Elements of Literature Notes Plot: Plot is the organized of events that make up a story. Every plot is made up of a series of incidents that are related to one another. Exposition: This usually occurs at the of a short story. Here the characters are introduced. We also learn about the setting of the story. Most importantly, we are introduced to the. Rising Action: This part of the story begins to. A building of interest or suspense occurs. Climax: This is the of the story. Usually the main character comes face to face with a conflict. The main character will change in some way. Falling Action: All loose ends of the plot are tied up. The are taken care of. Resolution (Denouement): The story comes to a. Symbol: A symbol is a that stands for something beyond itself. Conflict: conflict is the in a story. Without conflict, there is no plot. Types of Conflict: External: Internal: Types of Characters: Protagonist: Antagonist: Round Character: Flat Character:
Methods of Characterization: Indirect physical appearance speech, thoughts, feelings, or actions of the character speech, thoughts, feelings, or actions of other characters Direct the narrator s direct comments about a character Setting: Puts the reader in the story by giving the reader the feeling of being in the situation. Creates atmosphere by the positive or negative feelings associated with the place. Mood: The that the writer creates for the reader through word choice and imagery. Types of mood: scary, romantic, violent, hopeful, etc. Tone: The manner in which Example: sarcastic, mild, witty, angry Theme: Moral A perception about that the writer wants to share with the reader. In most cases, the theme is not stated directly but must be inferred. Themes can be revealed by: a story s title key phrases and statements about big ideas the ways the characters change and the lessons they learn about life. Point of View: the vantage point from which the story is told. determines how much we, the readers, know about the characters. First Person Point of View: Narrator is a character in the story. Narrator uses first-person pronouns, to refer to himself or herself. Narrator knows the thoughts and feelings of one character and speaks directly to reader. Second Person Point of View: The narrator brings the reader, into the story
Third Person Limited Point of View: Narrator does not in action of story. Narrator does not refer to himself or herself. Narrator knows the thoughts and feelings of one character, but readers are able to maintain some emotional distance from the character. Third Person Omniscient Point of View: The narrator sees into the minds of more than one character when telling the story- uses. This narrator Dialogue: One character speaking to another One character speaking to themselves (internal dialogue, personal thought) Dialogue Tag: says who is Can appear at the beginning, middle, or end of dialogue EXAMPLE- Tag in the Beginning: He said, I don t want to go to the movies. Notice the use of the comma, quotation marks, and the period INSIDE of the quotation marks EXAMPLE- Tag in the Middle: I don t want to go the movies, he said, but I will go to the park. Notice the quotation marks around the first part of his dialogue, followed by a comma INSIDE the quotations marks Next is a comma after said Followed by quotation marks around the last part of his dialogue with a period INSIDE EXAMPLE- Tag in the End: I don t want to go to the movies, he said. Notice the quotations marks, a COMMA at the end of the dialogue and a period after said. Internal Dialogue: You can write this two ways: 1. Like regular dialogue with quotation marks 2. Italicize thoughts: I don t want to go the movies, he thought. He thought, I don t want to go to the movies I don t want to go to the movies, he thought, but I ll go to the park.
Skip : EXAMPLE: As Steve came into Julie s room, he said, I don t want to go to the movies. Would you like to go to the park? Julie asked. He replied, That sounds good! Steve and Julie walked outside and headed to the park. As soon as they got there, Julie spotted the swings. Let s go on those first! she said. Irony: Verbal Irony: This is the contrast between. In other words, sarcasm. Dramatic Irony: This is the contrast between. Sometimes as we read we are placed in the position of knowing more than what one character knows. Because we know something the character does not, we read to discover how the character will react when he or she learns the truth of the situation. Think: soap operas! Situational Irony: This is the most common in literature. It is the contrast between (or what would seem appropriate). Because it emerges from the events and circumstances of a story it is often more subtle and effective than verbal or dramatic irony.