This week we looked at metaphorical devices: symbols, motifs and allegory. Let's see if we can develop some symbolism for the one-liners we've got going: 1. Our human-rights-attorney story: When the money runs out before the case against his transgender partner is over, a human rights lawyer joins a prestigious and wealthy law firm not knowing that the managing … Continue reading Thematic Devices: Show Us What You’ve Got!
Category: Theme
Metaphorical Devices: How the Masters Do It
We're looking at Metaphorical Devices this week. Here are some examples of how the masters use them... SYMBOLS Some books state their symbols right in the title: Sue Monk Kidd's The Secret Life of Bees Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter MOTIFS AND LEITMOTIFS Chuck Palahniuk's Fight Club This is a story of two guys, an … Continue reading Metaphorical Devices: How the Masters Do It
Thematic Metaphors: Symbols, Motifs, and Allegory
Updated 2.7.20 Today we are looking at how to show our theme and thematic premise through the use of metaphoric literary devices. I’ve been waiting for this week. I think this aspect of the craft is super fun, both to read and to write, and I’m excited to wrap my brain around it. Let’s get to … Continue reading Thematic Metaphors: Symbols, Motifs, and Allegory
Clones: Let’s See What You’ve Got!
Clones, or mirror characters, reflection characters, variation-on-theme characters, are characters who highlight, through comparison and contrast, aspects--especially thematic aspects and stakes--of the main character. Let's see if we can develop some clones for a couple of the one-liners we've got going: 1. Our human-rights-attorney story: When the money runs out before the case against his transgender partner … Continue reading Clones: Let’s See What You’ve Got!
Clones: How the Masters Use Them
Some stories seem to lend themselves to lots of clones, others not so much. These are the clones examples I've noticed in the books I've read lately. 1. James Patterson's Hope to Die In Hope to Die, where protagonist Alex Cross is trying to rescue his kidnapped family, Patterson uses clones for stakes purposes. Every … Continue reading Clones: How the Masters Use Them
Clones: Variations on Theme Through Character
Last updated 2.5.20 One way of showing theme and thematic premise is through comparing and contrasting the main character’s thematic traits with those of supporting characters. Characters who serve this function are often referred to as foils, mirror characters, reflection characters, symbols, or even clones. And they often drive a subplot (which we may look … Continue reading Clones: Variations on Theme Through Character
Premise: Let’s see what you’ve got!
So, last week we sussed out possible themes of our working one-liners and concepts. Let's see if we can expand those themes into rough, working premises... 1. Our human-rights-attorney story: When the money runs out before the case against his transgender partner is over, a human rights lawyer joins a prestigious and wealthy law firm not knowing that the … Continue reading Premise: Let’s see what you’ve got!
Premise: How the masters do it
So, we're filling out the Master Premise Tool we developed on Monday: [Vice] leads to [defeat] but [Virtue] leads to [success] Again, I'll add more examples as I read more books with an eye for theme, but this will get us started... 1. James Patterson's Hope to Die As we looked at last week, the … Continue reading Premise: How the masters do it
Thematic Premise: What is it?
Theme. Theme Statement. Moral Premise. Controlling Idea. Armature. There are lots of names for the tool we’re looking at today. And you should probably brace yourselves because the masters have a lot to say about it. WHAT IS IT? Christopher Vogler says, "a premise is a more developed articulation of ... theme, turning the one word … Continue reading Thematic Premise: What is it?
Theme: Show us what you’ve got!
So, let's see if we can suss out the themes of our working one-liners and concepts. 1. Our human-rights-attorney story: When the money runs out before the case against his transgender partner is over, a human rights lawyer joins a prestigious and wealthy law firm not knowing that the managing partner is the devil behind … Continue reading Theme: Show us what you’ve got!
