Literary Literary ElementsElements

Mrs. BannenSixth Grade Reading

Text StructureText StructureThe particular order or pattern a writer The particular order or pattern a writer

uses to present ideas. The way a piece of uses to present ideas. The way a piece of writing is writing is organizedorganized..

- One type of text structure is One type of text structure is Compare Compare and Contrastand Contrast. This is when an author tells . This is when an author tells the ways that people, things, or ideas are the ways that people, things, or ideas are alike and different.alike and different.

- Another type of text structure is Problem-Another type of text structure is Problem-and-Solution. This is when the author and-Solution. This is when the author states a problemstates a problem and suggests a solution. and suggests a solution.

Author’s PurposeAuthor’s PurposeWhat the author tries to do by What the author tries to do by

writing a particular work.writing a particular work.- There are four main purposes There are four main purposes

authors use when writing; authors use when writing; entertainentertain, inform, , inform, persuadepersuade, and , and express emotions.express emotions.

- Knowing the author’s purpose Knowing the author’s purpose helps you understand why you are helps you understand why you are reading.reading.

Author’s PerspectiveAuthor’s Perspective

The combination of The combination of experiencesexperiences, , values, and ideas that values, and ideas that shape the shape the way the author looks at the world. way the author looks at the world.

- Being aware of the author’s - Being aware of the author’s perspective helps you understand perspective helps you understand why the author has chosen to tell a why the author has chosen to tell a story in a certain way.story in a certain way.

CharacterCharacter

1. The person, animal or 1. The person, animal or creaturecreature in a work of fiction in a work of fiction

oror

2. The characteristics of a person 2. The characteristics of a person or creature. or creature.

Character ContinuedCharacter Continued

The protagonist is The protagonist is the “the “good guygood guy.” .”

Character Continued Character Continued The person, The person,

creature, or force creature, or force who opposes the who opposes the main character is main character is the “the “antagonistantagonist.” .”

Character ContinuedCharacter Continued MinorMinor CharactersCharacters are ones who take part are ones who take part

in the action, but who is not the focus of in the action, but who is not the focus of attention.attention.

Main Characters Main Characters are the characters who are the characters who are central to a story and typically fully are central to a story and typically fully developed.developed.

FlatFlat CharactersCharacters are one sided or are one sided or stereotypical. stereotypical.

RoundRound CharactersCharacters are are fully developed fully developed and exhibit many traits – often both faults and exhibit many traits – often both faults and virtues.and virtues.

Dynamic CharactersDynamic Characters change or grow change or grow during the course of a work.during the course of a work.

Static CharactersStatic Characters do not change through do not change through the course of a work.the course of a work.

Character ContinuedCharacter Continued

A character in a folktale that is A character in a folktale that is usually smaller and weaker than usually smaller and weaker than the opponent but has the the opponent but has the advantage of cleverness is called a advantage of cleverness is called a ““trickstertrickster.”.”

CharacterizationCharacterization Characterization is the way a writer Characterization is the way a writer

develops a character’s personality. develops a character’s personality. - There are two types of characterizationThere are two types of characterization

1)1)Direct CharacterizationDirect Characterization: the story’s : the story’s narrator makes narrator makes direct statements direct statements about a about a character’s personality.character’s personality.

2)2)Indirect CharacterizationIndirect Characterization: the writer : the writer reveals a character’s personality through reveals a character’s personality through the character’s the character’s words and actions words and actions and and through what others characters think and through what others characters think and say about them.say about them.

The SettingThe SettingSetting-The Setting-The time and location time and location

where the story takes place. where the story takes place. a)  a)  placeplace - geographical location.  - geographical location. 

Where is the action of the story Where is the action of the story taking place? taking place?

b)  b)  timetime - When is the story taking - When is the story taking place? (historical period, time of day, place? (historical period, time of day, year, etc) year, etc)

c)  c)  weather conditionsweather conditions - Is it rainy, - Is it rainy, sunny, stormy, etc? sunny, stormy, etc?

The SettingThe Settingd)  d)  social conditionssocial conditions - What is the - What is the

daily life of the character like? Does the daily life of the character like? Does the story contain local color (writing that story contain local color (writing that focuses on the speech, dress, focuses on the speech, dress, mannerisms, customs, traditions, etc. of mannerisms, customs, traditions, etc. of a particular place)? a particular place)?

e)  e)  mood or atmospheremood or atmosphere - What - What feeling is created at the beginning of feeling is created at the beginning of the story?  Is it bright and cheerful or the story?  Is it bright and cheerful or dark and frightening? dark and frightening?

f) In most stories the setting serves as f) In most stories the setting serves as the backdrop the backdrop – a context in which the – a context in which the characters interact.characters interact.

Setting ContinuedSetting Continued Sensory details: information that appeals to Sensory details: information that appeals to

the reader’s the reader’s five senses five senses and brings the story and brings the story to life. (ex: the open-air theatres rocked with to life. (ex: the open-air theatres rocked with laughing crowds)laughing crowds)

Concrete details: information that is Concrete details: information that is specificspecific. . (ex: life in Ohio”)(ex: life in Ohio”)

The Plot-It’s a sequence The Plot-It’s a sequence Plot- How the author Plot- How the author arrangesarranges events to events to

develop his/her idea or the sequence of develop his/her idea or the sequence of events in a literary work. events in a literary work.

a)  a)  ExpositionExposition - The beginning of the - The beginning of the story where the story where the characterscharacters and the and the settingsetting are revealed. are revealed.

b)  b)  Rising ActionRising Action - This is where the - This is where the events in the story become complicated events in the story become complicated and the and the conflictconflict in the story is revealed in the story is revealed (events between the introduction and (events between the introduction and climax).climax).

c) c) Narrative Hook – Narrative Hook – The part of the The part of the story that gets the reader story that gets the reader interestedinterested in in the story. It’s what makes you want to the story. It’s what makes you want to read more.read more.

The Plot-It’s a sequence The Plot-It’s a sequence d)  d)  ClimaxClimax - This is the highest point of - This is the highest point of

interest and the interest and the turning point turning point of the of the story.  The reader wonders what will story.  The reader wonders what will happen next; will the conflict be happen next; will the conflict be resolved or not? resolved or not?

e)  e)  Falling actionFalling action - The events and - The events and complications begin to resolve complications begin to resolve themselves.  The reader knows what themselves.  The reader knows what has happened next and if the conflict has happened next and if the conflict was resolved or not (events between was resolved or not (events between climax and denouement). climax and denouement).

f)  f)  ResolutionResolution - This is the - This is the final final outcome outcome or untangling of events in the or untangling of events in the story. story.

Plot ContinuedPlot Continued

Plot diagram

ConflictConflict

Conflict- A struggle between Conflict- A struggle between opposing forces.opposing forces.

Conflict ContinuedConflict Continued

There are two categories of There are two categories of conflictconflict: : 1)  1)  ExternalExternal - A struggle with an - A struggle with an outsideoutside force outside. force outside.

2)  2)  InternalInternal - A struggle within - A struggle within one's self; a person must make one's self; a person must make some decision, overcome pain, some decision, overcome pain, quiet their temper, resist an urge, quiet their temper, resist an urge, etc.etc.

Conflict ContinuedConflict ContinuedMore specific types of conflictMore specific types of conflict: :

1)  1)  Character vs. CharacterCharacter vs. Character (physical) - The leading character (physical) - The leading character struggles with his physical strength struggles with his physical strength against other characters, forces of against other characters, forces of nature, or animals. nature, or animals.

2)  2)  Character vs. SocietyCharacter vs. Society (social) - (social) - The leading character struggles against The leading character struggles against ideas, practices, or customs of other ideas, practices, or customs of other people. people.

Conflict ContinuedConflict ContinuedMore specific types of conflictMore specific types of conflict: :

3)  3)  Character vs. Self Character vs. Self (psychological) (psychological) -  The leading character struggles with -  The leading character struggles with himself/herself; with his/her own soul, himself/herself; with his/her own soul, ideas of right or wrong, physical ideas of right or wrong, physical limitations, choices, etc. limitations, choices, etc.

4) 4) Character vs. Nature Character vs. Nature – The leading – The leading character struggles with some force of character struggles with some force of nature; trying to climb an extremely tall nature; trying to climb an extremely tall mountain in the rain, fighting a mountain in the rain, fighting a snowstorm to save a friend who is snowstorm to save a friend who is hurt…hurt…

Point of ViewPoint of View

Point of View- the perspective, or Point of View- the perspective, or vantage point, from which the vantage point, from which the story is told. story is told.

Three commonly used points of Three commonly used points of view are:view are:First - PersonFirst - PersonOmniscient Third - PersonOmniscient Third - PersonLimited Third - PersonLimited Third - Person

Point of View Cont…Point of View Cont…

In First-Person point of view, the In First-Person point of view, the narrator is a character in the story narrator is a character in the story and refers to himself or herself and refers to himself or herself with the pronoun “with the pronoun “II”.”.

Point of View Cont…Point of View Cont… In stories from the In stories from the Omniscient Third-Omniscient Third-

PersonPerson point of view, the narrator knows point of view, the narrator knows and understands what each character and understands what each character thinks and feels. We are told everything thinks and feels. We are told everything about the story (all characters).about the story (all characters).

In stories from the In stories from the Limited Third-PersonLimited Third-Person point of view, the narrator shares the inner point of view, the narrator shares the inner thoughts of feelings of thoughts of feelings of one characterone character, and , and everything is viewed from this characters everything is viewed from this characters perspective.perspective.

ForeshadowingForeshadowingForeshadowing- A hint about Foreshadowing- A hint about

what is going to happen next. what is going to happen next. For example, If you hear this: (For example, If you hear this: (

Jaws Theme)…you know )…you know someone is going to be eaten. someone is going to be eaten.

FlashbackFlashbackFlashback: an Flashback: an

interruptioninterruption in the in the normal time order of normal time order of a story to show an a story to show an event that happened event that happened earlier.earlier.

- it may help explain, - it may help explain, clarifyclarify, or add , or add emphasis to the main emphasis to the main events of the story.events of the story.

Theme Theme Theme- The author’s underlying main Theme- The author’s underlying main

idea, purpose, or feeling they are trying idea, purpose, or feeling they are trying to convey. The to convey. The messagemessage about life the about life the author wants to share. author wants to share.

Some simple examples of common Some simple examples of common themes from literature, TV, and film are: themes from literature, TV, and film are: - Things are not always as they appear - Things are not always as they appear

to be to be - - Love is blind Love is blind - Believe in yourself - Believe in yourself - People are afraid of change - People are afraid of change

A theme may be stated A theme may be stated directly directly by the writer; however, most by the writer; however, most themes are not directly stated themes are not directly stated but are but are hiddenhidden..

ThemeTheme

Theme ContinuedTheme ContinuedWhen folktales from different When folktales from different

cultures have similar themes they cultures have similar themes they are called “are called “universal themesuniversal themes””

What could the universal theme of What could the universal theme of these three stories be?these three stories be?