1. Elements of Literature

2. Plot
series of events that make up the story – the structure of the story

3. 4 Components
Exposition - the basic situation where the characters and conflict are introduced – the who, what, where, when
Complications - character takes action to resolve conflict and meets problems
Climax - greatest emotional involvement – something happens to determine the outcome
4. Resolution (denouement) - conflict ended,
story closes (unraveling or untying of the complexities of the plot)

4. Conflict
struggle – a character’s desire to do something is blocked in some way

5. Two Types:
External: struggle is caused by something outside the character
Internal: character struggles against some personal anxiety that is causing trouble

6. External conflict Person vs. person Person vs. nature
Person vs. machine (technology)
Person vs. society
Person vs. supernatural (unknown)

7. Internal conflict
Person
Vs.
Self

8. Often one type of conflict can cause another

9. Suspense
hints intended to quicken the reader’s curiosity and increase anxiety as it leads us into the story

10. Characterization
the ways a writer reveals what (who) a character is

11. Direct characterization
Writer TELLS us directly what the character is like (does the work for us)

12. Indirect characterization
writer SHOWS us what the character is like through
1. appearance / actions
2. speech
3. private thoughts
4. other characters’ reactions

13. Mrs. Khuns was tired.

14. Mrs. Khuns slowly entered Mendon
Mrs. Khuns slowly entered Mendon. Her hair was a mess and she had big black circles under her eyes. She was hunched over and barely acknowledged the students as they passed her in the hall.

15. Point of View
vantage point from which a writer tells a story

16. First person
The “I” tells the story – also participates in the action (in varying degrees of importance) and draws us directly into the story

17. Third person - omniscient
Traditional “all-knowing” god-like observer who knows everything going on in the story. The omniscient can see into the characters’ hearts and minds, yet remains outside of the story.

18. Third Person Limited
An outside observer (like omniscient) but views the action only from the vantage point of a single character

19. Setting
Background against which action takes place

20. Setting Geographical location (place) Time or period
Occupation and daily manner of living of the characters
General environment of the characters – religious, mental, moral, social, and emotional conditions

21. Irony
Contrast between expectation and reality – like an unexpected twist…

22. Verbal Irony say one thing – mean the opposite
(“You sure can pick’em” – said to a coach whose team just finished last place)

23. Situational Irony
Occurrence not just surprising – but the opposite of what is expected
(Using escalators instead of stairs to get to the fitness center)

24. Dramatic Irony
The audience / reader knows what is in store for the character – but he does not – often used on stage
(Husband comes home and complains about mother-in-law – audience knows mother-in-law is in the next room)

25. **express as a statement**
Theme
A universal truth– an abstract concept that is made concrete (real) through representation in the story through people, actions, or images
**express as a statement**

26. Tone
Attitude a speaker or writer takes toward a subject, audience, or character

27. Foreshadowing
All the ways in which the writer shows the reader what to expect next – clues as to what will happen, often a device to create suspense

28. Dynamic Character
a character that changes in an important way during the course of the story – by the end of the story has gained a new understanding of something or made an important decision or taken a crucial action.

29. Static Character
A character that stays the same – or has not changed in any significant way throughout the course of the story

30. Symbol
A concrete reality – prompts that reality to suggest another level of meaning; something that stands for something else

31. Personification
Giving human characteristics (e.g. intelligence, emotion) to something that is not human (e.g. animals, ideas, abstractions)

32. Allusion
A figure of speech that makes direct or indirect reference to a historical or literary figure, event, or object. Biblical allusions frequent English literature.

33. Protagonist
Main character (attention focuses on) pushes the story forward - usually wants something and sets out to get it

34. Antagonist
Character or force that comes into conflict with the protagonist

35. Flashback
When the writer presents material that occurred prior to the opening scene of the work (recollections, narration, dream sequence) – used to show what happened, where characters are coming from, why they feel as they do

36. When writing about literature – always use present tense

37. That was – use present tense when writing about literature

38. Did I mention present tense??????