Reading Assigned for the Week of June 08, 2009

The reading for the class for this week was introduction to story. This section of reading is found within the textbook assigned to the class. I found many of the elements in which i already was familiar with k to have subtle nuances. I also found a few that I was not aware of. A major item I will consider is the overall theme for the story in which I am reading. I understand how the theme of story could come from a large list of things. I will look for them carefully when i read the short stories provided to me this weekend. I learned about the various parts of a plot. I learned that some stories may have all of them or just a few. The order of standard plot is exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution. A great example of this is plays of the immortal bard William Shakespeare. His plays are typically divided into five acts which evenly correspond to the parts of plot. I will also look for characterization of the characters in the stories. I will ask the following questions. What archetype does character follow? Is this a major or minor character. Is it integral to the plot? Is the character flat or dynamic? Does this character display several sets of personality traits when faced with different situations or a single set? Is the character static or dynamic? Does the character evolve as the story unfolds.