Elements of Literature
Character
The people (or
animals, things, etc.
presented as people)
appearing in a
literary work.
Character
Protagonist: main
character who
experiences conflict:
Cinderella, Luke
Skywalker, Frodo,
Hamlet
Antagonist: character
who opposes protagonist:
wicked stepmother and
sisters, Darth Vader,
Morder, Claudius
Character
Round characters:
convincing – true to life;
feature several different
and sometimes
contradictory personality
traits.
Flat characters:
stereotyped, shallow,
and sometimes
symbolic; show only
one or two
personality traits.
Dynamic characters:
experience change
or development,
often because of
conflict(s)
Static characters: do not
change throughout the
story.
Characterization
Direct characterization  author develops
the personality of a character by direct
statements.
“First of all,” Betsy Johnson, the
vivacious blonde secretary of the
sorority, had told the five new
candidates over sandwiches in
the school cafeteria last Monday,
“first of all, each of you has a big
sister . . .”
“Initiation” by Sylvia Plath
Characterization
Indirect characterization  a character’s
personality is revealed through:
– the character’s thoughts, words, and actions
– the comments of other characters
– the character’s physical appearance
Indirect Characterization
through THOUGHTS
I floored the Taurus, most unwise, since I‟d had one brush with the
law already today. I drove home, three miles under the speed limit (a
first), thanking God I was a free American.
I turned left at the Dunkin‟ Donuts on Route 1 feeling something
wasn‟t quite right.
I stared at the poster of the cholesterol-laden Dunkin‟ Munchkins
nestled cozily in their box as the unrighteousness of it grew in my
soul.
I‟d been publicly humiliated.
Falsely accused.
I have my rights!
I rammed Mom‟s car around and headed back for Mitchell Gail‟s.
“The Truth About Sharks” by Joan Bauer
Indirect Characterization
through ACTIONS
“The boy held his breath; he
wondered whether his
father would hear his heart
beating…Through a crack in
the counter he could see
where his father stood, one
hand to his high, stiff
collar…”
“I Spy” by Graham Greene
Indirect Characterization
through WORDS
“It was Kenny Griffen smiling
complacently. „Miss Bird sent
me after you „cause you been
gone six years. You‟re in
trouble…yer constipated!‟
Kenny chortled gleefully.
“Wait‟ll I tell Caaathy!”
“Hear There Be Tygers” by Stephen King
Listen for dialect! Dialect is a representation of the speech
patterns of a particular region or social group. Naturally,
dialect changes from location to location.
Indirect Characterization
through APPEARANCE
“Miss Kinney was
young and blonde
and bouncy and had
a boyfriend who
picked her up after
school in a blue
Camaro.”
“Hear There Be Tygers” by Stephen King
In much of the best literature and
the greatest stories …
Character Drives Plot!
Plot Diagram
3
2
1
4
5
Plot
Plot: a series of related
events, each connected to the
next like links in a chain;
causality  cause & effect
Think of the chain this way:
“Once Upon a Time…”
“Suddenly…”
“Luckily…” or
“Unluckily…”
“Happily/Unhappily Ever
After…”
1. Exposition
• This usually occurs at the beginning of a short
story. Here the characters are introduced. We
also learn about the setting of the story. Most
importantly, we are introduced to the main
conflict (main problem).
2. Rising Action
• This part of the story begins to
develop the conflict(s). A
building of interest or suspense
occurs.
3. Climax
• This is the turning point of the
story. Usually the main character
comes face to face with a conflict.
The main character will change in
some way.
4. Falling Action
• All loose ends
of the plot are
tied up. The
conflict(s) and
climax are
taken care of.
5. Resolution
• The story
comes to a
reasonable
ending.
Putting It All Together
1. Exposition
2. Rising Action
Beginning of
Story
Middle of Story
3. Climax
4. Falling Action
5. Resolution
End of Story
Plot: Conflict
Conflict: dramatic
struggle between
two forces in a
story. Without
conflict
no plot.
Plot: Conflict
I have enough conflict
with the weather – let
alone with another
human!
Conflict makes the plot move
forward. Many plots are a series
of causes & effects – causality.
Types of Conflict
Man vs. Nature
Man
vs. Man
Man vs.
Society
Man vs. Self
Examples of Conflict
• Man vs. Nature
– Disaster Movies (Twister, 2012)
• Man vs. Man
– when a child is being ridiculed by a bully
• Man vs. Self
– Diary of a Wimpy Kid
• Man vs. Society
– Rosa Parks when she sat in the front part of the bus
Setting
The setting is
the place
(location) where
the story takes
place and the
time it occurs.
Geographical location
(London, Cairo, Wyoming,
etc.)
Time period - day, month,
season, year, decade,
century, millenium. (WWII,
1865, Middle Ages, today,
etc.)
Socio-economic
characteristics of the
location (wealthy suburbs,
depression dustbowl, etc.)
The specific building, room,
and so forth (castle, log
cabin, bus, mountain top,
etc.)
Setting
Used to tell
readers about
characters.
She showed me the creek and we spent most of our
summers there, wading in the current, catching crawdads and
minnows with my parents‟ abducted spaghetti colander,
building dams and then pushing out the one stone that would
send the water flooding through. We dug up creek clay and
made pots, and painted ourselves wildly with its blue streaks,
pretending to be Indians, Aztecs, or Mayas. I remember her
standing in the algae-green water that first summer, her long,
tanned legs half wet and shiny, half dry with the cracking clay
stripes and dots of an Aztec king.
“And Summer Is Gone” by Susie Kretschmer
Setting . . .
. . . can be used to
set the mood or
atmosphere for the
story. Setting may
become another
character.
“When I think of the hometown of my youth, all I seem to remember is
dust – the brown, crumbly dust of late summer – arid, sterile dust that
gets into the eyes and makes them water, gets into the throat and
between the toes of bare brown feet. I don‟t know why I should
remember only the dust. … And one other thing I remember, another
incongruency of memory – a brilliant splash of sunny yellow against the
dust – Miss Lottie‟s marigolds.”
“Marigolds” by Eugenia Collier
Theme
Theme: central idea or
central message of
the story. Themes
usually contain
insight into the
human condition –
telling something
about humans and
what it means to be
human.
Themes can be
stated directly
or implied by
the characters,
events, and
actions in the
story.
Theme
Remember – theme is not the subject!
The subject can be stated in one or two
words. For example: “love”
Theme is the central idea and it makes
a revelation about the subject. It must
be a statement. For example: Love is a
powerful and motivating force when it
is first experienced.
When stating a theme – avoid using
clichés!
Secrets to Finding the Theme
Check out the title,
it may provide clues
or information
about the theme.
Notice repeating
patterns or symbols.
Look for allusions.
Remember that the
theme is not usually
stated in the story.