LITERARY ELEMENTS

TERM DEFINITION EXAMPLE A spoken or written account of The Hunger Games; Night Narrative connected events (or a story). This can be fiction or nonfiction. A brief work of fiction where (usually) “The Scarlet Ibis” Short Story the main character faces a conflict that (WE LOVE YOU, DOODLE!) is resolved within the plot of the story. The time and place of the story’s action In “The Scarlet Ibis,” the setting is in Setting – including the ideas, customs, values, North Carolina during the early 1900s. and beliefs. The central idea or message of a story. The theme of “Little Red Riding Hood” It is often a perception about life or might be that one should be suspicious of Theme human nature. situations (and people) that do not appear

the way they should. A concrete object, scene, or action that The Mockingjay symbol in The Hunger has a deeper significance. It is often Games series Symbol/Symbolism connected to an important idea or theme in a work. The attitude the author has toward the Teacher: “Ms. Mahoney, here are 180 subject, reader, etc. math problems to complete!” Tone Ms. Mahoney: “Yay, I can’t wait.” (tone is sarcastic…and defeated.) Evokes certain feelings in readers “The river, reflecting the clear blue of the through words and descriptions. sky, glistened and sparkled as it flowed Mood noiselessly on…” (evokes a calm and serene mood) The main character of a story. Katniss Everdeen (The Hunger Games) Protagonist (Remember that this character is not always “good!”)

The character who is in conflict with President Snow (The Hunger Games) the main character of a story.

Characters Antagonist (Remember that this character is not always “bad” nor do all stories have antagonists!) The narrator is a character in the story “The Scarlet Ibis” First Person and is referred to as “I.”

The narrator reveals the thoughts of The Giver

only one character (sometimes none) in Third Person Limited the story and refers to that character as

“he” or “she.” The narrator knows information about “The Lady, or the Tiger?” Point of View of Point Third Person every story event and reveals the Omniscient thoughts of all characters.

Introduces the story’s characters, In “The Scarlet Ibis,” the exposition is the Exposition setting, and conflict. birth of Doodle and the family’s reactions to his disabilities. Occurs as complications or twists of Continuing in “The Scarlet Ibis,” the the conflict. rising action is seen as Doodle learning to Rising Action walk, the trips to Old Woman’s Swamp

Plot Elements Plot with the narrator, and the arrival (and death) of the Scarlet Ibis. The emotional highpoint of the story. The climax of “The Scarlet Ibis” is when Climax the thunderstorm sweeps in and lightening cracks in the sky while Doodle and the narrator are running back home. The logical result of the climax. The falling action of “The Scarlet Ibis” is Falling Action when the narrator realizes that Doodle is not behind him and turns back to find him. Presents the final outcome of the story. The resolution of “The Scarlet Ibis” is the Resolution narrator’s realization that Doodle is dead and the narrator shelters him from the storm while weeping. The struggle between opposing forces Again, think of “The Scarlet Ibis,” and within one’s self (person vs. self). the narrator’s struggle with his pride.

Internal Conflict

The struggle between opposing forces In “The Scarlet Ibis,” the narrator and

Conflict outside of one’s self (person vs. person; Doodle are often in conflict with one External Conflict person vs. nature; person vs. society; another. person vs. technology).

The author directly states a character’s “She was one of those pretty, charming Direct Characterization physical or personality traits. young women.”

The author provides clues about a “Whenever he looked up from his plate, Indirect character based on what a character he found the general studying him, Characterization says and does. appraising him narrowly.” Characterization When the reader knows something that A young girl walks upstairs and the Dramatic Irony a character in the story does not yet reader knows that an intruder is waiting know. for her there.

When a person says one thing but “I love math!” Verbal Irony means another. - Ms. Mahoney

Irony When the outcome of an event or “A local man died when he was Situational Irony situation is the opposite of what is accidently run over by an ambulance.” expected. Descriptive language used to create “…He kept his head down so that the word picture for the reader using light from the lamp beside him fell across details of sight (visual), sound the upper part of his face, leaving the chin Imagery (auditory), taste, touch (tactile), smell and mouth in shadow.” (olfactory), or movement. Imagery - Roald Dahl, “Lamb to the allows an author to show the reader – Slaughter”

not tell. A comparison of two unlike objects “My Mama always said, ‘Life is like a Simile using the words like or as. box of chocolates; you never know what

Imagery you’re gonna get.’” A comparison of two unlike objects “The cat’s eyes were jewels gleaming out Metaphor without the use of the words like or as. of the darkness.”

Giving human attributes and/or The lightening danced across the sea. Personification feelings to an idea or things as if it were human.