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English 8                Spring, 2006                          Novel Study Unit                                   Mrs. McDee                                                                           

                                                               

LITERARY TERMS

 

CHARACTERIZATION is the method used to present the personality of a character in a work of literature.

 

                Types of characters:             1. Protagonist is a central character who is the hero and usually admirable.

                                                                2. Antagonist is a person or force who opposes or obstructs the protagonist.

                                                                                Can be an enemy to the protagonist.

                                                                3. Static/flat characters are characters who are one-dimensional, not fully developed, minor who who usually remain the same throughout the plot.

                                                                4. Dynamic/round characters are characters who are3-dimensional, complex, fully developed, major who undergo some kind of change in personality or                                                                                               attitude.

 

PLOT is the series of events in a literary work.

                The PLOT of a literary work is the series of related events which presents a CONFLICT, leads to a CLIMAX (or point at which the conflict must be resolved), and finally result in a                                            CONCLUSION to the CONFLICT.

 

                Two Types of Conflict:         1. External Conflict is a conflict in which the character struggles against another character, nature or society.

                                                                2. Internal Conflict is a conflict in which the character struggles against some element of his own personality or conscience.

YOUR NOVEL MIGHT HAVE EXAMPLES OF BOTH TYPES OF CONFLICT. BE SURE TO INCLUDE THEM BOTH IN YOUR STATEMENT PAGE ON PLOT.

 

SETTING is the TIME and PLACE in which the events of the literary work take place.

 

POINT OF VIEW is the relationship between the narrator of the story and the story itself.

                A. FIRST PERSON                  3 types   1. first person detached: The narrator is a major or minor character who tells the story from the vantage point of time & reflection.

                                                                                 2. first person observer: The narrator is a minor character who reports what the main character says & does & who acts as a confidant to the                                                                                   main character. Has no special insights.

                                                                                 3. first person subjective: The narrator is a major or minor character who tells the story from his/her own personal viewpoint.

               

                B. THIRD PERSON                2 types    1. third person objective: The narrator acts as an anonymous reporter, relating only what can be seen or heard, drawing no conclusions.

                                                                                2. third person omniscient: The narrator is anonymous & possesses insight into what characters thin k as well as what they say or do.

 

THEME is the underlying main idea or conception of a literary work. Themes may be stated directly or implied in the writing. Some literary works may have more than one theme.

 

THE THEME FOR YOUR LITERARY BOOK SHOUJLD BE STATED IN A  COMPLETE SENTENCE ON THE LAST PAGE OF YOUR BOOK.

 

MANY OF YOUR NOVELS WILL HAVE  EXAMPLES OF THE FOLLOWING LITERARY TERMS. INCLUDE THEM ON THE PAGE BEFORE YOU BEGIN YOUR ABRIDGED SUMMARY OF YOUR                              NOVEL’S PLOT.

 

SYMBOL is an object used to represent an abstract idea or concept.

 

FLASHBACK is a scene in a literary work that interrupts the present actions to tell about events that happened at en earlier time.

 

FORESHADOWING is the use of clues that hint at important plot developments that are to follow in the story line.

 

IRONY is the contrast or a discrepancy between what is stated and what is really meant, or between what is expected to happen and what actually does happen.