Elements of Literature

ELEMENTS OF LITERATURE

LITERATURE IS COMPOSED OF SEVERAL COMMON ELEMENTS.

ELEMENTS Setting Characters Conflict Plot Point of View Tone Mood Theme

SETTING

Where it takes place When it takes place—time of day,

season, era

THE FUNCTIONS OF A SETTING To create a mood or

atmosphere To show a reader a

different way of life To make actionseem more real To be the source of

conflict or struggle To symbolize an idea

We left the home place behind, mile by slow mile, heading for the mountains, across the prairie where the wind blew forever. At first there were four of us with one horse wagon and its skimpy load. Pa and I walked, because I was a big boy of eleven. My two little sisters romped and trotted until they got tired and had to be boosted up to the wagon bed.That was no covered Conestoga, like Pa’s folks came West in, but just an old farm wagon, drawn by one weary horse, creaking and rumbling westward to the mountains, toward the little woods town where Pa thought he had an old uncle who owned a little two-bit sawmill.

Taken from “The Day the Sun Came Out” by D. Johnson

CHARACTERS Characters are the people in the story.

CHARACTERIZATION A writer reveals what a character is like and

how the character changes throughout the story.

Two primary methods of characterization:Direct- writer tells what the character is like

ex. He is tall.Indirect- when the reader infers character

traits ex. He had to duck to enter through

the door, so his head wouldn’t hit the doorjam.

DIRECT CHARACTERIZATION

…And I don’t play the dozens or believe in standing around with somebody in my face doing a lot of talking. I much rather just knock you down and take my chances even if I’m a little girl with skinny arms and a squeaky voice, which is how I got the name Squeaky.

From “Raymond’s Run” by T. Bambara

INDIRECT CHARACTERIZATION

The old man bowed to all of us in the room. Then he removed his hat and gloves, slowly and carefully. Chaplin once did that in a picture, in a bank--he was the janitor.

From “Gentleman of Rio en Medio” by J. Sedillo

CHARACTERIZATION A writer reveals what a character is like and

how the character changes throughout the story.

Four primary types of character:Flat- reveals only one or two traits.Round- reveals varied and sometimes

contradictory traits.Static- Do not changeDynamic- Change throughout the story to

gain a higher understanding of life.

FLAT CHARACTERS Are one dimensional. Good guy =Hero

ROUND CHARACTERS Have many sides to them; complex Many traits

STATIC CHARACTERS Never change

DYNAMIC CHARACTERS Change during the story Main character

EMOTIONS V. TRAITS Emotions are

temporary. Emotions are

feelings, reactions to situations and people.

Happy, sad, frustrated, jealous, tired etc.

Traits are permanent.

Traits are physical and personality.

One’s trait can dictate their emotions.

Tall, intelligent, resourceful, volatile, negative, wacky, daring, impulsive, cautious etc.

THINK Name the four types of characters

Types of Characters

Flat

Round

Dynamic

Static

Superman

Professor Snape

Edward, Bella

Santa

MAJOR CHARACTERSFall into one of these three

categories… Protagonist Antagonist Foil

PROTAGONIST Main character

ANTAGONIST Opposition of Protagonist

FOIL Character who provides contrast to Protagonist

FACTORS IN ANALYZING CHARACTERS

Physical appearance of character Personality Background/personal history Motivation Relationships Conflict Does character change?

PLOT Sequence of events Give Structure

BASIC SEQUENCE

Exposition Rising Action Climax Falling Action Resolution

PLOT DIAGRAM

EXPOSITIONBeginning of the story

“Once upon a time” Introduced to characters, setting and major conflict

RISING ACTION Sets up conflict Builds tension

CLIMAX Turning point Major shift/change occurs Helps to show the theme

FALLING ACTION Wrapping up story Immediately after climax

RESOLUTION Point of closure Ending Theme is often stated

THINK

Where does each part fit?

PLOT DIAGRAM

Exposition

Rising Action

Climax

Falling Action

Resolution

WRAP- UP, AFTER THE CLIMAX A. Rising Action B. Falling Action C. Climax D. Exposition

BEGINNING, ONCE UPON A TIME A. Rising Action B. Exposition C. Climax D. Falling Action

HIGH POINT, TURNING POINT A. Climax B. Ending C. Beginning D. Builds tension

SETS UP CONFLICT, TENSION BUILDING A. Falling action B. Climax C. Rising Action D. Exposition

TYPES OF CONFLICT Conflict is more than just a fight.

MAN VS. MAN Two humans in confrontation

MAN VS. SELF Internal conflict, struggle

MAN VS. NATURE Facing the elements or animals

MAN VS. SOCIETY Going against social norms

THEME Central concept Author’s observation

POINT OF VIEWVantage point of the text

FIRST PERSON As if you are telling a story

I, me, my

THIRD PERSON LIMITED Story told from an observer

See, Hear He, she, her, him

THIRD PERSON- OBJECTIVE Sees into the mind of a character

OMNISCIENT Told by a person who knows everything about everyone in the story.

FORESHADOWING Hints or clues on what’s to come

IRONY Contrast between what appears true and what really is.

THREE TYPES OF IRONY Verbal Situational Dramatic

VERBAL IRONY What is said vs. what is meant

SITUATIONAL IRONY Something surprising occurs; opposite of what’s expected

DRAMATIC IRONY Reader knows something the characters don’t know

TONE Author’s attitude toward a subject

TONE Author’s attitude Pessimism Optimism Bitterness Joyful Humorous Earnestness

MOOD* The feeling or climate of a story, as

felt by the reader

MOOD Setting Objects Details Images Words

Influence the Mood

FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE Language that goes beyond literal meaning

SIMILE comparison of two unlike things using

like or as

METAPHOR Implied comparison of two things

“Juliet is the sun”

HYPERBOLE Exaggerated terms “I read it a million times!”

ONOMATOPOEIA Words that mimic sounds BANG! POW!

ALLUSION Reference to literature, history or art

Helps the reader to make connections to form a deeper understanding.

They are like Romeo and Juliet. Like Cain did Able.

ALLITERATION Repeated initial sound: Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled

peppers

PERSONIFICATION Giving inanimate objects human traits. What can people do that things cannot? Think, laugh, breathe, sigh, yawn,

giggle, scream, yell, retort, flirt…

The butterfly flirted with the flower.

SYMBOLA symbol is when an object, color, number or name represents another idea; symbols help us to figure out the theme.