Literary Elements A comprehensive review of the literary elements.
of the literary elements. n Genre: n
A type of A type of literature literature. . ­science fiction ­ science fiction ­ ­mystery mystery ­historical fiction ­ historical fiction ­ ­fantasy fantasy ­horror/suspense ­ horror/suspense ­realistic fiction ­ realistic fiction ­biography ­ biography ­autobiography ­ autobiography n Setting n
Setting­ ­
Setting – Setting – Where and Where and when when the story the story takes takes place place. . n Writers describe the world n
through… Sights Colors Time Sounds Textures Place Ø What does setting tell us? Ø
­ It reflects character ­It reflects character ­Provides a link to the values, ­ Provides a link to the values, ideals, and attitudes of that place
place Characterization: n Characters are the n
people or creatures people or creatures that that the story is about. n Character traits n
Character traits are are qualities in a character qualities in a character that cannot be seen that cannot be seen such such as jealousy, generosity, or courage.
or courage. Types of Characters: 1. Round ­ A character that 1. Round­ A character that is round is well is round is well­ ­ developed. The author developed . The author has given the character good and good and bad bad parts of parts of their personality their personality. There is . There is more to the character than it first appears.
than it first appears. Types of Characters (continued)
(continued) 2. Flat ­ A flat character 2. Flat­ A flat character has only one level has only one level. The . The character has limited character has limited development, and usually obvious character obvious character traits traits. . Types of Characters (continued)
3. Dynamic ­ A dynamic 3. Dynamic­ A dynamic character changes character changes throughout throughout the story. The changes that take place may be either physical or physical or emotional emotional. Many . Many times the events times the events of the story of the story change the change the character character. . Types of Characters (continued)
4. Static ­ A static 4. Static­ A static character does not character does not change during the change during the story. This character will be the same will be the same at the at the beginning of the story beginning of the story as he is in the end as he is in the end. . Types of Characters (continued)
5. Protagonist­ 5. Protagonist ­ The protagonist is the main protagonist is the main character of the story to character of the story to whom the problems whom the problems are are occurring. occurring . Types of Characters (continued)
6. Antagonist 6 . Antagonist­ ­ The The n n
Person vs. Person vs. Person Person antagonist is the Person vs. Nature Nature person or person or thing thing causing causing nn Person vs. the problem the problem. There . There n Person n
Person vs. vs. Society Society can be a lot of kinds of antagonists, some of antagonists , some of n Self n
Self vs. vs. Self Self which are not people. The kinds of antagonists include the following: Conflict
Conflict n External Conflict: n
External Conflict: conflict conflict that occurs outside the that occurs outside the character ­Examples can be ­ Examples can be other other characters, characters , nature, nature , or or society society. . n Internal Conflict: n
Internal Conflict: Conflict Conflict that occurs within that occurs within a a character ( character (self self) ) Plot
Plot 1. 2. 3. Introduction ( Basic Situation): Introduction (Basic Situation ): Beginning that sets up the story. It Beginning that sets up the story. It introduces the characters introduces the characters and the and the setting. setting . Problem: Conflict Conflict­ ­The The challenge challenge the protagonist the protagonist has to overcome. has to overcome. Rising action­ Rising action ­ events events that that develop develop the problem and lead to climax the problem and lead to climax. . Plot (continued)
Plot (continued) . Climax: The The height height of the of the action action, also , also 4
4 5. 6. called the turning point. called the turning point . Falling action­ Falling action ­ events events that that resolve resolve the problem and lead to resolution the problem and lead to resolution. . Resolution­ Resolution ­ how the how the conflict conflict was was solved. solved . Theme Theme ­ The Theme­ The idea idea about about life life revealed in a work of revealed in a work of literature literature. . Also called the lesson Also called the lesson or or moral moral of the story.
of the story. Theme (continued)
Theme (continued) Good Examples of Theme: 1. Love conquers all. 2. Time heals all wounds. 3. Don’t give up when times are rough. Poor Examples of Theme: 1. This is a story about a boy who gets trapped in a cave. (Don’t give a summary) 2. The theme is love. (Not specific enough) 3. I liked this story because it had a happy ending. (Don’t give an opinion) Point­ Point ­of of­ ­View: View: n n
Point ­of Point­ of­ ­View View is the is the view view from whose eyes from whose eyes the the story story is being told is being told (where you (where you place the camera). There place the camera). There are three are three major types of major types of point­ point ­of of­ ­view. view.
Point­ Point ­of of­ ­View (continued) View (continued)
1. n n
First person ­ the story is told First person­ from the viewpoint of one from the viewpoint of one character who character who narrates narrates the the story. Pronouns “I story. Pronouns “ I”, “ ”, “me me”, and ”, and “my “ my” are mostly used. ” are mostly used. Key element: Narrator Key element: Narrator is is a a character in the story. Narrator character in the story. Narrator not reliable. not reliable . Point­ Point ­of of­ ­View (continued) View (continued) 2. Third Person 2. Third Person Limited Limited­ ­ Third person limited uses an outside narrator limited uses an outside narrator who is not who is not involved involved in the story. in the story. Pronouns mostly used are “he Pronouns mostly used are “ he”, ”, “she “ she”, and “ ”, and “they they”. ”. n Key element: n
Key element: Narrator Narrator does not does not know what is in know what is in other other character’s character’s minds. Narrator can only tell what minds . Narrator can only tell what is observable is observable about other about other characters.
characters. Point­ Point ­of of­ ­View (continued) View (continued)
3. Third Person Unlimited 3. Third Person Unlimited (Omniscient ( Omniscient) )­ ­ Third person unlimited narrator is not a narrator is not a character character in the in the story. Pronouns mostly used are also “he also “ he”, “ ”, “she she”, and “ ”, and “they they”. ”. n Key element: n
Key element: This narrator has This narrator has access into access into ALL ALL character’s character’s minds minds and can tell what they are ALL and can tell what they are ALL thinking, thinking , feeling feeling, , and and doing doing. . Figurative Language
Figurative Language n Figurative language Figurative language is is the use of language in the use of language in creative and interesting creative and interesting ways. There are many ways. There are many types of figurative types of figurative language. Figurative Language (continued) n Simile n
Simile­ ­ A comparison A comparison using using like like or or as . as. l The sun is The sun is like like a yellow balloon. a yellow balloon. l Joe is as angry Joe is as angry as as a wounded a wounded tiger. l From an Irish rovers song: “Her eyes… they shine like eyes… they shine like a a diamond!”
diamond!” Figurative Language (continued)
Figurative Language (continued) n Metaphor n
Metaphor­ ­ A A comparison comparison of of two unlike things. two unlike things. l “All the world “All the world is is a stage.” a stage.” l He He was was in the autumn of in the autumn of his years.” Figurative Language (continued)
(continued) n Idiom: n
Using language in a Using language in a way so that the meaning way so that the meaning can’t can’t be determined be determined from the from the individual words individual words. It is . It is unique unique and creative and creative. . Example: smart cookie Example: break a leg Literature Misc.
Literature Misc. n Foreshadowing n
Foreshadowing­ ­ to show to show beforehand , foretell with beforehand, foretell with hints or hints or clues clues n Flashback n
Flashback­ ­ Conversation , scene Conversation, scene or or event that happened event that happened before the before the current current point in point in the story Literature Misc.
Literature Misc. n Imagery n
Imagery­ ­ Words Words or or phrases phrases that create that create sensory experiences and mental sensory experiences and mental images in literature. (5 senses images in literature. ( 5 senses) ) n Symbol n
Symbol­ ­ A A person person, , place place, , thing thing or an or an event that has its own meaning and event that has its own meaning and stands for stands for something beyond something beyond itself. itself. n Mood n
Mood­ ­ An atmosphere or An atmosphere or feeling feeling the the writer creates writer creates with his or her use of with his or her use of words. words . Irony: n Verbal Irony n
Verbal Irony­ ­ where what is said where what is said is the opposite is the opposite of what was meant of what was meant (sarcasm ( sarcasm) ) n Situational Irony n
Situational Irony­ ­ where what where what happens is the happens is the opposite opposite of what of what you think you think. . n Dramatic Irony n
Dramatic Irony­ ­ where the where the reader reader knows something the knows something the characters characters don’t
don’t