Study elements of literature and story telling Flashcards
Elements of literature:
- Setting
- Characterisation
- Plot
- Point of view
- Theme
- Tone
- Literary devices
1) Setting definition and types
- Where a story takes place: geographic location (country, state, city, kitchen,
etc.) - When a story takes place:
present day, past, future, time span, etc. - Atmosphere: any relevant socio-economic/political factors (the
Great Depression, the Russian Revolution, etc.)
Types:
- Mirror setting
- Mould setting
- Escape setting
- Alien setting
Mirror setting
Reflects the overall mood of the story or the personality
of the characters in the story
Note: A lonely, desolate setting may not always represent
lonely, desolate characters. Some of the most interesting
stories occur when characters behave much differently than
one would expect in relation to their setting.
Mould setting
Shapes characters and makes them act the way they do.
Ex: Characters will differ depending on whether they grew up
on a farm, in a tough, inner-city neighbourhood, or in a
luxurious mansion. Typically, characters will act and react
a certain way because of the setting in which they live.
However, many characters will react against their setting
and try to escape its “mould”.
Escape setting
- Often a fantasy-like setting (imaginary worlds, in the
past or future) - Sometimes just creative reflections of our own world.
Alien setting
- not necessarily a different planet
- setting is hostile to the character
- he/she is an outsider, lost, in exile, or a refugee
- the conflict revolves around the character’s attempts to
return to his/her place of origin. - emphasizes the loss of roots and sense of belonging.
- the people in the story who move the plot along and
interact with the setting.
2) Characterization techniques and types
- What the character says
- What the character thinks
- What the character does
- What other characters say
- What other characters think
- What other characters do
- Explicit descriptions by the author/narrator
- Elements of setting over which the character has
control
Types:
1. Flat
2. Round
3. Static
4. Dynamic
Flat characters
- usually minor characters
- one dimensional, meaning that they have one primary
characteristic or personality trait - we can predict how they will act
- typically make a few, brief appearances
- can be generically labelled as “the grumpy old man”,
“the nagging mother-in-law”, “the gossip”, “the
town-drunk”, etc.
Round characters
- usually main characters
- complex (or multi-dimensional), meaning that they have
several personality traits – sometimes conflicting - can be unpredictable
- seem more human or “real” than flat characters
Static characters
- usually minor characters
- do not change or evolve throughout the story
- is the same person at the end of the story as he/she was
at the beginning - flat characters tend to also be static.
Dynamic characters
- usually main characters
- change or evolve as the story progresses
- is NOT the same person at the end of the story as he/she
was at the beginning - round characters tend to also be dynamic
Characters: Important Terminology
Activation: WHAT a character says & does in the story
Motivation: WHY a character says & does what he does in the
story
Protagonist:
- main character
- the character that the story is about and with whom the
reader usually identifies and sympathizes
- can be “good” or “evil”, therefore DO NOT identify the
protagonist as being the “hero” or “the good guy”
- can be an “anti-hero” (a hero that is seriously troubled
but has heroic qualities . . . like Batman).
Antagonist:
- main character (or force)
- working against the protagonist
- the protagonist can be his/her own antagonist (in the
case of an internal conflict)
- NOT necessarily “the bad guy” or “villain”.
Principle of Economy: Short stories have very
few (often only two) characters.
3) Plot definition and five elements of the diagram
- the actions or series of events that occur in the story
- often represented on a plot diagram:
Elements:
1. Exposition
2. Exciting force
3. Rising action
4. Climax (and falling action)
5. Conclusion
Exposition
the reader is introduced to:
- main characters (protagonist/antagonist);
- beginning of characterization
- setting
- some elements of plot (background information that
will be important for the story)
Exciting force
The conflict is introduced
Three types of conflict:
1. man vs man
2. man vs nature
3. man vs self
Note: There are WAY more than these 3
