Literary Elements
What makes up a story?
Video Recap
• ..\Documents\Flocabulary - Five Things (Elements of a Short Story).3gp
What do you know?
• You have 3 minutes to complete the plot diagram.
Story GrammarSettingCharactersPlot ClimaxThemeResolutionDenouement
SettingSetting
Details that describe:FurnitureSceneryCustomsTransportationClothingDialectsWeatherTime of dayTime of year
Time and place are where the action occurs
Elements of a Setting
Setting
Place
Atmosphere
Time
History
EraLife
Mood
Weather
Feelings
WordChoice
Location
Physical
Day
Use as activator to activate prior knowledge. Write the web on the board or overhead and students create one at their seats. Then as class share and fill in.
The Functions of a Setting
To create a mood or atmosphere
To show a reader a different way of life
To make action seem more real
To be the source of conflict or struggle
To symbolize an idea
We left the home place behind, mile by slow mile, heading for the mountains, across the prairie where the wind blew forever. At first there were four of us with one horse wagon and its skimpy load. Pa and I walked, because I was a big boy of eleven. My two little sisters romped and trotted until they got tired and had to be boosted up to the wagon bed.
That was no covered Conestoga, like Pa’s folks came West in, but just an old farm wagon, drawn by one weary horse, creaking and rumbling westward to the mountains, toward the little woods town where Pa thought he had an old uncle who owned a little two-bit sawmill.
Taken from “The Day the Sun Came Out” by D. Johnson
Types of Characters
Dynamic characterStatic charactersMinor charactersRound charactersFlat characters
Character
• Flat character- This type of character is not well- developed; NOT the main character
• Round Character- This type of character CHANGE through out the story
• Static Character- This character stays the same through out the story. (supporting character)
• Dynamic Character- This is the MAIN character. He/She has a lively personality and traits are well developed.
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.
Direct Characterization…And I don’t play the dozens or believe
in standing around with somebody in my face doing a lot of talking. I much rather just knock you down and take my chances even if I’m a little girl with skinny arms and a squeaky voice, which is how I got the name Squeaky.
From “Raymond’s Run” by T. Bambara
Indirect Characterization
The old man bowed to all of us in the room. Then he removed his hat and gloves, slowly and carefully. Chaplin once did that in a picture, in a bank--he was the janitor.
From “Gentleman of Rio en Medio” by J. Sedillo
Elements of Character
Character
Main
Flat
Minor
Not Fully Developed
FriendsRelativesFully
Developed
Protagonist
AntagonistCo-Main
Enemy
PlotPlot 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.
Parts of a Plot
Exposition- the introduction of the storyRising Action – event that gives rise to
conflict.Climax- highest point of interest or
suspense of storyFalling action- a series of events that leads
to the resolution.Resolution- when conflict ends
Diagram of Plot
Inciting incident/Opening situation
Exposition
Dev
elop
men
t/
Ris
ing
Act
ion
Climax
Falling
Action
Resolution
Conflicts
• Man vs. Man- a struggle between to people.• Man vs. Self (internal)- a struggle with self.
It could be physically, psychological, or emotional.
• Man vs. Nature- a struggle with animals or weather
Conflict
• Man vs. Fate- a struggle that occurs when a person is trying to change destiny or an outcome.
• Man vs. Society- a struggle when a person has a problem with rules and/or government.
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
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
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
Example of Theme
“Every man needs to feel allegiance to his native country, whether he always appreciates that country or not.”
From “A Man Without a Country” by Edward Hale pg. 185 in Prentice Hall Literature book
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