2. Attitude
An Attitude is generally defined as the way a person responds to his or her environment, either positively or negatively. http:www.boundless.com
managementtextbooksboundless-management-textbookorganizational- behavior-5drivers-of-behavior-44defining-attitude-227-7241.html, Ocktober 16,
2016. The attitude also means a behavior a person adopts toward other people, things, incidents or happenings http:literarydevices.netattitude.html, October
16, 2016. PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
7
CHAPTER II
REVIEW OF LITERATURE
A. Review of Related Studies
Since this study is going to find out the idea of postmodernism through the characters’ attitudes from
The Lottery
, the writer wants to see another study from undergraduate researcher. Linda Valentina Budiman in her study about
The Lottery
states The result of this study showed that characters attitudes before and during the
lottery drawing are very anxious although there are some characters who do not show their worried such as Tessie Hutchinson and Old Man Warner. The
Lottery that has been done so many years also brings some effects toward the
characters’ life. There are two kinds of effect: general and specific effect. Generally, the lottery makes people accept it blindly without questioning
what it is actually for, and it makes them become narrow-minded in such a way that they are willing to kill one of them every year for sake of a good
harvest Budiman, 2000:6.
What can be inferred from the statement above is that the lottery can bring a great impact to the characters in the story. It also makes people in that village just
accept the lottery that has been carried out for so many years without any questions in their mind. The questions here are about human values and right, as
mentioned above, are severely neglected by killing anybody who wins the lottery. Another study reviewed for the research is taken from Gisela Swara Gita
Andika’s study. She clarified that Pi as a main character in Life of Pi shows the ideas of postmodernism from his attitudes. She states that
His postmodernism is also shown in the way he practices three religions in the same time that can be considered religious pluralism. Religious pluralism,
a part of postmodernism that concerns with religiosity, allows PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
people to go beyond and admit that all religions are true. Pi believes in this notion, and he practices three religions to find comfort and peace in his life
Andika, 2012:86.
This statement means that the aspect of postmodernism can be seen in the way how the character learns the three religions which are Hinduism, Christianity, and
Islam. Religious pluralism can be a guidance to get the understanding that all religions are true. Pluralism in that statement shows that it belongs to the idea of
postmodernism. Based on two studies above, the writer here wants to show that one of the
ways to find out ideas from the story or novel is from the characters. All characters have their own point of view in the way to see something that might
happen in their life. The writer of the thesis develops something different from the previous studies. The characters
’ attitudes from the plot as the main focus here can also show the idea of postmodernism. It shows that plot can be an important
aspect to reveal either the general or specific idea of the story. The main analysis is about the characters
’ attitudes which are revealed from the plot and how it reflects the idea of postmodernism.
B. Review of Related Theories
1. Theory of Plot
According to Abrams, “plot in a dramatic or narrative work is constituted by its events and actions, as these are rendered and ordered toward achieving
particular emoti onal and artistic effects” 1993:159. In other words, plot is a
concept which is related to events and actions in the story. Abrams also mentions that plot and character has strong relation because “the actions including verbal
discourse as well as physical actions are performed by particular characters in a work, and are the means by which they exhibit moral and dispositional quali
ties” 1993: 159. It also means that the actions and attitudes of the characters can be
seen through plot. Gustav Freytag as guided by Guerin mentions that plot is divided into five
sections; “exposition, rising action, climax or turning point, falling action, and denouement comedy or catastrophe tragedy” Guerin, 1979:8. The exposition
is “the background information needed to properly understand a story” Guerin, 1979:8. It means that to find the exposition, the reader has to know about the
basic information of the story, such as the basic conflict or the setting. After that, the writer can find the rising action from the story. The rising action is “the
inciting moment sets the remainder of the story in motion” Guerin, 1979:8. But before finding out the rising action, the writer has to know the basic conflict
which is complicated by “the introduction of other conflicts, such as setbacks” Guerin, 1979:8.
Then the writer can decide the climax from the story. The climax “marks a major change for
the protagonist” Guerin, 1979:8. It means that the character will face his ultimate test that happens in the story. The falling action comes after
the climax. It contains “a moment of final suspense, during which the final outcome of the conflict is in d
oubt” Guerin, 1979:8. Conclusion is the final part of the plot. Freytag mentions that in some genres of the story, they can reveal
different conclusion. “Comedy ends with denouement conclusion, or wrapping up in which protagonist is better off than at
the story’s outset. Tragedy ends with PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
