Name ______________________________________ Room__________ *Date Due: Wednesday, March 19th
*An initial 25 points will be deducted for late papers plus 5 points per each additional day
FORMAL BOOK ANALYSIS
This formal book analysis is worth a total of 300 points (100 points for the cover, and 200 points for all other aspects). In selecting a book for your analysis, use the NOVEL SELECTION guide below. Remember, the book that you choose MUST be a NOVEL in order for it to follow THE SEQUENCE OF EVENTS IN FICTION (shown below). It is important to organize your book analysis using the format provided on the following pages. Do NOT eliminate any sections.
A plot is the sequence of events in a novel, drama, short story or narrative poem. In most literary works, the plot involves one or more characters and a central conflict. The events in the plot usually begin with an EXPOSITION that introduces the Setting, Characters, and Basic Situation. The INCITING INCIDENT, or activating circumstance follows the exposition. The events that occur after the inciting incident are part of the RISING ACTION. In most cases, the Central Conflict is introduced during the inciting incident. Other Conflicts also arise during the rising action. These conflicts continue to increase during the rising action until the suspense builds to reach its CLIMAX, the highest point of interest. Events that occur after the climax are part of the FALLING ACTION. The Falling Action leads to the resolution of the central conflict or the CONCLUSION. In some literary works a denouement is also included. The DENOUEMENT consists of any events that occur after the solution of the central conflict.
While you are reading, watch for indications of which POINT OF VIEW that the author elected to use. Also think about the SIGNIFICANCE OF THE TITLE and the THEME or underlying meaning of your novel. You will also be asked to find at least three different types of LITERARY TECHNIQUES utilized by the author. And finally, you will be required to write a brief RATING.
To help you remember all the important elements mentioned above, you might find it convenient to keep a pencil handy as you’re reading and use an index card as your bookmark. Because it is required that you provide numerous details (i.e. detailed descriptions settings and characters, evidence of point of view, examples of various literary techniques, etc.) jot down page numbers and short notes to yourself that will be helpful to you when you type your formal book analysis.
The cover will receive a separate grade. It should be visual interpretation of the book. Design a hand-drawn original creative cover that artistically portrays the main idea of the book. Although your entire cover may NOT be computer-generated, you MAY use a computer for some portions (i.e. border, lettering, some graphics). Also DO NOT COPY the existing book cover. The grade on the cover will be based upon:
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Note that the title page is different from the cover. In the center of the page, type the title of the book (bold font, center, and underline), the author, and the number of pages. Type your name, section number, and room number in the lower right hand corner. (See illustration at right.).
The main body of this formal book analysis includes all the important elements mentioned in THE SEQUENCE OF EVENTS IN FICTION (described on page 1). Each section has been assigned a point value. Therefore, do NOT eliminate anything. In order to receive full point value, read and follow each set of instructions carefully.
EXPOSITION
In most literary works, the events in the plot usually begin with the exposition that introduces the setting, characters, and basic situation. Therefore, begin by typing and centering the word EXPOSITION at the top of your first page. (Use all capital letters, bold font, center, and underline). Because the first part of the exposition that you will cover is the setting, type the word Setting (bold font, center, and underline.) directly below the word EXPOSITION. (See illustration at left.)
Settings
[15 points] This section should describe in detail where and when the story takes place. (The setting is the time and place and general environment in which the events of a narrative occur. Details of a setting may be either stated or suggested.) If the story is set in more than one location, describe each new place and time. Start a NEW paragraph for EACH setting. Every paragraph should explain the importance of each particular setting. Keep in mind the following questions: Would it be possible to have this story without this particular setting? Why or why not? Or could this story occur anywhere?
[15 points] This section should include all the major characters in the book. Write a SEPARATE descriptive paragraph for EACH major character, specifying in detail each character’s physical and personality traits. (Characterization is the method used to acquaint the reader with the characters.) If there is only one character in the story, make sure that you write a detailed description of him/her.
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Characters (continued)
Use the following as a guide in writing descriptions of the characters in your novel. Keep in mind that when developing characters, the author may:
Basic Situation
[5 points] Write a brief paragraph explaining the basic situation at the beginning of the story. This should not be a summary of the entire plot, but rather the circumstances that occur at the beginning of the book.
[5 points] In a short paragraph, describe the inciting incident. This should be the event that occurs at the beginning of the novel (Chapter 1) which changes the life or lives of the characters in this novel. (The inciting incident, which is sometimes called the activating circumstance, is an event that introduces the central conflict.)
[25 points] This will be the LONGEST section of your analysis that should include SEVERAL (at least 8) paragraphs describing the MAJOR events that follow the inciting incident and lead up to the climax. HINT: Use your TABLE OF CONTENTS as a guide because each CHAPTER TITLE frequently indicates an important event. (The events usually follow a pattern. Each incident logically follows the preceding ones since each is a necessary link to the outcome. In a well-written planned story no one incident can be moved or eliminated without damaging the effect the writer is trying to achieve.) Start a NEW paragraph for EACH important event.
[5 points] The central conflict was most likely introduced during the inciting incident and continued to grow during the rising action. In a brief paragraph, describe this conflict. State whether the conflict is INTERNAL or EXTERNAL and identify who is involved in the conflict (i.e. man vs. man) The two types of conflict are:
a. external conflict in which the character or main figure struggles against another character (man vs. man), nature (man vs. nature), or society (man vs. society)
b. internal conflict in which the character struggles against some element of his/her own feelings or personality (man vs. himself)
[5 points] Other conflicts arise during the rising action. Briefly describe each other conflict. State whether each is INTERNAL or EXTERNAL and identify who is involved. Start a NEW paragraph for each conflict.
[5 points] In one brief paragraph, state what appears to be the climax or turning point of the story. (In a work of literature, the climax is the turning point of the conflict. In a novel that contains suspense, the climax can be found where the suspense reaches its peak. A character may do something to cause a change or events may dictate that some change must take place.)
[10 points] Write three or four short paragraphs describing the important events that follow the climax. These events should be leading up to the conclusion of the story. (The events that follow the climax make up the falling action, sometimes called descending action.) Start a NEW paragraph for each new event.
[5 points] Write a brief paragraph describing the conclusion of the story, making sure that you address the following questions: Does it appear that the conflict was resolved? If so, how? If not, why not? (The conclusion or ending includes the resolution of the conflict and any events following it.)
[5 points] If your novel appears to have a denouement, write a brief paragraph describing it. (The denouement consists of any events that occur after the conclusion. It is defined as “the final disentangling of the intricacies of a plot.”) Do NOT eliminate this section. If a denouement does NOT exist, make the following statement: This novel ends with the conclusion. There is no denouement.
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POINT OF VIEW
[10 points] Write a paragraph identifying which point of view was used. Also include the definition of this particular point of view and quotations from the book that illustrate this identification. For example, you might structure your paragraph in the following manner: The author used Third-Person Omniscient point of view because the narrator was an all-knowing outsider who had the ability to reveal the thoughts and feelings of more than one character. This has been determined because on page 65 “Mary wondered who was knocking at the door” and on page 97 “David knew that he was in danger.” The four major points of view are:
a. First Person: The narrator (“I”) is a character in the story that can only reveal personal thoughts and feelings and what he or she sees and is told by other characters.
b. Third-Person Objective: The narrator is an outsider who can report only what he or she sees and hears.
c. Third-Person Limited: The narrator is an outsider who reveals the thoughts and feelings of one character.
d. Third-Person Omniscient: The narrator is an all-knowing outsider who reveals the thoughts and feelings of more than one character.
SIGNIFICANCE OF TITLE
[5 points] What is the significance of the title? Write a brief paragraph stating what appears to be the reason why the author selected this title for his/her novel.
THEME
[5 points] Almost all novels have a theme. (The theme is the main idea or underlying meaning of a literary work. A theme involves a statement or opinion about the topic. The theme may be stated or implied.) Some examples of themes are: “Good sometimes triumphs over evil.” or “A true friend is a great gift.” or “Fighting solves nothing.” Quite often the title of a novel is related to the theme. Write a brief paragraph describing what appears to be the theme of this novel.
LITERARY TECHNIQUES
[15 points] Find at least THREE different types of literary techniques. Using direct quotations, show an example of each. How did each one enhance the story? Start a NEW paragraph for EACH literary technique described. Listed below are some abbreviated descriptions of some of the more commonly used figures of speech and literary techniques. Look for more in your GLOSSARY OF LITERERY TECHNIQUES in your Study Packet:
Alliteration: A poetic devise that repeats consonant sounds that occur at the beginning of words.
Dramatic irony occurs when the reader or spectator knows more about the true state of affairs than a character.
Hyperbole: A deliberate exaggeration or overstatement to heighten effect.
Imagery: Descriptive language that appeals to the five senses.
Inversion: Reversing or changing the regular word order of a sentence.
Irony of the situation exists when an event is contrary to what is expected or appropriate.
Metaphor: A figure of speech that offers an implied comparison between two basically unlike things.
Onomatopoeia: A literary technique in which the sound of a word suggests its meaning.
Oxymoron: An oxymoron combines two opposing or contradictory ideas.
Paradox: A statement that seems to be contradictory but actually presents a truth.
Personification: A figure of speech in which a non-human object is given human characteristics.
Repetition: The repeated use of a word, phrase, or any element of language.
Rhyme: A poetic device that repeats syllable sounds. Rhyming words share a particular sound.
Simile: A figure of speech that uses like or as in making a direct comparison between two basically unlike things.
Suspense: A feeling of growing uncertainty about the outcome of events in a plot.
Symbol: Anything that stands for or represents something else.
Understatement exists when an idea is expressed less emphatically than it might be.
Verbal irony is a word or phrase used to suggest the opposite of its usual meaning.
RATING
[5 points] In this final section, it is permissible to use phrases like “I believe . . .” or “My opinion is . . .” In one or two paragraphs explain how you feel about the book. Address the following questions: Was it written so you could understand it? What made this book easy or difficult to read? What part was most interesting to you? What part was least interesting to you? Would you read another book by the same author? Why or why not?