Elements of Literature

1. SETTING
It is the time and place of the action of a story. It is the background against which
the events happen. It is the world created by the writer of the story.
Ex. THE COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO
It includes descriptions of the customs, clothing, scenery, weather, geography,
buildings, rooms, furniture and means of transportation.
Ex. ROMEO AND JULIET (VENICE – 13TH – 14TH CENTURY

2. CHARACTER
It refers to a person or animal who takes part in the action of a work of literature.
The thoughts and actions of characters are important to the development of
the story
Characterization – is the method used by the writer to reveal the personality of
the character/s.

3. PLOT
It is the sequence of events in a story, the writer’s plan for what happens, when
and to whom. It is composed of the exposition, rising action, climax, falling
action and the resolution.

KINDS OF PLOT
Linear Plot moves with the natural sequence of events.
s Circular Plot is a kind of plot where linear development of the story merges
with
an interruption in the chronological order to show an event that happened in
the past.
En Medias Res is a kind of plot where the story commences in the middle part
of the action.

4. CONFLICT
It is a struggle between two people or things in a short story. The main
character is usually on one side of the central conflict.

TYPES OF CONFLICT
External is the struggle with a force outside one’s self.
Internal struggle refers to conflict with one’s self; a person must make some
decision, overcome pain, quiet their temper or resist and urge.

5. POINT OF VIEW
It refers to how the narrator tells the story.
First-Person – the story was told by one of the characters, only revealing
his/her sights and thoughts.
Third-Person Objective – the narrator is an outsider who can only report what
he sees and hears (cannot
report the feelings of others.
 Third-Person Limited – the narrator is an outsider who can see into the mind
of only one character.
Omniscient – the narrator is an outsider who seems all knowing, capable of
looking into the minds of all characters.

6. THEME
It refers to the controlling idea of the story. It is the embodiment of what the
author wants to convey to his readers through the events and the characters of
the story.

7. LESSON

It refers to the insights that readers can pick from the story. This element can
strongly influence the readers’ opinion about the story of the author.

8. EXPOSITION
It is the background information on the characters and setting explained at
the beginning of the story. The EXPOSITION will often have information
about events that happened before the story began. It is often the very first
part of the PLOT

LITERARY DEVICES
These are tools that writers use to improve their writing and make it more
interesting.

1. IMAGERY – is the use of sensory details or descriptions that appeal to one or more
of the five senses: sight, hearing, touch, taste, and smell. These are otherwise known
as “senses of the mind”
EXAMPLE The smell reminded him of rotting tomatoes

2. SYMBOLISM – refers to use of an object, person, or action that suggests something

else, usually a feeling or abstract quality.

3. SOUND DEVICE:
A. ONOMATOPOEIA – the use of words whose sounds suggests their
meanings.
EXAMPLES
“The bang of a gun”. “The hiss of a snake”.
“The buzz of a bee”. “The pop of a firecracker”.

B. REPETITION – the repeating of sound, words, phrases or lines in a poem

used to emphasize an idea or convey a certain feeling.
EXAMPLES
“The isolation during my vacation created a situation of relation”.
“I think I can, I think I can, I think I can, I think I can…”
 C. ASSONANCE – repetition of VOWEL SOUNDS at the BEGINNING, MIDDLE
or END of at least two words in a line of poetry.
EXAMPLE “I must confess That in my quest I felt depressed
And restless.”
“The rain in Spain falls mainly in the plains.”

D. CONSONANCE – repetition of CONSONANT SOUNDS at the

BEGINNING,MIDDLE or END of at least two words in a line of poetry.
EXAMPLE Repetition of “sh” sound in the words:
“shush,” ‘wish,” “cushion,” and “quash”

E. ALLITERATION – repetition of CONSONANT SOUNDS at the BEGINNING of

at least two words in a line of poetry.
EXAMPLE She sells seashells by the sea shore

4. MOOD – refers to the general sense or feeling the reader is supposed to get from the
text. It does not describe the author’s or character’s state of mind.

5. TONE – describes the apparent attitude of the speaker or narrator toward the subject. It
refers only to narrative voice; not to the author or characters.
EXAMPLE
The tone is at times serious and frightening, but also reflects Rikki’s
playful side.

6. IRONY – is a literary device in which a statement, person, or situation is

not as it seems.
TYPES OF IRONY
Verbal: when a speaker says one thing but means another
ex.Sarcasm

Dramatic: is inherent in speeches or a situation of a drama and is understood by

the audience but not grasped by the characters in the play.
DRAMATIC IRONY EXAMPLE
Two people are engaged to be married but the audience knows that the man is
planning to run away with another woman.
In a scary movie, the character walks into a house and the audience knows the
killer is in the house.

TYPES OF IRONY
Situational: occurs when incongruity appears between expectations of something
to happen, and what actually happens instead.
Figurative and Literal Language
Literally: words function exactly as defined (The car is blue.)
Figuratively: figure out what it means (I’ve got your back.)

–-Figure of Speech is a device used for descriptive effect in order to convey ideas
or emotions which are not literally true but express some truth beyond the literal
level.

Personification – giving human characteristics to something that is non human

EXAMPLE
●​ Opportunity was knocking at her door

Metaphor – comparing two things by using one thing/object in place of another to​
suggest the likeness between them. It does not use the words “like” or “as”.
EXAMPLES
●​ Her lovely voice was music to his ears.
●​ My teacher is a dragon.
●​ Kisses are the flowers of affection.
●​ Ben’s temper was a volcano, ready to explode.

Simile – comparing two unlike things using the words “like” or “as”.
EXAMPLES
●​ The teacher’s stare is as cold as ice.
●​ Her skin is as white as a ghost.
●​ The sun is like a yellow ball of fire in the sky.

Hyperbole – an exaggerated figure of speech, often with humor.

EXAMPLES

●​ It was so cold I saw polar bears wearing jackets.

●​ I am so hungry I could eat a horse.
●​ I had a ton of chores to do.
●​ If I can't get a Smartphone, I will die.

Alliteration – the repetition of the initial consonant sounds in two or more neighboring
words or syllables
EXAMPLES
●​ A good cook could cook as much cookies as a good cook who could cook cookies.
●​ I saw a saw that could out saw any other saw I ever saw.
 Onomatopoeia – naming a thing or an action by imitating the sound associated with it.
Examples: -Buzz -Roar -Hiss -Woof

Assonance – repetition of vowel sounds within words. Ex. Fleet feet sweep by sleeping
geese.

Understatement – expression with less strength than expected. The opposite of

hyperbole.
Examples: I’ll be there in one second. This won’t hurt a bit.

Oxymoron – when two words are put together that contradict each other. “Opposites”
Examples: Jumbo Shrimp, Pretty Ugly, Freezer Burn

LITERARY ANALYSIS
1. Content: the literary piece.
2. Context: the factors that influence the analysis and interpretation of literary pieces.
3. Approach: bridge the gap between content and context.

APPROACHES TO LITERARY ANALYSIS

Stylistics – analyses the features of literary language to develop students’ sensitivity to
literature.
- focus is on style and language used

Language-based – literary texts are seen as means to helping students’ improve language
proficiency
- done by providing students exposure to the target language and connecting
them to specific vocabulary and other aspects of the language.