Literary elements and devices

Question 1

Characters

Answer 1

A character is a person, or sometimes even an animal, who takes part in the action of a short story or other literary work

Question 2

Protagonist

Answer 2

The main character that moves the story forward.
▪ The story revolves around him/her.
▪ Audience/readers are interested in him/her
▪ Not necessarily heroic

Question 3

Antagonist

Answer 3

The opposing force that the main character, also known as the protagonist, faces.
▪It antagonizes the main character

Question 4

DYNAMIC VS STATIC CHARACTERS

Answer 4

Dynamic Character: A character who grows and changes throughout a story. They experience inner growth and learn something at the end.
▪ Static Character: A character who changes very little or not at all throughout the literary work. They don’t learn anything

Question 5

Setting

Answer 5

▪ Describes When and Where the story takes place.
▪ Time: For example; In 1456 or 3025, season, day

Question 5

Point of view

Answer 5

1st Person Perspective
▪ In first-person narration, the narrator is a person in the story, telling the story from their own point of view. The narration usually utilizes the pronoun I (or we, if the narrator is speaking as part of a group). Ex: I decided to go on an adventure with my friends.
▪ 3rd Person Perspective
▪ In third-person narration, the narrator exists outside the events of the story, and relates the actions of the characters by referring to their names or by the third-person pronouns he, she, or they. (Harry Potter Novel) Ex: Harry took out his wand and cast a spell on the mouse.

Question 6

Conflict

Answer 6

▪ Conflict is the clash of opposing forces with a character’s own pursuit of a goal. The character must overcome these opposing forces to achieve the goal. These opposing forces might take on numerous shapes.
▪ Internal Conflict
▪ External Conflict

Question 7

External conflict

Answer 7

A struggle between character and an external force.
Types:
▪ Character vs Character ▪ Character vs Nature
▪ Character vs Society

Question 8

Internal conflict

Answer 8

A psychological struggle that takes place within a character, caused by their own emotions, fears, conflicting desires, or mental illnesses.
Mind vs. Mnd

Question 9

Theme

Answer 9

The theme of a story is what the author is trying to convey — in other words, the central idea of the story.
▪ It is typically implied rather than mentioned. ▪ The reader has to think about it.
▪ It is written as a complete sentence and NOT a phrase.
Example: “Courage and Compassion lead to favorable outcomes” in the story of “The Chenoo”