English Literature Notes: Plot, Conflict, Characterization, Point of View, Mood & Tone

Plot

  • Plot = sequence of events in a story
  • Exposition
    • First stage of a plot
    • Provides important background information
    • Introduces setting and important characters
  • Rising Action
    • Conflict develops (see Conflict section)
    • Story events build toward a climax
    • Complications arise that intensify the conflict
    • Suspense builds as characters strive to resolve the conflict
  • Climax
    • Turning point and moment of greatest suspense
    • The climax is the point of maximum interest or tension
    • Think of the climax as the "can’t go back" moment
  • Falling Action
    • Follows the climax and reveals the outcome of the climax
    • Shows how the main character resolves the conflict
    • Eases the suspense; however, the final outcome is not yet fully worked out in this stage
  • Resolution
    • Reveals the final outcome and ties up loose ends
    • Some stories leave readers with unanswered questions in the resolution
  • Notes
    • The sequence of exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution forms the typical plot structure
    • The term "point of maximum interest or tension" is associated with the climax

Conflict

  • Conflict = a struggle between opposing forces
  • Multiple conflicts can occur within the same story
  • Internal Conflict (Character vs. Self)
    • Occurs within a character’s mind
    • Usually centers on a choice or decision the character must make
  • External Conflict (Character vs. Outside Force)
    • A clash between a character and an outside force

Setting, Foreshadowing, Flashback, Suspense, Theme

  • Setting
    • Time and location of the story
    • When examining how setting contributes to a story, consider multiple aspects:
    • Foreshadowing: hints or clues suggesting later events; may appear in dialogue, behavior, or description; creates suspense
    • Flashback: an account of a prior event; interrupts chronological flow to provide needed context; can create mystery, tension, or surprise
    • Suspense: excitement or tension as readers await resolution
    • Theme: an underlying universal message about life or human nature that the author wants the reader to understand
  • Theme
    • A theme is a statement about life or human nature (not just a topic)
    • Think of theme as a statement, e.g.,
    • "A good friend is priceless" OR
    • "Friends often betray you"
  • Types of External Conflict
    • Person vs. Person
    • Person vs. Nature
    • Person vs. Society
    • Person vs. the Supernatural
  • Place, Time, and Conditions
    • Place: Geographical location — where is the action taking place?
    • Time: Historical period, time of day, year, etc. — when is the action taking place?
    • Weather conditions: rainy, sunny, stormy, etc.
    • Social conditions: daily life of the character; local color (speech, dress, manners, customs of a place)
  • Mood or Atmosphere
    • The feeling created at the beginning of the story
  • Theme as a Statement
    • When discussing theme, think about what the author is communicating about a topic (e.g., friendship)
  • Recurring Themes
    • Themes found in a variety of literary works, often across different authors and contexts (e.g., family values)
  • Universal Themes
    • Themes found across time periods and cultures (e.g., hero’s search for truth, goodness, and honor; examples: The Odyssey, The Lord of the Rings)

Characterization

  • Characterization = how a writer creates and develops characters’ personalities
  • Direct Characterization
    • The writer makes direct comments about a character’s personality or nature through the narrator
  • Indirect Characterization
    • The writer shows what a character’s personality is like through descriptions of their actions, speech, appearance, and interactions with others
  • Protagonist
    • The main character in a work of literature; involved in the central conflict
  • Antagonist
    • A principal character or force in opposition to the protagonist
  • Unreliable Narrator
    • Someone not always perceptive about what is going on OR someone not telling the whole truth
  • Dynamic Character
    • Undergoes important change in the story
  • Static Character
    • Remains the same throughout the story; may experience events but does not change
  • Round Character
    • Complex and highly developed; many traits, strengths, weaknesses, and emotions; reader gains deep understanding of feelings
  • Flat Character
    • Not highly developed; one outstanding trait or role; usually used to advance the plot
  • Minor Characters
    • Usually flat characters
  • Methods of Characterization
    • Describe the character’s physical appearance
    • Present the character’s thoughts, speech, and actions
    • Present pertinent thoughts, speech, and actions of other characters; how others feel or behave in reaction
  • Protagonist and Change
    • Usually the protagonist changes after the central conflict reaches a climax
  • Heroism and Morality
    • Protagonist may be a hero, but does not have to be a “good” person
  • Antagonist Roles
    • Antagonist is usually another character but can be a force of nature, circumstances, society, or a force within the protagonist
  • Overall Dynamic of Main Characters
    • Main characters are usually, though not always, dynamic

Point of View, Irony, Imagery, and Figurative Language

  • Point of View (POV)
    • First Person: The narrator is a character in the story
    • Second Person: The transcript mentions this POV but provides no description
    • Third Person: The narrator is not one of the characters
    • Third Person Omniscient: All-knowing; sees into the minds of all characters
    • Third Person Limited: Focuses on thoughts, feelings, and observations of one character
  • Irony
    • Situational Irony: What is expected vs. what actually happens
    • Verbal Irony: What is said is opposite of what is meant
    • Dramatic Irony: The audience knows something a character does not
  • Imagery
    • Descriptive words and phrases that recreate sensory experiences
    • Appeals to one or more of the five senses: sight, hearing, smell, taste, touch
  • Figurative Language
    • Simile: A comparison using "like" or "as"
    • Metaphor: A direct comparison not using "like" or "as"
  • Allusion
    • An indirect reference to a famous person, place, event, or literary work
  • Symbol
    • A person, place, object, or activity that stands for something beyond itself (e.g., a flag stands for a country; a white dove represents peace)
  • Additional POV Details
    • The narrator may refer to themselves as I or me
    • The narrator presents their own thoughts and feelings
    • The narrator does not have direct access to the thoughts and feelings of other characters
    • Some stories are told by a narrator who addresses the reader or an assumed 'you'
    • This is the least utilized POV

Mood, Tone, and Frame Story

  • Mood
    • The feeling or atmosphere that a writer creates for the reader
  • Tone
    • The attitude a writer takes toward a subject
    • Described by choice of words and details
    • Tone can be a single word: serious, humorous, formal, informal, somber, sarcastic, playful, ironic, bitter, objective, etc.
  • Frame Story (Frame Narrative)
    • A story set within a story, told by the main or supporting character
    • A character starts telling a story to other characters, or sits down to write a story and tells the details to the audience
    • The technique is also called a frame narrative
  • Mood vs. Tone Relationship
    • Descriptive words, imagery, and figurative language contribute to mood
    • However, mood shapes the reader’s emotional response, while tone reflects the writer’s feelings
  • Conveying Tone
    • Tone is communicated through word choice and details
    • Tone may often be described with a single word (e.g., serious, humorous, formal, informal, etc.)