Literary Elements
Often found in novels, short stories, plays and sometimes poems
1. Plot- a series of related events in a story.
2. Setting- the time and location a story takes place.
**3. Character- the people or animals who take part in a story.
**4. Characterization- the method of creating characters in order to make them come alive for readers (The 7 Character Traits).
**5. Conflict- a character's physical struggle (external conflict) or mental struggle (internal conflict).
6. Climax- the point of highest interest or peak intensity in a story's action. (The turning point for the main character).
**7. Theme- the message intended by the author for his/her audience, usually about life and how to live it.
**8. Symbolism- the use of objects, people, or events that function as themselves but also stand for something more than themselves.
9. Point of View- the viewpoint from which the story is told to the audience.
10. Suspense- the uncertainty or anxiety we feel about what is going to happen next in a story.
11. Foreshadowing- dropping clues or hinting about what is going to happen later in a story.
12. Flashback- interrupting a story to bring readers back to an earlier time or event.
13. Mood- feelings that the setting of a story establishes in its readers.
14. Tone- the attitude a writer takes toward an audience, a subject, or a character.
**15.Irony- the difference between what we expect and what actually happens in a story
**16. Imagery- The use of language to evoke a picture or a concrete sensation of a person, place, thing or experience. (The 5 Senses)
Poetic Devices
Often found in poems
**1.Imagery -The use of language to evoke a picture or a concrete sensation of a person, place, thing or experience. (The 5 Senses)
Ex:
2.Stream of Consciousness –A style of writing that reveals the inner mind
or thoughts of a character/poet. Often uses “I”.
Ex:
3.Alliteration- The repetition of similar consonant sounds.
Ex:
4.Assonance –The repetition of similar vowel sounds.
Ex:
5.Couplet- Two consecutive rhyming lines of poetry.
Ex:
6.Repetition –Words or phrases that repeat in a poem or story for a strong emphasis.
Ex:
7.Hyperbole-A figure of speech in which statements are exaggerated.
Ex: I am so hungry I could eat a horse.
**8.Simile-A figure of speech that makes a comparison between two unlike things using words such as (like, as or than).
Ex:
**9.Metaphor-A figure of speech that makes a comparison between two unlike things without using words such as (like, as or than).
Ex:
10.Onomatopoeia-The use of a word whose sound imitates or suggest its meaning.
Ex: BUZZ-BANG-BOOM
**11.Personification-A figure of speech in which an object or animal is given human feelings, thoughts or attitudes.
Ex:
12.Free Verse-Poetry that does not conform to a regular meter or rhyme scheme.
Ex:
Found in Novel/Story/Plays Almost Found Anywhere Found in Poems
PlotSetting
Climax
Point of View
Suspense
Foreshadowing
Flashback
Mood
Irony /
Character
CharacterizationConflict
Theme
Symbolism
Tone
Imagery
Simile
Metaphor
Personification /
Stream of Consciousness
AlliterationAssonance
Couplet
Repetition
Hyperbole
Onomatopoeia
Free Verse