Q3-4 Socratic Seminar Prep
Name: ________________
“El Diablo de la Ciengna” by Geoffrey Becker
“The Cat and the Coffee Drinkers” by Max Steele
“I Just Kept on Smiling” by Simon Burt
Process and Considerations
You will read three stories from Roundtable. On the first reading, just enjoy the story for the story’s sake. After reading all
three, you will choose ONE to focus on for the Socratic Seminar. You will also complete a “quick write” prior to discussion.
As you read the short story you’ve chosen for Socratic Seminar, take notes on the following:
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How does the author develop the characters in the story?
o Find examples of both direct and indirect characterization
What is the mood of the story? How do the characters impact this mood?
o How does word choice help to develop this mood?
What is the point of view of the story?
o How does the point of view enhance, limit, or shape the storytelling?
o How might the story be different if another character’s perspective were shown?
What is the impact of dialogue on understanding the story?
o How does the dialogue reveal aspects of the character?
o Do the characters respond to the dialogue in ways that reveal something about them?
How do the characters, through point of view, dialogue, and plot actions, help to create narrative effects?
Narrative Effects (there are lots of different kinds, but here are a few obvious ones)
Humor: Humor is a conjunction of incongruous (opposite) situations or images in a surprising manner that evokes
amusement. Humor may range from lighthearted and harmless to critical and sarcastic. Pure humor, however, does not
contain criticism and solely comes from the amusing surprises of its incongruities. Authors may use sarcasm, pun, irony,
paradox, hyperbole, or other literary devices to create humor. Even metaphors and similes may sometimes be humorous.
Suspense: This is the intense feeling that an audience goes through while waiting for the outcome of certain events. It
basically leaves the reader holding their breath and wanting more information. The amount of intensity in a suspenseful
moment is why it is hard to put a book down. Without suspense, a reader would lose interest quickly in any story because
there is nothing that is making the reader ask, “What’s going to happen next?” In writing, there has to be a series of
events that leads to a climax that captivates the audience and makes them tense and anxious to know what is going to
happen.
Irony: The use of irony in literature refers to playing around with words such that the meaning implied by a sentence/word
is actually different from the literal meaning derived. Often, irony is used to suggest the stark contrast of the literal
meaning being put forth. The deeper, real layer of significance is revealed not by the words themselves but the situation
and the context in which they are placed.
Verbal Irony: when the speaker means the opposite of what he or she literally says
Example: to say "thanks" to someone who embarrassed you.
Situational Irony: situations in which there is a discrepancy (an incongruity, an opposition) between what the
reader expects or presumes to be appropriate and what actually occurs.
Example: the shoemaker's children had no shoes.
Dramatic Irony:
1) a situation in which a character, or narrator, unconsciously reveals to the characters and to the audience or
reader some knowledge contrary to the impression he or she wishes to make.
2) a situation in which the character, or narrator, acts and reacts in ignorance of some vital, external, contrary
knowledge held by one or more of the other characters and by the audience or reader.
Conflict/Drama: It is a literary device used for expressing a resistance the protagonist of the story finds in achieving his
aims/ dreams. The conflict is a discord that can have external aggressors or can even arise from within the self. It occurs
when the subject is battling his inner discord, may be at odds with his surroundings and lastly, may be pitted against
others in the story.
The Importance of Great Dialogue
1. Dialogue illuminates character faster than any narrative because dialogue is a function of character.
2. Dialogue also moves the story forward while establishing the character and character relationships.
3. Dialogue demands a reaction from the person to whom the character is speaking -- physical or spoken or no
reaction at all, which in itself is a reaction.
4. Dialogue reveals conflicts and causes a reaction.
5. Dialogue actively imparts information.
To fully prepare for your discussion, you should consider these terms and how they apply to the story:
Six Elements of a Narrative
Plot: the sequence of events that take place in a story.
Setting: the time and place in which the events of a story take place.
Characterization: the methods used to present the personality of a character in a narrative.
Direct--the author describes the character. Example--She was a large woman with a large purse.
Indirect--the reader judges what the character is like based on what they say or do, or what other characters
say about them. Example--We believe the narrator of "The Tell-Tale Heart" is crazy because he talks
nervously and frequently repeats himself.
Atmosphere: the general mood or feeling established in a piece of literature. Atmosphere is created through
word choice and pacing.
Word Choice--the author uses words that make the reader feel a certain way. A spooky atmosphere is
created in "The Tell-Tale Heart" through the use of words like "hideous," "marrow," "chilled," and "nervous."
Pacing--the author controls the speed at which we read through sentence length, punctuation, repetition of
words and other techniques.
Point of View: who is narrating the story (2 main types: First Person, Third Person)
First person: the narrator uses "I" to tell the action, and is involved in the story.
Third person: the story is told from a perspective outside the story. The characters are referred to by name,
or as he, she or they.
Conflict: the central problem that drives the action of a story. (two main types)
Internal: The conflict happens in a character's mind. A character with a guilty conscience is an example of
internal conflict.
External: The conflict happens between characters, or between a character and some outside force, like
nature. Sherlock Holmes pursuing a criminal is an example of external conflict.