Grade 11 Reading Literature worksheet on author's choices in story elements, including plot, setting, character development, and point of view.

Problem Overview:

The task requires you to write a short paper analyzing the impact of an author's choices in storytelling. The focus is on how these choices affect the overall impact of the story. The specific elements to consider include:

1. The story’s setting
2. How the story begins
3. How the action is ordered
4. How the characters are introduced
5. How the characters are developed
6. The point of view from which the story is told
7. The author’s tone
8. Any other element that you feel is relevant

Solution Approach:

To solve this problem, follow these steps:

#### 1. Choose a Story:
Select a story you have recently read or are familiar with. This will serve as the basis for your analysis.

#### 2. Analyze Each Element:
For each of the listed elements, analyze how the author's choices influence the story. Use specific examples from the text to support your points.

#### 3. Organize Your Paper:
Structure your paper logically, addressing each element in a clear and coherent manner. You can use subheadings for each element to keep the organization clean.

#### 4. Conclusion:
Summarize how the author's choices collectively contribute to the overall impact of the story.

---

Example Analysis (Using *The Great Gatsby* by F. Scott Fitzgerald)

#### 1. The Story’s Setting
- Analysis: The setting of *The Great Gatsby* is crucial to the narrative. It takes place in the 1920s, during the Jazz Age, in New York City and Long Island. The opulence of West Egg and East Egg contrasts sharply with the moral decay and emptiness of the era.
- Impact: The setting establishes the themes of wealth, decadence, and the American Dream. The geographical divide between East and West Egg symbolizes class differences and societal divides.

#### 2. How the Story Begins
- Analysis: The novel begins with Nick Carraway narrating his experience moving to West Egg and meeting Jay Gatsby. The opening lines set a reflective tone: "In my younger and more vulnerable years my father gave me some advice that I’ve been turning over in my mind ever since."
- Impact: The first-person perspective immediately draws the reader into Nick’s world, making the story personal and introspective. The reflective tone sets the stage for the exploration of themes like illusion versus reality.

#### 3. How the Action is Ordered
- Analysis: The plot unfolds through a series of flashbacks and revelations about Gatsby’s past and his relationship with Daisy Buchanan. The structure builds suspense and mystery around Gatsby’s character.
- Impact: The non-linear structure keeps the reader engaged and allows for a deeper understanding of Gatsby’s motivations and the complexities of his relationships.

#### 4. How the Characters are Introduced
- Analysis: Characters like Gatsby, Daisy, and Tom are introduced gradually, often through Nick’s observations. Gatsby is initially shrouded in mystery, while Daisy and Tom are depicted as superficial but powerful figures.
- Impact: The gradual introduction of characters creates intrigue and allows the reader to form initial impressions that evolve throughout the story.

#### 5. How the Characters are Developed
- Analysis: Gatsby’s character evolves from a mysterious figure to someone whose dreams and illusions are shattered. Daisy is revealed to be shallow and unfaithful, while Tom is portrayed as a brute and a hypocrite.
- Impact: Character development drives the narrative forward and deepens the themes of love, betrayal, and the hollowness of the upper class.

#### 6. The Point of View from Which the Story is Told
- Analysis: The story is told from Nick Carraway’s perspective, a first-person narrator who is both an observer and a participant in the events.
- Impact: Nick’s narration provides an objective yet subjective lens, allowing readers to see both the surface actions and the underlying emotions and motivations of the characters. His moral compass guides the interpretation of events.

#### 7. The Author’s Tone
- Analysis: Fitzgerald employs a melancholic and ironic tone throughout the novel. Phrases like "They were careless people, Tom and Daisy—they smashed up things and creatures and then retreated back into their money or their vast carelessness" highlight the critique of the wealthy elite.
- Impact: The tone underscores the novel’s critique of the American Dream and the moral bankruptcy of the upper class.

#### 8. Any Other Relevant Element
- Analysis: Symbolism plays a significant role in the novel. The green light at the end of Daisy’s dock symbolizes Gatsby’s hopes and dreams, while the valley of ashes represents the moral decay of society.
- Impact: Symbols enhance the thematic depth of the story, making abstract concepts like the American Dream tangible and relatable.

---

Conclusion:

F. Scott Fitzgerald’s choices in *The Great Gatsby*—from the setting and narrative structure to character development and tone—are meticulously crafted to explore themes of wealth, love, and the American Dream. By carefully analyzing these elements, we gain a deeper appreciation for how the author uses literary techniques to create a timeless and impactful story.

---

Final Answer:

Write a short paper analyzing the impact of the author's choices in storytelling, focusing on the elements listed. Use specific examples from the story to support your analysis.
Boxed Answer:
$$
\boxed{\text{See the detailed example analysis above for guidance.}}
$$