ELEMENTS OF LITERATURE

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ELEMENTS OF LITERATURE
Short Story
A short work that can be read in one setting.
A short work that can be read in one sitting.
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Short Story American Genre
POE
Gave short stories structure.
Invented the detective story.
Stories are considered gothic.
Uses the dark side of human nature to create
stories.
Said the story must be short. (read in one
sitting)
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Plot
Sequence of events in a story.
CONFLICT
EXPOSITION
RISING ACTION
CLIMAX
RESOLUTION
FALLING ACTION
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Because I say...
Climax
Falling Action
Rising Action
Resolution
Exposition
Conflict is introduced.
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Literary Elements
EXPOSITION
INTRODUCES THE CHARACTERS, SETTING, AND BASIC
SITUATION.
THE CENTRAL CONFLICT IS INTRODUCED AND DEVELOPED.
RISING ACTION
CLIMAX
THE HIGH POINT OF INTEREST OR SUSPENSE.
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FALLING ACTION
THE END OF THE CONFLICT
RESOLUTION
ANY EVENT THAT OCCURS AFTER THE FALLING ACTION.
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CHARACTER
A PERSON OR ANIMAL IN THE STORY.
MAJOR THE MOST IMPORTANT PERSON IN THE STORY.
MINOR A CHARACTER NEEDED TO FURTHER THE PLOT.
ANTAGONIST CHARACTER OR FORCE IN CONFLICT WITH
THE MAIN
CHARACTER, OR THE PROTAGONIST.
PROTAGONIST THE MAIN CHARACTER.
FLAT ONE SIDED AND STEROTYPICAL
ROUND FULLY DEVELOPED AND HAS MANY TRAITS.
DYNAMIC CHANGES AND GROWS IN THE STORY.
STATIC DOES NOT CHANGE THROUGHOUT THE STORY.
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CONFLICT THE PROBLEM IN THE STORY
FLASHBACK A SCENE IN A STORY WITHIN A BIGGER
STORY.
FORESHADOWING THE AUTHORS CLUES AS TO WHAT
WILL HAPPEN LATER ON IN THE STORY.
MOOD (ATMOSPHERE) THE FEELING CREATED BY THE
AUTHOR
POINT OF VIEW THE PERSPECTIVE THE STORY IS TOLD
FROM.
1ST PERSON IS TOLD BY THE MAIN CHARACTER. I
3RD PERSON LIMITED TOLD BY ANOTHER CHARACTER AND
ONLY THEIR THOUGHTS ARE SHOWN.
3RD PERSON OMNICIENT TOLD FROM ANOTHER CHARACTER
OR NARRATOR ND THEY KNOW HOW EVERYONE IN THE
STORY THINKS OR FEELS.
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SETTING THE TIME AND PLACE OF THE STORY.
SYMBOL ANYTHING THAT STANDS FOR SOMETHING ELSE
THEME THE CENTRAL MESSAGE, CONCERN, OR PURPOSE
IN WRITING.
TONE THE WRITERS ATTITUDE TOWARDS THE READERS
AND THE SUBJECT.
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SETTING THE TIME AND PLACE OF THE STORY.

• CAN CHANGE OFTEN THROUGHOUT THE STORY

• CONTRIBUTES TO THE EMOTIONAL EFFECT

SYMBOL ANYTHING THAT STANDS FOR SOMETHING ELSE
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In Depth
Conflict
External A conflict caused by something outside
the character.
Internal A conflict caused when the character
struggles against themselves.
Characterization
Direct Tells the reader directly what the
character is like.
Indirect Where the characters actions give
clues as to their character.
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TYPES OF CONFLICT

• CHARACTER AGAINST CHARACTER
• CHARACTER AGAINST NATURE
• CHARACTER AGAINST SOCIETY

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Why o' Why
Motivation Gives a character personality.
Shows the reader what or why a character acts
or thinks the way they do.