Literary Elements and Techniques

Literary(Elements(and(Techniques(

A(literary(element(refers(to(components(of(a(literary(work((character,(setting,(plot,(theme,(frame,(

exposition,(ending/denouement,(motif,(titling,(narrative(point@of@view).((These(are(technical(terms(for(

the(“what”(of(a(work.(

A(literary(device(refers(to(a(literary(technique(employed(by(the(author(to(produce(an(effect((tone,(irony,(

figurative(language,(symbolism,(foreshadowing).((You(don’t(need(to(know(the(difference(between(the(

two.(

Term((

Definition(

Some(examples(of(what(it(looks(like(in(a(sentence(or(two(

Setting'

…'refers'to'time'periods,'geographic'locations,'cultural'

contexts,'immediate'surroundings,'weather,'times'of'

day,'or'times'of'year'employed'in'the'story.''A'setting'

can'be'used'to'create'a'mood,'as'an'integral'part'of'

the'plot'(creating'a'conflict,'etc.),'to'bring'out'certain'

aspects'of'the'characters,'and'can'also'be'used'

figuratively'or'symbolically'to'hint'at'the'story’s'theme'

or'reflect'an'interior'state'of'the'characters.''''

*'The'story'is'set'in…'the'setting'of'(Story'title)'evokes'

“In$the$Land$of$Men”$is$set$over$two$brutally$cold$winter$evenings$in$Chicago.$$

The$setting$of$the$story$evokes$a$feeling$of$despair$and$isolation.$$$'

*'One'of'the'most'interesting'aspects'of'the'(Story'title’s)'setting'is…'This'

shows…'

One$of$the$most$interesting$aspects$of$“In$the$Land$of$Men’s”$setting$is$that$

the$temperature$is$described$as$being$exactly$the$same$on$the$night$of$the$

narrator’s$rape$and$on$the$night$her$brother’s$kidnap$her$attacker.$$This$

shows…$$

*'The'story’s'setting,'which'______','is'clearly'used'by'(author'name)'to…'

“In$the$Land$of$Men’s”$setting,$which$is$a$cold,$dark$night$in$winter,$is$clearly$

used$by$Antonya$Nelson$to$show$the$internal$state$of$the$main$character.$$

Tone''

…'refers'to'the'attitude'the'work'takes'toward'the'

audience'and'subject.''A'work’s'tone'can'be'playful,'

serious,'upbeat,'detached,'ironic,'intimate,'haughty,'

objective'and'any'other'number'of'great'adjectives'

used'to'describe'an'attitude'toward'something.''

*'The'tone'of'(work'title),'which'can'be'best'described'as….','implies…'

(Title'of'work’s)'tone'shifts'over'the'course'of'the'story'from'___________'

to'___________________,'suggesting'that…'

(Work’s)'tone'is'notable'because…'

2.'(Work)''has'a'distinctly'_________________________'tone,'like…'

The'tone'evoked'by'(work)''is'____________'and'______________,'sort'of'

like'_________________________________'

________________________________________.'''

Exposition'

...refers'to'the'background'plot'information.''

Exposition'can'be'deliberately'withIheld'and/or'

dumped'early'in'the'story.''The'exposition'can'occur'

through'dialogue,'the'narration,'and/or'interI

chapters.''An'author’s'mode'of'exposition'often'tells'

us'something'about'his/her'project'in'a'book'and'how'

we,'as'an'audience,'are'invited'into'the'world'of'the'

book.'''

(Work’s)'exposition'happens'primarily'through…'','perhaps'to…'

The'exposition'in'(work)'is'notable/interesting'because…'

Narrative'

perspective'/'

pointIofIview'

…'refers'to'the'pointIofIview'from'which'the'story'is'

narrated.''The'story'can'be'from'the'first'person'pointI

ofIview'(“I'saw…”)'or'the'third'person'pointIofIview'

(“he'saw”).''Notably,'there'are'some'important'

variations'on'both'of'these'major'pointsIofIview:'

First'person'protagonist'–'the'person'telling'the'story'

is'also'the'main'character'

First'person'observer'–'the'person'telling'the'story'is'a'

secondary'character'in'the'story.''

(Author'last'name)'choose'to'write'the'story'from'the'_________________'

pointIofIview'which'has'the'effect'of…'

The'_______________'pointIofIview'underscores/highlights/enhances/'

Intimates/suggests/creates/…'

The'most'interesting'part'about'(the'Work’s)'_______________'narrative'

pointIofIview'is…'

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A literary element refers to components of a literary work (character, setting, plot, theme, frame,

exposition, ending/denouement, motif, titling, narrative point-‐of-‐view). These are technical terms for

the “what” of a work.

A literary device refers to a literary technique employed by the author to produce an effect (tone, irony,

figurative language, symbolism, foreshadowing). You don’t need to know the difference between the

two.

Term Definition Some examples of what it looks like in a sentence or two Setting … refers to time periods, geographic locations, cultural contexts, immediate surroundings, weather, times of day, or times of year employed in the story. A setting can be used to create a mood, as an integral part of the plot (creating a conflict, etc.), to bring out certain aspects of the characters, and can also be used figuratively or symbolically to hint at the story’s theme or reflect an interior state of the characters.

The story is set in… the setting of (Story title) evokes “In the Land of Men” is set over two brutally cold winter evenings in Chicago. The setting of the story evokes a feeling of despair and isolation.
One of the most interesting aspects of the (Story title’s) setting is… This shows… One of the most interesting aspects of “In the Land of Men’s” setting is that the temperature is described as being exactly the same on the night of the narrator’s rape and on the night her brother’s kidnap her attacker. This shows…
The story’s setting, which ______ , is clearly used by (author name) to… “In the Land of Men’s” setting, which is a cold, dark night in winter, is clearly used by Antonya Nelson to show the internal state of the main character. Tone … refers to the attitude the work takes toward the audience and subject. A work’s tone can be playful, serious, upbeat, detached, ironic, intimate, haughty, objective and any other number of great adjectives used to describe an attitude toward something.
The tone of (work title), which can be best described as…. , implies… (Title of work’s) tone shifts over the course of the story from ___________ to ___________________, suggesting that… (Work’s) tone is notable because…

(Work) has a distinctly _________________________ tone, like… The tone evoked by (work) is ____________ and ______________, sort of like _________________________________ ________________________________________. Exposition ...refers to the background plot information. Exposition can be deliberately with-‐held and/or dumped early in the story. The exposition can occur through dialogue, the narration, and/or inter-‐ chapters. An author’s mode of exposition often tells us something about his/her project in a book and how we, as an audience, are invited into the world of the book. (Work’s) exposition happens primarily through… , perhaps to… The exposition in (work) is notable/interesting because… Narrative perspective / point-‐of-‐view … refers to the point-‐of-‐view from which the story is narrated. The story can be from the first person point-‐ of-‐view (“I saw…”) or the third person point-‐of-‐view (“he saw”). Notably, there are some important variations on both of these major points-‐of-‐view: First person protagonist – the person telling the story is also the main character First person observer – the person telling the story is a secondary character in the story. (Author last name) choose to write the story from the _________________ point-‐of-‐view which has the effect of… The _______________ point-‐of-‐view underscores/highlights/enhances/ Intimates/suggests/creates/… The most interesting part about (the Work’s) _______________ narrative point-‐of-‐view is…

Third person limited – the narrative follows around one character primarily and has access to his/her thoughts. This narrative perspective also describes things happening around him/her. Third person omniscient – has access to multiple character’s thoughts and actions. Third person objective – describes only the actions of the characters. We see the actions of the book almost as if on a stage with no access or limited access to character’s thoughts. Note: texts can switch between different points-‐of-‐ view Motif … refers to a series of reoccurring details that have symbolic importance in the story. (e.g. the fire motif or the motif of masks and marks in Lord of the Flies). The motif of _________________, first established with the detail of __________. in the end suggests… One prominent motif in (work) is_________; this motif is significant/notable/remarkable/interesting because… Image …refers to a description of something to be seen, hear, smelled, or touched. One of the most compelling/strange/ironic/paradoxical/ stirring/ambiguous/revealing images in (work) shows up at (the end, beginning, etc. ) when (author name) describes… To understand the theme of (work) one need look no further than its most revealing image, which… Characterization …refers to how the author describes his/her characters.

(AUTHOR NAME) characterizes (character name) as being… Salinger characterizes Holden as being a confused and hurting teenager
(AUTHOR NAME) characterizes (character name) through/by… For example,… This shows… Salinger characterizes Holden through the way he describes other people. For example, when Holden is in Grand Central Station, he criticizes the rich people’s suitcases. This shows that he is uncomfortable with money, which is ironic because his family is very rich. Protagonist The main character in a story. He/she is often a hero but sometimes is not. He/she can also be the story’s narrator.
(CHARACTER NAME), the protagonist of the story, …. Titus, the protagonist of feed, narrates his adventures in a not-‐so-‐distant future.
The novel has many main characters, but the clear protagonist is… Antagonist A character who stands in the way of the protagonist’s movement in the story. Often times, this is a villain but it does not have to be.
(CHARACTER NAME), the book’s antagonist,…
The book’s antagonist, (CHARACTER NAME), …
It is interesting to note that (BOOK TITLE) does not have a clear antagonist… This suggests… Static vs. Dynamic characterization … refers to what the author does with the character over the course of the book. If the character changes a lot over the course of the story, the author has made the character dynamic. If the character stays pretty much the same, he/she is static. (Author name) characterizes (character name) as static/dynamic. The story’s ending shows that the character… J.D. Salinger characterizes Holden as dynamic. The story’s ending shows that Holden has started to realize that he cannot freeze time and must deal with his grief. Round vs. flat characterization … refers to how complex the author makes character. If the character is very complex in his/her motivations and/or actions, he/she is round. If the character is straightforward in his/her motivations and/or actions, he/she is flat. (Author name) characterizes (character name) as round/flat. Salinger characterizes Holden as a round character. He can be at times annoying and other times completely sweet. Foil Foil-‐ character intended as an thematic opposite of the main character, revealing his/her salient qualities.

in from the whole) -‐ word/phrase used to convey special effect or meaning ______________________ to _______________________ in order to… It is worth paying attention to the metaphor of _______________________ because_____________________________. Figurative language is a technique used/implemented/employed in the book ____________________. Perhaps the author, _____________________, uses this figurative language to emphasize ____________________._ Allegory … refers to a work in which almost all of the characters are intended as symbols. Personification … refers to when animals, inanimate objects, or places are metaphorically given the qualities of human beings. … (work) personifies _________________, suggesting that perhaps… Allusion … refers to a brief and often indirect reference to another work of art, person, place, or object. An allusion often deepens or complicates our understanding of the work. … the story alludes to __________________, perhaps in order to __________________. A major allusion in the work is to ________-‐ __________________________________. Flashback … refers to a technique in which an author interrupts present events with a look at past events. Often it is up to the reader to infer why a flashback is being employed in the text and how it adds to or complicates the present narrative.

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