Literary Elements

What parts make up a story?http://members.tripod.com/dscorpio/images/literary_elements.ppt

SettingCharactersPlot ConflictTheme

5 most important elements of Literature

Setting Setting

Details that describe:Details that describe:FurnitureFurnitureScenerySceneryCustomsCustomsTransportationTransportationClothingClothingDialectsDialectsWeatherWeatherTime of dayTime of dayTime of yearTime of year

Time and plSeeedfgdflace where Time and plSeeedfgdflace where the action occursthe action occurs

Setting

Place

Atmosphere

Time

History

EraLife

Mood

Weather

Feelings

WordChoice

Location

Physical

Day

Use as activator to activate prior knowledge. Write the web on the board or overhead and students create one at their seats. Then as class share and fill in.

What makes up Setting

Example

• Glee

• Where and when does this take place?

• City of Ember

• Where and when does this take place?

• Twilight

• Where and when does this take place?

To create a mood or atmosphere

To show a reader a different way of life

To make action seem more real

To be the source of conflict or struggle

To symbolize an idea

We left the home place behind, mile by slow mile, heading for the mountains, across the prairie where the wind blew forever. At first there were four of us with one horse wagon and its skimpy load. Pa and I walked, because I was a big boy of eleven. My two little sisters romped and trotted until they got tired and had to be boosted up to the wagon bed.

That was no covered Conestoga, like Pa’s folks came West in, but just an old farm wagon, drawn by one weary horse, creaking and rumbling westward to the mountains, toward the little woods town where Pa thought he had an old uncle who owned a little two-bit sawmill.

Taken from “The Day the Sun Came Out” by D. Johnson

Why is it important?

People or animalsMajor charactersMinor charactersRound characters (Dynamic) Flat characters (Static)

Characters

• A Dynamic Character changes as a result of the events of the story.

• A Static Character changes very little or not at all through the literary work.

• A character’s motivation is any force (i.e.: love, fear, jealousy) that drives the character to behave in a particular way.

Types of Characters

• A character can be a protagonist//antagonist - the main - the main character or the person who creates character or the person who creates a problem for the main charactera problem for the main character

• Never think of it as being the good guy/ bad guy.

Types Cont.

A writer reveals what a character is like and A writer reveals what a character is like and how the character changes throughout the how the character changes throughout the story.story.

Two primary methods of characterization:Two primary methods of characterization:Direct-Direct- writer tells what the character is like writer tells what the character is likeIndirectIndirect-- writer shows what a character is like writer shows what a character is like

by describing what the character looks like, by by describing what the character looks like, by telling what the character says and does, and by telling what the character says and does, and by what other characters say about and do in what other characters say about and do in response to the character.response to the character.

Characters Cont.

…And I don’t play the dozens or believe in standing around with somebody in my face doing a lot of talking. I much rather just knock you down and take my chances even if I’m a little girl with skinny arms and a squeaky voice, which is how I got the name Squeaky.

From “Raymond’s Run” by T. Bambara

Example:

Indirect CharacterizationIndirect Characterization“That Ed Johnson,” said Anderson, watching the old mechanic scratch his head in confusion as the sales rep explained Dralco’s newest engine performance diagnostic computer. “He hasn’t got a clue about modern electronics. Give him a good set of tools and a stack of yellowing manuals with a carburetor needing repair, and he’d be happy as a hungry frog in a fly-field.”

Character

Main

Flat

Minor

Not Fully Developed

FriendsRelativesFully

Developed

Protagonist

AntagonistCo-Main

Enemy

Types of Characters

Physical appearance of characterPersonalityBackground/personal historyMotivationRelationshipsConflictDoes character change?

Character Makeup

Plot is a series of events in a Plot is a series of events in a story. story.

An event is any conflict that An event is any conflict that has a resolution in a story. has a resolution in a story.

Plot

Disney’s CinderellaExampleExample

What’s the first conflict?

What’s the second conflict?

Cinderella’s father dies.

What’s the resolution?

Her step mother becomes her guardian

Her step mother and step sisters are mean.

What’s the resolution?

She makes friends with mice.

Inciting incident/Opening situation

Exposition

Dev

elop

men

t/

Ris

ing

Act

ion

Climax

Falling

action

Resolution

Denouement If you are lucky

Plot Chart

Parts of a PlotParts of a Plot Exposition: Introduction of characters and

setting of a story. Inciting incident – event that gives rise to conflict

(opening situation)Rising Action- events that occur as result of

central conflict Climax- highest point of interest or suspense of

storyResolution- when conflict endsDenouement- To wrap up all loose ends. All

problems are solved or at least you know the result.

Suspense- excitement or tensionForeshadowing- hint or clue about what

will happen in storyFlashback- interrupts the normal sequence

of events to tell about something that happened in the past

Surprise Ending- conclusion that reader does not expect

Wait there’s more:

Conflict is a struggle between opposing forcesConflict is a struggle between opposing forcesEvery plot must contain some kind of conflictEvery plot must contain some kind of conflictStories can have more than one conflictStories can have more than one conflictConflicts can be external or internalConflicts can be external or internal

External conflictExternal conflict- outside force may be person, - outside force may be person, group, animal, nature, or a nonhuman obstaclegroup, animal, nature, or a nonhuman obstacle

Internal conflictInternal conflict- takes place in a character’s mind- takes place in a character’s mind

Conflict

A central message, concern, or insight into life expressed through a literary work

Can be expressed by one or two sentence statement about human beings or about life

May be stated directly or impliedInterpretation uncovers the theme

Theme

EXAMPLE

What are some of the themes of The Pirates of the Caribbean?Good will always triumph over

evil.

Don’t judge a person before you get to know him or her.

Love motivates some people to take risks.