Elements of Literature Notes Term 2 English II

1. Elements of Literature Notes Term 2 English II Mrs. Cortez

2. Basic Plot Line

3. Theme Kernel Definition: a topic that is explored in a work of literature • It’s usually one word. • It’s something abstract (not a concrete noun like “bananas”). • Examples: love, family, coming of age (growing up), war, revenge, recovery, consequences, prejudice, acceptance, perseverance, courage, encouragement, fear, overcoming obstacles

4. Theme Statement Definition: a universal statement about life that can be found in a work of literature. • It should be a complete sentence that states what point the author is making about life. • It should be able to apply to almost anyone • It does NOT mention characters or plot • It should NOT be too broad (life can be hard) or a cliché (What goes around comes around). • Write theme statements in third person (formal voice). Examples: all children will experience a loss of innocence...greed often guides human desires…evil exists in the word without explanation…too much power can corrupt even the strongest of friendships

5. THEME KERNEL → Theme statement • Think about the theme kernels. Try to have 3-5 theme kernels per story. • Look at WHAT THE TEXT SAYS. Find multiple quotes that relate to each theme kernel. • Read over all the quotes. What does the author seem to be saying about ____________(theme kernel)? Example: • Caesar theme kernels: power, corruption, honor, ambition, manipulation, fate • Caesar theme statements: • Those with too much power and ambition may be corrupted • People will use manipulation to get what they want from others • People have control over their own fate • Language can be used to manipulate others

6. Which piece of text evidence best supports the theme? Theme: People have control over their own fate • “I am constant as the Northern Star” • Men at some time are masters of their fates: The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, But in ourselves, that we are underlings. (1.2.138-140) Which one is stronger? Why?

7. Conflict The problems which hook the reader and make him/her want to read on. • Two Types of Conflict 1. Internal Conflict 2. External Conflict Internal Conflict = Person vs. Self This is the conflict that takes place within an individual (an inner battle of conscience)

8. External Conflict A struggle that occurs outside of the character There are five basic types of external conflict… • 1) person vs. person (or group of people) • 2) person vs. society • 3) person vs. nature/animal • 4) person vs. supernatural • 5) person vs. fate or destiny Most stories have multiple internal and external conflicts - this is what makes them interesting. Review→ Pick a character from Caesar and list at least one internal and external conflict for that character • Brutus • Cassius • Antony • Caesar • Portia

9. Character Types PROTAGONIST: This is the main character in a story. ANTAGONIST: This is the character or force which opposes (literally “wrestles”) the main character; therefore, if the protagonist is pitted against an important opponent, that opponent is called the antagonist.

10. Character Types (Dynamic/Static) • STATIC: a character who mostly stays the same throughout the entire story or… 2. DYNAMIC:a character who undergoes an important or significant change in the story In Caesar….who was DYNAMIC? WHO WAS STATIC? • Brutus (dynamic) • Cassius (static) • Antony (dynamic) • Caesar (static) • Portia (static)

11. Character Types (COMPLEX & SIMPLE) • ROUND/Complex = a developed character • we get to know them through direct and indirect characterization • We know their THOUGHTS and MOTIVATIONS • FLAT/Simple = an undeveloped character • we DO NOT know their thoughts or motivations • They may play a minor role in the book In Caesar….who was COMPLEX? WHO WAS SIMPLE?

12. Point of View Point of view is the position from which the story is told. It is also the position from which the reader experiences the story. The point of view impacts the readers’ understanding of characters, setting and plot. FIRST-PERSON POV: Through this view, the story is told by one of the characters in his or her own words by using “I.” This is a limited point of view...why? THIRD-PERSON: Through this view, the story is told by someone outside of the story itself by using “he” or “she.” The third-person narrator may be working from an omniscient view or a limited omniscient view. • Third Person Omniscient → Reader is told thoughts, feelings, and motivations of most characters • Third-Person LImited → Reader is told thoughts, feelings, and motivations of one character (normally protagonist)

13. Mood & Tone Style (fig. Lang and diction) and structure choices made by authors has a significant impact on the MOOD and TONE of a piece of literature. • Mood is the overall emotional impact of the literary work on the reader. • Tone is the narrator’s attitude toward the subject of the writing. Tone may, for example, be sarcastic, friendly, sad, or angry.

14. Inference :the act or process of reaching a conclusion about something from known facts or evidence : a conclusion or opinion that is formed because of known facts or evidence In Caesar….when Caesar says “Et tu Brute?”...what can we infer?

15. Genre : a category of artistic, musical, or literary composition characterized by a particular style, form, or content Historical Fiction Realistic Fiction Non-Fiction Science Fiction

16. Irony Irony is a contrast or discrepancy between what is stated and what is really meant (reality and appearance), or between what is expected to happen and what actually does happen. There are three kinds of irony: (1) verbal irony (2) dramatic irony (3) situational irony

17. Verbal Irony: • A writer/speaker says one thing and means something entirely different. • After walking out into the rainstorm without her umbrella, the girl says, “Well isn’t this just a beautiful day!?”) Dramatic Irony: • A reader or an audience perceives something that a character in the story or play does not know. The character is completely unaware of something that the reader is aware of. The audience is aware of the character’s mistakes. • Ex - Romeo & Juliet! SItuational Irony: • A writer shows a discrepancy (great difference) between the expected result of a particular action and the actual result. • Ex: an English teacher with a lot of typos. Or a firehouse burning down

18. Setting & SciFi Setting → The time, place, and culture that the story takes place in . Science Fiction Genre → • Science fiction is often based on scientific principles and technology. • Science fiction may make predictions about life in the future. • Science fiction often deals with aliens or with life on other worlds. • Science fiction can comment on important issues in society

19. Other Sci-Fi Characteristics • Set in an Alternative World: • Mars, Parallel Universe, the future • Non-Human Characters: • Aliens, robots, Frankenstein etc • Sci-fi, in other words, is very much about exploring the limits of being human. • Time Travel / A Journey • Dystopia • In a dystopia people are oppressed, they're miserable, and everything they do is controlled by some authority • Some of the most famous sci-fi works—like Aldous Huxley's Brave New World and George Orwell's 1984—are futuristic depictions of dystopia. Sci-fi writers love warning us: "If we continue down this road our society will look like this in a hundred, or a thousand years. And it ain't pretty. • Science / Technology • Sci-fi tends to be allegorical: • the best sci-fi works often have a hidden meaning, because they work as a commentary on our own world and our own social and political systems. Science fiction authors transport us to distant worlds only to get us thinking about the way that we live in this world

20. Difference between Sci-Fi and Fantasy • Science fiction is based on science and technology and therefore, depicts scenarios that could be true one day. • 5th Wave, Maze Runner, H.G. Wells: War of the World’s, Divergent Series, The Program • Fantasy, on the other hand, involves many supernatural elements and takes place in a world that does not and cannot ever exist. • R. R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit and The Lord of the Ring, J. K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series, George R. R. Martin’s Song of Ice and Fire, C. S. Lewis’s Chronicles of Narnia • Therefore, the main difference between science fiction and fantasy is that science fiction has its base in science and consists of possibilities whereas fantasy has no base on reality and consists of impossibilities. In groups, come up with another example of both a fantasy book/movie and a sci-fi book/movie

21. Objective Summary Definition of OBJECTIVE → 1. (of a person or their judgment) not influenced by personal feelings or opinions in considering and representing facts "historians try to be objective and impartial" synonyms:impartial,unbiased,neutral • SO - no emotion! no exclamation points! don’t tell me what YOU think about the story/chapter - tell me what happened.

22. Objective Summary Requirements When writing an objective summary, use this outline to guide you: • Topic sentence • need author, title of story, what chapter (if applicable), and general statement about what narrative/chapter is about 2) 5-6 development sentences • For a story summary include: main characters and their motivation, setting, conflict, and resolution • For a CHAPTER SUMMARY: include important details like conflict and character 3) Summary sentence • sum up main theme of narrative

23. Character Motivation • In literature, “motivation” is defined as a reason behind a character’s specific action or behavior. This type of behavior is characterized by the character’s own consent and willingness to do something. • There are two types of motivations. One is intrinsic, while the other one is extrinsic. • Intrinsic motivation is linked to internal motivators such as enjoyment and interest. Intrinsic motivation is inspired by some internal reward such as knowledge, pride, spiritual or emotional peace / well being, etc. • Extrinsic motivation comes from some physical reward such as money, power, grades, etc • Characters usually always have a motivation behind every action. It is also the same in real life. Therefore, the implicit or explicit reference to a motivation of a character makes the piece of literature seem closer to life and reality.