Literary elements

Literary elements ENG 201 INTRO TO LITERATURE Prof. Everson

Literary Terms: describe the elements of fiction, or the ways writers convey their ideas in a story. characterization: the author's expression of a character's personality through the use of action, dialogue, thought, or commentary by the narrator or another character. characters: can be flat or round. Flat characters are stereotypical and one-dimensional, while round characters are more complex, and behave in contradictory or unexpected ways.

Types of characters protagonist: main or focal character, also called the “hero” in traditional romance antagonist: the archenemy or foe of the protagonist; also called the villain in romance

Foil character A character that contrasts with another character (often the protagonist) to highlight various features of that other character's personality, throwing these characteristics into sharper focus Often found in romantic adventures and comedies- as “buddies” –two characters that are friends with very different personalities: straight/serious; intelligent/dumb; sexy/homely

Famous foils Don Quixote – protagonist, dreamy, impractical, skinny, rich Sancho Panza – sidekick, practical, realistic, fat, poor

Famous foils Sherlock Holmes – protagonist, thin, taciturn Dr. Watson – sidekick, fat, talkative (narrator of the stories)

setting: the place where the action takes place as well as the time period. historical fiction – are works set in a period much earlier than when they were written (usually prior to lifespan of author) and based on known historical facts. quasi-historical fiction – are works that incorporate elements of an earlier historical period but some (or even most) of which is conjecture or even fantasy.

conflict: the struggle within the story. Character may be divided against self, character against another character, character against society, character against nature, character against God. Without it, there is no story. foreshadowing: uses action or mood to prepare the reader for something that will happen later in the work – author leaves hints for the reader. You may think of them as “clues” as to the outcome of the story.

plot: the storyline which usually involves conflict between two or more characters or between character and herself or himself. Fiction plot usually follows a particular pattern: exposition (where action or conflict begins), the rising action (events that promote the conflict), the climax (point of greatest emotional tension) and the resolution or denoument (where loose ends are wrapped up). Some works do not follow this pattern.

Classic narrative structure Modified Freytag’s Pyramid (Gustav Freytag, Dramatic Technique, 1863) climax rising action falling action exposition denouement rising action

dialogue: vocal exchange between two or more characters. One of the ways in which plot, character, action, etc. are developed. imagery: the collection of images within a literary work. Used to evoke atmosphere, mood, tension. For example, images of the trees in winter with no leaves, the snowy forest, clocks ticking, empty rooms, creepy dolls convey a sense of death or fear as in “The Company of Wolves” movie Motifs – repeated imagery

symbol: related to imagery. It is something which is itself yet stands for or means something else. It is usually more singular – it stands out. For example, in “The Company of Wolves” there is the red of the young woman’s cape – the red against her pale skin, and the blood on the snow – again the symbol of blood: which can symbolize death, but also coming of age for the young woman in her menses.

Allegory A way of conveying meaning through an extended metaphor – one story is a symbol for another story Common use for national stories - where a main character or protagonist can stand for a nation, and his or her life adventures symbolize the periods of struggle in a nation – Forrest Gump as the U.S. nation –floating through history like an idiot without any intentions (like eating a box of chocolates) but always turning out great.

irony When the opposite happens or is said from what is expected or a reader is led to believe. Three basic types in literature: Verbal irony – is when the opposite is meant from what is said (That is a great new car you have there – said to a person whose car has broken down). It is intentional – the person knows they mean the opposite and uses an ironic tone. But: not always easy to determine verbal irony in writing – have to understand what is going on and the character’s perspective

irony Situational irony – is when a character’s actions have the opposite effect of what they intended: trying to save someone’s life they end up killing them Dramatic irony – is when the audience knows something the character doesn’t and so the audience knows that the actions will have the opposite effect – like when a hero trusts or confides in a person that the audience knows is a villain, untrustworthy, or plotting against the hero

tone: suggests an attitude toward the subject or story which is communicated by the words the author chooses – and the imagery or motif in the work. Part of the range of tone (emotions) includes playful, somber, serious, casual, horror or fear, sexual desire, formal, ironic, sad, mournful.

Tone provides the mood of the story which has an effect on the reader. Sometimes readers misunderstand the tone of the work since it is a matter of reading the clues / cues correctly. Some writers intentionally trick the reader – such as Jorge Luis Borges in “The End of the Duel” by using a comic tone to mislead and then grimly surprise the reader at the end.

point of view: the vantage point from which the author presents action of the story. Who is telling the story? omniscient narrator: An all-knowing author limited omniscient: A voice limited to the views of one character first person narration: The voice and thoughts of one character mixed narration or frame story: the author changes the point of view in the story – changes throughout – or only changes at beginning then back to original narrator at end (frame story)

point of view:Also called narrative voice – which should not be confused with the authoralthough the relation between author and narrative voice is important. Why? Narrative voice is often considered the technical aspect of fiction which leads the critic most readily into the problems and meanings of the story– or theme. Issues of power and representation are directly related to the narrative voice . Questions about: Who is speaking? Who is not allowed to speak? Who is speaking about or for whom? Why is that person speaking about or for these others?

Theme A general topic or concept that is addressed in a literary work. This is not to be confused with the “moral” or “message” -- which may relate to a particular theme. Often themes are considered “problems” or “issues” that the work engages – some themes of a work may be obvious and others may require more inference – or close (careful, critical) reading. Critical analysis of a literary work – usually discusses other elements of a work in relation to a chosen theme.

Common Literary Themes • Today, literary critics are very interested in social themes and issues of power and representation. • What does a work of fiction tell us about our social world? What are women or men like? What are ideal gender relations? How does sexuality determine gender and gender relations? • What is a good or worthy life? Who can live a good/worthy life? Who is excluded from the good/worthy life? What role does gender, sexuality, race, or nationality play in living a good/worthy life?

Common Literary Themes • Who has the power in this fictional world? How does power operate? Is it like our world? Is power ever challenged? How? Do power relations change? How and why? Does this story support or challenge our existing power relations? • What is the author’s relation to those represented in the story? Is the author writing about people of their own gender, sexuality, race, or nationality? How does the author represent people that are different from her or his own gender, race, and/or nationality? Does the author support or challenge common stereotypes? Does the author give voice or silence people of a different gender, sexuality, race or nationalities?

Literary elements