Literary Elements

Setting The time period and place a story takes place. When and where Past, present, future Real or imaginary lands

Character A person, animal, or creature in a literary work. Protagonist--the main character. Antagonist--the character that opposes, or is against, the main character.

Author’s Purpose Inform/Explain Entertain Persuade/Influence WHY the author wrote the story. Inform/Explain Entertain Persuade/Influence Express an Opinion

Tone The author’s attitude toward the subject which is reflected in the story. Feelings the writer’s words express Ex. Positive, sad, anger

Mood The atmosphere or feeling that a literary work conveys to the reader. The feeling a writer wants readers to have while reading

Theme The underlying message or idea of the story. “Lesson for life” that the story teaches.

Plot The action or series of related events that make up a story. Introduction—Setting and Characters Rising Action--when complications develop Climax Falling Action--when solutions develop. Resolution

Plot Diagram (Name the parts)

Conflict Man vs. Man– Man vs. Nature– Man vs. Self– Man vs. Society– The struggle between characters or between two opposing forces that drive the plot. Man vs. Man– The main character struggles with another character either physically or emotionally. Man vs. Nature– The main character struggles with nature. Man vs. Self– The main character has an inner conflict, perhaps with his conscience. Man vs. Society– The main character struggles with a group of people, as in a community.

…more on conflict Internal Conflict--the main character struggles with opposing ideas or feelings within his own mind, like wanting to be independent but also needing the approval of others. External Conflict--the main character struggles with outside forces such as the weather, natural disasters or the sea.

Point of View First Person—the narrator is a character and participates in the story. Third Person—the narrator is an outside observer who tells what all of the characters are doing in the story, but doesn’t have any insight on their thoughts and feelings.

Literary Devices Those devices that authors use to keep the reader’s attention.

Flashback An interruption in the action to present events that took place previously or at an earlier time. The author suddenly interrupts the flow of the story to jump back to earlier events

Foreshadowing When a writer provides hints of upcoming or future events in the story.

Symbol A concrete example (person, place, object or action) that represents an abstract idea.

Imagery The use of descriptions, comparisons, and figures of speech that help the mind form a forceful or vivid picture.

Dialogue The words that characters speak aloud to each other. They will be in quotes “ ”.

Motivation The reason a character acts or thinks a certain way.

Trait Something that distinguishes a character; like the way they look or act

Alliteration The repetition of beginning consonant sounds. Doug does daily duties during detention. The same sounds start a series of words or syllables.

Allusion A reference made about a famous person, place, event, or work of literature. Example: Was the ticking package wrapped with ribbon and bright paper a Trojan gift?

Metaphor A figure of speech implying a comparison between two unlike things using a form of be. The comparison is not using like or as. Forms of Be: am, is, are, was, were Example: The road was a ribbon of moonlight.

Simile A figure of speech comparing two unlike things, usually with the words like or as. Example: The muscles on his brawny arms are strong as iron bands.

Personification Gives human qualities such as emotions, intelligence, and personality to things.

Onomatopoeia Use of words that mimic sounds