The Duelby Nikolai Dmitrievitch Teleshov

Plot: the Action of a Story• beginning—introduction– the BEST stories actually

start in the MIDDLE of the ACTION

• middle—development, explanation, movement, motivation

• end—resolution or dénouement [the final unraveling or solution of the plot]

• The plot follows a general pattern of increasing tension until close to the end of the story when the conflict is resolved

Rising Action

Resolution

Climax

Characters: the Who• dynamic—changing

or growing characters– also “round”

• static—unchanging or one-dimensional characters– also “flat”

Note: sometimes inanimate objects play the roles of characters

• protagonist—the central character for whom the reader feels sympathy– many times the hero

but not always• antagonist—the character

who opposes the protagonist

– opposing force– not necessarily bad or evil

Setting• the where• the when– may or may not be

important– Both the where and

the when must fit—often without notice.

– give clues unobtrusively

Conflict in LiteratureMan vs. power greater than

himself— God –– Nature

Man vs. man

Man vs. self

The Duel• Who is the central character?• Whom or what is the central character fighting

against?• How is the dominant conflict resolved?• What is the secondary conflict in this story?• How is the secondary conflict resolved?

The Duel• What specific action confirms

that Vladimir was upset the night before the duel?

• What were some specific clues evidenced in Ivan’s behavior that should have alerted Pelageia Petrovna that something was wrong?

• Was the conflict resolved satisfactorily?

The Duel

• What characters in the Bible experienced man-against-self conflicts?

Assignment:

Write a formal literature response that analyzes Ivan’s inner conflict in “The Duel.”Use the General Format for Literature Responses as a template.

Remember: This is FORMAL writing• NO FIRST OR SECOND PERSON PRONOUNS• NO CONTRACTIONS• NO SLANG

Format:• notes today—handwritten; final copy due on Monday--typed• double-space all!• watch margins• not on back

1. State the main character, the title of the book, or story, the author and the lesson (theme) which is learned by the main character.

2. Describe a character quality of the main character and an event or action of the main character.

3. Describe how the main character responds to this situation. Why? 4. Interpret how the main character’s response affects what happens

later.5. Describe how the main character responds to another situation.

(Perhaps to another person?) and interpret how the main character’s response affects what happens later. Answer why.

6. Finally, the main character learns (or does not learn) a (restated) lesson.

Write a formal literature response that analyzes Ivan’s inner conflict in “The Duel.”You are NOT limited to 6-7 sentences. Any sentence can be expounded upon. “For example . . .”