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The Literary Elements. Why Interpret?. Never forget that an author begins with a blank page Everything put into the text makes a contribution to the author’s vision/perspective. Plot. Sequence of RELATED events that happen in the story Clearly build toward something ahead
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Why Interpret? • Never forget that an author begins with a blank page • Everything put into the text makes a contribution to the author’s vision/perspective
Plot • Sequence of RELATED events that happen in the story • Clearly build toward something ahead • CONFLICT (a struggle of some kind) is the most important element in the plot • Series of complications contribute to rising action
Setting • Includes WHERE a story takes place and WHEN a story takes place • Can affect mood/tone
Conflict • Man vs. Nature • Man vs. Man • Man vs. Self • Man vs. Society
Characterization • How a writer reveals a character’s personality • Shown through: • Actions • Words & thoughts • Physical description • Other characters’ thoughts/comments • Author’s/narrator’s thoughts/comments
Characterization • Examine the character’s “journey” • Evolve/Devolve? • Grow or become diminished? • Better off or worse off beginning to end? • Much movement but same place? • What contributed to shaping character?
Symbolism • When the author uses objects, events, or characters to represent THE BIG PICTURE • Something in the story stands for something else • In the Bible, seeds eaten by birds stand for those who hear and don’t believe
Irony • When something happens that is the opposite of what is expected • For example, a woman is assaulted by a man, waits 35 years to get revenge, then falls in love with him the next time they meet
Point of View • The angle from which the story is told • Could be 1st person (I, we), 3rd person (he, she, they), and rarely 2nd person (you) • Can be limited or omniscient (all-knowing)
Style • How it is said influences what it means • Does it change the pace? • Does it suggest something about characters? • How’s it make the reader feel?
Theme • The Author’s vision • What’s s/he saying about human nature, the way the world works, our relations to others? • It’s just one view & it’s up for interpretation • Death of the Author