Understanding &Reading Fiction
LiteraryElements
Regina List-Grace 2006
Objectives
• Identify elements of a short story
• Define elements of a short story
• Demonstrate mastery of short story elements
Overview
• Short stories often contain structural and character elements that should be familiar to you.
• These elements can be used as guides to help you think about the actions, themes, and contexts of the story.
Fiction
A prose writing that tells about imaginary characters and events. The term is usually for novels and short stories, but it also applies to dramas and narrative poetry.
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Short StoryA brief work of fiction.
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Novel
A longer work of fiction. Often divided into parts or chapters.http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.planethelium.com/lotr/aragon.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.planethelium.com/rings.html&h=600&w=800&sz=63&hl=en&start=7&tbnid=xBQThcEOyu7fcM:&tbnh=107&tbnw=143&prev=/images%3Fq%3Daragon%26svnum%3D10%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-US:official_s%26sa%3DG
Literary Elements
Characterization
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CharacterA person, animal or machine who
takes part in the action of a literary work. Characters are sometimes
classified as round or flat, dynamic or static.
A character can be revealed through their actions, speech, and appearance.
They may also be revealed by the comments of other characters or the
author.
http://members.tripod.com/~film_circle/rushhour.jpg
Characterization
The act of creating and developing a character.
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ProtagonistThe main character in a literary work.
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Antagonist
A character or force in conflict with a main character, or protagonist.
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Static Character
This character does not
change much in
the story. http://static.flickr.com/39/82639167_4bdae091fd_m.jpg
Dynamic Character
This character develops and grows during the course of
the story.http://www.eurpac.com/hepicts/tsdvd/princess%20diaries%20dvd.jpg
Direct Characterization
The author directly states a character’s traits.
http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.ropeofsilicon.com/Images/MoviePics/e/emperorsnewgroove.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.ropeofsilicon.com/movies.php%3Fid%3D2677&h=297&w=200&sz=16&hl=en&start=18&tbnid=vS9555-OU70L-M:&tbnh=116&tbnw=78&prev=/images%3Fq%3Ddavid%2Bspade%2Bemperor%26svnum%3D10%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-US:official_s%26sa%3DG
Indirect Characterization
An author tells what a character looks like,
does, and says, as well as how other
characters react to him or her. It is up to the
reader to draw conclusions about the
character based on this indirect information.
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Has only one or two traits.
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FlatCharacter
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ROUNDCHARACTER
This charactershows many different traits—faults as wellas virtues.
Character Foil
A character whose traits are in direct contrast to those of the main character. The foil highlights the traits of the main character.
Stereotype
A character who possesses traits of a large group rather than being an individual; usually considered an indication of poor qualities (minorities, disabilities, women).
Literary Elements
Conflict
Conflict
A struggle between opposing forces, usually it will form the basis of stories, novels, and plays. Conflict creates plot.
http://www.warnerbros.co.uk/movies/troy/img/troy_main.jpg
Internal Conflict
Involves a character in conflict with himself or herself.
Man vs. himself
http://www.sfrevu.com/ISSUES/2002/0201/Film%20-%20A%20Beautiful%20Mind/beautiful%20mind.jpg
External Conflict
The main character struggles with an outside force. Usually the outside force consists of:man vs. manman vs. natureman vs. societyman vs. supernatural
Man vs. Man
http://www.talithamackenzie.com/pics/biog/troy.jpg
Conflict that pits one person against another.
Man vs. Society
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The values and customs by which everyone else lives are challenged by an individual. The character may die as a result of this challenge OR may bring others to a sympathetic point of view OR perhaps society is right.
Man vs. Nature
http://www.canadian-titanic-society.com/book_cover.jpg
A run-in with the forces of nature. On
one hand, it expresses the
insignificance of human life in the
cosmic scheme. On the other hand, it
tests the limits of a person’s strength
and will to live
Man vs. Supernatural
http://www.kidsclick.com/images/hercules_aaction.jpg
A run-in with forces not of this earth. May be similar to the conflict of man vs. nature.
Literary Elements
Elements of Plot
Setting
The time and place of a literary work.
Example: The Cask of
Amontillado is set “Early evening in an Italian city during a
carnival immediately preceding Lent.” http://cummingsstudyguides.net/Guides2/PoeTales.jpg
http://www.cast.org/teachingeverystudent/toolkits/images/TMP_plotdiagram_large.jpg
All fiction is based on conflict and this conflict is presented in a structure called
plot.
Plot
The sequence of events in a literary work. In most novels, dramas, short stories, and narrative poems, the plot involves both characters and a central conflict. It usually includes:
ExpositionInciting incidentRising action (development)ClimaxFalling actionResolution
Exposition
Writing or speech that explains a process or presents information. In the plot of a story or drama, the exposition is the part of the work that introduces the characters, the setting, and the basic situation.
EXPOSITION
Inciting Incident
An event that creates the central conflict, or struggle, that the work is about. It often involves a plan that creates conflict.
INCITING INCIDENT
Foreshadowing
The use of clues that suggest events that have yet to occur. Use of this technique helps to create suspense, keeping readers wondering and speculating about what will happen next.
http://www.hyperborea.org/journal/images/foreshadowing.jpg
Rising Action
All the events building from the conflict(s) and leading up to the climax.
RISIN
G ACTIO
N
Climax
The result as the rising action reached a crisis. It is the high point of interest or suspense in the story.
CLIMAX
Falling Action
The events after the climax which close the story.
FALLING
ACTION
ResolutionThe point at which the conflict in the work is
ended, or resolved. Rounds out and concludes the action.
RESOLUTIONOpen ending
Closed endingCliffhanger
Denouement
This includes any events that might occur after the resolution. Often writers
include a denouement in order to tie up loose ends.
RESOLUTION
DENOUEMENT
Literary Elements
Point of View
Point of View
The point from which the story is told, usually the narrator, character or
outside observer who tells the story.
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The narrator is a character in the story. He can reveal the action as well as his own thoughts and feelings.
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First PersonPoint of View
THIRD PersonPoint of View
LIMITED-The narrator is an outsider who focuses on the thoughts and feelings of just one character.
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THIRD PersonPoint of View
OMNISCIENT-The all knowing
narrator can tell us about the past,
present and future of all the
characters (godlike).
http://landru.i-link-2.net/shnyves/God.creating.stars.jpeg
THIRD PersonPoint of View
OBJECTIVE-The narrator is an outsider
who can report only what he sees and hears. The narrator
can tell what is happening, but cannot tell us the thoughts and inner feelings of the
characters.
Literary ElementsIrony
Irony
The general term for literary techniques that portray differences between appearance and reality, expectation and result, or meaning and intention.
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Verbal Irony
Words are used to suggest the opposite of what is meant.
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Dramatic Irony
There is a contradiction
between what a character thinks and
what the reader or audience
knows to be true. http://www.sunnews.com/images/2003/0821/jasonRGB.jpg
Situational Irony
An event occurs that directly contradicts the expectations of the characters, the reader, or the audience.
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Literary Elements
Devices of Style
NarratorThe person that tells the story.
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Metaphor
http://www.alyon.org/generale/theatre/cinema/affiches_cinema/s/seu-smo/simon_birch.jpg
A figure of speech in which one thing is spoken of as though it were something else.
Example:“Time is a monster that cannot be reasoned with.”
Simile
A figure of speech in which like or as is used to make a comparison between two basically unlike ideas.
Example:Claire is as flighty as a sparrow.
http://www.abcteach.com/circus/images/simile10.gif
Symbol
Anything that stands for or represents something else. An object that serves as a symbol has its
own meaning, but also represents abstract ideas.
http://wynn.house.gov/images/American%20Flag.gif
Theme
A central message or insight into life revealed through the literary work. It is a generalization about people or about life that is communicated through the literary work. Readers thinks about what the work seems to say about the nature of people or about life.http://victoryatseaonline.com/war/otherwars/images/patriot.gif
Connotation
All the meanings, associations, or emotions that a word suggests.
Denotation
The literal, dictionary definition.
Dialect
• Is the way of speaking that is characteristic of a particular region or of a particular group of people.
• This involves three important elements: vocabulary, pronunciation, and grammar.
Imagery
The descriptive or figurative language used in literature to
create word pictures for the
reader. These pictures, or images,
are created by details of sight, sound, taste,
touch, smell, or movement.
http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/articles/20050601/a798_129.SMELL.JPG
SuspenseA state of tension, a sense of uncertainty, an emotional pull which keeps the reader reading.
http://www.baggas.com/blog/images/warworlds.jpg
MoodAlso known as atmosphere, is the feeling created in the reader by a literary work or passage.Usually it is created by the suggestive descriptive details. It can sometimes be described by a single word, such as lighthearted, frightening or despairing.
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AllusionA reference to a well-known person,
place, event, literary work, or work of art.
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http://content.answers.com/main/content/wp/en/thumb/b/b1/350px-Da_Vinci_The_last_supper_detail_Da_Vinci_code.jpg
Tone
The writer’s attitude toward his or her audience and subject. It can often be described as a single adjective, such as formal or informal, serious or playful, bitter or ironic.http://pressunic.com/video/images/shangai_kid2.jpg
Satire
A technique that ridicules people
and their institutions in an effort to expose
their weaknesses and
evils.
http://fapac.wcu.edu/Images/Leno.jpg
Flashback
A literary or dramatic device in which an earlier event is inserted into the normal chronological order of a narrative.
http://www.foxmovies.com.au/content/fox_films/277/images/SANDLOT%20THE_FLR.jpg
PersonificationInanimate objects have human characteristics.
Hyperbole
Is an extreme exaggeration. It
can be closely connected or
related to a metaphor just
remember it is an
exaggeration.
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