LITERARY ELEMENTS
A tell-all guide about the major
elements of literature
SETTING


The time in which the
story takes place
Present day
The future
The year 1984
The place where the
story occurs
Dallastown, Pa
Planet Mars
Mr. Wingard’s
classroom
PLOT LINE
CLIMAX
RISING ACTION
RESOLUTION
EXPOSITION
PLOT: EXPOSITION
It is the background
information about the
characters, setting,
and situations.
 It introduces the
author’s essential
parts of the story to
the reader.
 It is at the beginning
of the plot.

PLOT: RISING ACTION
 The
part of the
story in which the
tension rises.
 The
events or
*CONFLICTS* build
up to the story’s
climax.
 The majority of the
plot is in this part.
PLOT: CLIMAX
 This
is the moment when
the action comes to its
highest point.
 The protagonist decides
how to deal with the main
conflict.
 It’s the moment the
reader has awaited.
 Usually, there is little
excitement after this
point.
PLOT: FALLING ACTION
 The
protagonist
carries out the
decision he or she
made in the
climax.
 There is a sharp
decline in
dramatic tension.
PLOT: RESOLUTION
 The
conflict is
resolved.
 Life goes back to
“normal” for the
characters.
 Authors use this to
“wrap up” the story
to give the readers a
feeling of relief or to
leave them with
something to ponder.
CONFLICT


The source of tension and drama in the story
The conflict is the “story’s problem”.
 Takes place in the rising action
 Keeps the readers interested
TYPES
1. Character versus character
2. Character versus self
3. Character versus nature
4. Character versus supernatural
5.
Character versus society
6.
Character versus technology
7.
Character versus machine
THEME



The “message” that the
author intends to
communicate by telling
the story
Often universal truths,
which are general
statements about life or
people
Just ask yourself,
“WHAT IS THIS ALL
ABOUT?”

Examples– Love conquers all.
– The truth will prevail.
– The “good guy” always
wins.
– Don’t judge a book by
its cover.
– Be careful what you
wish for…
CHARACTERS
 One
main
character in the
story is the
protagonist.
 Usually the
protagonist is
the positive
force in the
story.

Another main
character may be
the antagonist who
opposes the
protagonist.
CHARACTERIZATION
Character can be
revealed through
the character’s
– Actions
– Dialogue
– Appearance
 It also can be
revealed by the
comments of other
characters and of
the narrator.

LITERARY DEVICES
The techniques the author uses
to develop his/her style
Literary Elements VS. Literary Devices


Elements
– Plot
– Characters
– Setting
– Conflict
– Theme
The basic needs to create
a story


Devices (partial list)
– Point of view
– Dialogue
– Flashback
– Foreshadowing
– Mood
– Tone
– Imagery
– Irony
– Symbolism
The devices used to make a
story truly unique. Reflects
the author’s style.
AUTHOR’S STYLE

The ways that an author uses
language including…
Word choice
Length and complexity of
sentences
 Use of imagery and symbols
Use of literary devices
Class Connection* Does this seem familiar? It should!
Remember the Domain Scoring Rubric’s explanation
of a writer’s style?
POINT OF VIEW




The perspective from which the story is told
– Ask: Who is telling the story?
FIRST PERSON –
 Story is told from the perspective of one of the characters;
uses first person pronouns (I, me, we, us)
 “When I walked in the room, all eyes were on me.”
 Commonly used by authors- why?
THIRD-PERSON LIMITED –
 Told from the perspective of a narrator; using third person
pronouns (he, she) Only knows limited characters’ thoughts.
 An observer watching the characters- just like the reader!
THIRD-PERSON OMNISCIENT –
 Narrator knows what ALL the characters’ are thinking,
feeling, and doing
FORESHADOWING


Gives readers clues
about events that will
happen later in the
story.
Hints at what is going to
happen!
Think about scary
music during a movie
or when you say
outloud, “NO! Don’t
open the door! The
killer is probably
hiding in there!”
MOOD
overall feeling that is created
by an author’s choice of words.
Does the author make the story
seem scary, creepy, and eerie or
happy, warm, and fuzzy?
 The
TONE
author’s attitude toward his
readers and his subject
 The
IRONY

The contrast between what is expected and what
happens in reality
– When the unexpected happens…

An old man has played the lotto every day since
the age of 14 and has yet to win a cent. On his
87th birthday he bought his usual lotto ticket,
deciding it was his last, after years of defeat. As
he strapped his seat belt, he listened to the
newscaster spit out the winning lotto numbers “710-43”. His birthday. His lotto numbers. “Finally,
I’ve won!” he shouted in disbelief. As he jumped
up and down in his seat excitedly, he felt a sharp
pain in his left arm. His body went numb and his
mind went blank. The old man collapsed onto the
steering wheel; his heart slowly stopped beating.
As he died, he clutched the winning lotto ticket to
his chest and closed his eyes.
DIALOGUE



The actual words that characters speak
Uses “quotation marks”
Dialogue dramatizes conflict and helps to portray
(describe) the characters of the story
Adds to characterization!
FLASHBACK
Is a scene that
interrupts the story in
order to relate events
that occurred in the
past to the present
story line
 Takes the reader into
the past

SYMBOLISM

Symbolism is achieved by the use of a symbol
which is something-- an image, object, person,
situation, or action--that stands for an idea
beyond its literal meaning.
*An engagement ring is a real object, but it is
also a SYMBOL stands for the love between
the engaged couple
IMAGERY

The use of words that
appeal to one or more
of the five senses
– Sight, hearing,
taste, smell, and
touch
– This gives the
reader additional
meaning and feeling
THAT’S ALL FOLKS!