Literature Elements Flashcards
plot
a sequence of events in a narrative that is carefully constructed by the author
what are the 5 parts of the plot structure?
exposition, complication (rising action), technical climax, resolution (falling action), conclusion
what is the exposition
background information on the characters, setting, or other events
what is the complication
the conflict is developed, suspense created
what is conflict
the interplay between opposing elements
what are the 3 types of conflict
protagonist vs. self
protagonist vs. others
protagonist vs. environment
what is the technical climax
the turning point in the plot which the outcome of the conflict/action is determined, ususally the protagonist changes in some way or makes a decision
what is the resolution
the events following the climax, the outcome is worked out
what is the final event of a story’s plot called
conclusion
what is the dramatic climax?
point of greatest interest for the viewer or reader, fav. part
what is the setting
time and place of the events in a story
what are the four functions of the setting
to provide a time and place for characters and events to exist
to help in understanding of the characters and their actions
to help create mood and atmosphere
to help plot development
what is a character
a personality created by an author
what is the technique an author uses to create and reveal characters
characterization
what is expository character revelation
telling the reader about the character in a direct manner
what is dramatic character revelation
showing the reader what a character is like through description and dialogue
what is the reason that causes a character to act as they do
motivation
what is the protagonist
the central character in a work of fiction about whom the audience is most concerned
who is the antagonist
the principal opponent of the main charaCter
round character
a character who is well described and whose thoughts and actions are revealed during the story
flat character
a character who is not well developed in a story
dynamic character
a character who changes in some way throughout the story
static character
a character who resists change
foil character
a character that contrasts with the main character
stock character
a type of character that is usually found in a particular literary form, based on genre
stereotyped character
a character based on widely held ideas, based on society
what is point of view
relationship between the narrator and the story’s characters and events
first person
the narrator is a character in a story
third person limited
the narrator is not a character in the story and reports only what can be seen and heard
third person limited omniscient
the narrator is not a character in the story and reports not only what can be seen and heard, along with the thoughts and feelings of a few characters
third person omniscient
the narrator is not a character in the story but reports what can be seen and heard, along with the thoughts and feelings of all the characters
theme
the idea of a literary work that is a general truth about life, people, and the world which is brought out in the story
what are the 3 guidelines to stating a theme
must be complete declarative sentence
must state a general truth about life
must apply clearly throughout the entire work
what describes the reader’s state of mind after finishing the story?
mood
what describes the general feeling of the story itself
atmosphere
what is the distinctive handling of language by a writer that includes diction and syntax
style
what is purposeful selection of words
diction
what is sentence structure
syntax
what is tone
the author or speaker’s attitude toward the characters and events and audience
what is sybolism
the use of something concrete (thing) to represent something abstract (idea)
what is irony
contrast between the way things are and the way they appear
what are the 3 types of irony
verbal, dramatic, situational
verbal irony
difference between literal meaning of a word and the way it is conveyed
dramatic irony
difference between knowledge held by the reader and a character’s ignorance of that knowledge, knowing something the character doesn’t
situational irony
difference between the expected outcome of a situation and the actual outcome
