Forms of Forms of LiteratureLiteratureNovel and NovellaNovel and Novella

Short StoryShort StoryNonfictionNonfiction

PoetryPoetryDramaDrama

The American Folk TraditionThe American Folk Tradition

Novel and NovellaNovel and Novella NovelsNovels and and NovellasNovellas are long works of prose are long works of prose

fiction that tell a story about imaginary people fiction that tell a story about imaginary people or animals called or animals called characterscharacters who live in a who live in a made up world, or made up world, or settingsetting..

A novella is briefer than a novel.A novella is briefer than a novel. Each has a Each has a plotplot, a series of events linked by , a series of events linked by

cause and effect that reveals a cause and effect that reveals a conflictconflict, or , or struggle, and usually shows its struggle, and usually shows its resolutionresolution. . These works of longer fiction may also have These works of longer fiction may also have subplotssubplots, smaller plots related to the main , smaller plots related to the main one. The plot and subplots explore a one. The plot and subplots explore a themetheme, , or central idea or question about life.or central idea or question about life.

Short StoryShort StoryA short story is a brief work of A short story is a brief work of

prose fiction. It tells a story prose fiction. It tells a story about imaginary people or about imaginary people or animals called animals called characterscharacters. . The plot of a short story is The plot of a short story is simplesimple and and focusedfocused, and the , and the story explores insight into life.story explores insight into life.

Key Elements of Short Key Elements of Short StoriesStories

Plot and ConflictPlot and Conflict- The - The plotplot of a of a story is a sequence of events. A story is a sequence of events. A typical plot involves a typical plot involves a conflictconflict or or problem. As the plot develops, the problem. As the plot develops, the story builds to the point of greatest story builds to the point of greatest tension, the tension, the climaxclimax. The characters . The characters may or may not address and resolve may or may not address and resolve the conflict as the story moves to its the conflict as the story moves to its conclusionconclusion..

Key Elements of Short Key Elements of Short Stories (Cont.)Stories (Cont.)

CharactersCharacters- The - The characterscharacters in a in a story are the imaginary people, story are the imaginary people, animals, or other beings that take animals, or other beings that take part in the action. To bring them to part in the action. To bring them to life, authors use life, authors use characterizationcharacterization, , telling you directly what they are like telling you directly what they are like or revealing their traits indirectly or revealing their traits indirectly through their thoughts, words, through their thoughts, words, actions, and reactions to situations. actions, and reactions to situations.

Key Elements of Short Key Elements of Short Stories (Cont.)Stories (Cont.) Point of ViewPoint of View- A story’s - A story’s point of point of

viewview is the vantage point from which is the vantage point from which a story is told.a story is told.

First PersonFirst Person- The narrator is - The narrator is involved in the action and refers involved in the action and refers to himself or herself as “I”.to himself or herself as “I”.

Third PersonThird Person- The narrator is - The narrator is outside of the action and refers to outside of the action and refers to characters as “he” or “she”.characters as “he” or “she”.

Omniscient Third PersonOmniscient Third Person-The -The narrator knows all of the narrator knows all of the characters’ thoughts.characters’ thoughts.

Key Elements of Short Key Elements of Short Stories (Cont.)Stories (Cont.)

SettingSetting- The - The settingsetting includes not only the time includes not only the time and place of a story’s and place of a story’s action, but also the action, but also the customs and beliefs of that customs and beliefs of that time and place. time and place.

Key Elements of Short Key Elements of Short Stories (Cont.)Stories (Cont.) ThemeTheme- The theme of a story is an insight - The theme of a story is an insight

into life that it offers directly or indirectly. into life that it offers directly or indirectly. Certain recurring themes appear in many Certain recurring themes appear in many stories because they have meaning for stories because they have meaning for numbers of readers. One such theme numbers of readers. One such theme involves the battle between good and evil. involves the battle between good and evil. When a theme is When a theme is implied the reader must the reader must consider clues like the meaning of a story’s consider clues like the meaning of a story’s title, how a character solves a problem, and title, how a character solves a problem, and a passage that conveys powerful emotions. a passage that conveys powerful emotions. In some cases, an author does not even In some cases, an author does not even imply a theme that you can summarize, but imply a theme that you can summarize, but instead explores an important question instead explores an important question without answering it.without answering it.

NonfictionNonfiction NonfictionNonfiction tells the story of tells the story of

person’s life, narrates a series of person’s life, narrates a series of true events, describes a real true events, describes a real scene, or presents information. scene, or presents information. Readers explore this genre to Readers explore this genre to learn about the lives of others, learn about the lives of others, find valuable information, reflect find valuable information, reflect on new ideas, and weigh on new ideas, and weigh arguments about important issues. arguments about important issues.

Types of NonfictionTypes of NonfictionAutobiographyAutobiography

The story of part or all of person’s life, written by that person.

Like fiction, it may have point of view, setting and theme.

Unlike fiction it really happened and is not made up.

BiographyBiography The author tells the

story of someone else’s life.

Like an autobiography, this literary form is factual with elements such as plot, setting and theme.

However, there is often special emphasis on explaining the causes and effects of the subjects actions.

Types of Nonfiction (Cont.)Types of Nonfiction (Cont.)EssaysEssays

Reflective essays explore an author’s explore an author’s thoughts about ideas or experiences.thoughts about ideas or experiences.

Narrative essays tell the story of actual tell the story of actual events.events.

Descriptive essays present people, present people, situations, or places.situations, or places.

Persuasive essays try to convince try to convince readers to think or act in a certain way.readers to think or act in a certain way.

Types of Nonfiction (Cont.)

Informational text- Informational texts can be guides, Informational texts can be guides, ranging from directions and ranging from directions and warranties to maps and contracts. warranties to maps and contracts. They are the real-world texts that They are the real-world texts that you encounter as you manage you encounter as you manage your daily life. Informational texts your daily life. Informational texts help you perform necessary tasks help you perform necessary tasks or enjoy your recreation.or enjoy your recreation.

PoetryPoetry PoetryPoetry is literature that is literature that

appears in verse form. Many appears in verse form. Many poemspoems have a regular rhythm have a regular rhythm and possibly a rhyme scheme. and possibly a rhyme scheme. Most Most poemspoems use highly use highly concise, musical, and powerful concise, musical, and powerful language to tell a story or to language to tell a story or to convey a single image or idea. convey a single image or idea. PoetryPoetry is arranged in is arranged in lineslines and and groups of lines called groups of lines called stanzasstanzas..

Characteristics, Purposes Characteristics, Purposes and Forms of Poetryand Forms of Poetry

Purpose and FormPurpose and Form An An elegyelegy is a long formal poem about death is a long formal poem about death

or another serious topic.or another serious topic. An An epicepic is a long narrative poem written in is a long narrative poem written in

an elevated style. It conveys the adventures an elevated style. It conveys the adventures of heroic characters and is connected to the of heroic characters and is connected to the history of a nation, race or religion.history of a nation, race or religion.

An An odeode is a dignified uplifting lyric written is a dignified uplifting lyric written to celebrate a person, place, thing or event.to celebrate a person, place, thing or event.

A A sonnetsonnet is a 24-line lyric poem with one of is a 24-line lyric poem with one of several rhyme schemes.several rhyme schemes.

Characteristics, Purposes Characteristics, Purposes and Forms of Poetry (Cont.)and Forms of Poetry (Cont.)

Narratives and Ballads-Narratives and Ballads- Narrative poems Narrative poems are poems that tell a story. A special type of are poems that tell a story. A special type of narrative poem is the ballad, a form of verse narrative poem is the ballad, a form of verse meant to be sung or recited.meant to be sung or recited.

Lyric PoetryLyric Poetry- A lyric poem expresses - A lyric poem expresses thoughts and feelings.thoughts and feelings.

SymbolsSymbols- A symbol is an object, person, or - A symbol is an object, person, or place that stands for something beyond itself place that stands for something beyond itself (example—eagle stands for the United States).(example—eagle stands for the United States).

ImageryImagery- Imagery is the descriptive language - Imagery is the descriptive language that appeals to one or more of the senses.that appeals to one or more of the senses.

Characteristics, Purposes Characteristics, Purposes and Forms of Poetry (Cont.)and Forms of Poetry (Cont.) Figurative LanguageFigurative Language

Similes Similes use like or as to compare use like or as to compare items as in “sunset hovers like a sound items as in “sunset hovers like a sound of golden horns.”of golden horns.”

MetaphorsMetaphors describe one item as if it describe one item as if it wre anther as in “turning his feet to wre anther as in “turning his feet to swift half moons.”swift half moons.”

PersonificationsPersonifications give human qualities give human qualities to something nonhuman as in “Sir I to something nonhuman as in “Sir I encountered Death Just now among our encountered Death Just now among our roses.”roses.”

DramaDramaDramaDrama, which can be , which can be written in prose or poetry, written in prose or poetry, tells a story through the tells a story through the words and actions of actors words and actions of actors who impersonate the who impersonate the characters. Most dramas are characters. Most dramas are meant to be performed.meant to be performed.

Characteristics of Characteristics of Drama Drama Staging-The term Staging-The term stagingstaging

refers to all the elements that refers to all the elements that turn words on a page into a turn words on a page into a full-scale dramatic full-scale dramatic production: scenery, lighting, production: scenery, lighting, sound effects, and costumes sound effects, and costumes (found in italicized and (found in italicized and bracketed stage directions).bracketed stage directions).

Characteristics of Drama Characteristics of Drama (Cont.)(Cont.)

Historical ContextHistorical Context- Often a - Often a drama captures the atmosphere drama captures the atmosphere and conflicts of a past era. When and conflicts of a past era. When this is the case, you must be alert this is the case, you must be alert to the drama’s to the drama’s historical historical contextcontext, the political forces, , the political forces, beliefs, and events that influenced beliefs, and events that influenced the characters in the play.the characters in the play.

Characteristics of Drama Characteristics of Drama (Cont.)(Cont.)

Plot and Subplot Plot and Subplot (same (same as in fiction)as in fiction)

DialogueDialogue- - DialogueDialogue is the is the words of the characters. It words of the characters. It is used to reveal the traits is used to reveal the traits of the characters.of the characters.

The American Folk The American Folk TraditionTradition

Folk TaleFolk Tale- A folk tale is a story - A folk tale is a story passed on by word of mouth for the passed on by word of mouth for the purpose of teaching the ideas and purpose of teaching the ideas and values of a culture. Folk tales values of a culture. Folk tales originated among groups of people originated among groups of people who could not read or write. who could not read or write. settingsettingrituals and customsrituals and customsvaluesvaluesdialect dialect

The American Folk The American Folk Tradition (Cont.)Tradition (Cont.)

MythMyth- - MythsMyths are tales of gods, are tales of gods, heroes, and animals that explain heroes, and animals that explain natural occurrences or customs natural occurrences or customs and beliefs.and beliefs.

Tall TaleTall Tale-A -A tall taletall tale is a humorous is a humorous story that recounts exaggerated story that recounts exaggerated (hyperbole) events in a matter-of-(hyperbole) events in a matter-of-fact way, using the everyday fact way, using the everyday speech of the common people. speech of the common people.

Additional TermsAdditional Terms 1. denotation1. denotation:  the exact meaning of a word, without :  the exact meaning of a word, without

the feelings or suggestions that the word may imply. It the feelings or suggestions that the word may imply. It is the opposite of  “is the opposite of  “connotationconnotation” in that it is the ” in that it is the “dictionary” meaning of a word, without attached “dictionary” meaning of a word, without attached feelings or associations.feelings or associations.

2. connotation2. connotation: an association that comes along with : an association that comes along with a particular word. Connotations relate not to a word's a particular word. Connotations relate not to a word's actual meaning, or actual meaning, or denotationdenotation, but rather to the ideas , but rather to the ideas or qualities that are implied by that word.or qualities that are implied by that word.

3. dialogue3. dialogue: The conversation between : The conversation between characterscharacters in a in a drama or narrative. A dialouge occurs in most works of drama or narrative. A dialouge occurs in most works of literature.literature.

4. figurative language4. figurative language: a type of language that varies : a type of language that varies from the norms of literal language, in which words from the norms of literal language, in which words mean exactly what they say. Also known as the mean exactly what they say. Also known as the "ornaments of language," figurative language does not "ornaments of language," figurative language does not mean exactly what it says, but instead forces the mean exactly what it says, but instead forces the reader to make an imaginative leap in order to reader to make an imaginative leap in order to comprehend an author's point.comprehend an author's point.

5. flashback5. flashback : “an interruption of the chronological : “an interruption of the chronological sequence (as of a film or literary work) of an event sequence (as of a film or literary work) of an event of earlier occurrence” (Merriam, 288). A flashback of earlier occurrence” (Merriam, 288). A flashback is a narrative technique that allows a writer to is a narrative technique that allows a writer to present past events during current events, in order present past events during current events, in order to provide background for the current narration. to provide background for the current narration.

6. genre6. genre: a type of literature.: a type of literature. 7. hyperbole7. hyperbole: an extravagant exaggeration. From : an extravagant exaggeration. From

the Greek for "overcasting," hyperbole is a figure of the Greek for "overcasting," hyperbole is a figure of speech that is a grossly exaggerated description or speech that is a grossly exaggerated description or statement. In literature, such exaggeration is used statement. In literature, such exaggeration is used for emphasis or vivid descriptions.for emphasis or vivid descriptions.

8. alliteration8. alliteration: a pattern of sound that includes the : a pattern of sound that includes the repetition of consonant sounds.  The repetition can repetition of consonant sounds.  The repetition can be located at the beginning of successive words or be located at the beginning of successive words or inside the words.inside the words.

9. protagonist:9. protagonist: A protagonist is considered to be the A protagonist is considered to be the main character or lead figure in a novel, play, story, main character or lead figure in a novel, play, story, or poem.  It may also be referred to as the "hero" of a or poem.  It may also be referred to as the "hero" of a work.work.

10. antagonist10. antagonist:  a character in a story or poem who :  a character in a story or poem who deceives, frustrates, or works again the main deceives, frustrates, or works again the main character, or protagonist, in some way. The character, or protagonist, in some way. The antagonist doesn’t necessarily have to be an person.antagonist doesn’t necessarily have to be an person.

11. metaphor11. metaphor: a type of figurative language in which : a type of figurative language in which a statement is made that says that one thing is a statement is made that says that one thing is something else but, literally, it is not. It does not use something else but, literally, it is not. It does not use the words like or as.the words like or as.

12. simile12. simile: a simile is a type of figurative language, : a simile is a type of figurative language, language that does not mean exactly what it says, that language that does not mean exactly what it says, that makes a comparison between two otherwise unalike makes a comparison between two otherwise unalike objects or ideas by connecting them with the words objects or ideas by connecting them with the words "like" or "as.""like" or "as."

13. personification13. personification: A figure of speech where : A figure of speech where animals, ideas or inorganic objects are given human animals, ideas or inorganic objects are given human characteristics.characteristics.

14. point of view14. point of view: a way the events of a story are : a way the events of a story are conveyed to the reader, it is the “vantage point” conveyed to the reader, it is the “vantage point” from which the narrative is passed from author to from which the narrative is passed from author to the reader.the reader.

15. symbol15. symbol: a symbol is a word or object that stands : a symbol is a word or object that stands for another word or object. The object or word can for another word or object. The object or word can be seen with the eye or not visible.be seen with the eye or not visible.

16. theme16. theme: a common thread or repeated idea that : a common thread or repeated idea that is incorporated throughout a literary work. A theme is incorporated throughout a literary work. A theme is a thought or idea the author presents to the is a thought or idea the author presents to the reader that may be deep, difficult to understand, or reader that may be deep, difficult to understand, or even moralistic. Generally, a theme has to be even moralistic. Generally, a theme has to be extracted as the reader explores the passages of a extracted as the reader explores the passages of a work.work.