Literary Devices/Story Elements

1. Setting The setting of a story is the time and place of the story. It also includes the mood and atmosphere at the time and place of the story. For example: “It was a dark and stormy night...” – suspenseful, eerie and frightening mood.

Setting

2. Character: Who the Story is About This is a term used to describe who is in the story. The main character is often referred to as the protagonist. The character or force that opposes the protagonist is referred to as the antagonist. “Character” also refers to the physical and emotional description of the character. Characters may be classified as: Realistic or Stereotyped, Round or Flat, Static or Dynamic

Stereotyped Character A character that exhibits stereotypical attributes.

Realistic Character A character who seems “true to life.” With a partner - think about book, t.v., or movie characters that seem like someone you could know in real life.

Round Character A realistic character who has several sides to his/her personality.

Flat Character A limited character, usually a minor character, who has only one apparent quality.

Dynamic Character A character who undergoes a significant, lasting change, usually in his/her outlook on life.

Static Character A character who does not change during the course of the story.

3. Point of View The Point of View is how the story is told. There are three different points of view. First Person Narrative – The protagonist tells his/her own story, using the pronoun “I.” The character telling the story can only reveal what he and she is feeling or thinking. Third Person (Limited) – Refers to the protagonist as “he/she.” Tells us what this character thinks and feels, but from the perspective of someone outside the story. Third Person (Omniscient) – Reveals the minds of several or all of the characters from an all-seeing, all-knowing, God-like perspective.

4. Plot The storyline or organization of events in a story is called the plot. The plot has a beginning, middle and an end. It consists of episodes of conflict.

Plot, continued... Exposition - This is where the important background information (setting, events before the main conflict, and characters) are introduced. Rising Action - A series of conflicts that build to the most interesting part of the story. This is where we see action happen, and the reader gains interest. Climax - This is the most exciting part of the story; where the main conflict(s) come to a head. It is the turning point of a story, and the point of the highest intensity or drama. Falling Action - Occurs after the conflict has been reached and the conflict has been resolved. Resolution - The final closing and clarification of a dramatic or narrative plot.

Plot, continued... The plot should get the reader’s attention and move the reader to the end of the story. The plot includes the conflict which the main character must overcome in the story. There are three types of conflict: Person vs. Person – This struggle may be physical, emotional, moral or psychological Person vs. Environment – This could be a conflict with nature, society or circumstance. Person vs. Self – This is a conflict or struggle in emotion or thought within a character.

Person vs. Person

Person vs. Environment

Person vs. Self

5. Theme A theme is often a generalization about life. Literature often provides insights into what the world is like and why humans behave the way they do. These insights or truths are the themes of a story. The theme is the author’s message or the central idea of a story. It is usually implied rather than directly stated. Examples of themes – Love conquers all Life is short Be yourself Appearances are deceiving

Foreshadowing Foreshadowing occurs when the author hints at something that will happen later in the story.

Genre In French, this means “type” or “kind.” The genre of a novel is its type; mystery, horror, romance, etc.

Irony Irony occurs when the opposite happens of what we have been led to expect. Steve Buscemi describes Irony

Allegory A story in which the characters represent abstract qualities or ideas. For example: In Westerns, the sheriff represents the good, and the outlaw represents the evil.

Pathos When the author deliberately creates sympathy for a character; even if the character is the villain Magneto

Symbol An object in a novel that is repeated so that it takes on a larger significance than what the object is.