1. An Overview of Southern Literature
Unit 5

2. Southern Literature A distinct type of American Literature.
Written by authors who were born in or spent most of their lives in the South.
Tells us what the author perceived life to be like, or would have liked life to be like.
The qualities that distinguish Southern Literature from the rest of American Literature is primarily the cultural differences from other parts of the country, mainly the North.

3. Southern Writers Strong sense of history
Strong sense of belonging to a place
Where he/she comes from is of great importance.
A religious base
There is a feeling about moral absolutes that run through the novel.
Language that is rich and ornamental
A belief in the importance of the community
In many southern novels, the people tend to get measured by their relationship to the community.

4. Common Southern Literature Themes
Racism
The Conservative Culture
The significance of family, religion, and community in one’s life.
A sense of social class and place
Persistence of the past
Importance of ritual
Exploration of character

5. “Everything in Literature Happens for a Reason!”
Elements of a Novel
“Everything in Literature Happens for a Reason!”

6. Genres Fiction (Not Real) Non-Fiction (Real) Drama Poetry Fairy Tales
Short Story
Realistic Fiction
Historical Fiction
Novels
Essays
Biography
Autobiography
Speeches

7. The Narrator (Point of View)
The lens through which a reader views a story.
Point of view is the way the author allows you to “see” and “hear” what’s going on.
See handout on “Point of View”.

8. The Setting
Where the story takes place is of great importance to understanding a novel.
The setting is where the novel takes place.
It may include historical background, time, local color.
Local color is characteristics that set the place apart from other places.
The author doesn’t always state the setting of a novel, instead they provide details describing the location and/or time period.
This allows a reader to paint a picture in their mind. (The use of imagery or sensory details.)

9. Characters Static/Flat Characters Dynamic/Round Characters
Characters that do not change throughout the novel.
Usually minor characters
Dynamic/Round Characters
Characters will undergo some kind of change in the course of the story.
Usually major characters

10. Plot (definition)
Plot is the organized pattern or sequence of events that make up a story. Every plot is made up of a series of incidents that are related to one another.

11. Plot Diagram 3 4 2 1 5

12. 1. Exposition
This usually occurs at the beginning of a novel. Here the characters are introduced. We also learn about the setting of the story. Most importantly, we are introduced to the main conflict (main problem).

13. Conflict The dramatic struggle between two forces in a story .
Without conflict, there is no plot.

14. Types of Conflict Internal External
A struggle that take’s place in a character’s mind.
Character vs. Self
A struggle between a character and an outside force.
Character vs. Character
Character vs. Society
Character vs. Nature

15. 2. Rising Action
This part of the story begins to develop the conflict(s). A building of interest or suspense occurs.

16. 3. Climax
This is the turning point of the story. Usually the main character comes face to face with a conflict. The main character will change in some way.

17. 4. Falling Action
All loose ends of the plot are tied up. The conflict(s) and climax are taken care of.

18. 5. Resolution
The story comes to a reasonable ending.

19. Theme
A theme is a main idea, moral, or message portrayed throughout a novel.
Themes often explore timeless and universal ideas.
There will be many themes in a novel.