The

Elements of
Literature

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Point of View (POV)
 1st person
And there I remain, puttering around the kitchen
and wondering when all this will end. Alone with
Queenie, who is sitting on the rug.
 3rd person limited (in the mind of 1 character)

And there she remains, puttering around the

kitchen and wondering when all this will end.
Alone with Queenie, who is sitting on the rug.
 3rd person omniscient (in the mind of many
characters)
And there she remains, puttering around the
kitchen and wondering when all this will end.
Alone with Queenie, also worried, who is sitting on
the rug.
Settin
g
 The setting of a piece of literature is the time and
place in which the story takes place.
 The definition of setting can also include social
statuses, weather, historical period, and details
about immediate surroundings.
 Settings can be real or fictional, or a combination of
both real and fictional elements.
 Some settings are very specific (Wulfhall in
Wiltshire England in 1500), while others are
descriptive (a boat out on the ocean).
 Most pieces of literature include more—or many
more—than one setting, either as
the narrative progresses through time or to include
points of view from more than one character.
Kinds of Characters
 Major / minor
 Protagonist / antagonist
 Round / flat
 Static / dynamic
 Foil
 Stereotype
 Stock character
 Characterization
 Direct: writer directly states what the characters’
personality and/or physical appearance are like
Lucy simply adored cats.
 Indirect: the words and actions of the characters
themselves or of other characters about/ in relation to
them.
Words: ”Isn’t this kitty simply adorable?” Lucy
said.
Actions: Lucy lovingly picked up the stray kitty.
Others: “There goes Lucy again, saving all the cats
in the neighborhood,” Emily declared.
Plot
 The plot is essentially the storyline of a short
story, novel, epic, narrative poem, etc.
 The plot develops through a conflict, rising
action, climax, and resolution. The setting
(place and time) is also important to the plot.
 The conflict intensifies to reach a moment of
great tension when the characters’ decisions
or actions determine how the conflict is
resolved. This is the climax.
Kinds of Conflict
INTERNAL EXTERNAL
 Ch-er v. another ch-
Ch-er v. self
er or ch-ers
 Ch-er v. society or a
large group
 Ch-er v. nature
 Ch-er v.
supernatural
 Ch-er v. fate/destiny
Tone
What tone of voice will you use in this dialogue?
A: You’re late!
B: I know. I couldn’t help it.
A: I understand.
B: I knew you would.
A: I have something for you.
B: Really? What?
A: This!
Just as we use different tones to show various
emotions, writers use tone to express their
attitude towards their subject or audience.
Mood
 The overall feeling that the author aims to produce in
the reader. Mood is created through word choice, plot
and characterization, and choice of details.
 Symbolism
 Symbols – objects, people, animals, colors,
etc., that represent abstract ideas

 Motifs– recurrent images or symbols that

represent abstract ideas
Theme
 Theme is a statement that the writer
makes about the nature of people,
society, etc. It is the writer’s message
to the reader.
The theme of a work is expressed in a
complete sentence, e.g. not love (this
might be the topic), but Love is blind.