Essential Literary Elements
The definition of literary element.
A fundamental building block found in fictional writing that helps create the story and is essential for analyzing the text's meaning and structure.
Words or expressions with a meaning beyond the literal meaning.
Figurative Language
A struggle between 2 opposing forces.
Conflict
The 2 techniques for summarizing a text.
1. SWBST
2. Plot Tracking
The central message, moral, or lesson taught throughout a story.
Theme
The narrator's position in relation to the story being told.
Point of View
The difference between internal and external conflicts.
Internal = a character battling against a force inside of himself
External = a character battling against a force outside of himself
What the acronym SWBST stands for.
Somebody
Wanted
But
So
Then
The emotional atmosphere of a story.
Mood
The difference between a physical setting and a social setting.
Physical Setting = time, place, location
Social Setting = cultural, historical, and social contexts
How are themes written correctly?
Written as statements or complete sentences. No mention of specific character names.
Complete
Concise
Factual
The author's word choice, sentence structure, and figurative language utilized.
Style
The author's attitude towards the subject matter.
Tone
List 3 types of conflicts.
Man vs. Self
Man vs. Man
Man vs. Society
Man vs. Nature
Man vs. Technology
Man vs. Supernatural
We say that a summary is characterized by being complete, concise, and factual. Explain what each characteristic means.
Complete = explain all the major characters & events of a story
Concise = focus on the most important & need-to-know information in a logical manner
Factual = focus on the facts; do not add personal opinion
The typical plot structure of a story in the correct order.
Exposition, Rising Action, Climax, Falling Action, Resoution
Limited = limited knowledge of only one character's thoughts and feelings
Omniscient = knowledge of all of the characters' thoughts and feelings
List the other 3 types of conflicts.
Man vs. Self
Man vs. Man
Man vs. Society
Man vs. Nature
Man vs. Technology
Man vs. Supernatural
The difference between summarizing and analyzing.
Summary is to recall and comprehend a story in order to provide an overview of the main events.
Analysis is to gain a deeper understanding of the story's meaning, the author's writing techniques, and how the literary elements work together.