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.
It includes descriptions of the customs, clothing, scenery,
weather, geography, buildings, rooms, furniture and means
of transportation.
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.
 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.
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.
EXAMPLE
The bulk of story is suspenseful as the conflict develops,
but the end delivers relief and joy as the garden and the
family celebrate the end of Nag and Nagaina.
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
1. Verbal: when a speaker says one thing but means another
(ex. Sarcasm)
2. 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.
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.
3. Situational: occurs when incongruity appears between
expectations of something to happen, and what happens
instead.
EXAMPLE
A fire station burns down.
The marriage counselor files for divorce.
The police station gets robbed.
A fertility counselor has difficulty getting pregnant.
LITERARY DEVICES
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.)
The 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.
FIGURE OF SPEECH
1. Personification – giving human characteristics to
something that is nonhuman
EXAMPLE
Opportunity was knocking at her door.
2. 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.
3. Simile – comparing two unlike things using the words
“like” or “as”.
LITERARY ANALYSIS
EXAMPLES
1. Content: the literary piece.
The teacher’s stare is as cold as ice.
2. Context: the factors that influence the analysis and
Her skin is as white as a ghost. interpretation of literary pieces.

The sun is like a yellow ball of fire in the sky. 3. Approach: bridge the gap between content and context.

4. 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.
If I can't get a Smartphone, I will die.
5. Alliteration – the repetition of the initial consonant
sounds in two or more neighboring words or syllables
APPROACHES TO LITERARY ANALYSIS
Stylistics – analyses the features of literary language to
develop students’ sensitivity to literature. The 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.

EXAMPLES

A good cook could cook as much cookies as a good cook

who could cook cookies.

6. Onomatopoeia – naming a thing or an action by imitating

the sound associated with it.

Examples:

Buzz Roar

Hiss Woof

7. Assonance –repetition of vowel sounds within words.

Example:

Fleet feet sweep by sleeping geese.

8. 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.

9. Oxymoron – when two words are put together that

contradict each other. “Opposites”

Examples:

Jumbo Shrimp

Pretty Ugly Freezer Burn