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Plot, Setting/Atmosphere, Character/Characterization, Conflict

PLOT

Plot Diagram:

Exposition: AKA the beginning. In the exposition, the author develops important background information like the characters and setting.

Rising Action: The rising action includes the suspenseful events that eventually reveal the conflict. During the rising action, characters typically begin to undergo character development.

Climax: The climax is the turning point in the story. The protagonist comes face-to-face with the conflict and undergoes major character development.

Falling Action: The series of events that follow the climax. It reveals the aftermath of the climax, which might mean that the problem begins to resolve itself.

Denouement: AKA resolution/conclusion. In most cases, the denouement marks the point when the problems are resolved and the characters have shown growth.

SETTING/ATMOSPHERE

Definition of Setting:

The time, place, and historical context in which a story happens.

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Aspects to help determine setting:

Location and surroundings, Architecture, Clothing, Technology, How characters speak, Story publication date, Author biography

Definition of Atmosphere:

The feeling created by the imagery used to describe the setting or surroundings at specific moments in the story.

Aspects to help determine atmosphere:

Scenery descriptions, Sounds & smells of surroundings, Weather conditions

Historical Context: The historical conditions in which the story takes place. The moods, attitudes and conditions – social, religious, economic, political, etc – that existed during the time in history in which the story takes place

CHARACTER/CHARACTERIZATION

Types of Characters

Protagonist: the leading character or one of the major characters Antagonist: a person and/or force who actively opposes or is hostile

to someone or something

Static: A character who does not change over the course of a story Dynamic: A character who changes over the course of a story

Foil: a character whose purpose is to accentuate or draw attention to

the qualities of another character, most often the protagonist

Definition of Characterization:

The technique by which an author represents the moral, intellectual, or emotional nature of characters.

Direct Characterization: When an author builds a character by having the narrator or another character comment on or state their motives, values, and personality.

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Indirect Characterization: When the author simply presents the characters’ words and actions to imply their motives, feeling, values, and personality.

Remember: Authors reveal indirect characterization through STEAL

- Speech

- Thoughts

- Effects on other characters

- Actions

- Looks.

CONFLICT

Definition of Conflict:

The struggle between two opposing forces in a narrative. The conflict provides crucial tension to drive the story forward. Often used to reveal a story’s deeper meaning while highlighting characters’ motivations, values, and weaknesses.

Types of Conflict

Internal: Offers insight into a character’s motivations and inner turmoil

→ Character vs. Self, Character vs. Fate

External: Usually involves a character battling against a force outside

of themselves → Character vs. Society, Character vs. Nature, Character vs. Technology, Character vs. Character, Character vs. Supernatural

Character vs. Self: an internal conflict, in which the character experiences conflict in the mind, often over making a decision or right vs. wrong.

Character vs. Character: where one character’s needs or wants are at odds with another’s, which can be depicted as a physical fight, or an the ongoing struggle for power or status.

Character vs. Society: involves a protagonist at odds with a ruling group, or social or cultural norms, driven either by a need to survive, a moral sense of right and wrong, or a desire for happiness, freedom, justice, or love.

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Character vs. Nature: when a character is set in opposition to nature, for example, the weather, the wilderness, or a natural disaster

Character vs. Fate: when a character has a fate or destiny to live up to and struggles to accept the sacrifices that come along with it.

Character vs. Technology: explores the problems that arise when technology grows beyond its intended use.

Character vs. Supernatural: when a character faces resistance from a supernatural force, such as fate, magical forces, otherworldly beings, religion, or deities

POV/NARRATION

Reliable Narrator: A character who tells a story with strong credibility. A reliable narrator proves that they are trustworthy and unbiased over the course of the text.

Unreliable Narrator: A character who tells a story with a lack of credibility. An unreliable narrator proves themselves as untrustworthy, for one reason or another, over the course of the text.

Literary/Rhetorical Terms to Know

Irony: The difference between what someone would reasonably expect to happen and what actually does happen

→ Verbal, Dramatic, and Situational

Metaphor: a comparison between two or more things

Simile: a comparison between two things using “like” or “as” Hyperbole: an exaggeration or overstatement: Personification: giving human qualities to a non-human thing

Rhetorical Question: a question asked in order to create a dramatic effect or to make a point rather than to get an answer.

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Symbolism: a concrete thing in a story that represents a more abstract and/or literary idea

Dystopia: an imagined state or society in which there is great suffering or injustice, typically one that is totalitarian or post-apocalyptic.

Utopia: a place of ideal perfection especially in laws, government, and social conditions

Ethos: Appeals to our desire for credibility; attaches their text to experts and institutions OR well-known and liked figures

Pathos: Appeals to our emotions; language used to move us

Logos: Appeals to our sense of logic; use of facts, statistics, examples, or the presentation of reasoning

American Literary Movements

Native American Literature (pre-colonization) ● Connectiontonature

● Gods&Mythology

● Theimportanceofbalance

● Emphasisoncommunalrelationshipwithland

The Colonial and Early National Period (1607-1830) ● Practicalandstraightforward

● Focusonreligionandhistory

● Somepoliticaltexts

● ConsiderationofthefutureofAmerica

● Ambitionandhardworkwereessentialtohappiness. ● Community,unity,liberty,andequality.

The Romantic Period (1830-1870)

● Emotionalextravagance

● Emphasisoncreativityandimagination

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● Valueontheindividualoverthegroup ● Celebrationofthenaturalworld

● Democracyandfreedom

● Individuality,delightinsolitude

● Emphasisonaesthetics ● Manv.nature

The Realism and Naturalism Period (1870-1910)

● Depictingordinarylifeinatruthfulway

● Oftenfocusedontheblue-collar/workingAmerican ● Simplestoriesaboutrealisticevents

● Forceslargerthantheindividualcanshapedestiny ● Survival,violence,fateandtheharshersideoflife ● Charactersasregularandflawedhumanbeings

The Modernist Period (1910-1945)

● Radicallybreakfromthepastinordertobetterrepresentthemodern

American experience.

● Confusion,disillusionment,isolation

● LossofhopeintheAmericanDream

● Racerelations,gender,andthehumancondition.

● Abstraction,fragmentation,stream-of-consciousness

The Postmodernist Period (1945-present)

● Significantculturalshifts

● Desireforindividualvoicesandidentitiestobeheard/seen

● Abstainsfromthesearchforabsolutemeaning

● Fragmentation,playfulnessanddisorder

● Privilegingofinternalfeelingsoverexternalfactors

● Questforidentityfocusingontheinnerexperiences

● Racism,diversity,materialism,capitalism,identity,cultureand

heritage

● Asearchforgoodnessinhumanity.

Common Topics of American Literature

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● TheAmericanDream

● IdentityandBelonging

● FreedomandIndependence

● NatureandEnvironment

● WarandConflict

● QuestforMeaningandIdentity ● FamilyandCommunity

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