Charles by Shirley Jackson The Elements of a

“Charles” by: Shirley Jackson The Elements of a Short Story

Exposition o Usually begins the structure of the plot o Gives the reader important background information

Basic Situation (exposition) o Laurie goes to Kindergarten

Conflict o A struggle between opposing forces o External Conflict n n Man Man vs. vs. Man Nature Supernatural Society Internal Conflict o Man vs. Self

Conflict (Internal and external) o Internal Conflict n Alter ego… Laurie vs. himself (Charles) o External Conflict n Charles vs. teacher n Charles vs. classmates

Complications o These arise during the rising action as the characters struggle with the conflict.

Complications o o o Bad influence Violent Liar Smart/clever/trickster disobedient

Rising Action o The characters struggle with the conflict.

Rising Action o Laurie comes home everyday and tells his parents what Charles has done at school.

Climax o The turning point of the story

Climax o References are made by the family that family members are “pulling” a Charles.

Falling Action o Occurs after the climax

Falling Action o Mom goes to the PTA meeting and searches for Charles’s parents. o The mother starts talking to the teacher.

Resolution o Loose ends are tied up, and the story is brought to a close.

Resolution o Mom finds out that there is no Charles in Laurie’s class.

Characters o Main vs. Minor Characters (Dynamic & Static) o Protagonist n The leading “good” character o Antagonist n The main “bad” character

Character(s) o o o Laurie/Charles - Dynamic Mom - static Dad - static Teacher - dynamic Classmates Baby sister

Setting o Time and place

Setting (place and/or time) o At Laurie’s house o Fall

Mood o The feeling conveyed to the reader

Mood and/or Atmosphere o Humorous

Theme o Meaning, moral, or message about life or human nature that is communicated by a literary work. o Expressed in a complete sentence.

Theme o Don’t be quick to judge others.

Point of View o Perspective from which a story is told o 1 st Person n Narrator is a character in the story and uses first person pronouns: I, me, and we. o Third Person n Told by a narrative voice outside the action, not by one of the characters. n Uses third person pronouns: he, she, it, and they.

Point of View o 1 st & 3 rd person

Tone o Writer’s attitude toward the subject

Tone o simplistic

Author’s Purpose o o o The reason for the writing To entertain To persuade To explain or inform To express an opinion

Author’s Purpose o Entertainment