Art in Short Story Narration: A Practical Treatise by Henry Albert Phillips

Art in Short Story Narration

A Practical Treatise

 

by Henry Albert Phillips

 

 A Searching Analysis of the Qualifications of Fiction in General, and of the Short Story in Particular, with Copious Examples, Making the Work A PRACTICAL TREATISE.

 

CONTENTS

Introduction vii

Foreword xi

CHAPTER PAGE

I Art and Technique 15

Symbols; Six Mediums; Sphere of the Creator; Significance of Repression.

II Literature and Life 24

The Fiction Deluge; Producer vs. Consumer; to Amuse or to Entertain.

III The Artistry of Narration ... 30

Enter Art; What is Demanded; Essentials; Movement and Action; Vividness.

IV The Short Story 36

Cooperation; Isolation; Selection.

V Fact Versus Fiction 41

Taste vs. Truth; Romance and Realism; the True Story; the Improbable and the Impossible.

VI lUFRESSION AND EXPRESSION .... 48

Personal Equation; Reality; Visualizing; the Writer's Ultimate Aim.

VII The Potency of Suggestion ... 53
Re-Creation; Color Values; Association and Relationships; Figurative Language.

VIII Beauty and Embelushment ... 59
Esthetics; Figures; Taste; Revealment; Imagery; the Artist's Vision.

IX The Appeal That Creates Interest . 66
Entertainment; Sympathy and Tolerance; Plausibility; Four Stages in Development of Interest.

X The Psychology of Emohon ... 72
Mood; Feeling; Passion; Eloquence; Pathos.

XI The Scope of Imagination .... 78
Glamor; Fantasy; the Artist's Right to Fame.

XII The Power of Motive 85

Theme; Morals; Unique Power of the Artist; Sermons; the Unconscious Motive.

XIII The Influence of Atmosphere . . 93

Color of Medium; Metaphor; Atmosphere as an Abstract Quality; Two Aspects.

XIV The Charm of Harmony .... 102

Unity; Organism vs. Organization; Color; Harmony of Plot and Theme; Tone Effects.

XV The Human Element 11 1

Life; Characters; Human Interest; Heart Interest and Story Interest; Naturalness.

XVI The Dramatic Spark 118

Contrasts ; Tragedy ; Melodrama ; Suspense; Drama and Literature.

XVII The Temper op Love 124

Details ad Nauseam; Romance and Love; Illicit Love; the Incomparable Theme.

XVIII The Poignancy of Effect . . . . 130
Climax ; Vividness ; Plausibility ; Art for Art's Sake; to Win Fame; When All is Said and Done.

XIX A Study in Analysis 136

A Short Story, "Sacrifice," Dissected With a View to Art in its Narration.

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The Plot of the Short Story: An Exhaustive Study, Both Synthetical and Analytical, with Copious Examples, Making the Work a Practical Treatise by Henry Albert Phillips

The Plot of the Short Story: An Exhaustive Study, Both Synthetical and Analytical, with Copious Examples, Making the Work a Practical Treatise by Henry Albert Phillips

I.-MISLEADING FORMS OF NARRATIVE 1

Illuminating Comparisons of the modern Short Story with (1) the Anecdote; (2) the True Story; (8) the Fable; (4) the Allegory; (6) the Character Sketch and the Character Study; (6) the Humorous Story; (7) the Playlet; (8) the Novel; (9) the Novelette.

II.— THE MODERN SHORT STORY ... 11

A Comprehensive Definition; the Name a Misnomer.

III.— THE PLOT 14

What It Is ; Its Importance and Relationship in the Modem Short Story; the Obstacle; Logic and Plausibility.

IV.— LAWS GOVERNING THE PLOT ... 19

The Dramatic Unities with an Additional Unit; Care; Compression; Simplicity; Dispatch; Completeness.

V.— PLOT ANALYSIS 23.

"Mrs. Knollys" and "The Necklace" as Examples; the Triangle Plot

VI.— INSPIRATION 80

Mood; Stimulants; the Powers and Employment of Imagination.

VII.— THE PROCESS OF PLOTTING . . . 36

Important Differences between that of Plotting and of Narrating the Story.

VIII.— THE PROGRESSIVE STAGES IN PLOTTING 40

The Plot Germ; the Plot Skeleton; the Plot Scenario; Examples.

IX.— ARRANGEMENTS OF EVENTS ... 46

Chronological and Logical Orders; Natural Sequence; Story Interest.

X.— PLOT DEVELOPMENT 58

The Laws of Movement and Action ; Supreme Moment; Climax; Conclusion; Denouement; Necessity for Complete Action; the End; the Effect.

XI.— THE TEN POSSIBLE PLOT MANIFESTATIONS 69

Each Illustrated by an Example.

XII.— PLOT GENEALOGY 74

God's Plot in the Book of Creation, showing the Resemblance of All Plots Since; the Basic Plot for All Stories; the Five Elemental Plots Deduced there from; Man's Relationships.

XII— CLASSIFICATIONS AND VARIATIONS OF PLOT . . 79

A Categorical Classification and Comprehensive Catalog of Plot Material.

XIV.— PRACTICAL PLOT SOURCES ... 92

Employment of Facts ; the Daily Newspaper ; Pregnant Paragraphs; Fertile Phrases; Use of Fiction; General Reading; Observation; Dangers; Propriety; Originality.

XV.— A STORE-HOUSE FULL OF PLOTS . . 108

A Novel Method of Storing a Practically Inexhaustible Supply of Plots; the Importance of Taking Notes; How to Take Notes; How to Keep them Systematically.

XVI.— A PRACTICAL DEMONSTRATION IN PLOT BUILDING 112

How a Plot is Conceived and Carried thru every Process.

XVII.— THE PLOT-BUILT STORY .... 120

Administrating the Relationship of Plot and Finished Story; "Arden— The Village of Despair."

XVIII.— RECAPITULATION AND REVIEW . 148

A Syllabus Designed for the Use of Teachers and Students in the Study of the Plot of the Short Story; 207 Vital Questions Taken from the Text Itself and Covering the Whole Subject.

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The Plot of the Short Story by Henry Albert Phillips (1912) (PDF)

The Plot of the Short Story 

 

by Henry Albert Phillips 

 

(1912)

 

The Plot of the Short Story: An Exhaustive Study, Both Synthetical and Analytical, with Copious Examples, Making the Work a Practical Treatise by Henry Albert Phillips

I.-MISLEADING FORMS OF NARRATIVE 1

Illuminating Comparisons of the modern Short Story with (1) the Anecdote; (2) the True Story; (8) the Fable; (4) the Allegory; (6) the Character Sketch and the Character Study; (6) the Humorous Story; (7) the Playlet; (8) the Novel; (9) the Novelette.

II.— THE MODERN SHORT STORY ... 11

A Comprehensive Definition; the Name a Misnomer.

III.— THE PLOT 14

What It Is ; Its Importance and Relationship in the Modem Short Story; the Obstacle; Logic and Plausibility.

IV.— LAWS GOVERNING THE PLOT ... 19

The Dramatic Unities with an Additional Unit; Care; Compression; Simplicity; Dispatch; Completeness.

V.— PLOT ANALYSIS 23.

"Mrs. Knollys" and "The Necklace" as Examples; the Triangle Plot

VI.— INSPIRATION 80

Mood; Stimulants; the Powers and Employment of Imagination.

VII.— THE PROCESS OF PLOTTING . . . 36

Important Differences between that of Plotting and of Narrating the Story.

VIII.— THE PROGRESSIVE STAGES IN PLOTTING 40

The Plot Germ; the Plot Skeleton; the Plot Scenario; Examples.

IX.— ARRANGEMENTS OF EVENTS ... 46

Chronological and Logical Orders; Natural Sequence; Story Interest.

X.— PLOT DEVELOPMENT 58

The Laws of Movement and Action ; Supreme Moment; Climax; Conclusion; Denouement; Necessity for Complete Action; the End; the Effect.

XI.— THE TEN POSSIBLE PLOT MANIFESTATIONS 69

Each Illustrated by an Example.

XII.— PLOT GENEALOGY 74

God's Plot in the Book of Creation, showing the Resemblance of All Plots Since; the Basic Plot for All Stories; the Five Elemental Plots Deduced there from; Man's Relationships.

XII— CLASSIFICATIONS AND VARIATIONS OF PLOT . . 79

A Categorical Classification and Comprehensive Catalog of Plot Material.

XIV.— PRACTICAL PLOT SOURCES ... 92

Employment of Facts ; the Daily Newspaper ; Pregnant Paragraphs; Fertile Phrases; Use of Fiction; General Reading; Observation; Dangers; Propriety; Originality.

XV.— A STORE-HOUSE FULL OF PLOTS . . 108

A Novel Method of Storing a Practically Inexhaustible Supply of Plots; the Importance of Taking Notes; How to Take Notes; How to Keep them Systematically.

XVI.— A PRACTICAL DEMONSTRATION IN PLOT BUILDING 112

How a Plot is Conceived and Carried thru every Process.

XVII.— THE PLOT-BUILT STORY .... 120

Administrating the Relationship of Plot and Finished Story; "Arden— The Village of Despair."

XVIII.— RECAPITULATION AND REVIEW . 148

A Syllabus Designed for the Use of Teachers and Students in the Study of the Plot of the Short Story; 207 Vital Questions Taken from the Text Itself and Covering the Whole Subject.

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Fiction Writing Tips Article Index Page

The Plot of the Short Story by Henry Albert Phillips (1912)

The Plot of the Short Story: An Exhaustive Study, Both Synthetical and Analytical, with Copious Examples, Making the Work a Practical Treatise by Henry Albert Phillips

I.-MISLEADING FORMS OF NARRATIVE 1

Illuminating Comparisons of the modern Short Story with (1) the Anecdote; (2) the True Story; (8) the Fable; (4) the Allegory; (6) the Character Sketch and the Character Study; (6) the Humorous Story; (7) the Playlet; (8) the Novel; (9) the Novelette.

II.— THE MODERN SHORT STORY ... 11

A Comprehensive Definition; the Name a Misnomer.

III.— THE PLOT 14

What It Is ; Its Importance and Relationship in the Modem Short Story; the Obstacle; Logic and Plausibility.

IV.— LAWS GOVERNING THE PLOT ... 19

The Dramatic Unities with an Additional Unit; Care; Compression; Simplicity; Dispatch; Completeness.

V.— PLOT ANALYSIS 23.

"Mrs. Knollys" and "The Necklace" as Examples; the Triangle Plot

VI.— INSPIRATION 80

Mood; Stimulants; the Powers and Employment of Imagination.

VII.— THE PROCESS OF PLOTTING . . . 36

Important Differences between that of Plotting and of Narrating the Story.

VIII.— THE PROGRESSIVE STAGES IN PLOTTING 40

The Plot Germ; the Plot Skeleton; the Plot Scenario; Examples.

IX.— ARRANGEMENTS OF EVENTS ... 46

Chronological and Logical Orders; Natural Sequence; Story Interest.

X.— PLOT DEVELOPMENT 58

The Laws of Movement and Action ; Supreme Moment; Climax; Conclusion; Denouement; Necessity for Complete Action; the End; the Effect.

XI.— THE TEN POSSIBLE PLOT MANIFESTATIONS 69

Each Illustrated by an Example.

XII.— PLOT GENEALOGY 74

God's Plot in the Book of Creation, showing the Resemblance of All Plots Since; the Basic Plot for All Stories; the Five Elemental Plots Deduced there from; Man's Relationships.

XII— CLASSIFICATIONS AND VARIATIONS OF PLOT . . 79

A Categorical Classification and Comprehensive Catalog of Plot Material.

XIV.— PRACTICAL PLOT SOURCES ... 92

Employment of Facts ; the Daily Newspaper ; Pregnant Paragraphs; Fertile Phrases; Use of Fiction; General Reading; Observation; Dangers; Propriety; Originality.

XV.— A STORE-HOUSE FULL OF PLOTS . . 108

A Novel Method of Storing a Practically Inexhaustible Supply of Plots; the Importance of Taking Notes; How to Take Notes; How to Keep them Systematically.

XVI.— A PRACTICAL DEMONSTRATION IN PLOT BUILDING 112

How a Plot is Conceived and Carried thru every Process.

XVII.— THE PLOT-BUILT STORY .... 120

Administrating the Relationship of Plot and Finished Story; "Arden— The Village of Despair."

XVIII.— RECAPITULATION AND REVIEW . 148

A Syllabus Designed for the Use of Teachers and Students in the Study of the Plot of the Short Story; 207 Vital Questions Taken from the Text Itself and Covering the Whole Subject.


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Art In Short Story Narration: A Searching Analysis of the Qualifications of Fiction in General, and of the Short Story in Particular, with Copious Examples, Making the Work A PRACTICAL TREATISE. By Henry Albert Phillips, (1913)

Art In Short Story Narration: A Searching Analysis of the Qualifications of Fiction in General, and of the Short Story in Particular, with Copious Examples, Making the Work A PRACTICAL TREATISE. By Henry Albert Phillips, (1913). Many books have been written bearing chiefly upon the technical side of fiction construction, but few — indeed, if any — have taken a step further and undertaken to analyze and reconstruct the artistic qualifications essential to fiction literature. Sometimes it is easier to tell how to do a thing, than it is to do it or to define intelligently the nature of the thing to be done. The literary craft has been informed so often how it should do its work, that it seems refreshing to be told in definite terms just what that work is." Art in Short Story Narration," then, is a book of unusual timeliness. Never before, have so many short stories been written — and published; never before has there been such a vast army of tyros — and such a great company of successful authors. In like proportion, the field for technical lore and critical discussion has advanced and widened apace.



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