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Elements
of the Novel
Plot:
sequence
of events in a literary work. It
involves both characters and a central conflict.
The plot can be explained using Freytag's
Pyramid,
which is made up of exposition, rising action, climax, falling action,
and resolution.
A)
Exposition-
the part of the work that introduces the characters, the setting, and the
basic situation.
the part of the work that introduces the characters, the setting, and the
basic situation.
B)
Rising Action-
the events leading up to the climax
C)
Climax-
the high point of interest or suspense
he high point of interest or suspense
he high point of interest or suspense
he high point of interest or suspense
he high point of interest or suspense
D)
Falling Action-
the events following the climax
E)
Resolution-
the end of the central conflict
he end of the central conflict
he end of the central conflict
he end of the central conflict
he end of the central conflict
Theme:
a central message or insight into life revealed through a literary work.
The theme may be stated or implied.
Setting:
the time and place of a literary work.
Time can include not only the historical period- past, present, or
future- but also a specific year, a season, or time of day.
Place may involve not only the geographical place- a region,
country, state, or town- but also the social, economic, or cultural environment.
Conflict:
a struggle between two opposing forces.
A story may have more than one conflict.
Conflict may in external or internal.
external-a
character struggles with an outside force
internal-a
character struggles with himself or herself ( man
v/s man;
man v/s self;
man v/s nature)
Narrator:
the speaker or character that tells a story.
The narrator may be either a character in the story or an outside
observer. The writer's choice of
the
narrator determines the point of view.
Point
of View:
The two most common are 1st person and 3rd
person.
1st
person point of view
occurs when a character in the story narrates the story.
The reader sees only what this character sees. The 1st person narrator may or may not be reliable.
3rd
person point of view
occurs when a voice outside the story narrates the story.
The two approaches to 3rd person point of view are omniscient
and limited. Omniscient-
means "all knowing." This
type of narrator can tell readers what any character thinks and feels. Limited-
This type of narrator can see the world through one character's eyes and
reveals only that character's thoughts and feelings.
Characterization-
the act of creating and developing a character.
Character:
the person or animal who takes part in the action in a literary work.
There are four types of characters:
round- the
reader sees many different traits (faults and virtues)
in the character
flat- the
reader sees only one trait (only seen one way) in the character
dynamic- the
character develops and grows throughout the literary work
the
character develops and grows throughout the literary work
static-
the character does not change throughout the literary work
the character does not change throughout the literary work
*Antagonist- a
character or force in conflict with a main character
*Protagonist- the
main character
Personification:
The
act of giving a nonhuman subject human characteristics.
Tone:
The writer's attitude toward his or her subject and audience.
Ex) formal, informal,
serious, playful, bitter, sarcastic, etc
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