The Literary Elements

Why Interpret? Never forget that an author begins with a blank page Everything put into the text makes a contribution to the author’s vision/perspective

Setting Includes WHERE a story takes place and WHEN a story takes place Can affect mood/tone

Plot Sequence of RELATED events that happen in the story Clearly build toward something ahead CONFLICT (a struggle of some kind) is the most important element in the plot Series of complications contribute to rising action

Plot (cont.) Plot Diagram on board/paper –Exposition –Rising Action Character in series of complications under a larger conflict –Climax Point where the character faces most significant obstacle and responds –Falling Action –Denouement/Resolution (“unknotting”)

Conflict Person vs. Nature Person vs. Person Person vs. Self Person vs. Society

Foreshadowing Hints in the text that clue us in to a significant plot event to come –Violent storms indicate violence to come in plot

Flashback Interruption that takes us back to a previous event or experience in the plot or character’s life –Shift from president in oval office to a scene from his high school experience

Characterization How a writer reveals a character’s personality Direct Characterization: »Author tells us what the character is like (e.g. deceitful, honest, evil, kind) Indirect Characterization: »Physical description »Words & thoughts »Other characters’ thoughts & comments »Character’s actions

Characterization Dynamic vs. Static –Change or not Round vs. Flat –Complex personality w/different traits, or easily summed up personality?

Characterization Examine the character’s “journey” Evolve/Devolve? Grow or become diminished? Better off or worse off beginning to end? Much movement but same place? What contributed to shaping character?

Symbolism When the author uses objects, events, or characters to represent THE BIG PICTURE Something in the story stands for something else - white hat/black hat In the Bible, seeds eaten by birds stand for those who hear and don’t believe

Allusion Reference to a well- known literary work or character -Bob and Sarah sure are a couple of star-crossed lovers -As Tiger Woods strolled through the crowd, it was like he was parting the white sea

Irony Discrepancy between expectations & reality –Verbal Irony –Situational Irony –Dramatic Irony

Verbal Irony Speaker says one thing but means another –“That Michael Jackson tattoo is really cool. It’s still sort of subtle and understated even though it covers your whole back.”

Situational Irony What happens is the opposite of what’s expected –A woman is assaulted by a man, waits 35 years to get revenge, then falls in love with him the next time they meet

Dramatic Irony Audience knows what the characters don’t –Character asks what punishment for her crime will be, thinking it will be a fine; audience knows the punishment will be death

Point of View The angle from which the story is told 1st person (I, we) –More intimate w/narrator –Tough to judge narrator? (Consider naïve & unreliable narrator) 3rd person (he, she, they) –limited (1 character’s POV) –or omniscient (all-knowing)

Style How it is said influences what it means Diction (word choice) & syntax (word arrangement) influence mood/tone Does it change the pace? Does it suggest something about characters? How’s it make the reader feel? Exhausted? Exhilarated?

Theme The Author’s vision What’s s/he saying about human nature, the way the world works, our relations to others? It’s just one view & it’s up for interpretation Death of the Author

Some Themes… Justice prevails Love conquers all Society will always overwhelm the individual Children often see more clearly than adults There’s no place for the artist in the jungle