Literary Elements (Extra Credit)

Setting

Includes the time and the place in which the story takes place

Mood

The overall feeling or atmosphere that a writer creates for readers

Plot

All of the action that takes place in a story

Exposition

Introduces the setting, characters, and conflict and establishes mood; author introduces the essentials of the story

Rising Action

Tension rises as main character tries to resolve conflict; “plot thickens” as suspense builds

Climax

Highest point of conflict/greatest suspense

Falling Action

Shows the results of the decision or action; conflict begins to be solved

Resolution

Everything is solved

Conflict

A struggle between opposing forces

Internal Conflict

Taking place within the mind of a character (man vs. self)

External Conflict

Between a character and an outside force, such as another character or nature

Character

A person, animal, or object that participates in the action of a story

Protagonist

The central character in the plot’s conflict

Antagonist

A character or force that is in conflict with the protagonist

Characterization

The methods a writer uses to communicate information about the characters to readers

Direct Characterization

Author tells the reader directly about a character; simply tells what the character is like or explains the character

Indirect Characterization

Author shows the character in action, reveals information, or gives clues about a character without saying it directly

Round

Fully developed characters; “round” with personality

Flat

One-dimensional; limited personality traits

Dynamic

Experience change or growth as a character

Static

Do NOT change or grow

Point of View (POV)

Who is telling the story; what type of narrator is it?

First Person

Uses “I” or “me”, narrator is a character in the story, reader only sees into the mind, thoughts, and feelings of the narrator

Third Person Limited POV

Author uses “he”, “she”, “it”, “they”, etc., narrator is NOT a character, but an outside observer, narrates from one character’s perspective (usually protagonist), can only hear that one character’s thoughts and feelings

Third Person Omniscient

Narrator is NOT a character in the story, but an outside observer, a narrator who knows everything about ALL the characters, “all knowing” about thoughts and feelings about ALL characters

Foreshadow

The use of hints to build suspense about what will happen next

Flashback

An account of an event or a conversation that happened before the beginning of the story

Tone

The author's attitude toward or perspective about the subject they are writing

Author’s Purpose

A writer’s reason for crafting their work

Allusion

A reference to a person, place, thing, or idea of historical, cultural, literary, or political significance

Theme

Underlying message about life that a writer wants to convey

Symbol

Something concrete (a person, place, object, or activity) that represents something abstract (an idea)