文学自考论文串讲

TYPES OF CHARACTERS

Characters can be static (i.e., They don’t change) or dynamic (they change).
REVELATION OF CHARACTER

Dramatic method—by what characters say or

First-person Point of View: in the first-person point of view, the story is told by one of the characters. The character uses pronouns such as I or we and usually participates in much of the action.

There are four basic reasons an author might choose to write: to explain or inform to entertain to persuade to enlighten or reveal an important truth
参考书目
1、张伯香主编：《英美文学选读》，外语教学与研究 出版社。 2、金莉、张剑编著：《文学原理教程》，外语教学与 研究出版社，2004年版。 3、吴冰主编：《英语写作手册》，外语教学与研究出 版社。
文学基本原理串讲 小说的要素
ELEMENTS OF FICTION
Author’s Purpose
PLOT

What characters do or is done to them. The sequence of actions that gives a story its

basic structure.
Plot: Conflict
Conflict is the dramatic struggle between two forces in a story. Without conflict, there is no plot.
Resolution: the conclusion, the tying together of all of the threads
PLOT (cont.)
Conflict should lead to a climax, a moment of crisis in which some choice must be made, action taken, or insight achieved that will resolve the conflict.
CHARACTERIZATION
An author can give information about a character by describing several aspects of the character:



Physical appearance and personality Speech, behavior, and actions Thoughts and feelings Interactions with other characters
twist occurs).
MISC. PLOT TECHNIQUES

Foreshadowing—when writer gives clues early in the story to later events.
PLOT TECHNIQUES (cont.)
Flashback—interrupting
An author’s reason for creating a particular work is called the author’s purpose. Sometimes the author will state his or her purpose up front. Other times you’ll need to make inferences (reasonable guesses) about the author’s purpose.

PLOT (cont.)

Climax may be followed by the denouement
(french for the untangling of a knot), where
readers are presented w/ the consequences of
the climax (though sometimes a surprise plot
自考英语专业论文写作辅导
英美文学部分
主讲单位: 北京外国语大学英语学院
考试目的与要求
一、目的 1、考察学生的文学基本原理及英美文学背景知识； 2、考察学生对英美文学作品的理解和欣赏能力； 3、考察学生的思辫能力与分析性写作能力。 二、要求 1、根据所给文学作品，结合自己掌握的文学背景知识与 文学基本原理，写一篇600词左右的文学分析； 2、要求文章观点明晰、结构合理、条理清楚、语言规范。
Limited omniscient (the external experiences & internal thoughts of one character)


POINTS OF VIEW (cont.)

First person (“I”) Third person
Point of View
Plot
Plot is the literary element that describes the structure of a story. It shows arrangement of events and actions within a story.
Plot Components
Climax: the turning point, the most intense moment—either mentally or in action
POINT OF VIEW

Perspective from which the author tells the
story (often the most important decision a
writer makes).
COMMON POINTS OF VIEW
Omniscient (all-seeing, all-knowing)
do, or what other characters say about them.

Exposition—through narrator’s comments.
FLAT CHARACTERS vs. ROUND CHARACTERS



In his book Aspects of the novel, E. M. Forster defined two basic types of characters, their qualities, functions, and importance for the development of the novel: flat characters and round characters Flat characters are two-dimensional in that they are relatively uncomplicated and do not change throughout the course of a work. By contrast, round characters are complex and undergo development, sometimes sufficiently to surprise the reader.
Rising Action: the series of conflicts and crisis in the story that lead to the climax
Falling Action: all of the action which follows the climax
Exposition: the start of the story, the situation before the action starts
chronological
sequence of narrative to present a scene
from the past.
PLOT (cont.)

Primary purpose of plot:
Revelation of character
CHARACTER:
A character is a person, an animal, or an imaginary creature that takes part in the action of a story. Sometimes the author will directly describe a character’s appearance, personality, or feelings. Other times the author will leave clues and expect you to draw conclusions about what the person or animal is like.
tension
Climax – the peak or turning point Falling action – explanations that lead into the

resolution

Resolution

Closed ending -> story is completed Open ending -> readers draw their own conclusion
Setting
If you could talk about the where and when of a story, what you’re really talking about is the story’s setting. Understanding a story’s setting can give you a context for the events of the plot. It can also give you clues about the mood, or atmosphere, of a story.
CHARACTER TYPES:
Most stories have both main and minor characters. The main character, or protagonist, is the most important character. The action of the plot revolves around him or her. Often the antagonist, the person or thing working against the protagonist, is also a main character.

Baidu Nhomakorabea
FIVE ELEMENTS OF PLOT

Exposition – the beginning of the story, which
explains the characters and the situation
Rising action – complications that cause building
Plot: Types of Conflict
Character vs Character
Character vs Nature
Character vs Society
Character vs Self
PLOT (cont.)
Conflict should lead to a climax, a moment of crisis in which some choice must be made, action taken, or insight achieved that will resolve the conflict.