Plot Structure in I Am the Cheese The

Plot Structure in I Am the Cheese The plot structure of Robert Cormier’s novel I Am the Cheese 9 th Grade Language Arts Brad Dubos 10/17/12

Flashbacks What is a flashback? Flashbacks occur when the narrative goes back in time. What purposes can flashbacks serve? Purpose of Flashbacks (Read section “What is a flashback? ”) How does Cormier use flashbacks to develop the plot?

Flashbacks Some examples of flashbacks in I Am the Cheese: ▫ Adam and his father’s encounter with the dog ▫ Adam and Amy playing Numbers at the grocery store ▫ Adam watching his mother die

Flashbacks A flashback can be used to structure the plot. Flashback diagram (Read the bullet on “Flashback” and look at the corresponding diagram) Without flashbacks, how would the novel have been different?

Parallel Plots What are parallel plots? Parallel plots occur when the narrative jumps back and forth between two stories. Here is an example of how parallel plots are used in Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. (Stop at 2: 10)

Parallel Plots What are the two parallel plots in I Am the Cheese? • Adam’s bicycle journey • Brint’s interrogation of Adam What comparisons can you draw between the plots?

Parallel Plots At the end of the novel, the parallel plots intersect. We discover that both the bicycle journey and the interview tapes represent Adam’s psychological journey. Adam is stuck in a cycle trying to remember his past.

Film Version This clip from the film version of I Am the Cheese illustrates both the use of flashbacks and parallel plots in the novel. (Stop video at 4: 10)

Film Version Which part of the video was a flashback? Adam’s encounter with the dog. How were parallel plots shown in the video? Through the transition from bicycle scene to interview scene.

Credits Chen, C. E. (n. d. ). The elements of literature: Plot. Retrieved on October 15, 2012 from http: //www 2. nkfust. edu. tw/~emchen/CLit/study_elements. htm#plot Cormier, R. (1977). I am the cheese. New York, NY: Random House. Dubos, B. M. (2012). Image of I am the cheese. Taken on October 15, 2012 at Youngstown, Ohio. Humpage, A. J. (2011). Flashbacks. Retrieved on October 15, 2012 from http: //allwritefictionadvice. blogspot. com/2011/02/flashbacks. html Knapp, S. (2011). Shakespearean parallel plots and surprise. Retrieved on October 15, 2012 from http: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=4 O 7 Rw. P 76 LWY&feature=youtu. be&t=1 m 20 s

Credits Microsoft Corporation. (n. d. ). Image of bicycle. Retrieved from Clipart in MS Power. Point on October 15, 2012. Microsoft Corporation. (n. d. ). Image of dog. Retrieved from Clipart in MS Power. Point on October 15, 2012. Microsoft Corporation. (n. d). Image of tape recorder. Retrieved from Clipart in MS Power. Point on October 15, 2012. Rygar 89. (2008). I am the cheese (1984) part 4. Retrieved on October 15, 2012 from http: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=LTFMZVb. G 2 ug&feature =youtu. be&t=2 m 15 s