Authors cannot pick and choose which literary elements to use in a story all literary elements (devices) must be present or a story cannot exist.

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1 A literary device is any tool used in literature to help the reader understand the story and its character(s). There are two types of literary devices used by authors: literary elements (devices) and literary techniques. Literary elements (devices) provide structure to the work of literature. Literary elements are the skeleton that shapes a story. A work of literature cannot exist without a skeleton, or, without the literary elements. All literary elements are evident in all pieces of literature. Authors cannot pick and choose which literary elements to use in a story all literary elements (devices) must be present or a story cannot exist. Literary techniques are specific to each author, and different authors choose to use different techniques to make their story "pop." There are a myriad (a multitude) of literary techniques, and authors can pick and choose which literary techniques to use. Here's the game plan as we journey along to discover what the literary elements (devices) actually are and why literary elements are so important. Literary Vocabulary: Setting Character Conflict: --> Man v Man, Man v Nature, Man v Self, Man v Society Plot: --> Exposition (Opening Situation/ Inciting Incident), Rising Action/Development, Climax, Falling Action, Denouement/Resolution (ending or conclusion) Theme Point of View (PoV) Structure Mood Tone 1

2 Perhaps one the more easy Literary Elements to identify while reading a story (or watching a movie) is setting. So, Jedi-Master Jablonski, what is setting? Setting: Time and place (location) are where the action occurs. Details that are often used to describe setting: Scenery (indoor and outdoor) Dialects/Languages Weather Time of day Time of year Wait, Jablonski! My story takes place in different spots? Can a story have multiple settings? Of course! There may be multiple settings within a story. What does a setting do for the reader? Great question, young Jedi, I'm so glad you asked. Setting often: - Creates a mood or atmosphere - Shows a reader a different way of life/different place/different culture - Makes the action seem more real (to the reader) - Can be the source of conflict or struggle (for the characters) - Can be used to symbolize an idea 2

3 Now that you've all mastered the art of setting, let's move on to exploring the art of character (and to an extent, characterization). So, Jedi-Master Jablonski, what is character? Character: the people/animals that "live" in the story. Characters can be: People Animals Objects (through the use of personification) There are several different types of Character, including: Major characters Protagonist: The major character at the center of the story. The character who the story centers around (the majority, if not all, of the time). The Protagonist has a goal (mission, desire, etc) that needs to be achieved. Antagonist: Character or force that opposes (gets in the way of) the Protagonist. As with setting, there can be multiple Antagonists during a story. Anything that gets in the way (blocks, slows down, impedes, the Protagonist from achieving his or her goals, is an Antagonist). Minor characters Characters that are found throughout the story (but are not the center of attention and are not really necessary for the plot (story) to continue onwards. Young Jedi, now that you've wrapped your minds around Major and Minor characters, let's delve into the Art of Character even further. Dynamic (round) characters Characters that change or grow (in personality, maturity, wisdom) during the course of the story. These characters are often more interesting and more realistic, and thus, easier for you (the reader) to relate. Static (flat) characters Characters that do not change or grow during the course of the story. Are often less interesting than Dynamic characters. These characters tend to fall into various stereotypes (or roles). 3

4 Alright, Young Jedi, now that we've understood the basics of Character, let's delve into the Art of Characterization. Characterization: The way a writer reveals what a character is like (personality) and how the character changes throughout the story. There are two types of characterization: Direct Characterization the writer tells us (the reader) what the character is like. Indirect Characterization the writer shows us (the reader) what a character is like by describing: what the character looks like, what the character says and does, and by what other characters say about and do in response to the character. Things to consider when looking at/analyzing Character: - Physical appearance - Personality - Background/personal history - Motivation - Relationships - Conflict Does the character change? If so, how does this change affect the character's viewpoint (the way the character views/sees things? 4

5 Now that we understand Character and Characterization, let's move on to what makes ANY story (movie, video game, etc) interesting. Conflict: The struggle, problem, or difficulty the Protagonist (main character) faces as he or she goes through the story and tries to reach his or her goal. EVERY story must contain some kind of conflict in its Plot! There is NO story without CONFLICT! In fact, if there is no CONFLICT whatsoever, (and we hardly call that a story), who would even want to read it? Conflict(s) makes stories interesting...they give a story drama. Think about your own life. Do you encounter conflict(s) on a daily basis? A weekly basis? An hourly basis? If you've answered "no" Jedi-Master Jablonski is highly suspicious. After all, you are in Middle School, and after all, I wasn't born yesterday. Things to know about Conflict: Stories can have more than one conflict. Conflicts can be external or internal: External conflict a problem or difficulty caused by an outside force (person, group, animal, nature, or a nonhuman obstacle). Internal conflict a problem or difficulty that takes place inside a character s mind. The classic "inner-struggle" that a character has with him or herself. Internal struggles tend to make for a more interesting character. Four Types of Conflict Man v Man, Man v Nature, Man v Self, Man v Society Man v Man is the conflict of one person against another person. Man v Nature is the conflict a person encounters with the forces of nature, and shows how insignificant one person can be when compared to the cosmic scheme of things. Man v Self is internal conflict. It is those conflicts an individual has with his conscience. Man v Society is the conflict of a person/people and the views of society. Prejudice/Racism is a good example. 5

6 Excellent, Young Jedi, you are moving through these Literary Elements like Pros...now it's on to Plot. Plot: refers to the sequence of events and happenings that make up a story. Plot is a literary term used to describe the events that make up a story or the main part of a story. Plot is what happens in a narrative (story), when it happens in a narrative (story), and how it happens in a narrative (story). Fun Fact: A narrative is any work that tells a story, such as a short story, a novel, a drama, or a narrative poem. Anytime you summarize a movie, video game, or book to me (and are telling me what it is about), you are telling me the Plot. Parts of a Plot Exposition (Opening Situation/Inciting Incident) information/explanation that sets the scene for the story to unfold (provides background information, establishes the setting, and introduces the characters); exposition ends with the inciting incident the event that gives rise to conflict (where the rising action and tension begins) Development/Rising Action events that occur as result of central conflict (this is where the conflict starts to unfold, and ultimately builds up) Climax highest point of interest, tension, or suspense of story (the "make it or break it" moment in the story) Falling Action portion/part of the story where the conflict decreases in intensity Denouement/Resolution when the conflict ends (does not have to be a "good or happy" resolution) and where characters go back to their "normal" life (as best they can) before the conflict began (See handy dandy visual diagram for Plot on the following page) 6

7 Plot Diagram Ooooh, how radical! But, wait, there's more! There are Special Techniques of Plot (literary techniques) that serve to make a story more enjoyable, such as: Suspense excitement or tension Foreshadowing hint or clue about what will happen in story Flashback interrupts the normal sequence of events to tell about something that happened in the past (Flashback helps give the reader a better perspective) Surprise Ending conclusion that reader does not expect (which makes the ending one of irony) 7

8 Phew, these Literary Elements sure are pretty heavy. No worries, Young Jedi, we are on the second to last Literary Element...(wait for it...) Theme. Theme: A central message, concern, or insight into life (life's philosophy, morality, what being human and living as humanity really mean, etc) expressed through a literary work. The Theme of a literary work can be expressed by a one or two sentence statement about human beings or about life. Theme may be stated directly in the story (via character, direct narration, etc) or implied through the narrative and/or through the events that unfold throughout the story. Theme is defined as a main idea or an underlying (deeper) meaning of a literary work that may be stated directly or indirectly. Through themes, a writer tries to give his or her readers an insight into how the world works or how he or she views human life. Theme gives readers better understanding of the main character s conflicts, experiences, discoveries and emotions as they are derived from them. It is important not to confuse a theme of a literary work with its subject. Subject is a topic which acts as a foundation for a literary work while a theme is an opinion expressed on the subject. A subject of a work can be identified in one word, a theme can only be explained in a sentence, not a word. For example, a writer may choose a subject of war for his story and the theme of a story may be writer s personal opinion that war is a curse for humanity. Jedi-Master Jablonski, how do we uncover and understand Theme? Good question. Theme can be tricky, but through close reading of the text and using our skills of interpretation, we can unravel a narrative and discover the Theme that lies within. 8

9 Now that we've looked at the Theme, which is often the hardest Literary Element (device) to grapple with and understand, let's look at our last (and easier) Literary Element (device): Point of View. Point of View: The perspective from which the story is told. The narrator (one who tells the story) of the story. The three types of Point of View are: First Person, Second Person, and Third Person (two types: limited and omniscient) There is also the Unreliable Narrator, which can be any of the three types listed above. First Person First Person point of view is in use when a character narrates the story with I-me-my-mine in his or her speech. Story is told/filtered through the storyteller's perception, a character in the story, but not always the main character. Knows the thoughts/feelings of the narrator him or herself (the "I") but not the feelings of others. The advantage of First Person point of view is that you (the reader) get to hear the thoughts of the narrator and see the world depicted in the story through his or her eyes. However, remember that no narrator, like no human being, has complete self-knowledge or, for that matter, complete knowledge of anything. Therefore, the reader's role is to go beyond and think beyond what the narrator says. Second Person Second-person point of view, in which the author uses you and your, is rare; authors seldom speak directly to the reader. When you encounter this point of view, pay attention. Why? The author has made a daring choice, probably with a specific purpose in mind. Most times, second-person point of view draws the reader into the story, almost making the reader a participant in the action. Third Person Third-person point of view is that of an outsider looking at the action and reporting about it. Use of third person pronouns (he/she/they), no "I" except in dialogue. Third-person limited differs from first-person because the author's voice, not the character's voice, is what you hear in the descriptive passages. The writer may choose third-person omniscient, in which the thoughts of every character are open to the reader, or third-person limited, in which the reader enters only one character's mind, either throughout the entire work or in a specific section. 9

10 Third Person Omniscient Use of third person pronouns (he/she/they), no "I" except in dialogue. All knowing, like the Gods; can see/know/understand many of (if not all) the characters' thoughts and feelings, as well as their actions and words. Perspective is not limited to any one character, can perceive many (if not all) different character vantage points. Third Person Limited Omniscient Use of third person pronouns (he/she/they), no "I" except in dialogue. However, perspective is limited to ONE character's thoughts, feelings, and vantage point. Cannot know anything in story other than what the one character knows. Third Person Dramatic/Objective (as in play/drama). The only information we receive is what the characters say and do; cannot read anyone's mind, thoughts, and feelings. Unreliable Narrator This narrator is not limited to one type (first person or third person), but is unreliable and conveys information to the reader of which he/she (the narrator) is not aware. This could be because the narrator is a young child, going insane, naïve, old and senile, or for any other reason, really. 10

11 Things to consider when examining Point of View: Who is the narrator? Does the narrator tell the story in first person or third person? How much of the world can the narrator perceive, or, experience and understand (omniscient or limited)? How does the vantage point of the narrator affect the meaning of the story? How would the story change if the narrator changed to another Point of View or to another character within the story? The story has an author (one who writes the story), a narrator (one who tells the story), and characters (ones that live and experience the story), which should not to be confused with each other. If the narrator (one who tells the story) and a character (one who lives and experiences the story) in the story are one and the same, you have a story told in first person. If the narrator one who tells the story) and the character (one who lives and experiences the story) are separate, you have a story told in third person, of which there are three different types, depending on the amount of knowledge the narrator has about the inner feelings and thoughts of the characters. 11

12 Structure (narrative structure): the structural framework that underlies the order and manner in which a narrative is presented to a reader, listener, or viewer. The narrative text structures are the plot and the setting. Generally, the narrative structure of any work, be it a film, play or novel, contains a plot, theme and resolution. It can also be divided into three sections, which is referred to as the three-act structure: setup, conflict, resolution. The first act (the setup/exposition): is where all of the main characters and their basic situation are introduced, and contains the primary level of characterization (exploring the character's backgrounds and personalities). A problem (conflict) is also introduced, which is what drives the story forward. The second act (the conflict /building of tension): is the bulk of the story, and begins when the inciting incident (or catalyst) sets things into motion. This is the part of the story where the characters go through major changes in their lives as a result of what is happening; this can be referred to as the character arc, or character development. The third act (the resolution): is when the problem in the story boils over, forcing the characters to confront it, allowing all elements of the story to come together and inevitably leading to the ending. 12

13 Mood Definition: Mood is the feeling a piece of literature evokes (causes, creates) in the reader. Mood is the overall feeling of a piece (text), or the overall feeling in a passage in a text. Mood (sometimes called atmosphere) is the overall feeling of the literary work as felt by the reader. In other words, mood is the emotion that you (the reader) feel while you are reading. Some literature makes you feel sad, other works of literature make you feel joyful, still other works of literature make you feel angry. In order to create a general atmosphere (feeling) that the reader has, an author must carefully choose his or her use of language in order to ensure that reader will feel and react in a certain (and intended) way. Authors set a mood in literature by conveying an emotion or emotions to their readers through their use of words (language). The way a person feels about an idea, event, or another person can be quickly determined through facial expressions, gestures and in the tone of voice used by characters in a work of literature. Writers use many devices to create mood, including images, dialogue, setting, and plot. Often a writer creates a mood at the beginning of the story and continues it to the end. However, sometimes the mood changes because of the plot or changes in the characters. Mood is the general atmosphere created by the author s words. It is the feeling the reader gets from reading those words. Words that can be used to describe Mood Fanciful Melancholy Frightening Mysterious Frustrating Romantic Gloomy Sentimental Happy Sorrowful Joyful Suspenseful Depressing Excited Anxious Angry Sad Tense Lonely Suspicious Disgusted Nightmarish Sympathetic Sentimental The mood may be the same throughout a story, or, the mood may change from situation to situation (scene to scene). Since mood is the feeling the reader gets from reading the literary text, authors must rely on literary techniques such as descriptive language and imagery, figurative language, and dialogue to help the reader feel/respond in a certain way. Using literary elements like characterization and conflict are also useful in establishing mood. 13

14 Tone Definition: Tone is the author s attitude toward the writing (his characters, the situation) and the readers. A work of writing can have more than one tone. An example of tone could be both serious and humorous. Tone is set by the setting, choice of vocabulary and other details. Tone is the way the author's feelings are expressed in a work of literature. Tone is the attitude that an author takes toward the audience, the subject, or the character. Tone is conveyed through the author's words and details. Use context clues to help determine the tone. In literature an author sets the tone through words. The possible tones are as boundless as the number of possible emotions a human being can have. Has anyone ever said to you, "Don't use that tone of voice with me?" Your tone can change the meaning of what you say. Tone can turn a statement like, You re a big help!" into a genuine compliment or a cruel sarcastic remark. It depends on the context of the story. Words That Describe Tone Amused Humorous Pessimistic Angry Informal Playful Cheerful Ironic Pompous Horror Light Sad Clear Matter-of-fact Serious Formal Resigned Suspicious Gloomy Optimistic Witty 14