Literary Elements and Language Terms #1:
Unit 1 – The Power of Storytelling – English I

Part A: Basic Literary Elements: Plot, Conflict and Characters Notes

  1. Narrative: a piece of writing that tells of a related series of events (a story)
  • Narratives are NOT only fiction.
  • All narrative contain characters, conflict, and plot.
  1. Characters: the ______in a story.
  2. Character Types:
  3. ______: The “good guy” (the main character) around whom the plot revolves. S/he is not always a likeable or “good” person.
  4. ______: The “bad guy.” The person, place, or thing in conflict with the protagonist – can be another person, a force of nature, fate, society, etc.
  1. Characterization: the process by which writers reveal and depict their characters’ traits/qualities.
  2. Types/Methods of Characterization
  3. ______Characterization: The writer directly tells the reader what the character is like. Ex. “Jennifer was a bright and honestly young lady.”
  4. ______Characterization: The writer reveals character’s traits indirectly with any combination of:
  • Describing the character’s ______
  • ______(what they say!)
  • The ______of other characters about the character
  • Character’s ______
  • The character’s private ______
  1. Types of Characters
  2. ______: One-dimensional (paper doll); one or two personality traits only (usually the “bad buy”)
  3. ______: Three-dimensional; many traits and complexities (usually the main character)
  4. ______: Stereotypical character
  5. ______: A character that changes in an important way
  6. ______: A character who does not undergo a major change in the story and stays basically the same
  1. Character Motivation: the ______for a character’s behavior. This requires you to make inferences based on characterization!
  1. Point of View: ______. The point of view in a story affects how WE look at it and understand what happens in it.
  2. ______: Told by one of the characters in the story; uses the pronoun “I” in the narration
  3. ______: The narrator, who is almost never a character in the story, zooms in on the thoughts of just one or a select few characters.
  4. ______: The narrator knows all there is to know about the characters and problems.
  1. Conflict: the struggle between opposing characters or forces; problems
  2. ______: clash between a character and an outside force – another person, object, or entity
  • ______
  • ______
  • And many others (Man v. Deity, Man v. Fate, Man v. Machine, etc.)
  • ______: a struggle within a character’s mind
  • ______
  1. Plot: The series of events that occurs in the story that presents and resolves a conflict. There are ______elements of plot. ______helps us to remember the elements of plot and the order they usually go in.
  1. Elements of Plot Structure – Freytag’s Pyramid
  2. ______: Introduces the setting, characters, and any necessary background information
  3. ______: An event occurs that initiates the main action and begins the primary conflict in the story
  4. ______: Presents complications that intensify the conflict; builds suspense as we wonder what the outcome will be
  5. ______: The turning point in the story and, often, the moment of greatest suspense
  6. ______: The events that occur as a result of the climax, but before the primary problem created in the inciting moment has been resolved
  7. ______: The main problem created by the inciting moment is solved
  8. ______: The “where are they now.” The author ties up any loose ends and answers any remaining questions
  1. Types of Plot
  2. ______: Goes in ______order. The events are told in the order in which they happened.
  3. ______: Events are NOT revealed in the order that they occurred, but in some other order that the writer chooses.
  4. ______: A scene within the story that interrupts the sequence of events to reveal something that happened at an earlier time.
  5. ______: Hints or clues early on that suggest things that will happen later in the story.

Part B: Literary Elements-Sensory Language, Imagery, and Mood

  1. Imagery
  2. ______: Words and phrases that appeal to the senses of sight, hearing, touch, smell, and/or taste. Sensory details create….
  3. ______: Vivid descriptions that re-create sensory experiences for the reader, creating “word pictures”
  4. Example: “a thundering downpour of rain” – To what senses does this example appeal? What image does it create? ______
  5. Mood: The feeling or atmosphere that the writer creates for the reader using imagery and setting details.
  6. Example: What senses do the following details appeal to, and what image and mood do they create all together?
  • “Flashes of lightning illuminated the ink-black sky.”
  • “Another cobweb stuck to her cold, clammy skin.”
  • “The foul smell of dead mice hung in the air.”
  • “She could not get the metallic taste of fear out of her mouth.”
  • “There was an ominous scratching on the door.”

Part C: Language Terms-Diction and Tone

  1. Diction: ______
  2. Writers choose their ______with purpose. If we can analyze diction, it can help us to understand a writer’s theme and purpose.
  3. In order to analyze diction, we must be able to analyze….
  4. ______: The dictionary or literal meaning of a word (Example: “Plump” = a full, round, and pleasing figure)
  5. ______: All the meanings, associations, or feelings that a word suggests. (Example: “Fat” = while similar in denotative meaning to “plump,” it has a very harsh and mean connotation)
  6. Why study diction?
  7. A writer or speaker’s choice of words evokes ______within us.
  8. The connotation of a word can be ______, ______, or ______.
  9. Diction Practice!
  10. Examine the diction in the following sentences. What are the connotations here? Which sentences have a more positive connotation? Which are more negative?
  • You look unique today.
  • You look odd today.
  • You look weird today.
  • Examine the diction in the following sentences. What are the connotations here? Which sentence has a more positive emotional connotation?
  • I’m crazy about him.
  • I love him to the depths of my soul.
  1. Tone: The writer’s speaker’s ______toward his/her subject. This is described by a single adjective (ex. A ______tone, a ______tone, a ______tone) and can be figured out by examining the diction and the choice of details in a text.
  2. BE CAREFUL NOT TO CONFUSE TONE WITH MOOD!

Lit. Elements and Language Terms, Set 1Unit 1: The Power of Storytellingp. 1