Elements of Literature

Plot series of events that make up the story – the structure of the story

4 Components Exposition - the basic situation where the characters and conflict are introduced – the who, what, where, when Complications - character takes action to resolve conflict and meets problems Climax - greatest emotional involvement – something happens to determine the outcome 4. Resolution (denouement) - conflict ended, story closes (unraveling or untying of the complexities of the plot)

Conflict struggle – a character’s desire to do something is blocked in some way

Two Types: External: struggle is caused by something outside the character Internal: character struggles against some personal anxiety that is causing trouble

External conflict Person vs. person Person vs. nature Person vs. machine (technology) Person vs. society Person vs. supernatural (unknown)

Internal conflict Person Vs. Self

Often one type of conflict can cause another

Suspense hints intended to quicken the reader’s curiosity and increase anxiety as it leads us into the story

Characterization the ways a writer reveals what (who) a character is

Direct characterization Writer TELLS us directly what the character is like (does the work for us)

Indirect characterization writer SHOWS us what the character is like through 1. appearance / actions 2. speech 3. private thoughts 4. other characters’ reactions

Mrs. Khuns was tired.

Mrs. Khuns slowly entered Mendon Mrs. Khuns slowly entered Mendon. Her hair was a mess and she had big black circles under her eyes. She was hunched over and barely acknowledged the students as they passed her in the hall.

Point of View vantage point from which a writer tells a story

First person The “I” tells the story – also participates in the action (in varying degrees of importance) and draws us directly into the story

Third person - omniscient Traditional “all-knowing” god-like observer who knows everything going on in the story. The omniscient can see into the characters’ hearts and minds, yet remains outside of the story.

Third Person Limited An outside observer (like omniscient) but views the action only from the vantage point of a single character

Setting Background against which action takes place

Setting Geographical location (place) Time or period Occupation and daily manner of living of the characters General environment of the characters – religious, mental, moral, social, and emotional conditions

Irony Contrast between expectation and reality – like an unexpected twist…

Verbal Irony say one thing – mean the opposite (“You sure can pick’em” – said to a coach whose team just finished last place)

Situational Irony Occurrence not just surprising – but the opposite of what is expected (Using escalators instead of stairs to get to the fitness center)

Dramatic Irony The audience / reader knows what is in store for the character – but he does not – often used on stage (Husband comes home and complains about mother-in-law – audience knows mother-in-law is in the next room)

**express as a statement** Theme A universal truth– an abstract concept that is made concrete (real) through representation in the story through people, actions, or images **express as a statement**

Tone Attitude a speaker or writer takes toward a subject, audience, or character

Foreshadowing All the ways in which the writer shows the reader what to expect next – clues as to what will happen, often a device to create suspense

Dynamic Character a character that changes in an important way during the course of the story – by the end of the story has gained a new understanding of something or made an important decision or taken a crucial action.

Static Character A character that stays the same – or has not changed in any significant way throughout the course of the story

Symbol A concrete reality – prompts that reality to suggest another level of meaning; something that stands for something else

Personification Giving human characteristics (e.g. intelligence, emotion) to something that is not human (e.g. animals, ideas, abstractions)

Allusion A figure of speech that makes direct or indirect reference to a historical or literary figure, event, or object. Biblical allusions frequent English literature.

Protagonist Main character (attention focuses on) pushes the story forward - usually wants something and sets out to get it

Antagonist Character or force that comes into conflict with the protagonist

Flashback When the writer presents material that occurred prior to the opening scene of the work (recollections, narration, dream sequence) – used to show what happened, where characters are coming from, why they feel as they do

When writing about literature – always use present tense

That was – use present tense when writing about literature

Did I mention present tense??????