Short Story Unit Honors

1. Short Story UnitHonors Thematic Focus: The search for identity

2. Short Story Packet • There are seven major components or elements in most short stories: • plot • Character • setting • Theme • mood • Tone • narrative viewpoint

3. What is Identity? • the distinguishing character or personality of an individual • the relation established by psychological identification • Is “identity” a state of mind?

4. What types of identity exist? • Gender • Societal • Nationality • Cultural • Familial • ???

5. How do people try to find their identity? • Clubs • Pastimes • identifiers

6. 8 Ways we Characterize ourselves & others • By our actions—”Actions speak louder than words.” • By our speech—colloquialism & dialects • By how we affect others—optimism vs. pessimism • By our reactions—fear, revenge, forgiveness • By what people say—gossip is as gossip does • By descriptions—tall, dark and handsome • By our psychology—past experiences and attitude

7. Characterize yourself • Describe yourself using at least one example from each of the 8 descriptors. • By our actions • Something you do—a habit • By our speech • Something you say that others smile about or know it’s you! How you say it too • By how we affect others • By our reactions • By what people say • By descriptions • By our psychology

8. Limiting Identifiers: Stereotypes • The class cut-up; the ladies’ man; the impatient secretary; to deranged cook; the hard of hearing custodian; the gullible girl; the computer nerd; the popularity seeker; the humorless teacher; the loner; the quick tempered athlete; the complainer; the rule follower; the sports fanatic; the drama geek; the skateboarders;

9. Flat Vs. Round • Flat characters are the stereotypes; people aren’t stereotypes!!! • Round characters are much more developed and realistic—people are round; they may appear to be in a stereotype, but people are rarely what the appear to be and never fit into just one charactization

10. How would you characterize yourself? • I am… • A Caucasian woman • Katherine and Justin’s sister • Linda and Azariah’s daughter • A protestant • Scotch-Irish/German • A teacher and a learner • A writer • A reader • A compulsive alarmist

11. Then go deeper • I am… • Loved • Honorable • Trustworthy • Blunt • Realistic