Literary Devices

1
Literary Devices

• Melanie Goings
• Woodruff Middle School

2
Elements of Literature

• Plot
• Conflict
• Setting
• Character
• Point of View
• Theme

3
What is Plot?

• Plot is the sequence of events within a literary
  work.
• The plot of a literary work can be divided into
  five distinct sections that can even be graphed
  on a diagram.

4
A Closer Look at PlotWhat are the Five
Divisions of Plot?

• Exposition
• Rising Action
• Climax
• Falling Action
• Resolution

5
What Drive the Plot Within a Literary Work?

• Conflict
• The struggle between opposing forces
• Man vs. Man
• Man vs. Himself
• Man vs. Society
• Man vs. Nature

6
What Type of Conflict Does this Picture Represent?
7
Answer

• Man vs. Society
• This picture depicts racial discrimination. It
  was law that African Americans use separate
  facilities because of their race. Therefore,
  this is an example of man vs. a rule of society.

8
What type of Conflict does this picture represent?
9
Answer

• Man vs. Man
• This 1942 picture illustrates two men in a boxing
  match

10
What is Setting?

• Setting is the time and place of the action
• Setting include all details of a place and
  timethe year, the time of day, even the weather.
• Details such as dialect, clothing, customs, and
  modes of transportation are often used to
  establish setting within a literary work.

11
Describe the Setting Here within the next picture
12
(No Transcript)
13
What is the setting here?
14
What is Character?

• Character is a person or an animal that takes
  part in the action of a literary work
• Characters can be classified into several groups
• Major or Minor
• Flat or Round
• Dynamic or Static

15
Major Characters vs. Minor Character

• Major Characters
• Most important character in the entire literary
  work

• Minor Characters
• Characters will a lesser role but whose role is
  necessary for the story to develop

16
Flat Characters vs. Round Characters

• Flat Characters
• Characters who are often one-sided and often
  stereotypical

• Round Characters
• Characters that are fully developed and exhibit
  many traits

17
Dynamic Characters vs. Static Characters

• Dynamic Characters
• A character that grows and changes as the
  literary work develops

• Static Characters
• A character who does not change throughout the
  literary work

18
What is Point of View?

• The perspective or vantage point from which a
  story is told.
• 1st person POV
• 3rd person limited
• 3rd person omniscient

19
What is Theme?

• The central message, concern, or purpose of a
  literary work.
• The theme can be expressed as a generalization,
  or general statement, about people or life.
• The theme is often revealed indirectly and the
  reader may have to look carefully at what the
  work reveals about people or about life.

20
What are some themes to literary works you have
already read?