ELEMENTS OF LITERATURE
We will be using these literary terms throughout the school year.You will be using these in your extended response answers and you will see them on the end of the year tests.Expect to have a test over these terms---the term, its definition, and the correct spelling!!!
Character
A person, animal, or sometimes object that takes part in the action of a literary work.
ANTAGONISTThe antagonist is a character or force that is in conflict with the main character, or the protagonist. The villain in the story.
Example: Darth Vader, the Joker, President Snow
Protagonist
The main character in a literary work. The hero.
Examples: Harry Potter, Katniss Everdeen, Iron Man
Dynamic Characters A character who grows and
changes in a significant way throughout the course of the story.
Examples: Luke Skywalker, Harry Potter, Stanley Yelnats,
Static Characters A character who remains the same
throughout the story. If a character is selfish and arrogant at the beginning of the story, he/she will be the same at the end of the story.
Examples: Effie Trinket, Cinderella’s step-sisters, Eyeore
Round Characters Well developed characters—those
characters that the reader can clearly identify as the main characters. We get to know these characters.
Example: Ricky Bobby, Peeta, Madea
Flat Characters A character that is barely developed
or is stereotypical. It’s hard for the reader to get involved with this character or care about what happens to him/her.
Example: a “drunk” a bully’s “friend” the guy at the grocery store, etc.
Setting The setting is the time and the
place in which the action happens in a story. It often helps to create a particular mood or feeling
Three types of setting: Geographical Physical Historical
Geographical Setting Knowing the location helps to
explain the behavior of the characters. It provides the reader with clues about the characters.
Examples: city, swamp, rural (country), a desert, outer space, region, nation, etc.
Physical Setting Knowing the physical setting helps
to explain why characters act a certain way or why they are motivated to certain actions.
Examples: the weather, the time of day, indoors/outdoors, etc.
Historical Setting This lets the reader know what the
social, political, economical, and cultural environment is in the story. This helps to establish character motivations and behaviors.
Examples: World War II, the Great Depression, during the Civil Rights Movement, etc.
Conflict The struggle or the problem that the
protagonist must face and overcome in the story.
Four types of conflict: Man vs. Man Man vs. Nature Man vs. Self Man vs. Society
Conflict- Man vs. Man In this type of conflict humans are in a
struggle or battle with each other.
Examples: Husband and wife Two armies in battle Brothers arguing Families quarreling
Conflict- Man vs. Nature In this type of conflict the main
character is struggling or fighting the forces of nature.
Examples: Caught in a storm at seaStuck in a blizzardFighting wolves, sharks, bears, etc.
Escaping from a flood, tornado, earthquake, etc.
Conflict- Man vs. Self In this type of conflict, a character is in
a struggle with him/herself. The character is often torn between different courses of action.
Examples: Whether to go “party” or notChoosing between right and wrongTo tell on someone you love
Conflict- Man vs. Society In this type of conflict, the character
faces the decision to go against the government and society’s rules.
Examples: Fighting against slavery Breaking a law for a “good” reason
Rebelling against a “perfect” society
Plot The plot is the sequence of events in a
story. It has eight parts: Exposition Narrative Hook Rising Action Climax Falling Action Conclusion Resolution ***Denoumont*** (day-new-maw)
Plot-Exposition The exposition introduces the:
Setting Main characters Situation- the problem of the story Character’s attitude toward the
situation
Plot-Narrative Hook This is the point in the text
where the reader commits to the story. The reader wants to see how the problem (situation) works out.
This is the point of NO RETURN!!
Plot- Rising Action The rising action is made up of the
events that lead to the climax. The rising action happens slowly and builds the suspense.
Plot- Climax This is the turning point in the story.
The direction of the action changes and begins to allow for the problem to be solved. It DOES NOT solve the problem.
Plot-Falling Action These are the few events that
lead from the climax to the resolution of the problem. These events happen very quickly.
Plot-Resolution
This is when the problem is solved.
Plot-Conclusion This is the end of the
story. All of the loose ends are tied up and finalized.
Plot-Denoumont In some stories, what
happens after the story is over.
Example: One year later…
Plot Map
Copy the plot map on the board onto your paper.
Point of View Point of view is the perspective or
vantage point from which the story is told. It is the relationship of the narrator to the story.
Three types of literary point of view: First person Third person limited Third person omniscient
Point of View – First Person
Told by a character in the story who uses the first person pronouns: I, me, my,
mine.
Point of View-Third Person Limited
This narrator can tell the story from only one person’s perspective. The narrator uses “he” and “she” to refer to characters in the story.
Point of View-Third Person Omniscient
This narrator tells the story from multiple perspectives. The narrator knows what all the characters are feeling and doing .
Theme The theme of a literary work is its
lesson or message to the reader. A theme is usually expressed as a
generalization about people or life. Examples: Love conquers all
Hope can carry you throughGood overcomes evilLife is what you make of it
Mood The mood of a literary work
is the feeling the reader gets while reading.
Examples: Hope, Peace, Excitement, Sorrow, Fear, Dread, etc.
Tone Tone is the writer’s or speaker’s
attitude toward the subject. Tone evokes an emotional
response from the reader.
Examples: may show anger, respect, sarcasm, lightheartedness, etc.
