Literary Elements
This is the time and place in which a story occurs.
Setting.
A comparison using "like" or "as"
Simile
A character struggles with another character
Man vs. man
The author's attitude toward the subject or audience.
Tone
The teacher commended her for her exemplary work.
What does “commended” mean?
praised
The main character in a story, often the hero.
Protagonist.
Giving human qualities to non-human things.
Personification
A character faces a struggle with natural forces.
Man vs. nature
The feeling or atmosphere created by the author.
Mood
I'm a bit skeptical about that deal; it seems too good to be true.
What does “skeptical” mean?
Doubtful
This element refers to the sequence of events in a story.
Plot.
A reference to another literary work, myth, or historical event.
Allusion
A character has an internal struggle between opposing desires.
Man vs. self
The use of hints or clues about what will happen later in the story.
Foreshadowing
The protagonist was resilient in the face of hardship.
What does “resilient” mean?
Able to recover quickly
The turning point or moment of greatest tension in a story.
Climax.
An extreme exaggeration used for effect.
Hyperbole
A character stands up against society or its norms.
Man vs. society
The method an author uses to develop a character
Characterization
"Even though she had little money, her altruistic nature led her to donate to the food bank every week."
What does “altruistic” mean?
Selfless; concerned for others
This is the perspective from which a story is told (first, second, third).
Point of view.
A contradiction between what is expected and what actually happens.
Irony
Name the four major types of conflict
Man vs. man, man vs. nature, man vs. self, man vs. society
When an author interrupts the narrative to show past events.
Flashback
The novel’s themes are ambiguous and open to interpretation.
What does “ambiguous” mean?
Unclear; open to more than one meaning