7Elements of the novel.docx

1、7Elements of the novelElements of the NovelWays to Understand and Appreciate the Novel A novel is a long narrative, normally in prose, which describes fictional characters and events, usually in the form of a sequential story. 1. SettingDefinition: Setting is the time and place in which the events o

2、f a narrative occur. The place may be a region, a city or town, or even a house or room. The time may be a period in history, a particular time of year, or a certain time of day. The setting may be specific and detailed, and introduced at the very beginning of the novel, or it may be merely suggeste

3、d through the use of details scattered throughout the novel.The story could have happened almost anywhere or at any time. Example of Setting Jane Eyre: Setting (time) - Early decades of the 19th century. Setting (place) - The novel is structured around five separate locations, all supposedly in nort

4、hern England: The Reed familys home at Gateshead, The wretched Lowood School, Rochesters manor house Thornfield, The Rivers familys home at Moor House, Rochesters rural retreat at Ferndean. 2. Characterization Definition:The method an author uses to acquaint the reader with his or her characters.The

5、re are four methods of characterization: describing the characters appearance; reporting the characters speech and behavior; describing the reactions of other characters to the individual, revealing the characters thoughts and feelings Examples of Characterization (A) Karen was small for her age and

6、 inclined to plumpness. Her blue eyes viewed the people and events around her with a mixture of curiosity and amusement. She was not a woman, but she was past being a child; too sophisticated for toys, she might still, on impulse, turn a somersault on the living room rug. Approximately how old is Ka

7、ren? What details help you visualize her? What details reveal something about Karens personality?Examples of Characterization (B) But why cant I go?” Karen wailed. “Everyone else is going. You never let me go anywhere! You just dont want me to grow up and have fun!” Karen wheeled around and stormed

8、out of the house, slamming the door behind her. What does Karen reveal about her personality in this speech? What do her actions contribute to your picture of her?Examples of Characterization (C) “I”ve know Karen a long time, ever since first grade. We”ve been best friends since last year. I like he

9、r because well, I guess its because shes always so happy and sure of herself and shes good at things like baseball and swimming and painting and stuff.” Joanie paused, then added, “Everybody at school likes her.” What is Joanies relationship to Karen? What do you learn about Karen from Joanies comme

10、nts?Examples of Characterization (D)The sunlight trickled between the slates of the bamboo blinds. Karen stretched luxuriously, pleasantly aware of the tingling sensation in her muscles. She really ought to get up, she thought. Sally was coming over at eleven. Maybe she should make some sandwiches f

11、or they could eat out in the backyard. Mrs. Henley was taking them to the beach in the afternoon. She should also finish that letter to Peggy maybe she would tonight if she remembered and if she had the time. What is Karen thinking about? What do her thoughts tell you about her personality?2.1.Prota

12、gonist the most important character. The protagonist does not have to be heroic, but he or she normally tries to accomplish something decisive during the course of the story. This goal may be obvious to the other characters, or it may be private.2.2. The character who opposes the protagonist is the

13、antagonist. Although the antagonist may well be unpleasant or actually evil, this is by no means always the case. Many times (especially in contemporary fiction)the protagonist and the antagonist will be presented as equally good or bad individuals. Examples of the antagonists Jane Erye: Antagonist

14、- Jane meets with a series of forces that threaten her liberty, integrity, and happiness. Characters embodying these forces are: Aunt Reed, Mr. Brocklehurst, Bertha Mason, Mr. Rochester (in that he urges Jane to ignore her conscience and surrender to passion), and St. John Rivers (in his urging of t

15、he opposite extreme). Blanche Ingram, who initially stands in the way of Janes relations with Rochester, also embodies the notion of a rigid class systemanother force keeping Jane from fulfilling her hopes.3. Plot A series of related events selected by the author to present and bring about the resol

16、ution of some internal or external conflict. The events usually follow a pattern: the conflict or problem is established; complications arise from the conflict; the situation itself brings about a climax, or a character takes a decisive action; the conflict is resolved.The plot has five parts to it,

17、 and these are: exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, resolutionExposition:This is where you introduce the characters, the setting, and the conflict. This is where you set the stage, so to speakthat proverbial准备好的舞台stage where your characters are going to act and where all the action is

18、 going to take place.The exposition is the part of the novel of least action, but that does not mean it is not important. It is in fact the most important part of your plot. This is because it is where you set the ground work; the foundation of your whole book. A poor foundation will render your who

19、le weak useless. Is it not true that most of us put books away because the first few pages are down right boring?So pay particular attention to the exposition.Rising Action：Ah! This is where the novel starts getting interesting. The characters start acting. They get caught up in problems and/ or mov

20、e to solve these problems. The reader is gripped by the action. 被吸引The transition from exposition to rising action should happen early on so as to engage the reader and keep her reading. If this transition does not happen early enough, your reader will get bored and wont see the point of reading on.

21、Climax：This is where the action reaches its peak. The conflict is highest. At this point, the reader cannot simply put the book down. Falling Action：After the graph of activity reaches its maximum, it rapidly starts dropping. During this period, the truth is brought out, and all the mysteries are so

22、lved.Resolution：The conflict is resolved, and the story comes to its end. The reader responds with a sigh, a chuckle, a sniffle, a frownwhatever response you intended.4. Theme This is the major idea, or motif, that permeates the whole work. This motif recurs throughout from the beginning to the end.

23、 It is the writers very reason for writing.5. Conflicts: The conflict need not arise exclusively from the protagonists struggle with another person. The protagonist may struggle against a force of nature(a tornado, a stormy sea, a disease)or against an entire society, or some large segment of societ

24、y. The protagonist may experience an inner struggle between conflicting personal impulses. Or the struggle may be against what seems to be the inevitability of the universe, against fate or destiny or even God.6. Point of View (1) As I placed the carefully wrapped package on the park bench, I looked

25、 up and saw Molly walking across the street. I hoped that she hadnt seen me. Is the narrator a character in the incident or an outsider? Do you know what the narrator was doing? Do you know what Molly was doing? What she was thinking? 6. Point of View (2) As George placed the carefully wrapped packa

26、ge on the park bench, he looked up and saw Molly walking across the street. Is the narrator a character in the incident or an outsider? Do you know what George was doing? What he was thinking? Do you know what Molly was doing? What she was thinking?6. Point of View (3) George, anxiously hoping that

27、no one was watching him, placed a carefully wrapped package on an empty park bench. But when he looked around, he saw Molly watching him from across the street. Is the narrator a character in the incident or an outsider? Do you know what George was doing? What he was thinking? Do you know what Molly

28、 was doing? What she was thinking? 6. Point of View (4) George, anxiously hoping that no one was watching him, placed a carefully wrapped package on an empty park bench. But Molly, who was walking home, say him and couldnt help thinking that he was acting strangely. Is the narrator a character in th

29、e incident or an outsider? Do you know what George was doing? What he was thinking? Do you know what Molly was doing? What she was thinking?7. First-person point of view In example number 1, the narrator is a character in the story. In telling the story from his personal point of view, the narrator

30、(“i”, or first person) can tell us his own thoughts, but he cannot tell us the thoughts of other characters. Just as you can report what you see others doing, the narrator can tell us only what he sees other characters doing or what he is told by other characters; and just as you cannot enter the mi

31、nds of other people, the narrator cannot enter the minds of characters other than himself.7. Third-person-objective point of view In example number 2 the narrator is not a character in the story but is an outsider, or third person. This narrator can tell us what is happening, but he does not tell us

32、 the thoughts of any of the characters. He is like a newspaper reporter who can give only the facts as they occur; he cannot enter into the characters minds. Example 2 is written from the third-person-objective point of view. This point of view is also called the third-person-dramatic point of view because it is the point of view a playwright uses. (since this point of view greatly limits the amount of information an author