Elements of Literature

Story Elements (Parts of a Story)

Elements of a Short Story

CharacterizationSettingMoodPlotConflictStages of a PlotTheme

Characters

Characters – the people, animals, or imaginary creatures that take part in the action of a story.

Protagonists – main character(s) who are most affected by the plot. Usually, but not always, they are the “good guys”.

Antagonists – main character(s) who casue conflict for the protagonists. Usually, but not always, they are the “bad guys”.

Characterization

Characterization – the process by which a writer reveals the personality of a character in a story.

Techniques of Characterization: characterization is revealed through direct and indirect characterization.

Direct Characterization: the method by which an author comes right out and tells the audience directly what the personality of the character is.

Ex. “The patient boy and quiet girl were both well mannered and did not disobey their mother.”

The author is directly telling the audience the personality of these two children. The boy is “patient” and the girl is “quiet”.

Characterization (cont.)

Indirect Characterization: the method by which an author “shows” things that reveal the personality of a character. The reader must infer the personality of a character based on clues given by the author.

There are 5 different methods of indirect characterization:

Speech: What does the character say? How does the character speak?

Ex. “I’m afraid but I’ll do it anyway!” said Rita. Through Rita’s words we can tell she is scared but

courageous.

Characterization (cont.)

Thoughts: What is revealed through the character’s private thoughts and feelings?

Ex. As the cold water of the lake wrapped around her legs, Rita trembled at the memory of last summer’s accident.

Through Rita’s thoughts we can infer that she

is afraid of something.

Characterization (cont.)

Characters Effect on Others: What is revealed through the character’s effect on other people? How do other characters feel or behave in reaction to the character? What do other characters say/think about the character?

Ex. Polly watched from the shore, knowing it was impossible to stop Rita once she had decided to do something. “She’s so stubborn!” Polly thought.

Through Polly’s thoughts we know that Rita is stubborn.

Characterization (cont.)

Actions: What does the character do? How does the character behave?

Ex. With determined effort, Rita managed to get the rowboat into the lake and clamber aboard.

Through Rita’s actions we can tell she is strong and determined.

Characterization (cont.)

Looks: What does the character look like? How does the character dress?

Ex. Rita often wore mismatched clothes and never seemed to brush her hair.

Through descriptions of Rita we can infer that she is messy and doesn’t care about her appearance.

Setting

Setting: the time (when) and place (where) in which the story happens.

Time may be: past, present, or future ~ a specific year, season, or time of day/night Place may be: real or imaginary ~ it may include social or cultural world of the characters

Setting can change throughout the story.

Setting can help establish the mood of the story.

Setting can be direct where the narrator tells the reader what the setting is or the setting can be indirect in which case the reader must infer the setting based on details in the story.

Mood

Mood: a feeling that a literary work conveys to a reader. The mood is often established through the setting. Mood is an emotion evoked in the reader such as sadness, excitement, anger, fear....

Plot

Plot: the sequence of events that unfolds around a conflict (problem or struggle) between opposing forces.

Plot (cont.)

Two Types of Conflict:

Internal Conflict – conflict when a struggle takes place within a character’s mind. Usually involves decision making, or strong emotions such as jealousy, love, hate, etc.

Character vs. Self – Beth cannot decide whether to continue doing volunteer work or to spend more time with her friends.

Plot (cont.)

External Conflict – conflict created by some outside force around the character

Character vs. another character – Rainsford is trapped on an island with the evil General Zaroff who hunts men for sport.

Character vs. Society/Group – Ebenezer Scrooge was such a grouchy old man that no one in town liked him.

Character vs. Nature – Julie had to learn to survive in the desert after living through a terrible plane crash.

Plot (cont.)

Five Stages in the Development of a Plot:

Exposition: introduces the reader to the characters, setting, and conflict by giving the reader background information.

Exposition

Plot (cont.)

Five Stages in the Development of a Plot:

Rising Action: develops the conflict by introducing more and more complications. Suspense builds because conflict is making the goal (what the character wants to accomplish or achieve) more difficult to reach.

Exposition Rising

Acti

on

Plot (cont.)

Five Stages in the Development of a Plot:

Climax: the emotional high point or turning point of the story. Usually the most exciting part where the action reaches a peak. It occurs at almost the end of the story.

ExpositionRisi

ng A

ction

Climax

Plot (cont.)

Five Stages in the Development of a Plot:

Falling Action: the conflict lessens its itensity as the outcome of the conflict is decided.

ExpositionRisi

ng A

ction

ClimaxFalling Action

Plot (cont.)

Five Stages in the Development of a Plot:

Resolution: Shows if and how the conflict is solved or resolved – loose ends are tied up. The goal is not always reached. The ending is not always “happily every after”.

ExpositionRisi

ng A

ction

ClimaxFalling Action

Resolution

Theme

Theme: the main message the writer wishes to share with the reader. It may be a lesson about life or a belief about people and their actions.

Most themes are not stated directly but rather are implied or suggested messages in which case the reader must infer what the message is by analyzing the author’s clues.

Theme

Some things to think about to help you determine the theme:

1) Review what happened to the main character. Did he/she change during the story? What did he/she learn about life?

2) Skim the selection for key phrases and sentences – statements that move beyond the action of the story to say something important about life and people.

3) Think about the title of the selection. Does it have a special meaning that could lead you to the main idea of the piece?.