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The Elements of Literature
Intro to Language arts The Elements of Literature
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Why do we read? Reading is one way to answer life’s Big Questions
Asking questions is our way of making sense of who we are, where we’re going, and how we fit in to the world around us. Through reading, writing, and talking about literature we can explore the big questions in life and gain meaningful insights into our own lives and the world around us.
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Answering Life’s big questions
There are several “Big Questions” we ask ourselves in life. For example: What does it mean to “belong”? Why does the past matter? Are people basically good? What’s really important?
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With a partner… Come up with 4 Big Questions about life. You have 5 minutes. We will talk about them and what the answers might be.
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Answering Life’s Big Questions
When we learn to think about the “Big Questions” in new ways, we learn more about our selves and how we connect to the world around us. Literature helps us to think about the Big Questions in new ways. Reading and Writing is an important part of answering Life’s Big Questions for yourself. The process of thinking about life’s Big Questions through reading is called ANALYSIS. In Language Arts, we read and write to ANALYZE literature in order to answer Life’s Big Questions. In order to properly analyze literature, however, there are some basic things you need to know and understand. These are the ELEMENTS OF LITERATURE.
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Elements of Literature: Genre (ML Text pg. 2-9)
Genre is the term we use to refer to the forms of literature. Genres are organized by the different ways that an author uses to explore the Big Questions. There are FIVE main genres of literature: (This is important) Fiction Writing that is untrue Drama Writing that is mean to be performed; a play or script. Folklore Writing that is based on a story that was once passed down orally. Non- Writing that is true Poetry Writing that is concerned with the beauty of words and language
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A story from the Genre of FICTION is an IMAGINARY or MADE UP story.
Genre: fiction A story from the Genre of FICTION is an IMAGINARY or MADE UP story. There are 4 Subgenres of Fiction: Realistic Fiction – no elements of fantasy; it could be true but it isn’t Historical Fiction – set in the past and based on real people and events Science Fiction – has aliens, robots, futuristic technology, time travel, and/or space ships Fantasy Fiction – has monsters, magic and/or characters with super powers There are 3 main forms of fiction: Short Stories – often focus on a single event of incident; short enough to read without taking a break Novels – longer works of fiction that weave together many different events, storylines, and characters; divided into chapters that are each several pages long Novellas – longer than short stories but shorter than novels; only focus on a few characters
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7 elements of fiction Fiction has 7 elements:
Plot: the action of a story Conflict: a struggle between opposing forces Character: a person involved in the action Setting: where and when the action takes place Theme: a message or lesson brought out by the action of the story and the characters Narrator: the character or voice that tells a story Point of View: the perspective from which a story is told
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Genre: Drama There are 2 subgenres of Drama:
A story from the genre of DRAMA is a written work meant to be PERFORMED on a stage; a PLAY or a script. There are 6 elements of Drama: Plot: the action of a drama Character: a person involved in the action of a drama Scene: the smallest whole unit of a play; usually represents what passes between certain characters in one place Act: a grouping of several scenes Stage Directions: directions written by the PLAYWRIGHT or author that describe the setting, character’s movements, and props included in the scene Dialogue: conversation between characters There are 2 subgenres of Drama: Comedy – a play with a happy ending Tragedy – a play that ends with death and sadness
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Genre: Folklore A story from the genre of FOLKLORE is story that is attached to a particular place, people group, activity, etc; they are stories that are PASSED DOWN from one generation to the next. There are several subgenres of folklore, but some examples are: Myth – has gods/goddesses and usually tries to answer the question “Why” Legend – based on a real person or place; exaggerated in a serious way Fairytales – has magic and/or talking animals Fables – has talking animals; very SHORT Tall Tales – Set in the Wild West/American Frontier; exaggerated in a humorous way. There are several elements of folklore, most are the same as fiction. Some characteristics include: Talking animals or monsters Magic A Trickster character A Hero Folklore, because it is such a big genre, is hard to pin down. We will talk more as we begin to read folklore.
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Genre: Nonfiction There are 4 elements of Nonfiction:
Writing from the genre of NONFICTION or INFORMATIONAL TEXT is writing that is TRUE There are 5 subgenres of Nonfiction: autobiography/biography – the true story of a person’s life, told by that person (autobiography) or by another person (biography) Essay – a short work of nonfiction that focuses on a single subject; includes reflective, persuasive, expository, and descriptive essays Speech – an oral presentation of the ideas, beliefs, or proposals of a speaker News/Feature articles – informative writing in newspapers and magazines News articles – report on recent events Feature articles – offer in-depth coverage of human interest topics Functional Documents – writing that serves a practical purpose Consumer documents (like user manuals) Workplace documents (like resumees) There are 4 elements of Nonfiction: Purpose – the reason an author writes Text Features – things included in the text to help provide organization (like subtitles) and/or help the reader understand better (like charts or pictures) Argument – the thing the author is trying to say or prove Persuasion – methods and techniques of writing used to prove the writer’s argument
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Genre: poetry If a writer has chosen to use the genre of POETRY the writing is concerned with the beauty and power of LANGUAGE. There are several subgenres of poetry, including, but not limited to: Epitaph – commemorative inscription on a monument celebrating the life of someone Haiku – Japanese poetry type composed of 3 unrhymed lines of 5,7,5 syllables, reflecting on nature through creating images Lyric Poetry – a poem (such as a sonnet or an ode) that expresses the thoughts and feelings of a poet; often song-like; does not tell a story which portrays characters and actions Ode – long poems which are serious in nature and written to a set structure Sonnet – a poem celebrating some type of beauty consisting of 14 lines Epic Poetry – long, serious poems that tells the story of a heroic figure Ballad Poetry - tells a story similar to a folk tale or legend and often has a repeated refrain; often about love and often sung; a story in poetic form Limerick Poetry - short sometimes bawdy, humorous poems of consisting of five Anapaestic lines; Lines 1, 2, and 5 have seven to ten syllables and rhyme with one another; Lines 3 and 4 have five to seven syllables and also rhyme with each other. Free Verse Poetry - composed of either rhymed or unrhymed lines that have no set fixed metrical pattern
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Genre: poetry There are 8 elements of poetry
Form – The rules a poem follows Line – All the words in a single line of poetry Stanza – a group of a specific set of lines Speaker – the narrator of the poem Rhyme – the matching of sounds in words Rhythm – the “beat” of a poem, the way the speech moves Sound Devices - Imagery -
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Elements of literature: Plot (ML Text pg. 26)
PLOT refers to the series of events that happen in the story. There are 5 parts of plot: EXPOSITION – where the setting, characters, and sometimes the conflict is introduced in a story; background information a reader must understand in order to know what is going on in a story RISING ACTION – introduces obstacles that make the conflict more complicated; builds suspense as the “plot thickens”; events (and more conflicts) that occur when the main character tackles the problem; level of excitement and suspense builds CLIMAX – the turning point of the story and the moment of greatest suspense; presents the conflict at its most intense and dramatic point; the main character comes face-to-face with the problem FALLING ACTION – reveals the outcome of the story’s climax; eases the tension; shows how the main character resolves the conflict; things begin to go back to normal; life goes on RESOLUTION/DENOUMENT – reveals the story’s final outcome; ties up any loose ends; allows reader to clearly understand what happened (This is important)
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Elements of Literature: plot (ML PG. 26)
COMPLEX PLOT (multiple small climaxes leading to the point of greatest conflict) Exposition Climax Resolution/Denoument SIMPLE PLOT (elementary school plot structure) Rising Action Exposition Climax Falling Action Resolution/Denoument Rising Action (with multiple small climaxes) Falling Action
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The Myth of Callisto 1 Callisto was a maiden who excited the jealousy of Juno, and the 2 goddess changed her into a bear. "I will take away," said 3 she, "that beauty with which you have captivated my husband." 4 Down fell Callisto on her hands and knees; she tried to stretch 5 out her arms in supplication,-- they were already beginning to be 6 covered with black hair. Her hands grew rounded, became armed 7 with crooked claws, and served for feet; her mouth, which Jove 8 used to praise for its beauty, became a horrid pair of jaws; her 9 voice, which if unchanged would have moved the heart to pity, 10 became a growl, more fit to inspire terror. 11 Yet her former disposition remained, and, with continued 12 groaning, she bemoaned her fate, and stood upright as well as 13 she could, lifting up her paws to beg for mercy; and felt that Jove 14 was unkind, though she could not tell him so. Ah, how often, 15 afraid to stay in the woods all night alone, she wandered about 16 the neighborhood of her former haunts; how often, frightened by 17 the dogs, did she, so lately a huntress, fly in terror from the 18 hunters! 19 Often she fled from the wild beasts, forgetting that she was now 20 a wild beast herself; and, bear as she was, was afraid of the 21 bears. One day a youth espied her as he was hunting. She saw 22 him and recognized him as her own son, now grown a young 23 man. She stopped, and felt inclined to embrace him. As she was 24 about to approach, he, alarmed, raised his hunting spear, and 25 was on the point of transfixing her, when Jupiter, beholding, 26 arrested the crime, and, snatching away both of them, placed 27 them in the heavens as the Great and Little Bear.
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Elements of literature: Character (ML Pg.164-166)
Major Leading roles Most important Most developed or well rounded Vital to resolution of conflict Dynamic Changes over time, usually as a result of resolving a central conflict Personality changes or evolves Round Display full range of emotions and feelings Have both strengths and weaknesses Their complexity may lead them to both internal & external conflict Minor Serve to complement the major characters Help move the plot events forward Static Does not change over time Personality does not change or evolve Flat Usually have one distinguishing trait or one specific role in story Exist mainly to advance events in the plot
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Elements of Literature: Character (ML Pg. 164-166)
(This is Important!) Elements of Literature: Character (ML Pg ) Antagonist Protagonist The person who is faced with the conflict that must be resolved The person who represents the obstacle the protagonist must overcome VS
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Elements of literature: Character (ML Pg. 164-166)
Direct Characterization Indirect Characterization the narrator EXPLICITLY describes things about the character (CLEARLY stated) Direct comments about the character’s personality Physical description of the character’s appearance The narrator reveals character traits through actions, or implications (NOT clearly stated) Character’s speech, actions, or thoughts How others react to the character
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Elements of literature: Character (ML Pg. 164-166)
Stated Reasons (author can state the reasons) Background, Speech, Thoughts, Actions (notice what the character does and says) Key Events (how does the character interact with other characters?) Consider Human Nature (what do you know about human nature?) Infer the Motives (author can imply the reasons) Character Motivation is the reason behind a character’s actions. To discover a character’s motivation, you often have to look for details in the story. Consider the information on the chart as you read a story to discover a character’s motivation.
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Elements of literature: Conflict (ML PG. 24-25)
CONFLICT – a struggle between two opposing forces; may be internal (a struggle that takes place within a character’s own mind, as he or she wrestles with difficult thoughts, feelings or emotions) or external (a struggle between a character and an outside force, such as another character, a force of nature, or society) Character must directly oppose another character Character must defeat another similar being External conflict Character must make a decision or resolve a struggle within themself Often, character must make a hard choice Internal conflict Character struggles against what the people around him expect or believe of him Character must overcome adversity Character struggles against the way nature works Character must overcome some element of nature in order to survive Man vs. Nature Man vs. Society Man vs. Man Man vs. Self
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Elements of Literature: Point of View (ML Pg. 162)
First Person character in story I, we character’s thoughts Second Person author tells YOU you thoughts are your own Third Person Author/narrator He, she, they Objective – no ones thoughts Limited – one character’s thoughts Omniscient – several character’s thoughts
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Y O U R T N
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Setting Time Place Atmosphere
life era history day location physical mood weather word choice feelings Time Place Atmosphere
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stated a message that is stated directly or is immediately obvious
Theme stated a message that is stated directly or is immediately obvious implied a message that is not stated and must be inferred by the reader recurring a theme that can be found in different texts, often of the same time period or culture universal a theme that is found throughout all of literature, in different cultures and in different time periods
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Topic: what is the topic? How many aspects of it are discussed?
Scope People: How many people are introduced? How well do you get to know them? Places: How many places, or settings, are described? How much do you get to know them? Events: How many events are covered? How much time do these events span? How much do you learn about them? Topic: what is the topic? How many aspects of it are discussed? Narrow Scope: Fewer Places, People, Events, and Ideas Broad Scope: Many people or events, covers a long period of time
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the text creates for the audience
Descriptive Language is used when a writer makes use of adverbs (describing verbs) and adjectives (describing nouns) to be the most specific. speaker’s attitude emotional effect that the text creates for the audience
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self-assured sentimental
POSITIVE TONE WORDS + NEUTRAL (+, -, or neutral) NEGATIVE TONE WORDS - admiring adoring affectionate appreciative approving bemused benevolent blithe calm casual celebratory cheerful comforting comic compassionate complimentary conciliatory confident contented delightful earnest ebullient ecstatic effusive elated empathetic encouraging euphoric excited exhilarated expectant facetious fervent flippant forthright friendly funny gleeful gushy happy hilarious hopeful humorous interested introspective jovial joyful laudatory light lively mirthful modest nostalgic optimistic passionate placid playful poignant proud reassuring reflective relaxed respectful reverent romantic sanguine scholarly self-assured sentimental serene silly sprightly straightforward sympathetic tender tranquil whimsical wistful worshipful zealous commanding direct impartial indirect meditative objective questioning speculative unambiguous unconcerned understated abhorring acerbic ambiguous ambivalent angry annoyed antagonistic anxious apathetic apprehensive belligerent bewildered biting bitter blunt bossy cold conceited condescending confused contemptuous curt cynical demanding depressed derisive derogatory desolate despairing desperate detached diabolic disappointed disliking disrespectful doubtful embarrassed enraged evasive fatalistic fearful forceful foreboding frantic frightened frustrated furious gloomy grave greedy grim harsh haughty holier-than-thou hopeless hostile impatient incredulous indifferent indignant inflammatory insecure insolent irreverent lethargic melancholy mischievous miserable mocking mournful nervous ominous outraged paranoid pathetic patronizing pedantic pensive pessimistic pretentious psychotic resigned reticent sarcastic sardonic scornful self-deprecating selfish serious severe sinister skeptical sly solemn somber stern stolid stressful strident suspicious tense threatening tragic uncertain uneasy unfriendly unsympathetic upset violent wry
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amused awed bouncy calm cheerful chipper confident contemplative
POSITIVE MOOD WORDS NEGATIVE MOOD WORDS amused awed bouncy calm cheerful chipper confident contemplative content determined dignified dreamy ecstatic empowered energetic enlightened enthralled excited exhilarated flirty giddy grateful harmonious hopeful hyper idyllic joyous jubilant liberating light-hearted loving mellow nostalgic optimistic passionate peaceful playful pleased refreshed rejuvenated relaxed relieved satiated satisfied sentimental silly surprised sympathetic thankful thoughtful touched trustful vivacious warm welcoming aggravated annoyed anxious apathetic apprehensive barren brooding cold confining confused cranky crushed cynical depressed desolate disappointed discontented distressed drained dreary embarrassed enraged envious exhausted fatalistic foreboding frustrated futile gloomy grumpy haunting heartbroken hopeless hostile indifferent infuriated insidious intimidated irate irritated jealous lethargic lonely melancholic merciless moody morose nauseated nervous nightmarish numb overwhelmed painful pensive pessimistic predatory rejected restless scared serious sick somber stressed suspenseful tense terrifying threatening uncomfortable vengeful violent worried
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F I L G A U N R G A U T V E E Assonance Cliché Hyperbole Idiom
Term Definition Example Alliteration The repetition of usually initial consonant sounds in two or more neighboring words or syllables The wild and woolly walrus waits and wonders when we'll walk by Assonance A resemblance of sound in words or syllables holy & stony and Fleet feet sweep by sleeping geese Cliché A word or phrase that has become overly familiar or commonplace No pain, no gain Hyperbole Big exaggeration, usually with humor mile-high ice-cream cones Idiom words together have a meaning that is different from the dictionary definitions of the individual words She sings at the top of her lungs Metaphor Comparing two things by using one kind of object or using in place of another to suggest the likeness between them Her hair was silk Onomatopoeia Naming a thing or an action by imitating the sound associated with it buzz, hiss, roar, woof Personification Giving something human qualities The stuffed bear smiled as the little boy hugged him close Simile A figure of speech comparing two unlike things that is often introduced by like or as The sun is like a yellow ball of fire in the sky
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Alliteration Assonance Onomatopoeia Simile Personification
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