Literary Elements
Setting: WHERE
and WHEN a story takes place.
Characters:
People or animals in a story. Anything that acts in a story.
Foreshadow: Hints
or clues about what will happen later in the story.
Allusion: a
reference, direct or implied, to previous literature, art, music or history
(person, place, or event)
Plot: The
sequence of events in a story. Has six parts: Exposition, inciting event,
rising action, climax, falling action, resolution.
Exposition: This
is the set-up of the story. It introduces us to the main characters(s) and
gives basic background information, such as establishing setting and main
ideas, before the conflict begins. Usually the 1st paragraph to the
first couple of pages in a story.
Inciting event:
The event that begins the conflict or problem of the story. It is the one event
that if avoided or if it did not happen, the story does not happen. There is
only one.
Rising action:
The events in the problem or conflict that lead up to the climax. Usually these
are in a series of escalating events that further the plot and become more and
more complicated as the story progresses.
Climax: the
height of the problem for the main character.
Falling Action:
The action immediately after the climax and leading to the resolution. This is
sometimes called the denounement.
Resolution: How
the problem is solved. There is only one resolution. Example: Romeo and Juliet.
This resolves the family feud as the two fathers forgive each other and build
statues to honor Romeo and Juliet.
Protagonist: The
main character of the story. Not necessarily a good guy or bad guy
Antagonist: The
force that opposes the main character of a story.
Dynamic Characters:
The character whose outlook on life has changed over the course of the story.
Point of view:
The position or stance of the narrator. 1st person. 3rd
person limited. 3rd person-omniscience.
Round Character:
A character in fiction whose personality, background, motives, and other
features are developed by the author.
Flat character: A
minor character in a work of fiction.
Static Character:
A character whose outlook on life does not change.
The Five Types of
Conflict:
Person v. Person:
Conflict between two or more people. Outward.
Person v. Society:
Conflict between the main characters and the conventions or structure of
society (i.e. laws) Outward.
Person v. Self: A
conflict within the character’s mind. Usually a decision the main character has
to make. (i.e. a person overcoming an addiction) Inward.
Person v. Nature:
A conflict between the main character and the forces of the natural world.
(i.e. A story about surviving an avalanche) Outward.
Person v. Fate:
An inward and/or outward conflict in which the main character comes up against
forces outside his/her control such as supernatural forces of chance.
Irony: Three
types of irony include: verbal, situational, and dramatic
Verbal Irony: A figure of speech in what is said is opposite of what is meant.
Situational Irony: Outcome is contrary to what is expected.
Dramatic Irony: When the audience know things that the characters don't.
Symbol: A person, a place, an object, and image that represents a greater idea.
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