FICTIONFICTION

It is what you read when you don’tIt is what you read when you don’thave to that determines what you have to that determines what you

will be when you can’t help it.will be when you can’t help it. ~Oscar Wilde~Oscar Wilde

LITERATURELITERATURE

FICTIONFICTION POETRYPOETRY DRAMADRAMA

Escape vs. Imaginative/InterpretiveEscape vs. Imaginative/Interpretive Is only for Is only for

entertainment/diversionentertainment/diversion May have May have somesome substance, but substance, but

lacks the depth of imaginative lacks the depth of imaginative fictionfiction

Takes us Takes us away away from realityfrom reality Often contains suspense, love Often contains suspense, love

interests, action, etc.interests, action, etc. May leave reader with superficial May leave reader with superficial

attitudes toward lifeattitudes toward life May distort reader’s views of May distort reader’s views of

reality and may promote false reality and may promote false concepts and expectations of real concepts and expectations of real lifelife

Begins with the writer’s need to Begins with the writer’s need to convey a personal visionconvey a personal vision

Takes the reader to a deeper level Takes the reader to a deeper level of understanding about self, of understanding about self, society, and the human conditionsociety, and the human condition

Does more than just communicate Does more than just communicate the writer’s ideas; it uses words the writer’s ideas; it uses words that are memorablethat are memorable

Uses vivid imagery and stretches Uses vivid imagery and stretches language to its limitslanguage to its limits

Urges the reader to see beyond Urges the reader to see beyond the factual details of eventsthe factual details of events

Illuminates some aspect of human Illuminates some aspect of human life or human behaviorlife or human behavior

Provides a portrait of human Provides a portrait of human conditions from particular conditions from particular regions, time periods, and eras.regions, time periods, and eras.

Suggests more than one possible Suggests more than one possible interpretationinterpretation

Elements of LiteratureElements of Literature

ThemeTheme PlotPlotPoint of Point of

viewview

SettingSetting

Style, Tone & LanguageStyle, Tone & Language SymbolSymbol CharactersCharacters

ThemeTheme

Can be broad or narrow, central or peripheralCan be broad or narrow, central or peripheral

Common themes include:Common themes include: a. “coming of age”—maturationa. “coming of age”—maturation b. loss of innocenceb. loss of innocence c. family tiesc. family ties d. self-awarenessd. self-awareness

Is conveyed through:Is conveyed through: a. selection and arrangement of detailsa. selection and arrangement of details b. emphasis of certain events or imagesb. emphasis of certain events or images c. actions and reactions of characters c. actions and reactions of characters

PlotPlot

The element you will notice first and remember the longestThe element you will notice first and remember the longest It’s the pattern of actions, events, and situations, used It’s the pattern of actions, events, and situations, used

expressively by the writer to create suspense, sadness, humor, expressively by the writer to create suspense, sadness, humor, excitement, etc.excitement, etc.

Can be simple or complexCan be simple or complex Emphasizes the relationships between the characters, events, Emphasizes the relationships between the characters, events,

and situations. and situations. Contains the conflict Contains the conflict Diagram:Diagram:

SettingSetting This is the time and the place in the story, the details of which This is the time and the place in the story, the details of which

are important to our understanding of the entire meaning of are important to our understanding of the entire meaning of the story.the story.

Look at these contexts when reading:Look at these contexts when reading:

Historical contextHistorical context

Geographical context Geographical context

Physical contextPhysical context

SettingSetting Historical contextHistorical context: This lets the reader know what the social, : This lets the reader know what the social,

political, economic, and cultural environment was surrounding political, economic, and cultural environment was surrounding the storythe story

Geographical contextGeographical context: Knowing the location may help : Knowing the location may help explain the behavior of the characters. The size of the location explain the behavior of the characters. The size of the location and the “lay of the land” can provide the reader with clues and the “lay of the land” can provide the reader with clues about the story’s theme or can act as foreshadowing. about the story’s theme or can act as foreshadowing.

Physical context: Physical context: Observe elements like the weather, the Observe elements like the weather, the time of day, and whether or not the story’s setting is indoors or time of day, and whether or not the story’s setting is indoors or outdoors. The outdoors may suggest expansive freedom; the outdoors. The outdoors may suggest expansive freedom; the indoors may suggest isolation or limitations. indoors may suggest isolation or limitations. Outdoor Outdoor settingssettings may free a character from the social norms of may free a character from the social norms of behavior for a time. Ex.– behavior for a time. Ex.– A Midsummer Night’s Dream. A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Storms may foreshadow imminent danger or other threats. Storms may foreshadow imminent danger or other threats. Weather may test the character’s actions when they have to Weather may test the character’s actions when they have to struggle against the environment.struggle against the environment.

StyleStyle

Style is the way a writer selects and arranges words, Style is the way a writer selects and arranges words, sentences, and paragraphs.sentences, and paragraphs.

Style encompasses word choice, sentence length and Style encompasses word choice, sentence length and

structure, and the presence or prominence of imagery structure, and the presence or prominence of imagery and figures of speech.and figures of speech.

Hemingway and Faulkner are good examples of Hemingway and Faulkner are good examples of contrasting styles.contrasting styles.

ToneTone

Tone is the attitude of the author toward the subject Tone is the attitude of the author toward the subject and can be revealed through the narrator’s attitude and can be revealed through the narrator’s attitude and actions. and actions.

The tone of the story can be playful, humorous, The tone of the story can be playful, humorous, ironic, satirical, serious, somber, bitter, ironic, satirical, serious, somber, bitter, condescending, formal or informal, critical or condescending, formal or informal, critical or supportive, just to list a few.supportive, just to list a few.

LanguageLanguage The language that the characters use gives us an idea The language that the characters use gives us an idea

of their location and social class.of their location and social class.

FormalFormal language language uses elaborate, complex sentences uses elaborate, complex sentences and may include figurative language.and may include figurative language.

Informal language Informal language is consistent with everyday is consistent with everyday speech. It can sometimes provide clues to the speech. It can sometimes provide clues to the character’s motivation—Ex.: The slang used by The character’s motivation—Ex.: The slang used by The Misfit in “A Good Man is Hard to Find.”Misfit in “A Good Man is Hard to Find.”

SymbolSymbol

Symbol can be a person, object, action, place, or Symbol can be a person, object, action, place, or event that, in addition to its literal meaning, suggests event that, in addition to its literal meaning, suggests a more complex meaning. Some symbols are a more complex meaning. Some symbols are relatively obvious, like the character of Manley relatively obvious, like the character of Manley Pointer in O’Connor’s “Good Country People.”Pointer in O’Connor’s “Good Country People.”

Character(s)Character(s)

A character is a fictional representation of a person. A character is a fictional representation of a person. Usually, but not always, it’s a psychologically Usually, but not always, it’s a psychologically realistic depiction.realistic depiction.

Characters are “developed” in two ways:Characters are “developed” in two ways:

1. We can be told about them by the narrator who gives us 1. We can be told about them by the narrator who gives us info about what the characters are doing or thinking, what info about what the characters are doing or thinking, what they look like, how they’re dressed, what values they they look like, how they’re dressed, what values they hold, etc. Sometimes the narrator will make a judgment hold, etc. Sometimes the narrator will make a judgment about a character’s behavior or provide an analysis of it.about a character’s behavior or provide an analysis of it.

2. The character’s personality traits and/or motivation(s) 2. The character’s personality traits and/or motivation(s) may be revealed through actions, dialogue, or thoughts.may be revealed through actions, dialogue, or thoughts.

Character(s)—Round or FlatCharacter(s)—Round or Flat

In his 1927 work, In his 1927 work, Aspects of the Novel, Aspects of the Novel, author E.M. Forster author E.M. Forster coined the terms “round” and “flat” to describe character coined the terms “round” and “flat” to describe character development in a literary work.development in a literary work.

A “round” character is well-developed in the story and is closely A “round” character is well-developed in the story and is closely involved in and is responsive to the action in the story. This is a involved in and is responsive to the action in the story. This is a character that the reader can clearly identify as a main character.character that the reader can clearly identify as a main character.

A “flat” character is one that is barely developed or is A “flat” character is one that is barely developed or is stereotypical. It’s harder for the reader to get involved with this stereotypical. It’s harder for the reader to get involved with this character or to care what happens to him/her in the course of the character or to care what happens to him/her in the course of the story. An example might be the stereotypical “drunk” in a Wild story. An example might be the stereotypical “drunk” in a Wild West story.West story.

Character(s)—Dynamic or StaticCharacter(s)—Dynamic or Static

Characters can be classified as either “dynamic” or “static.”Characters can be classified as either “dynamic” or “static.”

A dynamic character grows and changes in a significant way A dynamic character grows and changes in a significant way throughout the course of the story as he/she reacts to events and throughout the course of the story as he/she reacts to events and other characters. The dynamic character may grow and change in other characters. The dynamic character may grow and change in relation to self-awareness, to maturity, to the human condition, or relation to self-awareness, to maturity, to the human condition, or to a number of factors. Dynamic characters sometimes experience to a number of factors. Dynamic characters sometimes experience epiphanies.epiphanies.

A static character, on the other hand, may face the exact same A static character, on the other hand, may face the exact same challenges as the dynamic character, but will remain unchanged by challenges as the dynamic character, but will remain unchanged by events or other characters. If the static character is selfish and events or other characters. If the static character is selfish and arrogant at the beginning of the story, he/she will be the same way arrogant at the beginning of the story, he/she will be the same way at the end of the story.at the end of the story.

Point of ViewPoint of View

Who’s telling the story? Do we have a narrator? Who’s telling the story? Do we have a narrator?

Questions to ask yourself about the narrator:Questions to ask yourself about the narrator:

1.1. Is he/she reliable or unreliable? If the narrator is crazy, jealous, Is he/she reliable or unreliable? If the narrator is crazy, jealous, self-serving, mistaken, confused, etc., then the reader may self-serving, mistaken, confused, etc., then the reader may questions the reliability of the story he/she is telling.questions the reliability of the story he/she is telling.

2.2. Is the narrator a participating character, or is the narrator telling Is the narrator a participating character, or is the narrator telling the story from an omniscient point of view?the story from an omniscient point of view?

3.3. Is the narrator naïve? The reader can see that the narrator’s Is the narrator naïve? The reader can see that the narrator’s background limits his/her ability to understand a situation.background limits his/her ability to understand a situation.

Can we see into the mind(s) of the character(s)?Can we see into the mind(s) of the character(s)?