Literary Elements
These are the basic elements which you will
need to be prepared to explain to the class
about your novel.
Literary Elements
Theme
Character
Setting
Plot
Point of View
Rising Action
Climax
Falling Action
Resolution
Theme
The author reveals the theme through the
literary elements such as character, setting, plot,
and point of view.
Theme, continued
Theme is the main idea, meaning. or message of a literary work.
It is not the same as the subject or a summary of the action.
It is the author’s statement of the way things are – or how they should be.
It is the author’s reflection on a universal truth.
Character
Who (or what) is in the story – people or animals.
Usually one character is central – the action revolves
around him or her.
Character, continued
Protagonist – The chief character in a play, story, or film. Enlists our
interest and sympathy, whether his/her cause is heroic or not.
Antagonist – Second most important character in a play, story, or film.
Directly opposed to the protagonist, a rival or opponent.
Character, continued
The author reveals character in four main ways:
1. By author comment - the author tells a person’s actions and analyzes
his character.
2. By the character’s actions
3. By the character’s comments
4. By what the other characters say about him
Character, continued
Useful Character Questions
What traits does each character have?
How are they revealed?
Does a character change during the story? If so, how?
Character, continued
How does the writer want you to react to each
person?
Does the character remind you of someone you
know?
Setting
The physical background of a story, the time and place
in which the action takes place. It is normally explained
at or near the beginning of the story.
Setting, continued
Does the setting influence the plot or the characters?
What kind of mood or atmosphere (the emotional coloring) does the
setting create?
How important is the setting to the story? Could the same story happen
in any other time or place?
Setting, continued
As you read the story:
Picture the setting – think about :
Geographical location
Scenery
Weather
Furniture
Clothing
Time of Year
Period of History
Plot
Plot – the plan of events or the main story.
It is based on one or more conflicts, with one being
the main conflict of the story.
Plot, continued
There are two kinds of conflict:
External –
Between two characters – human vs. human
Between a character and society – human vs. society
Between a character and nature or a supernatural element –
human vs. nature
Plot, continued
Kinds of conflicts, continued:
Internal –
Within a character – human vs. him/herself.
Techniques to Develop the Plot
Foreshadowing – hinting about an event that has not yet
occurred.
Flashback – breaks the sequences of events to tell about
something that occurred earlier.
Techniques to Develop the Plot, continued
Suspense – feeling of growing tension and excitement felt by the
reader as the plot develops.
Surprise Ending – unexpected twist in the plot at the end of the
story.
Techniques to Develop the Plot, continued
Dialogue – an important way for the author to create
realism and suspense. Useful method of revealing
character and developing plot.
Point of View
First Person - Narrative told by one of the characters
from the “I” point of view.
Limited because the reader knows only what the
character knows.
Point of View, continued
Limited Third Person – Narrator tells the story using “he”
and “she.”
Can be limited with the narrator knowing the thoughts
of only one character.
Point of View, continued
Omniscient – Narrator tells the story using “he” and “she.”
Knows the thoughts and feelings of all the characters.
Exposition
Setting, characters, and situation are revealed.
May suggest the theme and sometimes even hint at the
probable outcome.
Rising Action
Major part of the plot.
Series of steps each presenting a minor obstacle or problem
and leading to a climax.
Developed mainly by incident, description, characterization,
and dialogue.
Climax
The culmination of events of the rising action.
The most exciting moment.
The highest point of interest.
Usually brief and distinct – sometimes only a sentence long.
Falling Action
Follows the climax and explains any details that need
further clarification.
May try to help the reader understand an unexpected
ending.
Usually short.
Resolution
How the conflict of the story is resolved – how
the main problem is solved.
Book Journaling Assignment
As you read the book you will pose questions to your partner about
the portions you have read. This is designed to help you both
understand better and to allow you to point out things that your
partner may have overlooked or thought was less important.
Book Journaling Assignment, continued
Remember that you will be coordinating your report
with your partner for presentation in both classes.