Literary Elements

Atmosphere Scary Exciting!!!! sad Atmosphere is the general feeling or mood in a work of literature. It can usually be described in a word or two – Scary Exciting!!!! sad

Character Character is a person or an animal in a work of literature.

Direct Characterization Direct Characterization is when the writer directly tells you what a character is like. She is blonde and kind. He is tall and kind.

Indirect Characterization Indirect Characterization is when the author does NOT tell you directly what the character is like, but tells you in indirect ways.

“Do whatever you need to do, The author tells the actual words of the character – “Do whatever you need to do, I will not give in!”

Katniss thought, I must not let my little sister go! The author tells what the character is thinking or feeling. Katniss thought, I must not let my little sister go!

The author tells about the character’s actions. Katniss surprised the young girl. She could have killed her, but she nodded at her and motioned for her to run in the opposite direction.

When the crowd saw Katniss, they all started applauding. The author tells how others respond to the character. When the crowd saw Katniss, they all started applauding.

External Conflict External conflict is when the main character struggles with another person or with an outside force (like the weather or the sea).

Internal Conflict Internal Conflict is when the main character struggles with opposing ideas or feelings within his or her own mind.

Dialogue "Run, Forrest, Run!!" Dialogue consists of the exact words that characters say. Dialogue always needs quotation marks to enclose the exact words. "Run, Forrest, Run!!"

Imagery Imagery is language that appeals to the 5 senses – hearing, seeing, smelling, tasting, and touching. Imagery is so descriptive that you can imagine you actually hear, see, smell, taste, or touch what you are reading about.

She is as pretty as a picture. Metaphor or Simile Metaphors and Similes are language that compares one thing to another thing. Similes always use the words like or as. Metaphors do not. She is as pretty as a picture. He is a rock!

Motivation He gave her the money because he is so honest. Motivation is why characters behave in a certain way. Motivation can often be started with “because” sentences. He gave her the money because he is so honest. She ran when she saw the zombie!!

Place in which the story events occur. Setting Setting is the TIME and the Place in which the story events occur.

Hyperbole A BIG exaggeration –

Onomatopoeia Words created to imitate sounds.

Theme Honesty is the best policy. Theme is the BIG IDEA that the story conveys about life. It’s the MORAL of the STORY, or ADVICE about LIFE. The writer doesn’t usually state the theme directly. The reader should be able to summarize the theme in a sentence or 2. Honesty is the best policy. To have a friend, you have to be a friend.