Elements of Literature

PLOT

Exposition: the characters and setting are introduced.

Rising Action: the conflict is revealed.Climax: the highest point of interest in the

story. Falling action: Shows effects of the climax

and leads to the resolution.Resolution: conflict is resolved.

Plot Diagram

Conflict - problem!Internal: Character v self

Example: the character and big decision he/she has to make

External: Character v character

Example: the character vs. a bully at school

Character v natureExample: the character must fight a raging hurricane

Character v societyExample: The character fighting against racism or

prejudice

Setting

Time: period of time in which a story is set (year, day, month, century, time of day)

Place: where the story is set (country, planet, state, town, other location)

Mood: the feeling the story conveys to the reader.

Points of View

1st person: the person telling the story is one of the characters in the story. It is the “I” point of view.

3rd person limited: the narrator telling the story is not one of the characters in the story. He or she is an outside observer.

3rd person omniscient: the narrator is not a character in the story. The narrator is considered to be “all knowing” and can see and hear everything that is happening to all characters in the story; can tell the reader what each is thinking and feeling.

Characters

Static: does not change throughout the story.

Dynamic: changes throughout the story.Flat: very little information provided Round: author fully describes this character.Protagonist: Central character of the story.Antagonist: character who opposes the

protagonist in some way. Antagonist can be any challenge to the protagonist.

Characterization

The way an author develops a character

DIRECT - The author directly states a character’s physical traits or personality

INDIRECT – The author gives clues to a character’s nature through the speech, action, and thoughts of a character. The reader must draw a conclusion about the nature of a character.

Theme

Theme: A theme is a thought or idea the author presents to the reader about life or human nature.

Examples:Honesty is always the best policy

Appearances can be deceiving.

Symbolism

Symbolism: using something specific to stand for something else, especially an idea. A symbol is a person, place, object or action that stands for something beyond itself. For example, a dove may represent peace. The dove can be seen and peace cannot.

Irony

Situational: the difference between what is expected to happen and the way events actually work out.

Verbal: occurs when the speaker means something totally different than what he or she is saying.

Dramatic: occurs when facts are not known to the characters but are known by the audience.

Foreshadowing: the author provides clues or hints that suggest or predict a future event in a story.

Flashback: an interruption to “look back in time” at a past event.

Allusion: a reference to something else (piece of literature, historical event)

Imagery: the use of words and phrases that appeal to the five senses.

Hyperbole: exaggeration of truth for emphasis or humor.

Simile: comparison between two unlike things using “like” or “as.”

Metaphor: comparison between two unlike things NOT using “like” or “as.”

Onomatopoeia: the use of words to create a sound (bang, buzz, woosh)

Personification: giving human traits to animals or objects.

Tone: the author’s attitude or feeling about a subject.

Genre: a type of literature.