GLOSSARY OF SELECTED LITERARY CONVENTIONSLiterary texts fall into several different genres all of which are characterized by their own purpose, together with those conventions that are proper to the genre. The conventions used in a specific literary text include, for example, literary techniques and elements, as well as rhetorical devices.

Students will be asked to discuss literary devices and, therefore, may identify either the elements or techniques that contribute to the power of the writing. Students should also be able to explain how the element or technique is crafted by the author to achieve his purpose.

LITERARY ELEMENTS are particular characteristics of a whole text. The elements help structure a text.Plot the structure and sequence of events in a storyTheme the main idea or message in a literary work (Theme should be expressed in a complete sentence. An idea represented by a single word or phrase is a motif.)Character the people or players in a literary work who have a specific role or function in the plot Setting the time and place of a literary work that help define the situation in a literary workConflict the struggle, obstacle or dilemma that drives the action in the literaryWork Climax the emotional high point of a literary workTurning Point the point in a literary work at which the action turns for or against the main characterMood the atmosphere or emotional climate created by the literary work; the feeling created by the text Point of View the person or narrative voice through which a story is told (not to be confused with viewpoint, which is a writers or characters feelings, opinions or perspectives) This may be third person omniscient, third person limited, or first person narrator or observerTone the attitude or emotional state of the narrative voice (not the author or characters) as revealed through the language of the literary work

LITERARY TECHNIQUES are specific constructions or language choices used by the author to convey meaning and achieve the authors purpose.Alliteration the repetition of consonant sounds in close proximity in a line of poetry or proseAllusion a reference to a person, place or thing that has a literary, historical, artistic, geographical, mythological, or scriptural significanceCharacterization The writers means of conveying a characters personality, background, appearance, valuesDialogue the quoted conversation of two or more people providing details about the characters and their situation Irony verbal: words that are intended to mean the exact opposite of what is stated (not to be confused with mockery, which is a tone of voice often accompanying verbal irony) situational: an unexpected turn of events, the opposite of what would be a conventional or appropriate outcome dramatic: an awareness of information by the audience and one character or more on stage not shared by another characterEnjambment in poetry, the continuation of a sentence from one line to the nextForeshadowing hinting by the author of events to come in a literary workImagery the use of sensory details to stimulate thought and feelingMetaphor a figure of speech in which two things are compared without the use of like or as Hyperbole a figure of speech employing obvious exaggerationParadox the juxtaposition of two seemingly contradictory ideas that contain some truthParallelism use of similar language, structures, events or ideas in different parts of a text for the purpose of emphasis or comparison and contrastPersonification a figure of speech in which a non-human object is described as humanRhyme the repetition of similar or duplicate sounds in two or more words at the end of or within a line of poetryRhythm the regular pattern of stressed and unstressed beats or sounds in poetry or proseRepetition the use of a specific word, structure or phrase several times to emphasize a particular ideaSimile a figure of speech comparing two things using like or asSymbolism the use of specific objects or images to represent abstract ideas

LITERARY ELEMENTSBelow is a list of Literary Elements, or the parts of a story. When you examine and analyze your literary work for class presentation, ask the following questions. They will help you find the literary elements of your story.

ThemeThe story's ideas? Author's attitude towards those ideas? Author's "statement" about those ideas? The story's message or main point? Your attitude? ConflictWhat people/forces/ideas/interests/values/institutions oppose each other? What decisions must the characters make? Between what two things is he/she deciding? What do these things represent?

CharacterizationWhat kinds of person/people are the character(s)? Their beliefs/ hopes/ dreams/ ideals/ values/ morals/ fears/ strengths/ weaknesses/ vices/ virtues/ talents? How do they conduct themselves? What do they say and do to reval themselves? What do others say and do about the? What are your opinions or feelings about them? Classifications of types of characters include: protagonist, antagonist, foil, stereotype, flat, round, static, dynamic.

SymbolismWhat concrete, specific objects have been used to represent abstract ideas? What colors, names, settings, recurring objects have been referred to? What ideas do these represent?

SettingSetting refers to TIME and PLACE: Time: of day, year, era/age? Place: city, country? Outside, inside? Rich and opulent or poor and simple? Stark and barren landscape? Rainy or sunny? Beautiful or adversarial? Dark or light? Dangerous or safe? The weather? How does all this affect meaning? What feelings (atmosphere) are evoked just by the setting?

StyleThe way the writer chooses to arrange his sentence structure (syntax) as well as the words (diction) he chooses. What is the overall effect of the way he writes? Simple, involved, poetic, colloquial, humorous, pedantic, child-like? How does it contribute to the authors message and the overall effect the author wishes to create?

ToneThe authors attitude towards what (s)he is writing that translates into your attitude: or - what is the feeling of the whole work and the writing/artist's craft? Joyful? Melancholy? Fatalistic? Angry? Peaceful? Scary? Mysterious?

Figurative LanguageWhat kinds of comparisons are made that add layers to the meaning of the poem or story? A metaphor is a direct comparison: my love is a rose, or he was a snake. A simile is indirect, mediated by "like" or "as": my love is like a rose, or he was as mean as a snake. Allusion is a reference to another literary or artistic work or cultural icon/event.