literary elements - caroline county public...
TRANSCRIPT
LITERARY
ELEMENTS
WHEN AND WHERE A STORY TAKES PLACE
SETTING
THE SEQUENCE OF RELATED EVENTS THAT MAKE UP A
STORY
PLOT
BASIC SITUATION (EXPOSITION) CONFLICTS (COMPLICATIONS)
CLIMAX RESOLUTION
THE PLOT OF A
STORY CONSISTS OF
4 PARTS:
PRESENTS THE MAIN CHARACTER AND HINTS OF
UPCOMING CONFLICT
BASIC SITUATION (EXPOSITION)
EVENTS IN THE STORY THAT CAUSE PROBLEMS OR
CONFLICT-- INTERNAL OR EXTERNAL
STRUGGLES INVOLVING THE MAIN CHARACTER
CONFLICTS
(COMPLICATIONS)
TYPES OF CONFLICT
EXTERNAL CONFLICT WHEN A CHARACTER STRUGGLES
WITH AN OUTSIDE FORCE
INTERNAL CONFLICT WHEN A CHARACTER STRUGGLES
WITH HIM OR HERSELF
THE HIGH POINT OF THE PLOT—IT USUALLY DECIDES
THE OUTCOME OF THE STORY
CLIMAX
THE LAST PART OF THE PLOT—IT IS WHEN THE
PROBLEMS ARE SOLVED AND THE STORY ENDS
RESOLUTION
CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER PROLOGUE EPILOGUE FLASHBACK
FLASH-FORWARD FORESHADOWING
SUSPENSE
TIMING OF EVENTS
IN THE PLOT
CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER
THE ORDER IN WHICH EVENTS OCCUR IN THE STORY
FLASHBACK
AN EPISODE FROM THE PAST THAT SOMETIMES
INTERRUPTS THE PLOT
FLASH-FORWARD
AN EPISODE FROM THE FUTURE THAT SOMETIMES
INTERRUPTS THE PLOT
PROLOGUE
AN EVENT(S) THAT IS PRESENTED BEFORE THE
BEGINNING OF THE STORY—IT CAN BE A FLASHBACK OR A
FLASH-FORWARD
EPILOGUE
AN EVENT(S) THAT IS PRESENTED AFTER THE END OF A STORY—IT IS USUALLY
A FLASH-FORWARD
FORESHADOWING
PRESENTING HINTS OR CLUES AS TO WHAT MAY HAPPEN
LATER IN THE STORY
SUSPENSE
THE ANTICIPATION, EXCITEMENT, OR ANXIETY
RELATING TO THE OUTCOME OF A STORY
RELATED TERMS
PREDICTION A TYPE OF INFERENCE; A GUESS
BASED ON EVIDENCE
INFERENCE A CONCLUSION OR OPINION
BASED ON FACTS OR EVIDENCE
PROTAGONIST THE MAIN CHARACTER IN A
LITERARY WORK (A DRAMA OR STORY)
THE HERO OR HEROINE (SHERO)
ANTAGONIST
A CHARACTER OR FORCE IN A STORY THAT CONTENDS
WITH OR OPPOSES THE MAIN CHARACTER, CAUSING
CONFLICT(S)
POINT OF VIEW
THE VANTAGE POINT FROM WHICH A WRITER TELLS A
STORY
FIRST PERSON
POINT OF VIEW
WHEN A CHARACTER IS TELLING THE STORY—IT IS USUALLY TOLD BY THE MAIN
CHARACTER
THIRD PERSON
POINT OF VIEW
WHEN THE AUTHOR TELLS THE STORY—HE OR SHE CAN SEE THE “WHOLE PICTURE,” NOT JUST WHAT THE MAIN
CHARACTER SEES
CHARACTER
A PERSON OR PERSONALITY IN A STORY, DRAMA, POEM,
OR NOVEL.
CHARACTER TRAITS
WORDS THAT CAN BE USED TO DESCRIBE A CHARACTER’S APPEARANCE OR PERSONALITY
WAYS THAT CHARACTERS ARE DESCRIBED:
THE CHARACTER’S SPEECH
1ST PERSON NARRATION
THE MAIN CHARACTER TELLS ABOUT HIM OR HERSELF OR
OTHER CHARACTERS AS HE OR SHE TELLS THE STORY
WAYS THAT CHARACTERS ARE DESCRIBED:
THE CHARACTER’S SPEECH
DIALOGUE
CHARACTERS IN THE STORY REVEAL THINGS ABOUT
THEMSELVES AS THEY TALK TO EACH OTHER IN THE STORY
WAYS THAT CHARACTERS ARE DESCRIBED:
THE CHARACTER’S SPEECH
MONOLOGUE
A CHARACTER IS ALONE AND IS TALKING TO THE
AUDIENCE OR READER
WAYS THAT CHARACTERS ARE DESCRIBED:
THE CHARACTER’S SPEECH
SOLILOQUY
A CHARACTER IS ALONE AND IS TALKING TO HIM OR
HERSELF—USUALLY USED IN A PLAY
WAYS THAT CHARACTERS ARE DESCRIBED
THE CHARACTER’S APPEARANCE
WAYS THAT CHARACTERS ARE DESCRIBED
THE CHARACTER’S ACTIONS
WAYS THAT CHARACTERS ARE DESCRIBED
THE CHARACTER’S THOUGHTS
(SOMETIMES REVEALED IN A SOLILOQUY)
WAYS THAT CHARACTERS ARE DESCRIBED
HOW OTHER CHARACTERS FEEL ABOUT OR ACT
AROUND THIS CHARACTER OR WHAT THEY SAY ABOUT
HIM OR HER
TYPES OF CHARACTERIZATION
DIRECT CHARACTERIZATION
WHEN THE AUTHOR TELLS THE READER DIRECTLY ABOUT THE
CHARACTER(S)
TYPES OF CHARACTERIZATION
INDIRECT CHARACTERIZATION
WHEN THE AUTHOR TELLS THE READER INDIRECTLY ABOUT THE
CHARACTER(S)—THE READER MAKES HIS OR HER OWN JUDGMENTS ABOUT
THE CHARACTER(S)
FLAT VS. ROUND
CHARACTERS
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XjVlyIvLg3Q
MOTIVATION
THE CAUSES OR REASONS FOR A CHARACTER’S BEHAVIOR IN
A STORY
IRONY THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WHAT WE EXPECT OR WHAT
SEEMS SUITABLE OR APPROPRIATE AND WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENS IN A
STORY
IRONY
IRONY
IRONY
IRONY
IRONY
IRONY
IRONY
IRONY
IRONY
IRONY
IRONY THERE ARE 3 TYPES OF IRONY:
VERBAL IRONY
SITUATIONAL IRONY
DRAMATIC IRONY
TYPES OF IRONY
VERBAL IRONY
WHEN SOMEONE SAYS ONE THING BUT MEANS THE
OPPOSITE EX. SARCASM, DRY HUMOR
TYPES OF IRONY
TYPES OF IRONY
TYPES OF IRONY
TYPES OF IRONY
TYPES OF IRONY
SITUATIONAL IRONY
WHEN AN EVENT OCCURS THAT IS THE OPPOSITE OF OR DIFFERENT FROM WHAT
WE EXPECT TO HAPPEN
TYPES OF IRONY
SITUATIONAL IRONY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=VigLgJEFP8w
TYPES OF IRONY
DRAMATIC IRONY
WHEN WE KNOW WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO A CHARACTER BUT THE CHARACTER DOES NOT
KNOW
TYPES OF IRONY
DRAMATIC IRONY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AGikxIaOuNQ
SATIRE WRITING THAT RIDICULES THE SHORTCOMINGS OF PEOPLE OR
INSTITUTIONS IN AN ATTEMPT TO BRING ABOUT A CHANGE—OFTEN USES
EXAGGERATION OR HUMOR TO INVITE LAUGHTER AT SOMEONE’S EXPENSE.
EXS. OF SHORTCOMINGS—GREED, INJUSTICE, CRUELTY,
STUPIDITY, DECEIT, ETC.
SATIRE
SATIRE
SATIRE
SATIRE http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8M-
KlV5cPUo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oE3kXUg8JmI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1wD97oyHzu0
AMBIGUITY
WHEN THE AUTHOR OFFERS SEVERAL CONFLICTING
MEANINGS AND LEAVES THE READER TO SORT THEM OUT
THEME
THE CENTRAL IDEA OF A STORY (ALSO CALLED MOTIF)
UNIVERSAL THEME IDEAS ABOUT LIFE THAT
OCCUR OFTEN IN LITERATURE—THEY USUALLY DEAL WITH BASIC HUMAN
NATURE OR CONCERNS
EX. GOOD VS. EVIL LIFE OR DEATH
LOVE BETRAYAL
ALLEGORY
A STORY IN WHICH CHARACTERS, SETTINGS, AND
ACTIONS STAND FOR (SYMBOLIZE) SOMETHING
BEYOND THEMSELVES
SYMBOL AN ORDINARY OBJECT, PERSON, OR ANIMAL TO WHICH WE ATTACH A
MEANING
EX. EAGLE=BRAVERY, NOBILITY
LION=COURAGE
FOX OR WOLF=SLYNESS, DECEIT, TRICKERY
DONKEY=STUPIDITY
TONE
THE ATTITUDE A WRITER TAKES TOWARD A SUBJECT, CHARACTER, OR THE READER
MOOD
THE ATMOSPHERE CREATED BY THE WRITER BY USING
CERTAIN WORDS, SETTINGS, ETC.
VOICE
THE WRITER’S USE OF LANGUAGE, WORD CHOICE,
AND TONE
ALLUSION
A REFERENCE A WRITER MAKES TO ANOTHER
LITERARY WORK
COMPARE
FINDING SIMILARITIES (THINGS THAT ARE THE SAME) BETWEEN TWO OR
MORE THINGS
CONTRAST
FINDING DIFFERENCES BETWEEN TWO OR MORE
THINGS
ASSONANCE
THE REPETITION OF SIMILAR VOWEL SOUNDS
IN A SENTENCE OR A LINE OF POETRY OR PROSE
CONSONANCE
THE REPETITION OF SIMILAR CONSONANT
SOUNDS IN A SENTENCE OR A LINE OF POETRY OR
PROSE
PARADOX
A SELF-CONTRADICTORY STATEMENT THAT AT FIRST
SEEMS TRUE
EX. THE MORE YOU SPEND, THE MORE YOU SAVE.
PARALLELISM
REPEATED SYNTACTICAL (THE STRUCTURE OF SENTENCES) SIMILARITIES INTRODUCED FOR RHETORICAL (SPEAKING
AND WRITING) EFFECT
OVERSTATEMENT
TO STATE IN TERMS THAT ARE TOO STRONG FOR THE
SITUATION
EX. HE OVERSTATED THE IMPORTANCE OF LOSING HIS HOMEWORK BY SAYING IT WAS A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH.
UNDERSTATEMENT
TO STATE IN TERMS THAT ARE NOT STRONG ENOUGH
FOR THE SITUATION
EX. SHE UNDERSTATED THE IMPORTANCE OF FAILING HER TEST BY SAYING THAT
THE GRADE WOULD BE DROPPED.
ALLITERATION
THE REPETITION OF CONSONANT SOUNDS,
ESPECIALLY AT THE BEGINNING OF WORDS
EX. SHE SELLS SEASHELLS BY THE
SEASHORE.
EPIC
A WORK OF LITERATURE THAT COVERS A LONG PERIOD OF TIME AND USUALLY HAS HEROIC
CHARACTERS
EPIC HERO
A MAIN CHARACTER IN AN EPIC WHOSE LEGENDARY OR
HEROIC ACTIONS ARE CENTRAL TO HIS/HER CULTURE, RACE, OR
NATION
FICTION
A WORK OF LITERATURE THAT HAS BEEN MADE UP
OR INVENTED BY THE AUTHOR
NONFICTION
A WORK OF LITERATURE THAT IS TRUE AND
FACTUAL; IT IS NOT MADE UP OR INVENTED
RHYME
THE MATCHING OF FINAL VOWEL OR CONSONANT
SOUNDS IN TWO OR MORE WORDS, USUALLY USED IN
POETRY
TYPES OF RHYME
EXACT RHYME WHEN THE FINAL SOUNDS OF
WORDS MATCH EXACTLY
EX. MOAN-GROAN; BELL-TELL; MOVING-GROOVING
TYPES OF RHYME
APPROXIMATE RHYME WHEN THE FINAL SOUNDS OF
WORDS DO NOT MATCH EXACTLY, BUT CLOSELY
EX. DOVE—COVE; AGAIN-RAIN; DAWN=-
MORN
TYPES OF RHYME
INTERNAL RHYME
WHEN WORDS WITHIN THE SAME LINE OF POETRY RHYME
EX. I LOVE THE WAY FLOWERS BLOOM IN MAY.
CONNOTATION
THE SUGGESTION OF A MEANING BY A WORD APART FROM THE THING IT EXPLICITLY NAMES OR DESCRIBES
SOME WORDS HAVE POSITIVE
CONNOTATIONS, SOME HAVE NEGATIVE, AND SOME ARE NEUTRAL
EX. PRETTY=POSITIVE
UGLY=NEGATIVE
TALL=NEUTRAL
DENOTATION
A DIRECT, SPECIFIC MEANING OF A WORD AS DISTINCT FROM AN IMPLIED OR ASSOCIATED
IDEA
ONOMATOPOEIA
THE USE OF WORDS TO IMITATE THE SOUNDS THEY
DESCRIBE
EX. WHOOSH; BUZZ; HISS; POP
FIGURATIVE
LANGUAGE
A FORM OF LANGUAGE USE IN WHICH WRITERS AND
SPEAKERS CONVEY SOMETHING OTHER THAN THE LITERAL MEANING OF THEIR
WORDS
TYPES OF FIGURATIVE
LANGUAGE
HYPERBOLE THE USE OF EXTREME
EXAGGERATION TO EMPHASIZE A POINT
EX. I’VE TOLD YOU A MILLION
TIMES NOT TO DO THAT!
TYPES OF FIGURATIVE
LANGUAGE
SIMILE A FIGURE OF SPEECH INVOLVING A
COMPARISON BETWEEN UNLIKE THINGS USING LIKE, AS, OR AS
THOUGH
EX."MY LOVE IS LIKE A RED, RED ROSE."
TYPES OF FIGURATIVE
LANGUAGE
METAPHOR
A FIGURE OF SPEECH INVOLVING A COMPARISON BETWEEN UNLIKE
THINGS WITHOUT USING LIKE, AS, OR AS THOUGH
EX."MY LOVE IS A RED, RED ROSE."
TYPES OF FIGURATIVE
LANGUAGE
PERSONIFICATION
A FIGURE OF SPEECH WHICH GIVES SOMETHING NON-HUMAN OR
INANIMATE HUMAN QUALITIES
EX. “THE TREES DANCED IN THE WIND.” “THE SUN SMILED DOWN ON THE WEARY TRAVELERS.”
TYPES OF FIGURATIVE
LANGUAGE
IDIOM
AN EXPRESSION THAT CANNOT BE UNDERSTOOD FROM THE MEANINGS OF ITS INDIVIDUAL
WORDS.
EX. IT HAS BEEN RAINING CATS AND DOGS ALL DAY.
DID YOU HEAR THAT FRED KICKED THE BUCKET?
FOIL
A CHARACTER WHO SERVES AS A CONTRAST TO ANOTHER
CHARACTER AND/OR PARALLELS THE MAIN
CHARACTER IN A PLAY OR STORY
ARCHETYPE
A CONSTANTLY RECURRING SYMBOL, MOTIF, OR TYPE OF CHARACTER IN LITERATURE
EX. WISE OLD MAN, FAIRY GODMOTHER, EVIL STEPMOTHER, VILLAINS, HEROES,
LOVESICK TEENAGER, ETC.
STEREOTYPE
AN IDEA THAT MANY PEOPLE HAVE ABOUT A THING OR A GROUP AND THAT MAY OFTEN BE UNTRUE OR
ONLY PARTLY TRUE
EX. BLONDES ARE DUMB; REDHEADS HAVE FIERY TEMPERS
IMAGERY
THE USE OF LANGUAGE THAT APPEALS TO ONE OR MORE OF
THE FIVE SENSES
EX. A BLUE SWEATER, A TINKLING BELL, A FUZZY PEACH
DICTION
THE SELECTION OF WORDS IN A LITERARY WORK
EX.THE DICTION OF EDGAR
ALLAN POE IS VERY DIFFERENT FROM THAT OF STEPHEN KING.
MYTH
A STORY OFTEN DESCRIBING THE ADVENTURES OF SUPERHUMAN BEINGS THAT ATTEMPTS TO DESCRIBE THE ORIGIN OF A
PEOPLE'S CUSTOMS OR BELIEFS OR TO EXPLAIN MYSTERIOUS EVENTS
(AS THE CHANGING OF THE SEASONS)
BLANK VERSE
A LINE OF POETRY OR PROSE IN UNRHYMED IAMBIC PENTAMETER,
OFTEN FOUND IN POETRY BY SHAKESPEARE
ASIDE WORDS SPOKEN TO THE
AUDIENCE BY A CHARACTER IN A DRAMA THAT ARE NOT SUPPOSED
TO BE HEARD BY THE OTHER CHARACTERS ONSTAGE.
AN ASIDE IS USUALLY USED TO LET THE AUDIENCE KNOW WHAT ANOTHER
CHARACTER IS THINKING.
DIALECT
A REGIONAL VARIETY OF A LANGUAGE DIFFERING FROM
STANDARD LANGUAGE
A VARIETY OF A LANGUAGE USED BY THE MEMBERS OF A PARTICULAR GROUP OR CLASS
FREE VERSE
POETRY WITHOUT A REGULAR PATTERN OF
METER OR RHYME.
POETRY
WRITING THAT USUALLY INVOLVES RHYTHM AND RHYME
COUPLET
SETS OF TWO LINES THAT RHYME EX. He was a fair-haired lad, to be sure,
Modest, humble, and so very pure.
STANZA
A DIVISION OR UNIT OF A POEM THAT IS
REPEATED IN THE SAME FORM
IAMBIC PENTAMETER
A TEN SYLLABLE LINE WITH THE
UNSTRESSED/STRESSED PATTERN
TYPES OF STANZAS
COUPLET=2 LINES THAT RHYME AND HAVE THE SAME LENGTH AND
METER (RHYTHM) QUATRAIN=4 LINES CINQUAIN=5 LINES SESTET=6 LINES OCTAVE=8 LINES SONNET=14 LINES
KENNING
A METAPHORICAL COMPOUND WORD OR PHRASE USED ESPECIALLY IN OLD ENGLISH AND OLD NORSE POETRY
EXS. SWAN-ROAD FOR OCEAN; BATTLE-SWEAT FOR
BLOOD; SLAUGHTER-DEW FOR BLOOD;
SLEEP OF THE SWORD FOR DEATH; FEED THE EAGLE FOR KILL YOUR ENEMIES; SWAN OF BLOOD FOR
RAVEN; FEEDER OF RAVENS FOR WARRIOR
FRAME STORY
A STORY THAT SERVES TO BIND TOGETHER SEVERAL DIFFERENT
NARRATIVES
SOCIAL
COMMENTARY
A SPOKEN OR WRITTEN ACT OF REBELLION TOWARD AN INDIVIDUAL OR GROUP;
COMMENTARY ON SOCIAL ISSUES OR SOCIETY
http://prezi.com/y1oywx_fheo8/chaucer-the-canterbury-
tales-social-commentary/
LIAR’S PARADOX
THE PARADOX OF A MAN WHO STATES "I AM LYING." IF HE
IS LYING, THEN HE IS TELLING THE TRUTH, AND
VICE VERSA. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NVxwEzOJVhg
EXEMPLUM
AN ANECDOTE (A VERY, VERY SHORT STORY) THAT TEACHES
A MORAL OR A LESSON
MORAL
A LESSON ABOUT LIFE OR HUMAN NATURE
FABLES, PARABLES, AND SATIRES OFTEN CONTAIN
MORALS.
TRAGEDY
A PLAY DEALING WITH TRAGIC EVENTS AND HAVING AN UNHAPPY
ENDING, ESPECIALY ONE CONCERNING THE
DOWNFALL OF THE MAIN CHARACTER.
TRAGIC HERO
A GREAT OR VIRTUOUS CHARACTER IN A DRAMATIC
TRAGEDY WHO IS DESTINED FOR DOWNFALL, SUFFERING, DEFEAT, OR
DEATH
DRAMA
A STORY INVOLVING CONFLICT OR CONTRAST OF
CHARACTER, ESPECIALLY ONE INTENDED TO BE
ACTED ON THE STAGE; A PLAY.
COMIC RELIEF
AN AMUSING SCENE, INCIDENT, OR SPEECH INTRODUCED INTO
SERIOUS OR TRAGIC ELEMENTS, AS IN A PLAY, IN ORDER TO PROVIDE TEMPORARY RELIEF
FROM TENSION, OR TO INTENSIFY THE DRAMATIC
ACTION.
ELISION
IN A DRAMA,THE OMISSION OF ACTION (NOT SHOWN ON THE
STAGE) BUT IS UNDERSTOOD TO HAPPEN
OFFSTAGE
OXYMORON
A COMBINATION OF WORDS THAT HAVE OPPOSITE OR
VERY DIFFERENT MEANINGS
EXS. Jumbo shrimp; cold sweat