KEY CONCEPTS Forged by Fire Literary Terms, Background and Vocabulary! Setting! Characters! Plot! Conflict! Resolution! Point of view! Tone! Theme! Flashback! Foreshadowing Point of View Tone! First-person: author uses the words I and me, and the story is told as though the author was a participant in the events.! Third-person: the pronouns used are he, she and they, and the author is a storyteller outside of the events.! Omniscient: knows what all the characters think and feel! The author s attitude, style, or manner that is expressed mostly by word choice Setting! Where and when the story takes place! Time: Some authors tell you exactly the day, the month, the year, and even the hour that the action begins. In other stories, the reader must figure out the time period by clues in the characters clothing styles, modes of transportation, or way of speaking.! Place: Stories always take place somewhere Mood! The feeling the author tries to convey throughout the story (frightened, sad, happy, etc) 1
Characters! The people the story is about; characters are sometimes animals! Protagonist: the main character! Antagonist: character who opposes the protagonist! Example: (Forged By Fire) Gerald is the protagonist and Jordan the antagonist. Conflict! Conflict is the struggle or problem between two forces either externally or internally.! In this common conflict, what one character wants conflicts with what another character wants. Example: Batman vs. Superman Man vs. Man! The main character(s) does not fit in with societywho goes against what society wants or expects. Man vs. Society! The characters in stories fight against natural forces such as storms, cold, or extreme heat. The natural force is called the antagonistic force. Man vs. Nature! This conflict involves an internal struggle. A character must overcome problems within himself. He may wish to do one thing, but be tempted to do another. Man vs. Self 2
Plot! The sequence of events which lead to the resolution Plot structure:! (Step 1)Exposition: introduces the readers to characters and explains the setting. Gives background information needed to understand the story. Plot Structure! (Step 2) Complications: the event that sets the story in motion! Example: Forged By Fire: When Gerald accidentally sets the apartment on fire, he has to go live with Aunt Queen. Plot Structure! (Step 3) Rising Action: the sequence of events that occur during which time the conflict develops or builds (puts you on the edge of your seat).! Example: In Forged By Fire when the kitchen catches on fire while Jordan and Angel are in the bedroom, the chapter ends leaving you wondering what will happen next. Plot Structure! (Step 4) Climax: the highest point of interest or suspense! Example: The final showdown between Gerald and Jordan Plot Structure! (Steps 5&6) Falling Action and Resolution: the events after the climax and the end of the story. Most of the time, all questions will be answered at this point. Some stories leave you hanging. 3
CLIMAX RISING ACTION FALLING ACTION INCITING INCIDENT EXPOSITION RESOLUTION Flashback! A narrative technique that allows a writer to present past events during current events, in order to provide background for the current narration Foreshadowing! a method used to build suspense by providing hints of what is to come Theme vs. Topic! The topic is simply what the story is about.! The theme is the author s point about the topic. Theme! What is the big message about life in the story? Forged By Fire! Topics: abuse, hardship, friendship, courage, death! Themes:! Abuse can damage an entire family.! Hardships can make a person stronger.! Death has no age limit. 4
! Gerald! Gerald is the protagonist in Forged by Fire. Gerald has a troubled past and a troubled future. The only sources of happiness In his life, are his little step- sister, Angel, playing basketball, and his teammates on the basketball team. Monique Monique is Gerald s drug abusing mother. After being sent to jail for abandoning Gerald, she marries Jordan Sparks. Although she loves her children, she ignores the horrible abuse they face daily.! Jordan! Jordan is the antagonist of Forged by Fire. He is Gerald s abusive stepfather. Jordan is an alcoholic, highly temperamental, and cannot hold a job.! Angel! Angel is Gerald s little sister. She is an exceptional dancer, which is her way of coping with the horrific abuses she and Gerald encounter in their lives.! Aunt Queen is Gerald s loving aunt, who takes care of him after his mother, Monique, is sent to jail for abandoning Gerald. While living with her, his life is filled with support and love.! Mr. Washington is the father of Gerald s closest friend, Rob. Because Gerald is able to confide in him, he helps Gerald put an end to the constant emotional and physical torment. 5
! Rob is the son of Mr. Washington and Gerald s best friend. Rob is a talented basketball player and student. He is carefree, social, and very funny. Forged by Fire Vocabulary authoritative dominant; in charge intimidated - afraid desolation - loneliness regal - proud 6
hospitality - friendliness commotion - noisy disturbance temptation - enticement indulged - enjoyed sullen moody; sad bluntly briefly, abruptly 7
grudgingly - unwillingly ordeal a trying test enveloped - covering brutes - beast mystified - perplexed, bewildered, confused alternated - interchange repeatedly 8
proceedings - series of activities assurance - promise prosecutor - prosecuting attorney filtering - purifying, cleaning rehabilitated - restored to a condition of good health severity - harshness 9
stifling - to withhold curtly - short, rudely brief agitated - upset, disturbed stability - balance, integrity incoherently - without meaningful connection ferocity - fury, violence 10
engulfed consumed, swallowed up raspy - rough, croaky 11