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Literary Elements

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

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Story “Grammar”(the parts of stories and how they’re put together)

SettingCharactersPlot ClimaxThemeResolutionDenouement

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Setting

ØDetails that describe:FurnitureSceneryCustomsTransportationClothingDialectsWeatherTime of dayTime of year

Time and place are where the action occurs

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Elements of a Setting

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The Functions of a SettingTo create a mood or

atmosphereTo show a reader a

different way of lifeTo make action seem

more realTo be the source of

conflict or struggleTo symbolize an idea

Once upon a time there lived in a certain village a little country girl, the prettiest creature who was ever seen. Her mother was excessively fond of her; and her grandmother doted on her still more. This good woman had a little red riding hood made for her. It suited the girl so extremely well that everybody called her Little Red Riding Hood. One day her mother, having made some cakes, said to her, "Go, my dear, and see how your grandmother is doing, for I hear she has been very ill. Take her a cake, and this little pot of butter." Little Red Riding Hood set out immediately to go to her grandmother, who lived in another village. As she was going through the wood, she met with a wolf… Taken from “Little Red Riding Hood” by Charles Perrault

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Types of Characters

People or animalsMajor charactersMinor charactersRound charactersFlat characters

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Characterization

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

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

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

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Direct Characterization  She suffered intensely, feeling herself

born for every delicacy and every luxury. She suffered from the poverty of her dwelling, from the worn walls, the abraded chairs, the ugliness of the stuffs. All these things, which another woman of her caste would not even have noticed, tortured her and made her indignant.

From “The Necklace” by Guy de Montpassant

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Indirect Characterization

The thousand injuries of Fortunato I had borne as I best could; but when he ventured upon insult, I vowed revenge. You, who so well know the nature of my soul, will not suppose, however, that I gave utterance to a threat. AT LENGTH I would be avenged; this was a point definitively settled -- but the very definitiveness with which it was resolved precluded the idea of risk. I must not only punish, but punish with impunity.

From “Cask of Amontillado” by Edgar Allen Poe

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Elements of Character

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Factors in Analyzing Characters

Physical appearance of characterPersonalityBackground/personal historyMotivationRelationshipsConflictDoes character change?

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Plot

Plot is what happens and how it happens in a narrative. A narrative is any work that tells a story, such as a short story, a novel, a drama, or a narrative poem.

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Parts of a Plot

Inciting incident – event that gives rise to conflict (opening situation)

Development- events that occur as result of central conflict (rising action)

Climax- highest point of interest or suspense of story

Resolution- when conflict endsDenouement- when characters go back to

their life before the conflict

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Diagram of Plot

Inciting incident/Opening situation

Introduction

Dev

elop

men

t/

Ris

ing

Act

ion

Climax

Resolution

Denouement

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Special Techniques of Plot

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

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Conflict

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

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

Internal conflict- takes place in a character’s mind

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ThemeA 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

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Example of Theme“The magi, as you know, were wise men--wonderfully wise men--who brought gifts to the Babe in the manger. They invented the art of giving Christmas presents. Being wise, their gifts were no doubt wise ones, possibly bearing the privilege of exchange in case of duplication. And here I have lamely related to you the uneventful chronicle of two foolish children in a flat who most unwisely sacrificed for each other the greatest treasures of their house. But in a last word to the wise of these days let it be said that of all who give gifts these two were the wisest. O all who give and receive gifts, such as they are wisest. Everywhere they are wisest. They are the magi.”

From “Gift of the Magi,” by O. Henry