Literary Elements

Literary Elements Short Story Unit

Key difference between short stories and novels: • Novels usually contain more characters (longer time and space to develop) • Novels contain several sub-plots, while short stories usually focus on one plot line.

Characterization • Process by which writer reveals the personality of a character • Telling the reader directly • Describing looks and dress • Hear character speak • Revealing character’s thoughts

Protagonist • The main character, sets plot in motion • Example: The Metamorphosis- Gregor The Stranger: Meursault

Antagonist • Character or force that opposes/blocks the protagonist (main character) • Example: Metamorphosis- The boarders, family The Stranger: Society

Direct Characterization • Writer tells the reader directly what a character is like Example: The Metamorphosis “..he saw his vaulted brown belly, sectioned by arch-shaped ribs…His many legs, pitifully thin, were waving helplessly before his eyes.”

Indirect Characterization • Reader has to use own judgment; put clues together to figure out what a character is like. Example: The Stranger “…she asked me if I loved her. I said that sort of question had no meaning really; but I supposed I didn’t.” (implying that he is unemotional, detached)

Dynamic Characters • Changes in some way as a result of the story’s action Example: Metamorphosis Gregor: Physical change. Also; changed from provider to burden. Attitude changed from sympathy towards family to anger

Static Characters • Does not change in course of story • Example: The Stranger Raymond: selfish and refuses to take accountability through entire novel. Never realizes that he is the cause of Meursault’s situation.

Flat Characters • A character with only 1or 2 personality traits • Example: Metamorphosis • Mother: emotional, weak • The Stranger: • Marie- doesn’t truly know Mersault, even up to end of novel still thinks that he is going to marry her

Round Characters • Have more dimensions to their personalities-complex, solid, and multifaceted Example: The Stranger Meursault: smart, observant, opinionated, emotionless

Point of View • The vantage point from which a writer tells a story. • Three types: • Omniscient • First person • Third person

Omniscient Point of View • The person telling the story knows everything that’s going to happen. • Outside of story • Can tell us what is happening and what characters are feeling • Example: The Scarlett Letter

1st person narrator • The narrator is a character in the story. • Uses “I” to tell of his experiences • Can only hear and see what narrator sees • Example: The Stranger… through Meursault’s view point

3rd person narrator • The person telling the story is not a character in the story, but can only tell the story from one character’s point of view. • Uses “he, she, they” etc, throughout the story. Example:The Metamorphosis

Rising Action • All action leading up to the climax of the story. Example: The Metamorphosis Climax: Gregor dies Action leading up to: Father injures Gregor, Gregor sneaks out of room, Cleaning lady visits Gregor…etc.

Climax • Point of greatest emotional intensity, or suspense in a plot when the outcome of the conflict becomes known The Stranger: Meursault receiving death sentence The Metamorphosis: Gregor dying

Falling Action • Action following the climax The Stranger: Meursault accepting truth, reflecting on life’s purpose. The Metamorphosis: The family telling the boarders to leave, the cleaning woman getting rid of Gregor’s body

Resolution • When all the problems, mysteries and conflicts unravel and are explained • The Stranger: Meusault’s vision of how he envisions the crowd at his execution. • The Metamorphosis: The family taking the day off and thinking about the future…

Themes • Central idea or insight of a work of literature • Not the subject of the work

Themes from The Metamorphosis • Absurdity of life • Limits of sympathy • Alienation • Separation between body and mind

Themes from The Stranger • Irrationality of the Universe • Meaningless of life • Importance of the physical world

Mood • Overall emotion created • The Stranger: Injustice • The Metamorphosis: absurdity • The Canterbury Tales: humor • Frankenstein: suspense

Setting • Time and place of a story • Often linked to mood • Often changes throughout story Example: The Metamorphosis: Apartment The Stranger: WWI, Algeria, urban, beach

Irony • A contrast between: • what is said and what is meant • what is expected and what really happens • what appears to be true and what really is true

Examples of Irony • Meursault tells the reader that one should take an interest in matters in reference to an execution because you never know how your life will end. • However, had he taken his own advice, he might not have been in the situation he was in.

Diction • Writer’s/Speaker’s choice of words • Influenced by audience • Determines effect writer is trying to produce Example: The language describing a snow flake in a science article is different that what would be described by a poet.

Imagery • Language that appeals to the senses: • Sight, sound, taste, smell, hearing • The Stranger: The marvelous peace of the sleepbound summer night flooded through me like a tide. I woke, the stars were shining down on my face, sounds of the countryside came faintly in, and the cool night air, veined in smells…

Allegory • A story in which characters, settings and events stand for abstract or moral concepts • Example: Gregror and Meursault’s death standing for an abstract concept (both relating to Christ)

Symbolism • The use of symbols to suggest ideas, emotions, moods and meaning • Common Symbols: heart (love), dove (peace), skull and cross bones (danger)

Symbols in The Metamorphosis The picture of the woman in the frame Gregor made. Food Violin/music The father’s uniform

Dialogue • Conversation between two or more people Hamlet: Barnardo: Who’s there? Francisco: No: Answer me! Halt and identify yourself! Barnardo: Long live the king!

Allusion • A reference to a statement person, place or event known from literature, history, religion, myth, politics or another field of knowledge Example: Hamlet describing his father (A3): the curls of the sun god Hyperion; the forehead of kingly Jove, an eye like that of Mars, a bearing like the herald Mercury.

Motif • A word, character, object, image, metaphor, or idea that recurs in a work, or several works.

Motifs from The Metamorphosis • Physical/emotional metamorphosis • Sleep/rest

Motifs from The Stranger Death and decay Watching/observing

Atmosphere • Mood or feeling created through details and images Things Fall Apart: The night was very quiet. Darkness held a vague terror for these people, even the bravest among them…Dangerous animals became more sinister and uncanny in the dark. A snake was never called by its name at night, because it would hear.

Atmosphere, example cont. Example: The train was hot and crowded. The exhaust from the engines filled the cars meant for lower class passengers. Smells of food and body odor mixed together, as people tried not to stick to the seats…

Hyperbole • Uses extreme exaggeration to express a strong sentiment or create comic effect. • Example: sweating to death! • I’ve told you a million times! • If I had a dollar every time you said that, I would be a billionaire.

The End!!!

Literary Elements