Elements of Literature PLOT l Exposition the characters

Elements of Literature

PLOT l Exposition: the characters and setting are introduced. l Rising Action: the conflict is revealed. l Climax: the highest point of interest in the story. l Falling action: Shows effects of the climax and leads to the resolution. l Resolution: conflict is resolved.

Plot Diagram

Conflict - problem! l Internal: Character v self l. Example: the character and big decision he/she has to make l External: ¡Character v character l Example: the character vs. a bully at school ¡Character v nature l Example: the character must fight a raging hurricane ¡Character v society l. Example: The character fighting against racism or prejudice

Setting l. Time: period of time in which a story is set (year, day, month, century, time of day) l. Place: where the story is set (country, planet, state, town, other location) l. Mood: the feeling the story conveys to the reader.

Points of View l 1 st person: the person telling the story is one of the characters in the story. It is the “I” point of view. l 3 rd person limited: the narrator telling the story is not one of the characters in the story. He or she is an outside observer. l 3 rd person omniscient: the narrator is not a character in the story. The narrator is considered to be “all knowing” and can see and hear everything that is happening to all characters in the story; can tell the reader what each is thinking and feeling.

Characters l Static: does not change throughout the story. l Dynamic: changes throughout the story. l Flat: very little information provided l Round: author fully describes this character. l Protagonist: Central character of the story. l Antagonist: character who opposes the protagonist in some way. Antagonist can be any challenge to the protagonist.

Characterization l. The way an author develops a character l DIRECT - The author directly states a character’s physical traits or personality l INDIRECT – The author gives clues to a character’s nature through the speech, action, and thoughts of a character. The reader must draw a conclusion about the nature of a character.

Theme l Theme: A theme is a thought or idea the author presents to the reader about life or human nature. l Examples: ¡Honesty is always the best policy ¡Appearances can be deceiving.

Symbolism l Symbolism: using something specific to stand for something else, especially an idea. A symbol is a person, place, object or action that stands for something beyond itself. For example, a dove may represent peace. The dove can be seen and peace cannot.

Irony l Situational: the difference between what is expected to happen and the way events actually work out. l Verbal: occurs when the speaker means something totally different than what he or she is saying. l Dramatic: occurs when facts are not known to the characters but are known by the audience.

l Foreshadowing: the author provides clues or hints that suggest or predict a future event in a story. l Flashback: an interruption to “look back in time” at a past event. l Allusion: a reference to something else (piece of literature, historical event) l Imagery: the use of words and phrases that appeal to the five senses. l Hyperbole: exaggeration of truth for emphasis or humor.

l Simile: comparison between two unlike things using “like” or “as. ” l Metaphor: comparison between two unlike things NOT using “like” or “as. ” l Onomatopoeia: the use of words to create a sound (bang, buzz, woosh) l Personification: giving human traits to animals or objects. l Tone: the author’s attitude or feeling about a subject. l Genre: a type of literature.