Analyzing Literature in the Short Story Birthday Party

This class will focus on eight elements of fiction that form the basis of all good literary analysis: character, plot, theme, point-of-view, setting, conflict, tone, and style. First, we will review these elements in the context of the story Little Red Riding Hood. Then we will apply our knowledge of these elements to understanding and analyzing a very short work of fiction, which we will read in class. I like to begin class with an activity to assess the learners' prior knowledge and to activate that knowledge. I teach using questions to lead the class into discussion. There will be no lecture in this class; therefore, there will be ample opportunity for discussion and interaction. I like to keep this class light, though with a clear learning objective and an expectation for positive participation. Students typically are exposed to the elements of fiction in junior high, but my hope is to bring their knowledge to a higher level and have the learners apply these elements to a serious work of fiction that lends itself to a fruitful analysis.