Literary Nonfiction

Literary NonfictionNonfiction text about a person, place, or event written using narrative or literary techniques.

What does that mean?

A literary nonfiction story must be TRUE and have NARRATIVE ELEMENTS!

Examples of Literary Nonfiction

BiographiesAutobiographies

BiographyAn account of a person’s life

written by another person; follows the structure and uses elements of literary text

AutobiographyAn account of a person’s life

told by that person; follows the structure and uses elements of literary text

What are Literary Techniques? Plot structures Illustrations Characterization Theme Foreshadowing Flashback Symbolism Repetition Figurative Language Imagery

Plot Structures Literary nonfiction text sound like a

story because they sometime contain the following elements of plot structure Exposition: Beginning of the story,

introduction of characters, setting, and problem

Rising Action: This part of the story begins to develop the conflict(s). A building of interest or suspense occurs.

Climax: This is the turning point of the story. Usually the most exciting part.

Falling Action: All loose ends of the plot are tied up. The conflict(s) and climax are taken care of.

Resolution: The story comes to a reasonable ending

Plot Diagram

Putting It All Together1. Exposition

2. Rising Action

3. Climax

4. Falling Action

5. Resolution

Character

Problem

Resolution

SummaryFor the summary of Literary

Nonfiction text, you will use CPR. CharacterProblemResolution

Illustrations Real life illustrations (pictures) are often

used in literary nonfiction because it is about a real person, place or event

Characterization The author provides details about:

Traits: how the characters look, feel, and act

their relationships and how they feel about them

the changes they undergo Their conflicts

Character vs. Character Character vs. Self Character vs. Society Character vs. Nature

Functions- Pursue, Avoid, Help, Hinder

Foreshadowing the use of clues that let the reader know

what might happen later

Part Two

Theme The main message The lesson you learn from the story

Example Themes: Acceptance Courage Perseverance Cooperation Compassion Honesty Kindness Loyalty

Flashback An event described that takes place

before the time in the text

Symbolism Any object, person, place or action that has

both a meaning in itself and that stands for something larger than itself, such as an idea, belief or value

Example Symbols: Birds can mean freedom Buildings can mean strength Cats can signify mystery City can represent civilization Feathers can signify lightness Fire can symbolize anger Plants can represent nature Snakes can mean danger Trees can represent steadfastness Water can symbolize life

Repetition Words or phrases used more than once

Figurative language A way of creating interesting images

with words by using language that has a deeper meaning than what the words actually say Alliteration Simile Metaphor Onomatopoeia Personification Hyperbole Idioms

Alliteration Consonant sounds repeated at the

beginnings of words Alliteration poems tend to be tongue

twisters. They are written for the fun they bring when they are read.

If Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers, how many pickled peppers did Peter Piper pick?

Simile A comparison of two things using “Like”

or “as”

Example: “She is as beautiful as a sunrise.”

MetaphorA direct comparison of two

unlike things

“This classroom is a three-ring circus

Life is a dance

Onomatopoeia Onomatopoeia is a word that imitates

the sound it represents BAM! Fizz Meow Kerplunk Clink Buzz

PersonificationPersonification is talking

about things, ideas, or animals as if they were humans.

Personification can give objects and animals thoughts, feelings, and words This stapler is out to get me! My car is begging me for gas. My feet are screaming at me to

sit down.

Hyperbole A hyperbole is a huge exaggeration

used to make a point. It is often so extreme that it’s funny. The biggest cat in the whole world. A stack of papers a mile high. The stale cookie is as hard as a rock. I’m so hungry, I could eat a cow.

Idiom An idiom is a group of words that

doesn’t really mean what it says. If taken literally, most idioms are quite

funny to imagine. It’s raining cats and dogs. In a pickle Straight from the horse’s mouth Let the cat out of the bag Eyes are bigger than stomach

IMAGERY Language that appeals to the senses. Most images are visual, but they can

also appeal to the senses of sound, touch, taste, or smell.

then with cracked hands that ached

from labor in the weekday weather . . .

from “Those Winter Sundays”

Sensory Details A sensory detail is a detail that uses

one or more of the five senses to describe something.

It helps you make a picture in your head.

Sensory Details Examples Sight/Visual

Flash of lights in the night sky The sun was setting behind low, gray-blue

storm clouds Sounds

The walls shook and vibrated like the tail of a rattle snake

The sounds of emergency sirens awakened the still roads

Sensory Details Examples Smell

Sweet aroma of baking corn bread Ocean air

Touch Stick my toes in the warm and grainy sand Soft tufts of fur

Taste Salty chips Juicy tartness of an orange

STAAR Question Stems In paragraph __the __symbolizes __. In paragraph __, the author states that

“__” to help the reader understand – Why does the author describe __ as “__?” Read this sentence from paragraph.

What does the author mean by this line What is the best summary of the

section?