This document provides an agenda and lesson plan for a literature class. It includes assignments to complete for "The Wedding Guest" story as well as an introduction to literary elements found in short stories. The class will review these elements as applied to "The Wedding Guest", including setting, characters, conflicts, and foreshadowing. The discussion of two remaining elements, outcome and theme, will continue online. Homework assigned is recommended readings on exemplification and fragments.

1. Wednesday, October 12, 2011 Literature: Finish “The Wedding Guest”

2. Housekeeping Hand in Vocabulary Paragraph for “The Wedding Guest” Homework from last week 1. Review of Sentence Types - Online Lesson and Practice 2. Read Organizing and Connecting Evidence, p. 84-88 (The above work will not be covered in class but is recommended for success in future lessons)

3. Intro to Short Stories Usually contain a limited number of characters Focus on one main character, or protagonist, who faces one or more conflicts The plot (events) occurs during a short period of time. The outcome or resolution usually has a positive or negative impact on the main character.

4. Intro to Short Stories The outcome or resolution usually has a positive or negative impact on the main character. As a result the character may undergo a change in how they see themselves or the world. The author’s theme is usually related to his or her attitude towards the characters and what happens to them.

5. Intro to Short Stories Some simplified definitions of some the terms we will be using setting – time and location of the story narrator – the person telling the story point of view – how the narrator tells the story First Person – the main character tells the story using “I” Third Person – another character or an outside observer tells the story using he/she/they

6. Intro to Short Stories character(s) – who is involved in the story protagonist – main character antagonist – character or force that opposes the character flat/round – these terms describe how much we know about the character static/dynamic – these terms describe whether or not the character changes as a result of the story events

7. Intro to Short Stories conflict – the struggle that creates the drama internal conflict – chracter vs. him/her self (struggle within a character) external conflict – character vs. an outside force: (another character, nature, or society) plot – the key events of the story theme – the writer’s general message about people and/or the world

8. “The Wedding Guest” Literary Elements Activity You will need: “The Wedding Guest” Story Handout: “Reviewing Story Elements” Handout: “Fiction Terms”

9. “The Wedding Guest” Literary Elements Activity With a partner, work through the questions on “Reviewing Story Elements.” (Not for marks; for study purposes) Discuss how each element applies to the story “The Wedding Guest.” Refer to the “Fiction Terms” handout as needed. Ask me for help/clarification as needed. If you disagree with your group, make note on your sheet and we will discuss. Time: 30 minutes

10. Class Review of Literary Elements Point of View (POV ) First Person – “I see her through the window” (p. 33) She talks a lot about herself, her husband, and the people around her – so we learn what she thinks about them. We learn about the story from her point of view – so it is biased by how she looks at things. We don’t know if what she tells us is accurate. We have to take her word for it. We do get a very good idea of what the narrator thinks and believes.

11. Class Review of Literary Elements Setting “It was February when I moved in. . .” p. 33 Sometime after February The year after her husband has died Canada - mentions a CBC program on p. 33 two light housekeeping rooms – old building - 5th floor – “a dump” p. 33 modern/our times (contemporary) CBC programs, soap opera, delivery boy The setting affects her mood/personality The building’s design helps the plot (she can see Mrs. Clarke’s activities) The building’s close quarters allows them to know about each other’s personal business

12. Class Review (Cont’d.) Characters - is the narrator round or flat? Round – she has a complicated personality critical, judgemental, gossips, hypocritical, dishonest person, her motivationsare complicated: she is unhappy, lonely, bitter, jealous of the other people, not self-aware

13. Class Review (Cont’d.) Characters Dynamic vs. Static Static – she is still a hypocrite at the end of the story (“But then, it really isn’t any of my business.” p. 35) She still believes she’s better than everyone else. (“I was right . . .” p. 35 “For your own good.” p.35) She doesn’t try to change situations that are inconvenient to her instead she tries to change others.

14. Class Review (Cont’d.) Conflict External conflict – character vs. character Narrator vs. others - neighbours, Mrs. Clarke p. 34 “They were an odd bunch anyway, . . .” Narrator vs. environment – circumstances She’s unhappy in her new home, She criticizes it (It was a dump. . .”) p. 33 Internal conflict – character vs. self? she’s unhappy but she’s not self-aware – she’s not admitting her unhappiness; she’s repressing it she doesn’t think she has a problem so probably we can say there is no internal conflict.

16. There are many hints things with Mrs. Clarke are not what they seem to be:

17. “It was strange to say the least, ” p. 34

18. “But nobody came to pick her up, it was odd.” p. 34

19. There is an early hint of conflict between the narrator and Mrs. Clarke: “It was enough to make a body tired just watching her.” p. 34

20. Red Herrings – false clues to distract you from the real clues (foreshadowing)

22. Homework For Monday (Recommended, but optional) 1. Read “Exemplification,” p.177-183 (English Skills) Read “Fragments,” p. 414-425 (English Skills)