Elements of Literature



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Literature Terms

Characterization

The methods an author uses to acquaint a reader with the characters in a work. He or she might…

describe the character’s physical traits and personality

report the character’s speech and behavior

give opinions and the reactions of other characters toward this individual

reveal the character by describing the character’s feelings and thoughts.

Protagonist

A protagonist is considered to be the main character or lead figure in a novel, play, story, or poem.  It may also be referred to as the "hero" of a work. The action usually revolves around the protagonist.

Antagonist

A character in a story or poem who deceives, frustrates, or works against the main character, or protagonist, in some way.

Types of Characters

• Dynamic Character (round character)- a character who develops or changes as a result of the actions of the plot.

• Static Character (flat character) – a character who remains basically unchanged throughout a story.

Conflict

A struggle between opposing forces; conflicts can be external (outside forces) or internal (within a character’s mind).

Setting

The time and the place of the story or novel.

A story can be set in a realistic or imaginary place and can occur in the past, present, or future.

Point Of View

The perspective from which the story is told.

First Person- ‘I’: The narrator of the story is a character in the story that is telling the story from his own personal view. The story is told from the point of view of ‘I’: may include “I, me, we, or us”.

Second Person: When the author speaks directly to the reader.

Third Person: The narrator seems to be someone standing outside the story. Told like a reporter reporting the news.

Third Person Limited- ‘He, she it”: who can see into the mind of one of the characters.

Third Person Omniscient- This point of view can also be told by an outsider who can see into the minds of many characters (all knowing).

Imagery

Imagery can be created by details in the story that appeal to the senses of sight, sound, touch, smell, and taste.

Example: Sweet, slow drops of rich orange juice drip from the corners of my mouth and drool off my chin.

Symbolism

Symbolism is using an object or a thing to stand for or to substitute for another thing. A symbol may be an object a person, and action, or a situation that suggests a meaning beyond its obvious meaning. For example:

A heart might be used to symbolize love and affection.

A knife might be used to symbolize a robber, warrior, or hunter.

Tone

The approach or attitude that the writer takes toward the subject of the writing. This is revealed by the words the author chooses. See notes in “Keep Forever”.

Mood

A feeling or emotion that a writing or piece of literature stirs in the reader.

Oxymoron

• A phrase that brings two words together that contradict each other. For example: honest thief, cruel kindness.

Theme

The main idea or underlying meaning of a literary work. The theme includes the topic of the writing and a viewpoint or opinion about the topic. See notes in “Keep Forever”.

Foreshadowing

An author’s way of hinting or giving clues to the reader of events or developments that might come later in the story.

Flashback

• A device that allows the writer to present events that happened before the time of the current narration or the current events in the fiction. Flashback techniques include memories, dreams, stories of the past told by characters, or even authorial sovereignty.

• Flashback is useful for exposition, to fill in the reader about a character or

place, or about the background to a conflict.

Plot

What happens 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and so on.

The plot centers on at least one major problem called a conflict.

Five Main Parts of the Plot

Figurative Language

Figurative language uses comparisons to express a relationship between essentially unlike things

Examples of Figurative Language

Simile: Compares two unlike things using like or as:

ex. My heart soared like an eagle.

Metaphor: Am implied comparison between two relatively unlike things without using like or as:

ex. The jealous girls were a bunch of tigers ready to pounce.

Hyperbole: The comparison by using an exaggerated statement:

ex. I’m so tired, I could sleep a hundred years!

Personification: Compares by giving human characteristics to non-human things:

ex. The river reached for me with icy fingers.

Clichés

A word or phrase that has become overly familiar or commonplace.

Examples: No pain, no gain. Quiet as a mouse. Don’t judge a book by its cover.

Don’t put all your eggs in one basket.

Idioms

Idioms are groups of words that really don’t mean what they say. Each idiom has a special meaning.

Examples: In a pickle. Sitting on top of the world. Open a can of worms.

Allusion

An indirect or implied reference to another work of literature, historical event, famous quotation, etc. The desired effect is to enhance the meaning of the author's work by the reference. This can only be achieved by the level of the reader's knowledge of the work being alluded to

Irony

The contrast between what is expected to happen and what actually happens.

Suspense

This is created through the readers uncertainty about the character’s ability to solve a problem, conflict or crisis.

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External Conflict

(Struggle with an outside force.)

Man-vs-man

Man-vs-nature

Man-vs-animal

Man-vs-society

Internal Conflict

(Takes place in the character’s mind.)

Man-vs-Self

Exposition or beginning: setting and introduction of main characters. The opening of a short story or novel. It provides background information that the reader needs to know.

Inciting Incident: Hook-first hint of future conflict-= gets the story moving.

Rising Action: Initial incident, suspense, shows conflict or struggle, complications, details, sequence of events. The chain of events become more complex. The actions and feelings of the characters intensify as their problems become more complicated.

Climax: Greatest emotional response, turning point of the story. Involves an important event, decision, or discovery that affects the final outcome.

Falling Action: Following the climax, the intensity of the story may subside. The falling action describes the results of the major events as the action winds down.

Denouement/Resolution: Conflict, crisis, or struggle resolved The final part of the story. It tells how the story ends. All the loose ends are tied up.

Climax (Turning Point)

Falling Action

Rising Action

Denouement/Resolution

(Ending)

Exposition: Characters and Setting

(Beginning)

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