Elements of Literature Antagonist – The person or force that works against the hero of the story. The Bad Guy or Gal! Protagonist – The main character or the hero in the story. The Good Guy or Gal!

Character: A person or animal who takes part in the action of the story. Dynamic character- changes as a result of the events. Static character- stays the same.

Methods of characterization: Sharing the character’s thoughts, actions, and dialogue. Describing his or her appearance. Revealing what others in the story think or say about this character.

Conflict: A problem or clash between two forces in a story. Internal Conflict- takes place within a characters own mind. It is a struggle between opposing needs, desires, or emotions. External conflict- A character struggles with an outside force which may be another character, society as a whole, or natural force.

Plot – The action that makes up the story, following a plan called the plot. Plot line – The planned action or series of events in a story (the basic parts of the plot line are the beginning, the rising action, the high point, and the ending).

Plot Line Beginning-introduces the character and the setting. Rising Action – adds a conflict – a problem for the characters. High Point – is the moment when the conflict is the strongest. The ending – tell how the main characters have changed.

Plot Line Beginning – introduces the characters and the setting. Rising Action – adds a conflict, a problem for the characters. High Point – the moment when the conflict is the strongest. Ending – tells how the characters have changed.

Mood The feeling or emotion that a piece of literature or writing creates in you – The Reader!

Theme The message about life or human nature that is “hidden” in the story. Moral of the story.

Tone The writer’s attitude toward his or her subject. Tone can be described by words such as angry, humorous, sarcastic, etc.

Point of View – the person who is telling the story. First person – one of the characters in the story is telling it. When you wrote your memoir this was written from first person.

Third person – someone from outside the story is telling it. Third person omniscient – All Knowing! The narrator is outside the story and knows everything that happens and everything that goes on in the minds of all characters. More than 1 side to every story. Third person limited – Told from a single character’s point of view. The narrator focuses on the thoughts and feelings of only one character. “ He said, She said”

Dramatic Irony irony that is inherent in speeches or a situation of a drama and is understood by the audience but not grasped by the characters in the play.