Literary Elements Notes Flashcards

1
Q

5 Stages of the Plot

A
  1. Exposition
  2. Rising Action
  3. Climax
  4. Falling Action
  5. Resolution
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2
Q

Types of Character

A
  1. Protagonist
  2. Antagonist
  3. Foil
  4. Dynamic
  5. Static
  6. Round
  7. Flat
  8. Stock
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3
Q

Protagonist

A

main character in the work

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4
Q

Antagonist

A

the character or force who directly opposes the protagonist

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5
Q

Climax

A

This is the turning point of the story The protagonist makes a decision that cannot be reversed. usually the point of greatest suspense

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6
Q

types of external conflicts

A
  1. Man v. Man
  2. Man v. Supernatural
  3. Man. v. Machine
  4. Man v Society
  5. Man v. Nature
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7
Q

Exposition

A

Background information needed for understanding: creates tone gives setting introduces characters

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8
Q

Rising action

A

Complications that intensify the situation, continues through the conflict to the crisis.

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9
Q

Falling action

A

Emphasizes the activity of forces against the protagonist. it is usually shorter than the rising action the end is a result of the decision made by the protagonist during the climax

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10
Q

Resolution

A

Literally unknotting. it is the final unraveling of the plot; the solution of a mystery; the explanation or outcome

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11
Q

Character

A

An imagined person in the story

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12
Q

Dynamic

A

Changes in someway throughout the story

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13
Q

Static

A

Changes little if at all. The reader’s view of this character may change although the character itself does not

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14
Q

Flat

A

A character which is constructed a round a single idea or quality

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15
Q

Round

A

A complex and multifaceted character

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16
Q

Stock

A

Conventional character types a.k.a. stereotypes. Readers can identify these characters because they’re familiar with the path

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17
Q

Foil

A

These occur in pairs. Literally a leaf of bright mental placed under a jewel to increase its brilliance. A character, who through contrast, emphasizes the distinct characteristics of another character

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18
Q

Characterization

A

The creation of imaginary person so that they seem lifelike. There are two major types

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19
Q

Direct characterization

A

The author tells the reader directly with the character is like

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20
Q

Indirect characterization

A

The author uses one of the following methods to convey information to the reader about the character. 1. Speech

  1. actions 3. private thoughts 4. appearance
  2. responsive of other characters
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21
Q

Motivation

A

The reasons and justifications and explanations for the action of a character. Results form a combination of a character’s moral nature with the circumstances in which the character is placed. Understanding the motivation helps the reader effectively analyze the character

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22
Q

Conflict

A

The struggle between two opposing forces. There are two major types, but readers will rarely see just one

23
Q

Point of view

A

Refers to who tells the story and how it’s told. Point of view can contribute to meeting and review the author’s attitude toward a subject

24
Q

Internal conflict

A

Man versus himself. Struggles with his personality

25
Q

Narrator

A

The person who’s telling the story

26
Q

Third person narrator

A
  1. Omniscient
  2. Limited omniscient
  3. Objective
27
Q

Omniscient narrator

A
  1. Narrator is all-knowing
  2. Reports the characters thoughts feelings and actions
  3. Can move from place to place, time to time, character to character
28
Q

Editorial omniscience

A

Narration that gives evaluative statements about the character

29
Q

Neutral omniscience

A

Narration that allows the characters’ actions and thoughts to speak for themselves

30
Q

Limited omniscient narrator

A
  1. Often restricted to the perspective of one character maybe two
  2. The reader will see people events and places as the way they appear to the chosen character
  3. The reader will have access to the thoughts and feelings of the chosen character
31
Q

Objective narrator

A
  1. Employs a narrator who does not see into the mind of any character
  2. Detached and impersonal perspective
  3. The narrator reports action and dialogue without giving any thoughts or feelings.
  4. Places a heavy premium and dialogue, actions, and details to reveal a character.
32
Q

First- Person Narrator

A
  1. The I presents the point of view of only character’s consciousness, so the reader is restricted to the thoughts and feelings of that single character
  2. Can be from the perspective of a major or minor character
33
Q

Unreliable Narrator

A

a narrator whose interpretation of the events is different from the author’s.

34
Q

Naive Narrator

A

these narrators lack the sophistication to interpret accurately what they see. They are unreliable because the reader must go beyond their understanding to comprehend the situations described

35
Q

Setting

A

the background against which action takes place

36
Q

elements of the setting

A
  1. the geography location its topography, scenery, and such physical arrangements
  2. the occupation and daily manner of living of the characters
  3. the time period in which the action takes place, for example,epoch in history or season in the year
  4. the general environment of the characters, for example, religious, mental, moral, social, or emotional conditions
37
Q

Irony

A

A device that reveals a reality different from what appears to be true

38
Q

verbal irony

A

a person saying one thing but meaning the opposite. In literature, verbal irony is usually not openly aggressive, it is usually more subtle and restrained

39
Q

sarcasm

A

verbal irony that is calculated to hurt someone, false praise

40
Q

situational irony

A

exists when there is an incongruity between what is expected to happen and what does happen. The ironic situation creates a distinction between appearances and realities, leading the reader closer to the central meaning of the story (THEME)

41
Q

Dramatic Irony

A

creates discrepancy between what a character believes or says, and what the reader understands to be true. can be effective way for an author to have a character unwittingly reveal himself/herself

42
Q

symbol

A

a person, object, or event, that suggests more than its literal meaning

43
Q

conventional symbols

A

symbols that are widely recognized by a society or culture

44
Q

Example of an object as a symbol

A

christian cross, star of david, a swastiska

45
Q

example of an experience as a symbol

A

(winter, setting sun, black)=death, (spring rising sun, green) = life

46
Q

literary symbols

A
  1. can include traditional, conventional, or public meaning, but it may also be established internally for the context of the literary work.
  2. can be setting, character’s actions, objects, names, or anything else that maintains its literal significance while suggesting other meanings.
  3. are economical devices for evoking complex without explaining every nuance.
47
Q

allegory

A

when a character, object, or incident, indicates a single, fixed meaning. the primary focus in an allegory is the abstract idea identified by the concrete object

48
Q

flashback

A

a literary device that informs the reader about events that happened before the opening scene of a work. Various methods may be used including recollections of characters, narration by characters, dream sequences, and daydreams.

49
Q

Foreshawdowing

A

a suggestion of what is coming. Can result from the mood or atmosphere, an event that suggests the later actions. the appearance of physical objects, facts(like clues in a detective story), or from the revelation of a specific character trait. Its purpose is to prepare the reader for action to come.

50
Q

Suspense

A

Anticipation of the outcome of events particularly as they affect the character for whom the reader has sympathy.

51
Q

Two methods of suspense

A
  1. The outcome is uncertain and the suspense resides in the question of who what or how
  2. The outcome is inevitable based on previous events and the suspense is in the readers anxious or frightened Anticipation of the when
52
Q

Theme

A

The main idea or meaning of the story. It is what unifies the plot, characters, setting, point of view, symbols, and other elements of a story.

53
Q

Guidelines to determining theme

A
  1. Pay attention to the title of the story
  2. Look for details that have potential symbolic meaning
  3. Decide whether the protagonist changes or develops some important insight as a result of the action
  4. They should be expressed in one sentence
  5. The theme statement should be generalized
  6. Don’t use clichés
  7. Some stories emphasized themes less than others
54
Q

Basic procedure of determining theme

A
  1. List the subjects of work
  2. Decide what statement the story is making about one subject
  3. Express that is a complete sentence or two. Make sure the statement is a generalization not specific to the story