Un Conte de Maryse Condé (A Condé Tale)

Learning ObjectivesIdentify the main parts of a story (narrator, plot, theme, etc.).Analyze the role of characters and the development of the plot.Use indirect speech and 'what if' scenarios to talk about a text.Express an opinion about the text using the subjunctive mood.Imagine you're reading a story that takes you to another world. 🌍 You feel the characters' emotions, but you wonder: how did the author create this effect? This lesson will teach you how to 'read between the lines' to uncover the secrets of a story.Real-World ApplicationsDevelop critical thinking skills you can use for all kinds of texts (articles, movies, etc.).Improve your skills in writing analyses and essays.Better understand different cultures and viewpoints expressed in literature.

Literary TermDefinitionExampleLe récit (The story) [luh ray-SEE]The story that is told.Le récit (The story) [luh ray-SEE] de son aventure était passionnant (of his adventure was exciting).Le narrateur / La narratrice (The narrator - m/f) [luh nah-rah-TUHR / lah nah-rah-TREES]The voice that tells the story. This is not the author!Le narrateur (The narrator) [luh nah-rah-TUHR] sait tout ce que les personnages pensent (knows everything the characters are thinking).L'intrigue (The plot) [lahn-TREEG]The series of events and actions that make up the story.L'intrigue (The plot) [lahn-TREEG] du roman est pleine de suspense (of the novel is full of suspense).Le personnage (The character) [luh pair-soh-NAHZH]A person (or being) in the story.Le personnage (The character) [luh pair-soh-NAHZH] principa...

1. Indirect Speech (Le Discours Indirect [luh dees-KOOR an-dee-REKT])Rule: To report someone's words or thoughts, we use a structure like `Il a dit que...` (He said that...) [eel ah dee kuh] or `Elle pense que...` (She thinks that...) [el pahns kuh]. The verb tense might change depending on the context. Direct Example: The character says: `« Je suis perdu. »` (I am lost.) [zhuh swee pair-DEW].Indirect Example: The narrator explains that the character disait qu'il était perdu (was saying that he was lost) [dee-zay keel ay-tay pair-DEW].2. Hypotheses about the Past (Si + Pluperfect)Rule: To imagine a different outcome in the past, we use the structure: `Si` (If) [see] + [verb in the pluperfect tense], [verb in the past conditional]. This is very useful for analyzing characters' choices.Examp...