“All Summer in a Day” Introduction to Literary Elements Literature & Composition

Fiction  Written prose narrative about imaginary people, places and events  Something that is made up--- not factual  Can seem realistic

Plot Exposition Rising Action Falling Action Resolution Climax

Foreshadowing  The use of clues or hints by the author to prepare the reader for what will happen later  Can use background information, mood & music

Conflict  Character vs. Character  Character vs. Society  Character vs. Self  Character vs. Nature  Character vs. Technology/Machine  Character vs. Supernatural/Unknown

Characterization  What the character says  What the character does  What the character thinks/feels  What other characters say & think about him/her  The character’s physical appearance or setting

Dynamic Characters Static Characters  Those who transform or evolve in the story; usually major characters  Those who do NOT change or grow, but remain the same; usually minor characters

Protagonist  The character with whom the reader is meant to sympathize  The character that grows or learns something  Often the “hero”

Antagonist  The character who stands in conflict with the protagonist  Often the “villain”

Setting  Time/When  Place/Where  Social Atmosphere (affected by major movements and crisises)

Mood / Atmosphere  The reader’s emotional response to the characters and events of a story  Often influenced by tone and setting

Symbols  Concrete objects that suggest abstract ideas  Something that stands for something else  For example: red rose=love

Point of View  First person: narrator is a character in the story (“I” perspective) - be careful with info!  Third person limited: focuses on thoughts & feelings of ONE character - the reader may feel like she is looking “over the shoulder” of a character (“S/he”perspective)  Omniscient: narrator is NOT a character in the story; story is told from a god-like perspective; can relate knowledge about all characters at any time

Irony  Situational: when the opposite of what is expected occurs  Dramatic: when the audience/reader knows something that the characters do not  Verbal: saying one thing and meaning another

Theme  The universal truth revealed about life  Must be stated in a complete sentence  Avoid using cliches, giving advice or stating a rule