Literary Elements

Irony Characterization Allusion Paradox Conflict Fact v. Opinion

Symbol Point of View Settings Theme Tone Mood Plot

LITERARY LITERARY ELEMENTSELEMENTS

Take good notes!!!Take good notes!!!

IronyIronyVerbal Irony (sarcasm)Verbal Irony (sarcasm)::A writer or speaker says one A writer or speaker says one

thing but really means something thing but really means something completely different.completely different.

ExampleExample: In “The Most Dangerous : In “The Most Dangerous Game,” General Zaroff, who hunts Game,” General Zaroff, who hunts and kills people for sport, says, and kills people for sport, says, “We try to be civilized here.”“We try to be civilized here.”

““Great.”Great.”

IronyIronySituational IronySituational Irony:: When there is a contradiction When there is a contradiction

between what we expect to happen between what we expect to happen and what really happensand what really happens

ExampleExample: The police chief’s son : The police chief’s son becomes a thief.becomes a thief.

IronyIronyDramatic Irony:Dramatic Irony: when the audience or the reader knows when the audience or the reader knows

something important that a character in something important that a character in the play or story doesn’t knowthe play or story doesn’t know

ExampleExample: When, in horror movies, we : When, in horror movies, we know that the killer is hiding in the know that the killer is hiding in the backseat of the car, but the actor does backseat of the car, but the actor does not.not.

CharacterizationDirect

Characterization:• the author tells

readers directly what a character is like or what a person’s motives are

Indirect

Characterization:• the author shows

us the character but allows us to interpret for ourselves what kind of person the character is

Direct CharacterizationDirect Characterization

Voldemort is an evil wizard who Voldemort is an evil wizard who wants to kill Harry Potter.wants to kill Harry Potter.

Indirect Characterization Indirect Characterization

1. 1. Describe the Describe the character’s character’s appearance.appearance.

A giant of a man was standing in the doorway. His face was almost completely hidden by a long, shaggy mane of hair and a wild, tangled beard, but you could make out his eyes, glinting like black beetles under all the hair.

Indirect Characterization Indirect Characterization

2. 2. Show the Show the character in character in action—what action—what he does or he does or how he acts.how he acts.

The boy glanced around and then tossed his empty can on the ground.

Indirect Characterization Indirect Characterization 3. Have the character speak… DIALOGUE!3. Have the character speak… DIALOGUE!

“I don’t have to do what you say,” declared little Austin, glaring at his new baby sitter.

“What if I brought you two presents, Mrs. Sykes?” Todd said. “By the way, can I have another A???”

Indirect Characterization Indirect Characterization

4. Reveal the 4. Reveal the character’s character’s private private thoughts and thoughts and feelings.feelings.

Scottie didn’t like the looks of the carrot pudding, but he hated to hurt his mother’s feelings and resolved to choke it down.

Indirect CharacterizationIndirect Characterization

5. Show how 5. Show how others react others react to the to the character—character—what they say what they say or think or think aboutabout

“Work in a group with those idiots?” said Sean. “No way! I’ll get stuck doing all the work.”

Allusion• A reference to a statement, person,

place, event, or thing that is known from literature, history, religion, myth, politics, sports, science, or the arts.

• Example: "Christy didn't like to spend money. She was no Scrooge, but she seldom purchased anything except the bare necessities".

ParadoxParadoxA statement or a situation A statement or a situation

that seems to be a that seems to be a contradiction but actually contradiction but actually reveals a truthreveals a truth

ExampleExample: “Parting is such : “Parting is such sweet sorrow.”sweet sorrow.”

This paradox is true because This paradox is true because the parting kisses are sweet, the parting kisses are sweet, but the leaving itself is sad.but the leaving itself is sad.

Method to the madness. Method to the madness.

ParadoxParadox

"War is peace.""War is peace.""Freedom is slavery.""Freedom is slavery.""Ignorance is strength.""Ignorance is strength."(George Orwell, (George Orwell, 19841984))

ConflictConflictExternalExternal Conflict:Conflict:

includes a includes a struggle with struggle with an outside an outside sourcesource

Man vs. Man

Man vs. Environment/Society

Man vs. Nature

Man vs. Machine

Man vs. Supernatural

ConflictConflict InternalInternal Conflict: Conflict:

Takes place in a character’s Takes place in a character’s own mindown mind

ExampleExample: A problem that the : A problem that the character is dealing with insidecharacter is dealing with inside

FACT vs. OpINioNFACT vs. OpINioN

A A factfact is is something something that can that can be proven.be proven.

An An opinionopinion is is a personal a personal belief that belief that can’t be can’t be proven, only proven, only supportedsupported

Symbol•A person, place, or thing that is itself but also represents something else altogether

•Example: The scale is itself an instrument for weighing things, but it is also a symbol for justice

Point of ViewPoint of View►FIRST PERSONFIRST PERSON

One of the characters One of the characters is actually the is actually the narrator of the storynarrator of the story

Look for “I”Look for “I”

Point of ViewPoint of View

•Second Person–Look for the word “you”

–Typically used in recipes, instructional manuals, etc.

Point of ViewPoint of View

Third Person Limited:Third Person Limited:The narrator, who plays no The narrator, who plays no part in the story, zooms in part in the story, zooms in on the thoughts and on the thoughts and feelings of just one feelings of just one charactercharacter

Point of ViewPoint of ViewThird Person OmniscientThird Person Omniscient(all knowing)(all knowing)::

- The person telling the - The person telling the story knows everything story knows everything there is to know about there is to know about the characters & their the characters & their problemsproblems

SettingSetting

The time and place The time and place of a storyof a story

ThemeThemeThe central idea of a work The central idea of a work of literatureof literatureUsually a truth about human Usually a truth about human lifelife

Rarely stated directlyRarely stated directly

Tone• The author’s attitude toward his

subject.

• Tone is conveyed through the author's words and details.

Mood• Prevailing atmosphere or

emotional aura of a work. Setting, tone, & events can affect the mood.

• Mood is the emotions that you feel while you are reading.

*PLOT*

• A series of related events, each event connected to the next, like links in a chain

*It’s what happens between “Once upon a time” and “happily ever after.”

Parts of a PlotParts of a Plot EXPOSITION:EXPOSITION:

gives information about the gives information about the characters and their characters and their problems and conflictsproblems and conflicts

Exposition

Parts of a PlotParts of a PlotRising Action:Rising Action:

–Consists of a series of Consists of a series of complications. These occur complications. These occur as the main characters take as the main characters take action to solve their problems.action to solve their problems.

ExpositionRising Action

Parts of a PlotParts of a PlotClimaxClimax::

The most emotional part of The most emotional part of the story—when the outcome the story—when the outcome of the conflict is revealed.of the conflict is revealed.

ExpositionRising Action

Climax

Parts of a PlotParts of a PlotFALLING ACTION:FALLING ACTION:

Presents events that result Presents events that result from the climaxfrom the climax

ExpositionExpositionRising ActionRising Action

ClimaxClimax

Falling ActionFalling Action

Parts of a Plot•Resolution:

•The end of the story where all struggles are over, and we know what is going to happen to the characters.

ExpositionExpositionRising ActionRising Action

ClimaxClimax

Falling ActionFalling Action

ResolutionResolution