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

2. Fiction
Prose/narrative (story form writing) about imaginary people, places and events
Something that is made up--- not factual
Can seem realistic

3. Plot Climax Rising Action Falling Action Exposition
Resolution (Denouement)
Turning Point (Inciting Incident)

4. 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

5. Conflict Character vs. Character Character vs. Society
Character vs. Self
Character vs. Nature
Character vs. Technology/Machine
Character vs. Supernatural/Deity

6. 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 environment

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

8. Protagonist The character with whom the reader is meant to sympathize
The character who grows or learns something
Often the “hero”

9. Antagonist
The character (or force) who stands in conflict with the protagonist
Often the “villain”

10. Setting Time/When Place/Where
Social Atmosphere (affected by historical era, social movements, and crises)

11. Tone The author’s attitude toward his/her subject
Emotion words are used to label
this element in a story (e.g. –
angry, indifferent, excited, sad)

12. Mood / Atmosphere
The reader’s emotional response to the characters and events of a story
Often influenced by setting and tone
Emotion words also used here

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

14. Point of View: Perspective
1st person: narrator is a character in the story (“I” perspective) – can be unreliable!
3rd person limited: story is told through the thoughts & feelings of ONE character; the reader may feel like she is looking “over the shoulder” of a character (“S/he”perspective)
3rd person dramatic: narration includes ONLY actions, words, and events (like a movie camera would record); NO ONE’s thoughts and feelings are revealed in the narration (“S/he”perspective)

15. Point of View (cont.)
3rd person omniscient: story is told from a god-like perspective; narrator is NOT a character in the story, can relate inner thoughts and feelings of all characters at any time
NOTE: This type of narration is difficult to use in a short story—it’s more common in a novel where different chapters can be narrated by different characters. FYI, we won’t read a story in this PoV in this unit!!

16. Irony Situational: when the opposite of what is expected occurs
Verbal: when a character says one thing but means another (the opposite)
Dramatic: when the audience/reader knows something that a character does not know

17. Theme The universal truth revealed about life
Must be stated in a complete sentence
Avoids using clichés, giving advice or stating a rule