Types of Literature TERM Definition Example Way to remember A literary type or Genre form Short Story Notes Fiction Non-fiction Essay Novel Short story Works of prose that have imaginary elements. Prose writing that deals with real people, events, and places. A brief composition on a single subject that usually presents the personal views of the author. A fictional prose work of substantial length A short fictional narrative. Poetry Drama Speech A type of literature in which the words are chosen and arranged to create a certain effect. Literature in which plot and characters are developed through dialogue and action. A talk or public address.
An unverifiable Myth story based on a religious belief Short story notes Biography Autobiography Narrative The story of a person's life written by someone other than the subject of the work The story of a person's life written by himself or herself Something that tells a story. Descriptive Persuasive Expository Presents a single, clear picture of a person, place, thing, or idea. Contains sensory details to do so. Expresses an opinion and tries to convince the reader that the opinion is valid. Presents facts, gives directions, defines terms, and so on. It clearly informs the reader about a specific subject.
Style Many things enter The style of the into the style of a Declaration of Style work: the author's Independence can use of figurative be described as language, diction, elegant. sound effects and other literary devices Short story notes Formal Characterized by a serious tone, a careful attention to appropriate word choice, longer sentences, and so on. Informal Dialect Characterized by a highly personal tone, the occasional use of slang, contractions, shorter sentences, and so on. Very conversational. Form of language as it is spoken in a particular geographic area or by a particular social or ethnic group.
Denotation The denotation of a word is its dictionary definition Connotation The connotation of a word is its emotional content. Slang Used by a particular group of people only amongst themselves. Very informal language.
Ways to Interpret Short Story Notes Compare Contrast Analyze Explain Evaluate Imply To examine in order to note the similarities. To examine in order to note the differences. To break down into parts to study closely. To make plain or comprehensible. To define. To ascertain the value of. To make a judgment. To express or indicate indirectly. Explicit Implicit Infer Directly stated. Fully and clearly expresses, defined, or formulated. Implied or understood though NOT directly expressed. A judgment based on reasoning rather than on direct or explicit statement. A conclusion based on facts or circumstances.
Types of Characters Character Characterization Protagonist A person, or any thing presented as a person, e. g., a spirit, object, animal, or natural force, in a literary work The method a writer uses to reveal the personality of a character in a literary work: Methods may include (1) by what the character says about himself or herself; (2) by what others reveal about the character; and (3) by the character's own actions The central character of a literary work. Short story notes Antagonist Static Character A person or force which opposes the protagonist in a literary work Characters who remain the same throughout a story.
Dynamic Character Characters who undergo changes as the story develops. Round Character Complex characters who have many facets to their personality. Flat Character Simple characters, whose personalities are one-dimensional. Stereotype An author's method of treating a character so that the character is immediately identified with a group.
Figurative Language Short Story Notes Simile Metaphor Hyperbole A figure of speech which takes the form of a comparison between two unlike quantities and which uses the words "like" or "as" in the comparison A figure of speech wherein a comparison is made between two unlike quantities without the use of the words "like" or "as." A figure of speech in which an overstatement or exaggeration occurs Understatement A statement which lessens or minimizes the importance of what is meant Personification A figure of speech in which something nonhuman is given human characteristics.
Pun A play on words wherein a word is used to convey two meanings at the same time. Analogy A point-by-point comparison between two things that are alike in some respect.
Irony Narrative Techniques Verbal irony Dramatic irony Situational irony Foreshadowing Flashback Symbol(ism) A kind of contrast between appearance and reality- the reality is the opposite of what it seems usually. The contrast is between the literal meaning of what is said and what is meant the audience knows something that the characters in the drama do not. the result of an action is the reverse of what the actor expected a method used to build suspense by providing hints of what is to come A reference to an event which took place prior to the beginning of a story A device in literature where an object represents an idea Short Story Notes Allusion A reference in one literary work to a character or theme found in another literary work, historical time, etc.
Conflict Occurs when the Conflict protagonist is opposed by some External conflict Internal conflict Man vs. Man conflict Man vs. Self conflict Man vs. Society conflict Man vs. Nature conflict person or force Involves a character pitted against an outside force such as nature, a physical object, or another character. Occurs WITHIN a character. Person against another person Person against themselves (in their mind) Person against the rules or establishments set by a society. Person against a natural force (ie/ fire, earthquake, typhoon, etc.) Short Story Notes Man vs. Technology conflict Man vs. Fate conflict Person against some form of technology (ie/ robot, computer, etc.) Person against a supposed force that predetermines the outcomes.
Author s Intentions Short Story Notes Moral The lesson taught in a work. NOT the same as theme. Theme Mood Tone An ingredient of a literary work that gives the work unity. The theme provides an answer to the question What is the work about? The atmosphere or feeling created by a literary work, partly by a description of the objects or by the style of the descriptions. A work may contain a mood of horror, mystery, holiness, or childlike simplicity, to name a few Expresses the author's attitude toward his or her subject.
Point of View Point of View The method of narrating a story. Short Story Notes Narrator The character or voice from whose point of view the story is being told. First Person Point of View Speaker is telling things from his or her own perspective Third Person Limited Point of View Third Person Omniscient Point of View Speaker is telling things from the perspective of an onlooker, but only knows the actions, motives, and thoughts of ONE character If the speaker knows everything including the actions, motives, and thoughts of ALL the characters
Plot The structure of a Plot story. Or the sequence in which the author arranges events in a story Short story notes Exposition Setting The presentation of essential information regarding what has occurred prior to the beginning of the play The time and place in which a story unfolds Initial Incident The first event or occurrence that sets the story in motion. Rising Action Climax The events in the story that move the plot along by adding complications or expanding the conflict. The action reaches a high point and results in a climax, the turning point in the play.
Falling Action The falling action is the series of events which take place after the climax Resolution (aka: conclusion or denoument) The part of a story which occurs after the climax and which establishes a new norm, a new state of affairs-the way things are going to be from then on.
Reading Strategies TERM Definition Example Way to remember Short Story Notes Predict Question Clarify Connect Evaluate Visualize Try to figure out what will happen next. A guess. Formulate questions to search for the reasons behind events, characters feelings, purposes, etc. Stop occasionally to review what you understand. Look to find the answers to the questions you have formulated. Think of the similarities between what is going on in the story and things you have personally experienced, heard about, or read about. Form opinions about what you read, both while you read and after you have finished. Pay attention to the images that are created in your mind as you read. Notice the sensory details that are being given.