Literary Elements in Fiction (Review)

English 11Ms. Guerin

Some Literary ElementsWhich do you know?

• Setting/Atmosphere• Plot • Point of view• Internal conflict• External conflict

• Theme/Subject• Characterization• Foreshadowing• Symbol• Irony• Satire

Setting

• Setting is the time and place of the story.

• Setting is key in developing a story’s atmosphere

Atmosphere

• Atmosphere is the general mood or feeling of a story

• What kind of settings and atmospheres do you think of for…

• horror movies?• Sci-fi novels?

Plot line

• What are the five key parts of a plot line?• 1. Exposition• 2. Rising action• 3. Climax• 4. Falling action• 5. Resolution

Exposition

• Start of the story• Establishes setting and characters• Think: EXPosition = EXPlanation

Rising Action

• Series of events that leads up to the climax• Develops characters, conflicts, and other key

elements• Creates interest in the story• Builds tension

Climax

• The moment of highest intensity in the story

• The outcome of the conflict is made clear.

Falling Action

• Any action that follows the climax

• This is usually quick-moving and makes up a small part of the overall story.

Resolution

• The end of the story

• All loose ends are (usually) tied up.

Metaphor

• A metaphor a comparison between two seemingly different things, with hopes of giving more meaning to one of them.

• The football player was a house.• His love for her was an ocean.

Simile

• A simile is also a comparison, but it uses a connecting word such as “like” or “as.”

• The football player was built like a house. • She was as tall as a cornstalk.

Point of View

• Point of View is the view from which a story is told.

• There are three main points of view:• First-person• Third-person limited• Third-person omniscient

Point of View

• A first-person narration tells the story from a character’s perspective.

• It is the character speaking (I, me, we).• We only know what he or she knows.• What must we remember in a first-person

narrative?• The events of the story may be biased!

Point of View

“I heard a noise from outside. As I got up and walked boldly towards the entrance to the room, I knew that there might be someone lurking around the corner. I kept my composure and continued forward, knowing that I might soon have to use the knife in my hand.”

Point of View

• A third-person limited narration is told from the perspective of a character, but it is not the character who is telling the story.

• How is this different from first-person?

Point of View

• “John heard a noise from outside. He wasn’t sure what it was, so he slowly walked towards the door. He was visibly shaking, and he knew that he could be attacked at any minute. With sweat dropping from his brow, he slowly peeked around the corner.”

Point of View

• A third-person omniscient narrator tells the story from a “God-like” point of view.

• The narrator is all-knowing.• We see several events taking place at the

same time.

Point of View

• “John heard a loud noise outside. He wasn’t sure what it was, so he walked slowly towards the door. Little did he know that his anxiety was unnecessary. At the same time, around the corner sat Snuggles, his cat, who had just knocked a plate from the kitchen sink. With sweat dripping from John’s brow, he slowly peeked around the corner.”

Conflict

• The conflict is the struggle between two opposing forces.

• EVERY STORY has some sort of conflict.• What’s your favorite movie? What’s its

conflict?

Conflict

• Furthermore, there are two types of conflicts to know:

• 1. Internal conflict• 2. External conflict

Conflict

• Internal Conflict: a struggle within a character’s own mind

• We experience these every day.• Think of the angel versus the devil on your

shoulder; this is internal conflict.

Conflict

• External conflict has three types:• 1. person vs. person• e.g. stories of good guy vs. bad guy• 2. person vs. nature• e.g. stories of travel and adventure• 3. person vs. society• e.g. stories of defying odds

Theme

• The theme is the underlying idea about life.• It is an exploration of important questions and

issues.

• The subject of a short story deals with what the author chooses to write about (ex. war, friendship, etc...).

• The theme is the message the author wishes the reader to get out of story.– This may also be referred to as the

moral of the story.

Subject/Theme

Theme

• Remember Romeo and Juliet?• The Power of Love• How?• The Individual vs. Society• How?

HALFWAY QUIZ!1. What is the difference between

third-person limited and third-person omniscient points of view?

2. What is the difference between internal and external conflict?

• This is as it suggests, the development and role of different characters within a short story.

• The two main types of characters are :– Round/Dynamic- These characters are more

developed and tend to be more central to the story.– Flat/Stereotypical- These characters are included

to progress and enhance the story but do not have a well developed history or background. Main characters can also be stereotypical in nature to enhance their persona.

C- Characterization

Characterization

• The way characters’ personalities are developed.

• There are two types of characterization:• 1. Direct characterization• 2. Indirect characterization

Characterization

• Direct characterization is when the writer tells us what kind of person the character is.

Characterization

• Indirect characterization makes us figure out what kind of person the character is on our own.

• How?

• Through the character’s words, actions, and interactions with others.

Foreshadowing

• Foreshadowing is clues or details that hint at upcoming events in a story.

• It is often accomplished through symbols and omens.

Symbol

• A symbol is something that stands for something else.

• What are some of the common symbols for…• peace?• love?• happiness?

Flashback

• A flashback is a scene that interrupts the current action in order to give some sort of background information.

• It tells of earlier events that are probably still important to the story.

Suspense

• Suspense is a feeling of uncertainty or anxiety in a story.

• Suspense is what keeps us reading. Without suspense, we are usually disappointed with the story.

• It can occur in all genres.

Hyperbole

• Hyperbole is exaggeration for effect.• We often use hyperbole in everyday

discussions.• When have you used it?• “It must have snowed eight feet last night!”• “LeBron James scored about 600 points in that

game.”

Irony

• Irony is a contrast between what is said and what is meant.

• It is also a contrast between what is expected and what happens.

• It is a hard term to understand.

Irony is an element used by writers of short stories to create interest in the reader.

There are three main types of irony:Verbal Irony- occurs when a character or narrator

says one thing but means the oppositeSituational Irony- occurs when there is a contrast

between what appears to be and what actually existsDramatic Irony- occurs when the reader knows more

than the character(s)

Irony

IronyFrom the song “Ironic” by Alanis Morissette, tell me which ones

are actual irony.• “An old man turned 98. He won the lottery and died the next

day.”• “It’s like rain on your wedding day.”• “It’s a traffic jam when you’re already late.”• “And as the plane crashed down, he thought, ‘Well, isn’t this

nice?’”

Irony

• What is the difference between irony and sarcasm?

• Sarcasm is meant to be insulting• So, sarcasm is ALWAYS ironic, but irony is NOT

ALWAYS sarcastic

Satire

• Satire is when art (literature) mocks or ridicules individuals or society.

• It is often done in a humorous manner.• What are some common examples?• The Simpsons• South Park• Saturday Night Live

FINAL QUIZ!

1. What is direct characterization?2. Why do people use hyperbole when

they tell stories?3. What is the difference between

sarcasm and irony?