English
7
Accelerated­
Winter
2013
Short
Story
Unit
Study
Guide
Name______________________________
Literary
Elements
Definitions
to
know
and
study:
Term
foreshadowing
flashback
direct
characterization
indirect
characterization
setting
plot
exposition
rising
action
climax
falling
action
denouement/resolution
conflict
external
conflict
theme
Definition
hint
or
clue
about
what
will
happen
in
the
story
interrupts
the
normal
sequence
of
events
to
tell
something
that
happened
in
the
past
tells
what
a
character
is
like
shows
what
a
character
is
like
describes
the
time
and
place
of
a
story
is
what
happens
and
how
it
happens
in
a
narrative
provides
background
information
and
lays
out
the
event
that
gives
rise
to
conflict
events
that
occur
as
result
of
central
conflict
that
build
up
to
climax
highest
point
of
interest
or
suspense
in
the
story
the
climax
has
occurred
but
the
final
outcome
may
still
be
in
doubt
when
conflict
ends
and
characters
go
back
to
their
lives
a
struggle
between
opposing
forces
outside
force
may
be
a
person,
group,
animal,
nature,
or
nonhuman
obstacle
a
central
message,
concern,
or
insight
into
life
expressed
through
a
literary
work
conclusion
that
the
reader
does
not
expect
surprise
ending
Vocabulary
Terms
to
Know
and
Study
Vocabulary
Term
Definition
beckoned
called
with
a
silent
motion
brittle
having
a
hard,
sharp
quality;
easily
broken
ominous
threatening,
like
an
evil
sign
impromptu
unscheduled,
unplanned
ajar
slightly
open
gnarled
bent,
twisted;
rough
tenement
An
old
run
down
apartment
building
slackening
Easing;
becoming
less
active
vital
Extremely
important
or
necessary
tumultuously
Noisily
and
violently
resilient
Springing
back
into
shape;
able
to
recover
from
difficulty
surged
Moved
in
a
violent,
swelling
motion
apparatus
An
appliance
or
device
used
for
a
particular
purpose
solemn
Formal,
dignified,
serious,
or
sober
Direct
vs.
Indirect
Characterization
Remember,
direct
characterization
tells
what
a
character
is
like,
whereas
indirect
characterization
shows
what
a
character
is
like.
Ex.
1:
Lemon
Brown
was
an
old
man.
(Direct
characterization
because
it
tells
us
that
he
is
old)
Ex.
2:
Lemon
Brown’s
black,
heavily
wrinkled
face
was
surrounded
by
a
halo
of
crinkly
white
hair
and
whiskers
(Indirect
characterization
because
it
uses
sensory
details
to
show
us
that
he
is
old)
Ex
3:
Lemon
Brown
cares
about
Greg.
(Direct
characterization
because
it
tells
us
that
Lemon
Brown
cares
about
Greg)
Ex
4:
“I’ll
be
watching
from
the
window
so
you’ll
be
all
right.”
(Indirect
characterization
because
it
uses
dialogue
to
show
us
that
Lemon
Brown
cares
about
Greg).
What
are
the
four
types
of
conflict?
1. Man/woman vs. man/woman (problem with another character)
2. Man/woman vs. society (problem with the laws or beliefs of a group)
3. Man/woman vs. nature (problem with a force of nature)
4. Man/woman vs. himself/herself (problem with deciding what to do or think)
Theme
Theme
is:
The
main
point
or
life
lesson
of
a
story.
It
provides
a
message
about
life,
from
the
author’s
point
of
view.
Themes
cannot
be
expressed
in
a
single
word.
Themes
must
contain
a
point
of
view.
Example:
“Power”
is
not
a
theme
but
“Underestimating
the
power
of
nature
can
ruin
your
chances
of
survival”
is
a
theme.
Guiding
Questions:
1. What is short story? Give at least five characteristics.
‐‐It
is
fiction.
It
is
shorter
than
a
novel.
It
has
a
plot,
setting,
conflict,
theme,
and
characters.
It
uses
dialogue
and
sensory
details.
2. How do authors create short stories? Think about what we learned through the Walter Dean Myers
video interview and the process you went through before writing your own short stories.
‐‐‐Walter
Dean
Myers
puts
his
own
experiences
into
his
stories.
He
creates
a
collage
for
every
story
before
writing.
He
uses
a
collage
to
visualize
and
develop
his
characters.
He
uses
foreshadows,
flashbacks,
and
language
to
add
meaning
to
stories.
3. Choose a story (“The Treasure of Lemon Brown,” “All Summer in a Day,” “A Game of Catch,” or
“The White Umbrella”). Choose one of the following elements (setting, character, theme, plot or
conflict) and describe how this element is used in the story.
Setting-Describe how weather is used in “The White Umbrella,” “All Summer in a Day,” or
“The Treasure of Lemon Brown”
Theme-Discuss the theme of “The Treasure of Lemon Brown” (e.g. A true treasure isn’t
worth money), “The White Umbrella” (e.g. You should always be yourself)
Plot-Discuss what happens and how it happens in “A Game of Catch” or any of the stories
Characters- Choose a main character, such as Greg or Margot, and discuss how the character
adds meaning to the story
Conflict-Discuss the problem in a one of the short stories
***Be
sure
to
review
your
quizzes
on
“The
Treasure
of
Lemon
Brown”
and
“All
Summer
in
a
Day”