understands Daryl loves him and they have a happy family again Exposition We meet the “gangs” Soc’s and Greasers including names and personality types

8. Character Development:Terms to Know • Protagonist- main character of the story • Antagonist- who/what opposes the protagonist • Man vs. Man- antagonist is a bad guy • Man vs. Self- antagonist is him/herself • Man vs. Nature- antagonist is natural force • Man vs. Society- antagonist is culture or government

9. The more you know about your character, the more believable they’ll be. What do I look like? What do I like to do? What do I think about? What do others say about me? What things do I say? Where do I live?

10. Tips from Lynn T. FazenbakerShow don’t, tell!http://www.meghan-mccarthy.com/writingtips_show_tell.html INSTEAD OF "Stop!" he yelled angrily, TRY “Cut it out, or I swear, I’ll pound you,” he said. • Actions can be used instead of speech tags to efficiently identify the speaker and further define him. INSTEAD OF “I don’t care,” Mark said indifferently, but deep inside, he cared a lot, TRY “I don’t care.” Mark shrugged, but underneath his desk, through his lined jeans, his fingernails gouged his thighs.

11. Short Story Assignment • 500+ Words  • A well developed protagonist (readers should know what they look like, what their personality is like, etc.) • There needs to be a clear antagonist to your protagonist • Setting: a clear time and place is associated with the story • Use rich and descriptive imagery, so your reader can imagine what you say! • If you choose to have dialogue, make sure you use speaker tags and proper punctuation • The story follows a clear plot diagram with a climax and resolution.

12. Design Your Story… • Create a plot structure of your own story. • Remember, the climax is the major issue/question-will it be resolved or will the protagonist fail? • Check it off with Mrs. Wheeler, then on the back outline the qualities of your protagonist by answering these questions: • Name your character • What does he/she look like? • What kind of personality does he/she have? • What kinds of things does he/she say? • Where are they from? Where do they live? • Who do they associate with?

13. Developing Imagery • Imagery- Using language to help the reader paint a picture of the story you are telling • Use adjectives and descriptive language to give the details of your story. • Tell your reader what you want them to see in their heads as they read

14. The Importance of Imagery • Picture the following – • The dog sat.

16. The Importance of Imagery • Picture the following – • The large dog stood next to the man in a hat.

18. The Importance of Imagery • Picture the following – • The black lab swam in the crystal clear swimming pool.

20. The Importance of Imagery Picture the following- A black and brown dachshund with a yellow tennis ball clamped in its mouth and glasses on its eyes sits in an office chair at a messy desk covered in paperwork with one little paw on top of it all.

22. Your Turn… Write a sentence describing this picture in detail.

23. Figurative Language • Remember how figurative language helps us – as readers – understand more of what the author is trying to say? Well, now it’s our turn! • As an author, figurative language gives us the power to create more meaning for our readers. We can make them think in a more specific manner – whether in terms of emotions, character development, or detail.

24. Figurative Language Review • Simile – a comparison of two things using “like” or “as” • Metaphor – a comparison not using “like” or “as.” • Extended Metaphor – a metaphor which is used throughout much of the text • Personification – Giving human characteristics to inanimate/nonliving things • Idiom – a phrase which does not literally make sense, but does make sense to our culture • Hyperbole – an extreme exaggeration

25. Your Turn • Take this time to turn to your own story/story plot. • Brainstorm a piece of figurative language you could add to a part of the story you haven’t written yet… OR • Review what you have already written and add in a piece of figurative language.

26. Dialogue • Dialogue can be a very successful way of revealing characters’ personality and propelling the action of the story. • However, we don’t want to say straight out what we are trying to say. • Remember the writer’s motto: “Show; don’t tell.”

27. Cont. • Don't use "talking head" dialogue to reveal background information. If both characters already know the information, don’t reveal it through contrived dialogue: • “Hi Bob, my darling husband. I’m going to work, now, as I usually do at 7 p.m., and I’ll be back as usual at 5 a.m.” • “OK, my loving wife, Julia. As you know, I try to be cheerful about your job, but I still wish you’d quit and spend more time with Derek, your 10-year-old son from your first marriage, who is dyslexic, since he and I don’t get along." • How could we try to express the same info. without sounding so fake?

28. Your Turn • Take a moment to add dialogue to your story if you haven’t added any dialogue. • If you have added dialogue already, review it and make sure you aren’t telling too much instead of showing.

29. What Do You Notice in the Following? • He saw a shape, much larger than any bird that he had ever seen, gliding through the air, supported by the updrafts from the canyon. (John Connolly, The Book of Lost Things, 110) • Clearing his throat loudly, he stepped out from behind the bookshelves. (J. K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets) • He had lolled into the old-fashioned inn parlour, shaking the wet off his fine overcoat.(Baroness Emmuska Orczy, The Scarlet Pimpernel) • He'd pulled the king around and swung his fist into the king's startled face, knocking him to the dusty ground of the training yard, where he rolled, howling and cursing and dirtying the fine white cloth of his blouse. (Megan Whalen Turner, The King of Attolia)

30. Participial Phrases! DEFINITION • A participial is a verbal (or form of a verb) ending in ingored and used as an adjective (to modify or describe). Participles show action (like verbs) but also describe (like adjectives). Participles are removable and are punctuated with commas.

31. Let’s add a participial phrase together! • The teens checked their phones in sync.

32. Your turn to sentence expand. • The man climbed the ice.

33. Let’s Turn to Our Short Stories. • Find two places in your short story where you could add more description. • In the margins of your paper, add participial phrases to two of your sentences.