Literary Elements

1. Literary Elements

2. Focus Questions (Real-World Connections) Why do people like stories, television shows, or movies? What makes a movie or story interesting? Do stories, movies, or songs affect our lives? If so, how?

3. Literary Elements • Literary Elements: • components that make up a work of literature (characters, characterization, conflict, setting, theme, symbolism, point of view, mood, tone, and plot)

4. Characters, Conflict, and Characterization

5. Characters • Characters are people or animals who take part in the action of a story. • Three types of characters whom we may meet in any story. • major characters • minor characters • extras characters

6. Major Characters Major characters include the protagonist, the antagonist, and other characters who have a large role in the story.

7. Major Characters • Protagonist: (the main/central/leading character) the most important character in a story, poem, or play .The action of the story revolves around the protagonist. • Is the protagonist always a good person or the hero? • Antagonist: the character or force that opposes the protagonist • Is the antagonist always the villain or a mean character?

8. Other Major Characters • They can also have their own subplot within a story. • They play a significant role in the action of the story.

9. Minor Characters Minor characters: are characters that take place in the action but are not the focus of attention; they have a small role.

10. Extra Characters • Extra Characters : novels and movies need extra characters to create a realistic scene. • Extra characters become part of the setting; therefore, we don’t mention them when discussing characters in a novel.

11. “Rikki-Tikki-Tavi”

12. “Rikki-Tikki-Tavi”

13. Static and Dynamic Characters! • Static Characters: characters that do not undergo any internal change from the story’s inception to its conclusion. • Dynamic Characters:characters that undergo an internal change over the course of a story as a result of their experience. Most protagonists are dynamic.

14. “Rikki-Tikki-Tavi” • Is Rikki-Tikki-Tavi static or dynamic? • Explain

15. “Rikki-Tikki-Tavi” • Is Rikki-Tikki-Tavi static or dynamic? • Dynamic • In the beginning of the story Rikki is a young mongoose who does not have much confidence in himself and his ability to kill snakes. As the story progresses, Rikki gains more confidence and becomes wiser; as a result, he is successful in killing the snakes.

16. Conflict • Conflict- a struggle between conflicting forces; the single most important element of a short story; without some sort of meaningful conflict, a story has little plot to interest the reader Central Conflict • Central Conflict: this conflict drives the main plot of the story; it is the conflict between the protagonist and antagonist; shows up in the inciting incident of plot mountain. **** Important!!! • Stories can also have side conflicts ! !

17. Conflict Categories External Conflict: one in which a character struggles against some outside force Internal Conflict: one in which a character struggles against a force within.

18. Internal Conflict • Character vs. Self: • A conflict in which the main character is at odds • with an internal problem, such as fear, shyness, • or guilt.

19. External Conflict • Character vs. Character — A conflict in which a character has a problem with another character. • Character vs. Nature — A conflict in which a character must struggle against a harsh environment or natural disaster. • Character vs. Society — A conflict in which a character faces a problem with a part or the whole of society (e.g., government, tradition, laws). • Character vs. Fate — A conflict in which a character struggles with a force that seems beyond the character’s control • Character vs. Supernatural- A conflict in which a character struggles with a force that is not of the human world.

20. “Rikki-Tikki-Tavi” Central Conflict

21. “Rikki-Tikki-Tavi”

22. “Rikki-Tikki-Tavi” Central Conflict

23. “Rikki-Tikki-Tavi” Literary Analysis Target Questions • If the story were to take place in another setting, would the conflict be affected?

24. Characterization Characterization: The ways in which an author reveals the traits of characters to his audience.

25. Two Types of Characterization • Direct Characterization • Indirect Characterization

26. Characterization

27. Indirect Characterization • a method of characterization that requires the reader to infer facts about a character’s traits.

28. Indirect Characterization

29. Indirect Characterization

30. Literary Analysis Question “’It must be the head,’ he said at last; ‘the head above the hood. And, when I am once there, I must not let go.’ Then he jumped. The head was lying a little clear of the water jar, under the curve of it; and, as his teeth met, Rikki braced his back against the bulge of the red earthenware to hold down the head.” Based on the previous excerpt, which of the following types of indirect characterization is/are used to depict Rikki-tikki as brave? • Speech • Looks • Actions • Both a and c • None of the above

31. Theme (AKA: Central Message/Central Idea) vs. Main Idea/Topic

32. What’s the Diff??

33. Theme is not…… • the main idea. • the summary of a story’s plot. • one word. • the same as a moral.

34. Review • What is theme? • What is the difference between theme and moral? • What is the difference between theme and main idea?

35. How is Theme Developed? Some examples include: • Conflict in the story’s plot • Symbols embedded within the story • Character’s actions

36. Children’s Literature~ Theme and Main Idea

37. ThemeA theme (Central Message) is the message conveyed by the piece; theme must be converted into a thematic statement. • What were the central ideas of the story? • Courage – The story emphasized the courage of Rikki and contrasted that with the cowardice of Chuchundra the muskrat • Loyalty – Rikki displays loyalty towards the family as well as to his duty as a mongoose • Survival – Survival is the motivating factor behind the actions of all characters involved. Even the cobras killed only for food and to protect their way of life.

38. Children’s Literature~ Theme and Main Idea

39. Symbolism • Symbol: anything that stands for or represents something else. A symbol may be a person, place, thing, or action. It may stand for an idea, belief, feeling, or attitude. A symbol keeps its own meaning while also standing for something else. • Symbols are situational. • Symbols keep their abstract meaning throughout a piece of work. • In literature, things aren’t always what they seem…..

40. Symbolism America Native Americans attributed owls with wisdom and sacred knowledge. The shaman would call upon Owl medicine for insight into the truth of ill-intent. Plains Indians wore owl feathers to protect against evil spirits. Ancient Greece The ancient Greeks attributed the owl to Athena, goddess of wisdom and foresight. This symbol was used on Greek coins and therefore also became associated with wealth.

41. Symbols in our world

46. Symbolism in Literature Credit wording to **http://examples.yourdictionary.com/examples/examples -of-symbolism.html

47. What do the bear and the man in these pictures have in common? How are they different?

48. Symbolism • Symbolism in literature is used to enhance writing and they can help develop theme. • It can take many forms including: • characters • words • actions • events that have deeper meaning in a story • metaphors • allegories Credit wording to **http://examples.yourdictionary.com/examples/examples -of-symbolism.html

49. Allegory As Symbolism • Allegory: an extended use of symbolism and metaphors. A story, a poem, or even a whole book can be an allegory and the symbolism will permeate throughout.

50. Youth Youth and Birth Middle Age Old Age/ Death