LITERARY ELEMENTS
You need to know these terms as they will be applied throughout the school year. Your teacher will provide multiple lessons, assignments, and resources on Literary Elements. There are additional resources in the Literature textbook/online textbook to help with applying these terms.
* CHARACTER: the people or animals in the story
o Protagonist: the main character
o Antagonist: the person or force against the protagonist
Ø Dynamic character: a literary or dramatic character who undergoes an important inner change (a change in personality or beliefs)
Example: Ebeneezer Scrooge from A Christmas Carol is a dynamic character. Tris in Divergent is a dynamic character.
Ø Static character: a character who undergoes little or no inner change or growth in the story
Example: Cinderella’s Stepmother and the Fairy Godmother from “Cinderella” are static characters.
* SETTING: time, place, and culture/environment in which the story takes place
* PLOT: the sequence of events in the story
Elements of Plot:
1. Exposition
2. Rising Action
3. Conflict
4. Climax
5. Falling Action
6. Resolution
Explanation of Plot Elements:
1. Exposition – the background information on the characters and setting often explained at the beginning of the story. The exposition gives information about the characters’ history that is important to understanding their personality, relationships, and present lives. It is important that readers know some of these details in order to understand a story.
2. Rising Action – the stage of the plot that develops the conflict or struggle. Events occur that make the conflict more complicated and build toward a climax or turning point.
3. Conflict – problem faced by the characters
o Internal conflict: conflict within the character (Man vs. Himself) Examples: insecurity, fear, jealousy, deciding whether or not to cheat on a test, a competitive drive to beat your own record
o External conflict: conflict the character has outside of themselves (Man vs. Man, Man vs. Nature, Man vs. Society) Examples: being bullied, having your house destroyed by a tornado, opposing the government
4. Climax – the critical ‘turning point’ of the story, when the plot changes for better or for worse for the main character(s); this may sometimes be the most exciting part of the story
5. Falling Action – the story begins to draw to a close. Events in the falling action show the results of the important decision/action that happened at the climax. Tension eases as the final action begins.
6. Resolution – the conflict is resolved/finalized
* FORESHADOWING - the author’s use of written hints or clues to suggest what will happen later in the story
* SYMBOLISM – In writing, symbolism is the use of a word, a phrase, or a description, which
represents a deeper meaning than the words themselves.
* THEME: the central idea that the writer wishes to convey about the subject and/or the writer’s view of the world or human nature. Identifying the theme of a story can be challenging. It requires the reader to identify a main idea in the story, and then extend the idea to the real world. Themes touch on the moral aspect of the story and how we as readers can learn lessons about life through literature. Stated themes are directly stated by a character or narrator in the story. Implied themes are not said directly, but the reader has to come up with what he or she thinks is the message of the story.
Examples:
· possible themes of The Giver by Lois Lowry – the importance of memory; individual vs. society; the loss of innocence
· possible themes of Gathering Blue by Lois Lowry – loyalty toward friends; discovering one’s place in the world; self-acceptance vs. insecurity
· possible themes of Out of the Dust by Karen Hesse – survival during hard times; the importance of family; growing up/coming of age
* POINT OF VIEW: the perspective from which the story is told
· First Person - The narrator is a character in the story who can reveal only personal thoughts and feelings and what he or she sees and is told by other characters. He can’t tell us thoughts of other characters. Uses pronouns like I, me, my, myself, and us, our, we, ourselves.
· Second Person – uses personal pronouns like you, your, and yours. It is often used for giving directions, offering advice, or providing an explanation. This perspective allows the writer to make a connection with his or her audience by focusing on the reader.
· Third-Person Objective - The narrator is an outsider who can report only what he or she sees and hears. This narrator can tell us what is happening, but he can’t tell us the thoughts of the characters.
· Third-Person Limited - The narrator is an outsider who sees into the mind of ONE of the characters.
· Third-Person Omniscient - The narrator is an all-knowing outsider who can enter the minds of more than one
of the characters.
* IRONY - Irony is the contrast between what is expected or what appears to be and what actually is.
· Verbal Irony - The contrast between what is said and what is actually meant (ex: sarcasm)
· Irony of Situation - This refers to a happening that is the opposite of what is expected or intended.
· Dramatic Irony - This occurs when the audience or reader knows more than the characters know.
* IMAGERY–writing that uses descriptive language to appeal to one or more of the five senses
* ALLUSION – a brief and indirect reference to a person, place, thing, or idea of historical, cultural, literary, or political significance. It does not describe in detail the person or thing to which it refers. It is just a passing comment, and the writer expects the reader to possess enough knowledge to spot the allusion and grasp its importance in a text.
Examples:
· Although Jeanie was a beauty, her boyfriend was definitely a beast. – This is a reference to a fairy tale.
· This place is like a Garden of Eden. – This is a biblical allusion.
· Brady’s skills on the dance floor rivaled those of Michael Jackson.
* TONE - The author’s attitude, stated or implied, toward a subject (how the author feels). Some possible attitudes are respectful, humorous, positive, and negative. An author’s tone can be revealed through choice of words and details.
* MOOD- The climate ofemotional feeling in a literary work (how the author wants the reader to feel). The choice of setting, objects, details, images, and words all contribute towards creating a specific mood.