Literary Elements

1. Literary Elements Ms. Chu American Literature & Writing

2. The Elements of Plot Development If an author writes, "The king died and then the queen died," there is no plot for a story. But by writing, "The king died and then the queen died of grief," the writer has provided a plot line for a story. A plot is a causal sequence of events, the "why" for the things that happen in the story. The plot draws the reader into the character's lives and helps the reader understand the choices that the characters make. A plot's structure is the way in which the story elements are arranged. Writers vary structure depending on the needs of the story. For example, in a mystery, the author will withhold plot exposition until later in the story.

3. What Goes into a Plot? Narrative tradition calls for developing stories with particular pieces--plot elements--in place. It's not always a straight line from the beginning to the end of a short story. Sometimes the action shifts from past to present. This shifting of time is the way we learn what happened and why, and it keeps us interested in the story. But good stories always have all the plot elements in them.

4. Plot Exposition- the characters and setting are introduced and the plot begins to unfold. The exposition generally occurs at the beginning of a story.

5. Plot Rising Action-as the conflict or conflicts develop and the characters attempt to resolve those conflicts.

6. Plot Climax-this is the point when the action reaches a turning point and interest and intensity reach their peak. The story’s climax usually involves an important decision, discovery, or event which influences the final outcome .

7. Plot Falling Action -the point after the climax where the action begins to drop off and the events of the plot become clear or are explained in some way, leading toward the resolution.

8. Plot Resolution -the loose ends are tied up. A resolution does not necessarily indicate a “happy ending.” (Some text books combine falling action and resolution into one stage.)

9. On your sheet of paper, answer the following questions. 1. The highest point (turning point) in the action of a story a) exposition b) rising action c) climax d) falling action e) resolution f) plot 2. The action of the story that is usually made up of a series of events a) exposition b) rising action c) climax d) falling action e) resolution f) plot

10. Point of View • An automobile accident occurs. Two drivers are involved. Witnesses include four sidewalk spectators, a policeman, a man with a video camera who happened to be shooting the scene, and the pilot of a helicopter that was flying overhead. Here we have nine different points of view and, most likely, nine different descriptions of the accident. • In short fiction, who tells the story and how it is told are critical issues for an author to decide. The tone and feel of the story, and even its meaning, can change radically depending on who is telling the story. • Remember, someone is always between the reader and the action of the story. That someone is telling the story from his or her own point of view. This angle of vision, the point of view from which the people, events, and details of a story are viewed, is important to consider when reading a story.

11. Point of View First Person -the narrator is a character in the story and tells the reader his/her story using the pronoun "I." The narrator can comment only on what he/she sees and hears, and cannot comment on other characters' thoughts and feelings.

12. Point of View Third Person Limited -the narrator is outside of the story and tells the story from the perspective of only one character. As a result, the narrator can report only what that one character sees and hears.

13. Point of View Third Person Omniscient -the narrator is outside of the story and is all-knowing or Godlike because he/she knows everything that occurs and everything that each character thinks and feels. This does not mean that the narrator shares everything with the reader.

14. On your sheet of paper, answer the following questions. 3. When the story begins with “I”, the author is using… • First person • Third person 4. When the story begins with “Camille feels” and includes the thoughts and feelings of other characters, the author is using… • First person • Third person limited • Third person omniscient

15. Characters • Memorable characters come alive for us while we read. They live on the page and in our hearts and minds. We cannot forget them. Yet, they are fictional; they don't really exist. • Be alert to characters in the same way you are when you meet someone. Observe their actions. Listen closely to what they say and how they say it. Notice how they relate to other characters and how other characters respond to them. Look for clues as to their purpose and significance in the story.

16. Characters Readers can learn about characters in many ways, including: • Physical traits • Dialogue • Actions • Attire • Opinions • Point of view

17. Characters • Protagonist-the main character in a story whose conflict starts the plot in motion. • Antagonist-the character or force with which the protagonist conflicts

18. Types of Characters Dynamic -During the course of the story, a character who undergoes a permanent change in some aspect of his/her personality or outlook. Static -A character who, during the course of a story, does not grow or develop. Round -A character in fiction whose personality, background, motives, and other features are fully explained by the author. Flat -An easily recognized character type in fiction who may not be fully described by the author but is useful in carrying out some narrative purpose of the author.

19. On your sheet of paper, answer the following questions. 5. Which combination cannot be used? • Round, dynamic • Round, static • Flat, dynamic • Flat, static 6.If the villain is the main character of the story, then what is the detective who tries to stop the villain? • Protagonist • Antagonist

20. Setting • Eudora Welty said, "Every story would be another story, and unrecognizable if it took up its characters and plot and happened somewhere else... Fiction depends for its life on place. Place is the crossroads of circumstance, the proving ground of, What happened? Who's here? Who's coming?..." • Writers describe the world they know. Sights, sounds, colors, and textures are all vividly painted in words as an artist paints images on canvas. A writer imagines a story to be happening in a place that is rooted in his or her mind. The location of a story's actions, along with the time in which it occurs, is the setting. • Setting is created by language. How many or how few details we learn is up to the author. Many authors leave a lot of these details up to the reader's imagination. • Setting is where and when

21. On your sheet of paper, answer the following questions. 7. The setting needs to be specific, such as September 6, 2012 at Auburn Mountainview High School, Room 221 • True • False 8. There can only be one setting in a story • True • False

22. Theme The central idea or insight of a work of literature. The theme is the idea the writer wishes to convey about the subject. Most themes are implied rather than stated directly.

23. Finding the Theme • Here are some ways to uncover the theme in a story: Check out the title. Sometimes it tells you a lot about the theme. • Notice repeating patterns and symbols. Sometimes these lead you to the theme. • What allusions are made throughout the story? • What are the details and particulars in the story? What greater meaning may they have? • Remember that theme, plot, and structure are inseparable, all helping to inform and reflect back on each other. Also, be aware that a theme we determine from a story never completely explains the story. It is simply one of the elements that make up the whole.

24. On your sheet of paper, answer the following questions. 9. Every story has its own theme, unique to the story • True • False 10. There is only one main theme for most stories • True • False

25. Mood The feeling or atmosphere that a writer creates for the reader. The mood is an emotional response created in the reader. Mood is the situation’s atmosphere or character’s feeling. All the choices for setting, images, objects and details contribute in creating a mood.

26. On your sheet of paper, answer the following question. Wanting More Thinking of what others have Makes me both mad and sad. It seems like the harder I work The less I achieve. Everyone is jubilant, Yet I still grieve. I don’t want a lot Just a bit more than what I’ve got. 11. What is the mood of the above poem? • Happy • Depressing • Anxious • Embarrassed

27. Foreshadow The use of clues to hint at what is going to happen later in the plot. Foreshadowing is used to arouse the reader's curiosity and to create suspense.

28. On your sheet of paper, answer the following question. 12. In scary movies, what foreshadows something terrible is going to happen?

29. Symbolism The use of symbols (something that stands for more than itself) in literature to convey meaning

30. On your sheet of paper, answer the following questions. 13. The dove is a common symbol in literature to symbolize what? • Love • Money • Peace • Death 14. Which color symbolizes anger? • White • Black • Red • Yellow

31. Any questions?