Intro into Literature

Intensive ReadingMs. Coro

Objective: Looking into the different elements of a story.

Points of View, “POV”1st Person: one of the characters

is the narrator of the story; uses pronouns “I” or “me.”

3rd Person: narrator is outside the story who tells the reader what happens.

3rd Person Limited: narrator recounts events as a single character in the story.

3rd Person Omniscient: narrator knows all.

All about the “characters”Protagonist: the main character of the

story. Note! Not always the good guy/girl.

Antagonist: the character who works against the protagonist. Note! Not always the bad guy/girl.

Static character: stays the same throughout the story.

Dynamic character: changes as the story progresses.

Can you name any examples?

Round Characters

• A round character is one whose personality, background, motives, and other features are fully described or explained by the author. In general, main characters are round because many insights are given.

Flat Characters

• A flat character is one who is not fully described but is useful in carrying out some narrative purpose of the author. They tend to be minor characters.

• Conflict is the struggle between the opposing forces on which the action in a work of literature depends.

• In short stories, there is usually one major conflict. In longer stories, there could be several conflicts.

Conflict

Conflict of the storyPerson vs Person: character struggles with

one or more characters.Person vs Nature: character struggles with a

nonhuman force, like a hurricane or animal.Person vs Society: character struggles with

elements of their culture, i.e. immortal laws/norms.

Person vs Self: character experiences an internal struggle, i.e. with their beliefs/morals/values.

Person vs Machine: character struggles with their toaster!

Person vs. Person

Person vs. Nature

Person vs. Society

Person vs. Self

Person vs. Machine

Elements of the PlotPlot: has 5 major parts1) Exposition 2) Rising action3) Climax4) Falling action5) Resolution

Exposition The exposition is the introduction

of the story. It contains the setting, introduces the main characters, and gives background information. It is the information needed to understand a story.

Rising Action

The rising action is the portion of the story where a character tries to solve the conflict.

Longest part of the story.

Climax

The climax is the tensest moment of the story. The turning point in the story that occurs when characters try to resolve the complication.

Falling Action

The falling action is where the characters begin to apply a solution to the conflict and tie up loose ends.

Resolution

The resolution is how everything turns out in the story. It is the set of events that bring the story to a close.

Theme

• The theme is the insight about life or human nature that the writer shares with the reader. It is usually not stated directly, but must be inferred.

• The theme is the message of a story. Ask yourself this question. What should you learn from the story?