Literature Notes - Keep In Binder
You should know the genre of your book.
Genre: a type of literature such as: autobiography, memoir, biography, diary/journal, essay,
fable/fairy tale/folklore, fiction (adventure, comic, fantasy, horror, historical, medical, mystery, political, romance, sage, satire, science, conspiracy, psychological, and spy), tragedy, and short story.
The first terms deal with literary pieces as a whole.
1. Point of View: 1.A manner of viewing things; an attitude. 2.a) A position from which something is observed or considered; a standpoint. b) The attitude or outlook of a narrator or character in a piece of literature, a movie, or another art form. (1st, 3rd, omniscient)
2. Setting: 1.To prescribe the unfolding of (a drama or narrative, for instance) in a specific
place: a play that is set in Venice. 2.To prescribe as a time for: set June 6 as the day of the invasion. The setting may change; however, there is generally one main setting.
3. Plot: The pattern of events or main story in a narrative or drama
Exposition: Where the initial characters and the setting for the story are introduced or
"exposed" - The basic conflict is also introduced here.
Rising Action: The conflict between characters escalates
Climax: The point of most intense action; the conflict comes to breaking point.
Falling Action: Calm after climax.
Resolution: A time of regrouping and explanation - Lose ends are tied-up/resolved.
4. Conflict: Opposition between characters or forces in a work of drama or fiction, especially opposition that motivates or shapes the action of the plot.
Internal Conflict: Where the forces of opposition are taking place within a particular
character: Man vs. Himself.
External Conflict: Where the opposing forces take place outside the mind of the main character: Man vs. Man or Man vs. Nature.
5. Theme: 1.a unifying idea that is a recurrent element in a literary or artistic work; "it was the usual `boy gets girl' theme" 2. An implicit or recurrent idea; a motif: a theme of powerlessness that runs through the diary.
6. Characters: those taking part in the story’s events
Characterization: describing the qualities or traits of a character that distinguishes him
from another character. This applies to physical and personal qualities.
Static Character: A character whose views and ideas remain fixed or stationary
regardless of the events happening around him or her.
Dynamic Character: A character who's characterized by continuous change, activity, or
progress as a result of the events happening around him or her.
7. Foreshadowing: To present an indication or a suggestion of beforehand; presage
8. Irony: 1. The use of words to express something different from and often opposite to their
literal meaning. 2. A literary device employing such contrasts for humorous or rhetorical effect SitComs are situational comedies based on situational irony.
9. Symbol: Something that represents something else by association, resemblance, or
convention, especially a material object used to represent something invisible The flag
Old Glory is a symbol of the United States of America.
These devices are used by writers to engage the reader.
10. Imagery: 1. A set of mental pictures or images. 2.The use of vivid or figurative language
to represent objects, actions, or ideas. a) The use of expressive or evocative images in art, literature, or music. b) A group or body of related images, as in a painting or poem.
11. Simile: A comparison of two unlike things using "as" or " like"
14. Personification: A figure of speech in which inanimate objects or abstractions are
endowed with human qualities or are represented as possessing human form, as in Hunger sat shivering on the road or Flowers danced about the lawn.
15. Analogy: A form of logical inference or an instance of it, based on the assumption that if
two things are known to be alike in some respects, then they must be alike in other respects Finger is to hand such as toe is to foot. Finger : Hand :: Toe : Foot
16. Metaphor: A figure of speech in which a word or phrase that ordinarily designates one
thing is used to designate another, thus making an implicit comparison, as in “a sea of troubles” or “All the world's a stage” (Shakespeare).
Below is a representation of a plot line with its various points labeled.
Climax
Rising Action Falling Action
Exposition Resolution
NOTE: You may expect a quiz on these notes at any time. BE READY!