SE Short Story (help)

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• vwo
• Leerjaar 5

Kate Chopin

SE Short Story:

1. Atmosphere
2. Descriptive Language
3. Understanding
4. Structure

1. Atmosphere:

In the following samples, pick out the words that help to create the atmosphere

1. Atmosphere:

Marilyn’s small apartment was bathed with light from the new floor-to-ceiling windows. Outside, the sounds of a summer day floated up to her ears like the gurgle of a cool, clear stream.

Which are the atmosphere words?

1. Atmosphere

Marilyn’s cramped apartment was roasting in the scorching sunlight that burned through her floor-to-ceiling windows. And if there was anything more oppressive than the heat, it had to be the constant din that bubbled up from the city street below like steam from a putrid stew.

Which are the atmosphere words?

1. Atmosphere

Kate Chopin was very good at crating atmosphere in her stories.

When writing your own you should take into account the role the atmosphere plays in the story.

2. Descriptive language

Write down five adjectives to describe smells

2. Descriptive language

Write down five adjectives to describe smells

Put your smell words, in the order their in, in the following sentences.

1. He drove through the next village, which strangely smelled ……

2. It seemed that ……… smells had engulfed the kitchen.

3. What is that smell? It seems like ……, but why would it smell like that in my car?

4. Success! Her nose picked up on the scent of …….., which told her she had done well!

5. After the blast, the smell of ……. could not be got rid of. Everything smelled of …… and the decaying corpses in the street did nothing to improve it.

2. Descriptive language

Looking at the sentences, would you prefer to change words around? Or would you like to pick new words? How would they change the feel of the sentence? 

When writing it is important to try out different words and see how they can change the story.

2. Descriptive language

Is there something to say for having strange adjectives in strange places? 

E.g. a lazy palm tree; a happy grave.

What is the effect?

3. Understanding

'The Unexpected'

She stared at him as one might look upon a curious apparition which inspired wonder and mistrust rather than fear. This was not the man who had gone away from her; the man she loved and had promised to marry. What hideous transformation had he undergone, or what devilish transformation was she undergoing in contemplating him? His skin was waxy and hectic, red upon the cheek-bones. His eyes were sunken; his features pinched and prominent; and his clothing hung loosely upon his wasted frame. The lips with which he had kissed her so hungrily, and with which he was kissing her now, were dry and parched, and his breath was feverish and tainted.

At the sight and the touch of him something within her seemed to be shuddering, shrinking, shriveling together, losing all semblance of what had been. She felt as if it was her heart; but it was only her love.

What stands out to you in this story? 

She stared at him as one might look upon a curious apparition which inspired wonder and mistrust rather than fear. This was not the man who had gone away from her; the man she loved and had promised to marry. What hideous transformation had he undergone, or what devilish transformation was she undergoing in contemplating him? His skin was waxy and hectic, red upon the cheek-bones. His eyes were sunken; his features pinched and prominent; and his clothing hung loosely upon his wasted frame. The lips with which he had kissed her so hungrily, and with which he was kissing her now, were dry and parched, and his breath was feverish and tainted.

At the sight and the touch of him something within her seemed to be shuddering, shrinking, shriveling together, losing all semblance of what had been. She felt as if it was her heart; but it was only her love.