Literary Elements

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Literary Elements

• Working Together to Develop a Great Story

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Write down the definition of these words

• Literature
• Prose
• Verse

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Literary Elements

• Just as physical matter is derived from the
  elements (carbon, hydrogen, etc.), literature is
  also made up of certain elements.

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1. Setting

• The time and place of the action in a literary
  work.
• Setting serves as the backdrop, or stage, that
  the characters in the story interact within.

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• Time in a story may refer to any of the
  following
• Historical period
• Past, present, future
• Year or season
• Time of day

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• Place may refer to any of the following
• A specific country, state, region, community,
  neighborhood, building, institution, or home.

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How is setting established?

• Details such as dialects, clothing, customs, and
  modes of transportation are included to establish
  setting in a literary work.

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Review Setting

• Time
• Place

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2. Plot

• Plot is the sequence of events in a literary work.

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• In most novels, short stories, dramas, and
  narrative poems, plot involves both characters
  and a central conflict.

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Conflict The problem in the story that
characters must deal with

• External Conflicts
• Man vs. Man
• Man vs. Animal
• Man vs. Nature
• Animal vs. Nature

• Internal Conflicts
• Man vs. Himself
• Usually deals with some kind of decision that
  must be made
• May deal with a character flaw

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Plot Structure

• The plot of most stories begins with an
  exposition that introduces the setting, the
  characters, and the basic situation.

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• Next comes the inciting incident which introduces
  the central conflict.
• The conflict continues to develop as character(s)
  try to solve the problem, but face a series of
  complications which increase the suspense and
  interest of the reader.

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• Finally, the conflict reaches a high point of
  interest or suspense, which is known as the
  climax.
• The climax is followed by the falling action, or
  the end, of the central conflict. Any events that
  occur during the falling action make up the
  resolution.

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Review Plot Structure

• Exposition
• Inciting incident/introduction of the conflict
• Development of conflict
• Climax
• Falling action and resolution

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3. Characterization

• The act of creating and developing a character
• Direct and indirect

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Direct Characterization

• Author simply describes the character to the
  reader, stating his or her traits and
  characteristics
• See page 111 of purple book.

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Indirect Characterization

• Writer describes the characters appearance,
  actions, or speech.
• Writer may also describe what other characters in
  the story say and think about the character
• Reader then draws conclusions about the
  characters traits

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Review Characterization

• Direct
• Indirect

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4. Theme

• The central message, concern, or purpose in a
  literary work
• Can usually be expressed as a generalization, or
  general statement, about human beings or about
  life
• NOT a plot summary
• Might be directly stated, but it is usually
  implied