CONVENTIONA traditional aspect of a

literary work

"'It's Only Rock and Roll, but I Like It‘”David Wojahn, 1953

The guttural stammer of the chopper bladesRaising arabesques of dust, tearing leavesFrom the orange trees lining the Embassy compound;One chopper left, and a CBS cameraman leans From inside its door, exploiting the artfulMayhem. Somewhere a radio blares the Stones,"I like it, like it, yes indeed..." Carts fullOf files blaze in the yard. Flak-jacketed marinesGunpoint the crowd away. The overloaded chopper strainsAnd blunders from the roof. An ice-cream-suitedSaigonese drops his briefcase; both handsNow cling to the airborne skis. The camera getsIt all: the marine leaning out the copter day,His fists beating time. Then the hands giving way."

An unconventional sonnet

CONVENTION“Elements of Literature” – link contains information

about conventional fiction, science fiction, and fantasy genres: http://www.chsbs.cmich.edu/Melinda_Kreth/Elements%20of%20Literature.pdf

Conventions of Fantasy Settings• Fantasy is usually set in primitively natural surroundings which are not carefully detailed, indeed, often almost abstract (the reader’s imagination supplies the setting). • Medieval nature usually is depicted as magic rather than scientifically explained. No explanations are given for why magic works.• Technology and architecture are primitive, at about the level of the blacksmith. • Clock time is rarely provided; cosmic/seasonal time and psychologicaltime provide the schedule.• Travel and communications are slow.

DENOUEMENTThe conclusion or tying up of loose ends in a

literary work; the resolution of the conflict or plot

DENOUEMENTConventions of dénouement:

• Comedy – the main character is better off• Tragedy – the main character is worse off or dies altogether• Modern literature – a lack of dénouement; a cliffhanger

DEUS EX MACHINA[DEY-uhs eks MAH-kuh-nuh] – “god from machine”

A Greek invention in which a character appears at the last moment and resolves the loose ends of a play.

Lord of the Rings

DEUS EX MACHINAAnother example: bacteria in War of the Worlds