Tuesday, January 29, 2013

The ELEMENTS of Literature

I. Setting - The place or location of the action.  The setting provides the historical and cultural context 
                  for characters. It often can symbolize the emotional state of characters. Example – In Poe’s 
                  The Fall of the House of Usher, the crumbling old mansion reflects the decaying state of 
                  both the family and the narrator’s mind. We also see this type of emphasis on setting in 
                  Thomas Mann’s Death in Venice.

II. Symbolism - When an object is meant to be representative of something or an idea greater than the 
                          object itself.

IIITone/Mood - The implied attitude towards the subject of the poem. Is it hopeful, pessimistic,  
                             dreary, worried? A poet conveys tone by combining all of the elements listed above 
                             to create a precise impression on the reader.

IV. Character - Representation of a person, place, or thing performing traditionally human activities or  
                           functions in a work of fiction

                          * Protagonist - The character the story revolves around.
                          * Antagonist - A character or force that opposes the protagonist.
                          * Minor character - Often provides support and illuminates the protagonist.
                          * Static character - A character that remains the same.
                          * Dynamic character - A character that changes in some important way.
                          * Characterization - The choices an author makes to reveal a character’s personality,  
                                                             such as appearance, actions, dialogue, and motivations.  
V. Theme - The main idea or underlying meaning of the literary work

VI. Conflict - The struggle within the story between characters, events, etc.
  • Man vs Man
  • Man vs Society
  • Man vs Nature
  • Man vs Outside Force
  • Man vs Himself 

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