1. Plot and Setting Notes
You can read a short story in one setting.
A short story is less than 40 pages.
Short stories are written in prose.
Everything but poetry is written in prose.
2. What is Setting?
Where and when the story takes place
Can be real or imaginary
Described by using imagery
Language that appeals to the five senses
Sight
Hearing
Touch
Smell
Taste
3. Three Elements of Setting:
Location
The geographical location the story takes place.
Environment
The type of surroundings in which the story takes place.
Time
The time in history (or the future) in which the story takes
place.
4. What is Plot?
Plot is the series of related events that make up a
story or drama
Like links in a chain, each event hooks our curiosity
and pulls us forward to the next event.
5. Types of Plots
Plots can be told in:
-Chronological order Most stories are told in chronological order, the
order in which events happen in real time.
-Flashback when the story begins with a character speaking as he or she
remembers events from a past experience
-In media res (in the middle of things) when the story starts in the middle
of the action without exposition
6. Five stages of Plot
Exposition- introduces the story’s characters, setting,
and conflict.
Rising Action- occurs as complications, twists, or
intensifications of the conflict occur.
Climax- is the emotional high point of the story.
Falling Action- is the logical result of the climax.
Resolution- presents the final outcome of the story.
11. Exposition
The famous hunter, Sanger Rainsford,
falls overboard and swims to Ship Trap
Island. Owner of the island, General
Zaroff, hunts men for sport. He will hunt
Rainsford.
13. Rising Action
1. Rainsford hides up a tree. Zaroff lets him escape.
2. Rainsford builds a Malay man-catcher which wounds Zaroff.
3. Rainsford builds a Burmese tiger pit. It kills one of Zaroff’s dogs.
4. Rainsford builds a Ugandan knife
trap. It kills Ivan.
5. Rainsford dives into the sea.
6. Zaroff goes home, believing he has won the game.
MDG is a short story.
Prose is ordinary form of spoken and written languages, without a metrical structure that poetry is distinguished by.
The setting sets the story’s mood and atmosphere
-- a dark and stormy night
-- bright and sunny day
-- castle on the edge of a dangerous cliff
This can help in the portrayal of characters
-- the setting helps the reader better understand the characters.
--Characters interact with the setting to show and tell the story.
--Setting helps the reader share what the characters see, hear, smell, and touch.
-- “I write this sitting in the kitchen sink. That is, my feet are in it; the rest of me is on the draining- board.” I capture the Castle by Dodie Smith
These elements can intertwine in writing and are not distinct.
The setting supports the plot and should make sense.
Exposition- usually occurs at the beginning of a story.
Rising action- a building interest or suspense occurs– all rising action leads to climax
Climax- usually most intense and exciting part of the story. The main character with come head to head with the conflict and change in some way.
Falling action- all loose ends of the plot are tied up
See if you can label these five stages of Plot
Plot is often created through conflict.
Conflict drives the plot.
We have focused on conflict a lot the past couple of days.
Man vs. Self
Man vs. Man
Man vs. Machine
Man vs. Environment
Identify the setting at the beginning of the work.
Rainsford has no sympathy for __________.
What happened to Rainsford when he reached for his pipe?
What’s the first thing Rainsford does when he reaches shore?
What does General Zaroff think “are the attributes of an ideal quarry”?
What is the conflict between Rainsford and Zaroff on page 13?
7. Zaroff’s human quarry usually consist of ___________.
8. What are the directions (rules) for the game? (page 16)
9. What type of “collection” does Zaroff want to show Rainsford? (pg. 16)
10.What causes Rainsford to become the hunted?
Ship Trap Island, Caribbean, Jungle
11. How is Zaroff wounded? (page 20)
12. How does Rainsford trap one of Zaroff’s hounds?
Rainsford confronts Zaroff in his bedroom.
13. How and where does the game end? What is meant by “I am still a beast at bay?” Who wins?
