Elements of Literature Flashcards
What are the three main types of literature?
Prose, drama and poetry are the three main types of literature.
What is “Drama”?
Dialogue is presented with dramatic effective in mind.
Elements:
- Playwright
- Dialogue
- Characters
- Setting
- Themes
Devices:
- Dramatic Techniques
- Dramatic Irony
- Situational Irony
- Soliloquy
- Monologue
- Spectacle
What is “Poetry”?
Economy of Language is employedusing lines and stanzas to present
ideas.
Elements:
- Poet
- Persona/Speaker
- Lines
- Stanzas
- Themes
Devices:
- Figurative/Literary devices
- Simile
- Metaphor
- Irony
- Personification
What is “Prose”?
Extended writing using sentences and paragraphs to presentnarratives.
Elements:
- Author
- Characters
- Plot
- Setting
- Themes
Devices:
- Narrative Techniques
- Flashback
- Foreshadowing
- Irony
- Figurative Devices
What are the “Elements of Prose”?
- Characters
- Plot
- Setting
- Narrative Techniques
- Themes
What are characters?
All stories have a character or characters. The author
uses the character’s actions in the story as a driving
force for the plot – the sequence of events.
Characters in stories can be humans, animals, or
inanimate objects; anything that can be described as an
individual in the story.
The main character in a story is often called the
‘protagonist’. Most stories also include an ‘antagonist’,
who directly or indirectly sets up conflicts, obstacles or
challenges for the protagonist.
What are Major Characters?
Major Characters - These are characters that contribute
significantly to the development of the plot.
The author uses their actions to drive the events of the
story.
These characters are often (although not always) seen
or referred to frequently throughout the story. In Escape
to Last Man Peak Matron is never seen, but often
referred to, and Teacher Mack appears only briefly, but
is quite influential on the children’s journey.
What are “Minor Characters”?
Minor characters – These are characters who do NOT contribute significantly to the development of the main plot.
They are often seen in short sections of the story, rather than throughout the whole story.
These characters may not even appear in person, but might simply be mentioned by other characters.
Minor characters may be useful in changing the tone ofthe story, or diffusing tension, for example.
What is a “Protagonist”?
Who is a protagonist?
We know that a protagonist is one of the leading characters(or group of characters) of a story or novel. As such, the protagonist is often seen as the hero, main character or narrator of the story. The protagonist is a major character.
The protagonist plays an important role in the story because he/she is the character the story is based on.
EG:In Escape to Last Man Peak the children as a group could be seen as the protagonist.
What is an “Antagonist”?
The Antagonist may be the villain in the story. The job of the Antagonist is to oppose the Protagonist as such often the Antagonist is seen as the enemy of the Protagonist.
What is “Direct Characterization”?
This is when the author directly and clearly describes the traits and personality of the characters.
What is ‘Indirect Characterization”?
Here the author doesn’t tell you what the character’s traits are, but these are revealed through the character’s Speech, Thoughts, Effect on others, Actions and Looks (STEAL).
What is a “Round Character”?
A ‘round’ or ‘rounded’ character is a dynamic character who grows and changes during the course of the story.
It is easier for the author to develop a round character in a novel than in a short story because of the extendednature of the work.
In Escape to Last Man Peak the children grow and develop during the course of the story, as they encounter many new experiences.
What is a “Flat Character”?
The opposite of a round character. A flat character does not grow or develop or change throughout the story.
A flat character may be thought of as one dimensional, meaning they have no depth.
Often this type of character can be seen as being a stereotype, just representative of one type of character rather than someone capable of change and nuance.
In Escape to Last Man Peak, the policeman who visits the Orphanage in the beginning of the book could be seen as a flat character.
What is “Plot”?
The plot of the story/novel is the sequence of events that makes up the narrative.
A very common plot structure moves from the opening(exposition) through action, conflict, climax to the ending,or resolution:
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