Summer Assignment 2:
LITERARY ELEMENTS CHART
(These elements are present in all works of literature.)
Literary Element / Example from Their Eyes Were Watching God(with page number for reference)
narrator
the story teller
point of view
the perspective from which a story is narrated (first-person singular, first-person plural, second-person, third-person limited, third-person omniscient, alternating points of view)
setting
time and place of the story; involves historical, cultural, social factors that influence the plot
atmosphere/mood
the feeling, emotion, or mood that an author creates in a narrative through descriptive language
protagonist
the main character of a work of literature
antagonist
a character, group of characters, or other force that presents an obstacle or is in direct conflict with the protagonist
characterization
the act of creating and describing characters in literature
direct characterization
the author telling the audience what a character is like
indirect characterization
the author showing the audience what kind of person a character is through the character’s thoughts, words, deeds, and the responses of other characters
conflict
the result of competing desires or the presence of obstacles that need to be overcome
plot
the events that occur during the course of that story
plot structure
the way in which events are arranged and presented to the reader
exposition
a form of writing that explains what’s happening or has happened in the story; may provide background information related to plot or characters, setting, and so on
rising action
incidents within the narrative that complicate the basic conflict
climax
in a story, a turning point from which there is no going back
falling action
the various consequences of the critical decision made and action taken at the climax
denouement/resolution
the final moment in which there is resolution for any remaining conflicts in the plot
theme
an underlying meaning or message of a literary work that may be stated directly or indirectly
style
the writer’s choices as it relates to the way a narrative is written
tone
the writer’s attitude toward a subject or an audience
voice
the unique personality of a literary work that comes through the writer’s manner of expression and other writerly choices
genre
a category of literature; works within each category have the same essential features
LITERARY ELEMENTS CHART
(These elements are present in all works of literature.)
Literary Element / Example from Catcher in the Rye(with page number for reference)
narrator
the story teller
point of view
the perspective from which a story is narrated (first-person singular, first-person plural, second-person, third-person limited, third-person omniscient, alternating points of view)
setting
time and place of the story; involves historical, cultural, social factors that influence the plot
atmosphere/mood
the feeling, emotion, or mood that an author creates in a narrative through descriptive language
protagonist
the main character of a work of literature
antagonist
a character, group of characters, or other force that presents an obstacle or is in direct conflict with the protagonist
characterization
the act of creating and describing characters in literature
direct characterization
the author telling the audience what a character is like
indirect characterization
the author showing the audience what kind of person a character is through the character’s thoughts, words, deeds, and the responses of other characters
conflict
the result of competing desires or the presence of obstacles that need to be overcome
plot
the events that occur during the course of that story
plot structure
the way in which events are arranged and presented to the reader
exposition
a form of writing that explains what’s happening or has happened in the story; may provide background information related to plot or characters, setting, and so on
rising action
incidents within the narrative that complicate the basic conflict
climax
in a story, a turning point from which there is no going back
falling action
the various consequences of the critical decision made and action taken at the climax
denouement/resolution
the final moment in which there is resolution for any remaining conflicts in the plot
theme
an underlying meaning or message of a literary work that may be stated directly or indirectly
style
the writer’s choices as it relates to the way a narrative is written
tone
the writer’s attitude toward a subject or an audience
voice
the unique personality of a literary work that comes through the writer’s manner of expression and other writerly choices
genre
a category of literature; works within each category have the same essential features
LITERARY ELEMENTS CHART
(These elements are present in all works of literature.)
Literary Element / Example from A Time to Kill(with page number for reference)
narrator
the story teller
point of view
the perspective from which a story is narrated (first-person singular, first-person plural, second-person, third-person limited, third-person omniscient, alternating points of view)
setting
time and place of the story; involves historical, cultural, social factors that influence the plot
atmosphere/mood
the feeling, emotion, or mood that an author creates in a narrative through descriptive language
protagonist
the main character of a work of literature
antagonist
a character, group of characters, or other force that presents an obstacle or is in direct conflict with the protagonist
characterization
the act of creating and describing characters in literature
direct characterization
the author telling the audience what a character is like
indirect characterization
the author showing the audience what kind of person a character is through the character’s thoughts, words, deeds, and the responses of other characters
conflict
the result of competing desires or the presence of obstacles that need to be overcome
plot
the events that occur during the course of that story
plot structure
the way in which events are arranged and presented to the reader
exposition
a form of writing that explains what’s happening or has happened in the story; may provide background information related to plot or characters, setting, and so on
rising action
incidents within the narrative that complicate the basic conflict
climax
in a story, a turning point from which there is no going back
falling action
the various consequences of the critical decision made and action taken at the climax
denouement/resolution
the final moment in which there is resolution for any remaining conflicts in the plot
theme
an underlying meaning or message of a literary work that may be stated directly or indirectly
style
the writer’s choices as it relates to the way a narrative is written
tone
the writer’s attitude toward a subject or an audience
voice
the unique personality of a literary work that comes through the writer’s manner of expression and other writerly choices
genre
a category of literature; works within each category have the same essential features