Elements of Literature

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

Plot Diagram

Setting Time: period of time in which story is set (year, day, month, century, time of day) Place: where the story is set (country, planet, state, town, other location) Major events: a significant historical that is happening in the story Social and political issues: cultural issues that occur in the story

Mood: Creates the emotional feel of the story Setting Objects Details Images Words

Characteristic: PHYSICAL attribute of a character. Characterization Characteristic: PHYSICAL attribute of a character. Trait: PERSONALITY attribute.

Characterization: ways an author reveals the character: By showing or describing… The way a character acts around another character, or how other characters react to the character Describing the character’s thoughts or feelings Showing the way the character speaks or behaves Describing the appearance of the character

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

Conflict - problem! Internal: Character v self External: Character v character Character v nature Character v society

Points of View 1st person: the person telling the story is one of the characters in the story. It is the “I” point of view. 3rd person limited: the narrator telling the story is not one of the characters in the story. He or she is an outside observer. 3rd 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.

Figurative Language: nonliteral language Simile: comparison between two unlike things using “like” or “as.” Metaphor: comparison between two unlike things NOT using “like” or “as.” Analogy: a comparison between two similar things. Onomatopoeia: the use of words to create a sound (bang, buzz, woosh) Personification: giving human traits to animals or objects.

Figurative Language: nonliteral language Oxymoron: when contradictory words are used together (open secret, larger half, clearly confused) Hyperbole: greatly exaggerated statements (I had to wait forever.) Allusion: an indirect reference to something else ( You are my Juliet.) Idiom an expression that can’t be understood from the meanings of its separate words (kicked the bucket)

Irony Situational: the difference between what is expected to happen and the way events actually work out. Verbal: occurs when the speaker means something totally different than what he or she is saying. Dramatic: occurs when facts are not known to the characters but are known by the audience. Cosmic: this is attributed to some sort of misfortune and is often seen as fate or chance.

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

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

Symbolism 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.

Theme Theme: a common thread or repeated idea that is incorporated throughout a literary work. A theme is a thought or idea the author presents to the reader about life or human nature. The theme allows the reader to understand part of the author’s purpose in writing the book. Examples: coming of age, family comes first, love has no bounds)