“THE NECKLACE”POV, Irony, Characterization, and Dialogue

“The Necklace” Review Theme?

Major conflict(s)?

Foreshadowing?

POINT OF VIEW

Point of View (POV) Definition: the narrator’s position in relation to the story

being toldTYPES First person—I, me, my, our, we—the narrator is directly

involved in the story 2nd person—you, you all (usually in self-help books, guide

books, and DIY manuals) 3rd person—they, he, she, it—the narrator is removed from

the action in the story/ not a character (most common POV used in novels, short stories, etc.) Omniscient—knows thoughts and actions of more than one

character; can jump in time and setting to other times/places Limited—limited to only what is observed/heard; doesn’t know

thoughts (except for one character, usually protagonist)

In what POV is “The Necklace” written?

Story Application

In what POV is “The Necklace” written?

Third person omniscient

Story Application Answer

IRONY

Irony: A difference between appearances and reality

Verbal Irony—when people say the opposite of what they mean Understatement is when one minimizes the

nature of something Overstatement is when one exaggerates the

nature of something Situational Irony—when a situation is

different than what is expected/what it should be

Dramatic Irony—when the reader/audience knows something a/the character(s) don’t

What is ironic in the story? What type of irony is it?

Story Application

What is ironic in the story? The necklace is fake.What type of irony is it?Situational irony

Story Application

CHARACTERIZATION

Character and Characterization

Characterization—process of revealing personality of a character Character- a person in a work (sometimes animals are

characters) Ways to reveal character:

1. Speaking2. Appearance3. Inner thoughts and feelings4. What other characters think/say about the character5. Actions6. Tell us directly: cruel, kind, sneaky, etc.

Indirect Characterization- (first 5 ways) we have to use our own judgment to decide what a character is like, based on the evidence the writer gives us.

Direct characterization- (#6) we don’t have to decide; we’re told

How does the appearance of

each character indicate

personality?

How is Mathilde characterized:A) Directly?

B) Indirectly?

Story Application

How is Mathilde characterized:A) Directly? Pretty, charming,

unhappyB) Indirectly? Dressed plainly; acts

selfish when husband gets her invitation and she uses his $ to buy a dress and when she leaves him at party; determined to pay back debt; prideful in not telling friend she lost it, etc.

Story Application

Protagonist/ Antagonist

PROTAGONIST—The character the story revolves around

ANTAGONIST—The character or force that opposes the protagonist

Who is the protagonist?Who/ what is the antagonist?

Story Application

Who is the protagonist?Mathilde

Who/ what is the antagonist?

Her pride; “fate”/ her circumstances

Story Application

Character (continued) Characters are classified as:

Static- one who does not change much (ex: Zaroff in MDG) Dynamic- character changes as a result of the story’s

events (ex: Rainsford in MDG)

Flat- has only one or two traits (ex: Ivan in MDG) Round- like a real person, has many different character

traits (usually protagonists) Motivation- the fears or conflicts that drive a

character (ex: vengeance, fear, greed, love, boredom) Motivation plays a role in characterization as well—by

analyzing motivation, we can make judgments re: character traits

Character Classification

Static—always mean Dynamic—changes

Who is static? How?

Who is dynamic? How?

Story Application

Who is static? How?Monsieur Loisel doesn’t change—stays selfless and niceWho is dynamic? How?Madame Loisel—she changes as a result of the hard work she has to do to pay back the debt. She ages rapidly from hard work and stress, and she loses all $ they had when she thought they were poor.

Story Application

Character Classification

Flat—just evil Round—stubborn, tender-hearted, playful, loyal, etc.

DIALOGUE

Will do with “The Cask of Amontillado” next week

DialogueSome vocabulary to know… Dialogue= character conversation

An essential part of most short stories and novels. It is always better to show or have happen than to explain or to describe, and dialogue is one way to “show” and not “tell.”

Dialogue Tags= identify who is speakingExamples of common dialogue tags include:

I said Sallie yelledShe said muttered JaniceFred said said MaxMark commented asked William

Dialogue Rule 1

All talking needs to be surrounded by quotation marks (").

"Go to your cupboard - I mean, your bedroom," he wheezed at Harry.

The comma has to go inside the quotation marks.

Dialogue Rule 2

Instead of using a period at the end of the speech, use a comma if you are going to tell who is talking.

"Las' time I saw you, you was only a baby," said the giant. "Yeh look a lot like yer dad, but yeh've got yer mum's eyes.”

Dialogue Rule 3

If you use a question mark, you don't need a comma too."What do they think they're doing, keeping a thing like that locked up in a school?" said Ron finally. "If any dog needs exercise, that one does.”

Dialogue Rule 4

If you use an exclamation mark, you don't need to change to a comma."A stone that makes gold and stops you ever dying!" said Harry. "No wonder Snape's after it! Anyone would want it.”

Dialogue Rule 5

If you have interrupted speech, to let the reader know who is speaking, a comma is needed before the break, and after the speaker's name.

"Professor," Harry gasped, "your bird - I couldn't do anything - he just caught fire –”

Dialogue Rule 6If someone is thinking about something, but doesn't say it out loud, you can either use quotation marks or not. Either way is acceptable.

Of course, he thought bitterly, Uncle Vernon was talking about the stupid dinner party.

Rowling chose not to use quotations around Harry's thoughts. She could just have easily used them like this...

"Of course," he thought bitterly, "Uncle Vernon was talking about the stupid dinner party.”

How does dialogue help the story?

Then one evening, her husband came home proudly holding out a large envelope.      “Look,” he said, “I’ve got something for you.”      She excitedly tore open the envelope and pulled out a printed card bearing these words:      “The Minister of Education and Mme. Georges Ramponneau beg M. and Mme. Loisel to do them the honor of attending an evening reception at the Ministerial Mansion on Friday, January 18.”      Instead of being delighted, as her husband had hoped, she scornfully tossed the invitation on the table, murmuring, “What good is that to me?”       “But, my dear, I thought you’d be thrilled to death. You never get a chance to go out, and this is a real affair, a wonderful one! I had an awful time getting a card. Everybody wants one; it’s much sought after, and not many clerks have a chance at one. You’ll see all the most important people there.”

How does dialogue help the story?

CharacterizationShows conflictsDevelops plot eventsAdds realism