In Ted Chiang short stories, the overall structure help contribute to the meaning. One example is in "Division by Zero" where the format mimics the structure of a proof. By writing the story in this way, Chiang foreshadows each of the sections within the book. This is highlighted by the numbered sections followed by an 'A' and 'B' section. Another example of where form and meaning are linked is in "Story of Your Life." The main character, Louise Banks, begins to have the ability to know what happens in the future. This is seen in when Gary is talking about the term 'non-zero-sum game', after which the next section—indicated by a blank line—flashes fowards to her talking to her daughter looking for that word; and finally then returning back
Plot is defined as, "the authors arrangement of incidents in a story it is the organizing principle that controls the controls the order of events (Meyer,64)." The element of plot is heavily relied on in the short story, "The Killings" by Andre Dubus. The plot which is completely made inside the imagination of an author (Meyer,64), gives the audience important insight to people, places, and events in the story (Meyer,64) . "The Killings" provides a somewhat conventional plot pattern, where the character is confronted with a problem and is then led into a climax, which late leads to the resolution of the story (Meyer,65). The conventional plot is easy to follow and serves as a basis for movies and other forms of fictitious entertainment (Meyer,65). This simple, yet effective plot makes the story easier to follow and easier to understand. The plot in The Killings also includes usage of flashback as a tool for the audience to fully understand the backgrounds of the characters. This type of organization serves as a basis for the entire story and has the most significance in "The Killings". .
The middle structure of Saint Monkey and “Trilobites” are written both using the same type of structure. Each story starts with an array of events that is presently happening when suddenly the author enters a plot twist in the stories which in these stories happen to be a flashback. The flashback in Saint Monkey and “Trilobites” is what makes the readers stay interested in the stories.
In the short story “Time and Again” by the author, Breece D’J Pancake recounts the story of a veteran farmer who is a snow plow driver for a living. The nameless narrator is a widower and his son disappeared. Reading the short story for the first time it is apparent that the author makes it a challenge for their reader to understand the story. The story at first is confusing and leaves the reader questioning the character. After a second or third read, it is noticeable that the author sets clues and makes it more obvious that this is a story of a murderer. The author often uses clues and the use of syntax to expose who the narrator is as a character and how that influences his actions.
Gary Paulsen uses a variety of sentence structures throughout the novel to maximize effect. But Gary uses this to different kinds of effect. Gary uses a mix of sentence fragments and short sentences "Maybe even today. They might come by today. This was the second day after the crash. No. Brian frowned." (44). Gary Paulsen uses this structure in sentences to keep you interested in what Brian is thinking in his mind about his rescue. Gary also uses a series of one word paragraphs "Divorce. The Secret. Fights. Split." (5). Gary uses this method to really single out what is going through Brians mind, and how its affecting him mentally.
Short stories are temporary portals to another world; there is a plethora of knowledge to learn from the scenario, and lies on top of that knowledge are simple morals. Langston Hughes writes in “Thank You Ma’m” the timeline of a single night in a slum neighborhood of an anonymous city. This “timeline” tells of the unfolding generosities that begin when a teenage boy fails an attempted robbery of Mrs. Jones. An annoyed bachelor on a British train listens to three children their aunt converse rather obnoxiously in Saki’s tale, “The Storyteller”. After a failed story attempt, the bachelor tries his hand at storytelling and gives a wonderfully satisfying, inappropriate story. These stories are laden with humor, but have, like all other stories, an underlying theme. Both themes of these stories are “implied,” and provide an excellent stage to compare and contrast a story on.
In the simplest form, there is a basic structural pattern to narratives, as expressed through Tzvetan Todorov’s explanation of narrative movement between two equilibriums. A narrative begins in a stable position until something causes disequilibrium, however, by the end of the story, the equilibrium is re-established, though it is different than the beginning (O’Shaughnessy 1999: 268). Joseph Cam...
Some of the characteristics of Modernism are: a desire to break conventions and established traditions, reject history, experiment, remove relativity, remove any literal meaning, and create an identity that is fluid. The rejection of history sought to provide a narrative that could be completely up for interpretation. Any literal meaning no longer existed nor was it easily given; essence became synonymous. Narrative was transformed. Epic stories, like “Hills Like White Elephants”, could occur in the sequence of a day. Stories became pushed by a flow of thoughts. The narrative became skeptical of linear plots, preferring to function in fragments. These fragments often led to open unresolved inconclusive endings. This echoes in the short story’s format. The short story functions in fragmented dialogue. Focusing on subjectivity rather than objectivity. Creating characters with unfixed, mixed views to challenge readers.
Another example of the story conveying the theme better is the government. The government controls the people’s actions using the transmitter and this is told in the story more than it is in the
increments which take place in each world. Throughout the telling the story is entertaining, describes
In nonfiction division and classification essays, the author sets up a system to divide or classify certain objects or events. In “Four Kinds of Chance” the author divides chance into four different
The act of storytelling goes hand-in-hand with human existence. The evolution of man from that of a single celled organism into the complex structure that we now know today in and of itself is a story. A story that is written in the genetic code of our Deoxyribonucleic Acid or DNA. That DNA is broken down into the amino acid building blocks A, C, T, and G. Four amino acids written like four notes in a bass cleft staff, "what could be simpler?" With that evolution of man, evolved the art of storytelling; from simple stories of the hunt told around the fire to the written works of authors that we now read in books today. The pinnacle of the integrated story is the novel by Richard Powers titled The Gold Bug Variations.
Throughout “The Temple” by Joyce Carol Oates, she uses a lot of literary terms to influence her way of writing. Oates displays a pretty smooth and flowing plot line from the beginning to the end of the short story. Along with the plot, she also displays an inner conflict with the character of the story, uses imagery in describing the environment and how the character is feeling, uses symbolism, and also seems to show an antagonist. Although starting slow, she soon begins the direct the story to what seems to be a comparison to a child birth with the character finding the mysterious bones.
...verything around us is made by our actions. Positive or negative they cause an effect that will ultimately lead to a different story base on how we interpret life. Narrative elements are used as a bridge by the directors in their film to create any master plot that is currently known. Any modification at any narrative element used by the director at important moments inside the story can help you portray a different master plot. This used of narrative elements can be best described as an ever changing process that takes place inside an individual’s head. Depending on the individual that may be exposed to those narrative elements can create different meanings. This new interpretation can be different for everyone. We have to be aware that one change in the surface scenery can lead to many ideal outcomes in our minds and that is the main power the audience has.
To subdivide the whole plot, there has been three sections which can be used to describe the whole book in one go. The style which the author has utilized to write the whole book up is almost the similar one and the uniqueness in his writing has made this whole thing so beautiful. The division of the whole plot into three main categories constituting upon the plot, narrator and the characters can help develop a good understanding about the book. The author has beautifully utilized his strengths over these three main elements and has made sure that as the basics go right, the whole fiction falls right in the balance with the story.
Overall, the types of themes used were consistent throughout both narratives. The topical themes of the subsequent clauses were not always related to the themes or rhemes of the preceding clauses, making it difficult to predict subsequent events. He was able to use conjunctions to link up events in a systematic order and use of reference to highlight characters, objects, and events. He was able to construct noun phrases, verb phrases, and prepositional phrases to make his narratives more elaborated. The extensive usage of adverbials demonstrate his ability to link sentences and explain how, when, where and why the actions took place. He was able to use topical words to express meaning. Although he possesses some knowledge about past tense verbs, he has yet to grasp the concept of irregular verbs.