3.11.08

Parts of a Novel

In school today, we learned about parts of a novel. I think it might be of use to me, and other people too, so I'll post them up here:




  1. Almost all novels have a major problem of some type that they solve. This is introduced near the beginning of the story and most of the story is spent trying to solve this problem.

  2. Through solving the problem an underlying idea, message, or moral is given by the author to the reader. This is called the theme.

  3. The problem is worked out in certain surroundings of place and time. This makes up the setting.

  4. What is done to solve the problem makes up the plot of the story. The plot, in its simplest form consists of:


  • the action that gets the story "off the ground" is called the motivating force or inciting incident.

  • After the story starts, difficulties are encountered. These are complications that make it more difficult to solve the problem.

  • when the greatest (and usually the final) difficulty appears, we say the story has reached its climax. It is usually the most exciting part of the book. The solution of the major problem usually occurs here.
  • after the climax, something usually happens before the very end that's not that exciting. This is the anticlimax. The author may tie up loose ends here.
  • The novel ends after the antimclimax with a conclusion.

5. Throughout the story there are scattered incidents (see complications) that keep up your strong feeling of curiosity as to what happens next. These elements of suspense have been used to keep you reading.

6. The characters in a novel usually represent a certain type of person. What character types are represented in this novel?

  • The characters are judged by:
  • what they do
  • what they say
  • what the author says about them

Novels may have both major and minor characters. The major characters are those that play a loarge role in the story. The minor characters are those that play a small role in the story and are often used by the major characters to solve the problem.

People who help to solve the problem of the novel and who would be thought of as "the good guys: are called protagonist. The characters that hinder the solution of the problem and are therfore though of as "bad guys" are called antagonists.


3 comments:

Dibsy said...

ERG. Fun stuff to do in an Elevator:

FUN STUFF TO DO ON AN ELEVATOR!!
1) CRACK open your briefcase or handbag, peer Inside and ask "Got enough air inthere?"
2) STAND silent and motionless in thecorner facing the wall without getting off.
3) WHEN arriving at your floor, gruntand strain to yank the doors open, thenact as if you're embarrassed when theyopen themselves.
4) GREET everyone with a warm handshake and ask him or her to call you Admiral.
5) MEOW occasionally.
6) STARE At another passenger for awhile. Then announce in horror: "You're one of THEM" - and back away slowly
7) SAY DING at each floor.
8) SAY "I wonder what all these do?" And push all the red buttons.
9) MAKE explosion noises when anyone presses a button.
10) STARE, grinning at another passenger for a while, then announce: "I have new socks on."
11) WHEN the elevator is silent, look around and ask: "Is that your beeper?"
12) TRY to make personal calls on the emergency phone.
13) DRAW a little square on the floor with chalk and announce to the other passengers: "This is my personal space."
14) WHEN there's only one other person in the elevator, tap them on the shoulder, then pretend it wasn't you.
15) PUSH the buttons and pretend they give you a shock. Smile, and go back for more.
16) ASK if you can push the button for other people but push the wrong ones.
17) HOLD the doors open and say you're waiting for your friend. After a while, let the doors close and say "Hi Greg,How's your day been?"
18) DROP a pen and wail until someone reaches to help pick it up, then scream:"That's mine!"
19) BRING a camera and take pictures of everyone in the lift.
20) PRETEND you're a flight attendant and review emergency procedures and exits with the Passengers.
21) SWAT at flies that don't exist.
22) CALL out "Group hug" then enforce it.

OR...just go to http://dibsy-theutmost.blogspo
t.com/search?updated
-max=2008-09-08T15%3A5
8%3A00-07%3A00&max-results=7

Anonymous said...

Ha, Dibsy! Can't wait for my next elevator ride!
Awesome tips, Jckandy! I wish my teacher would go over stuff like this, but he doesn't expect much of us to become novelist...'cept me! That's my MOJO.

jaecy bells said...

lol thanx.