Structural and Literary Devices

An Introduction

Structural Devices

These devices make up the structure of the genre (type of writing) Different genres have different structures For narrative fiction (short stories and novels), the major devices are:

Plot, character, conflict, setting, and point of view Without these, there is no story

Plot

The term story arc refers to the refers to the chronological construction of plot in a story The most basic story arc looks like this, but most are more complicated than this:

Plot
Introduction: This is the very beginning of a story, during which the setting and the main characters are introduced to the reader. Rising action: This represents the bulk of the story, when conflicts begin to form.

Plot
Climax: The climax is the height of the action and the point when conflict is most intense. The climax usually represents some change in the action that will lead to the resolution of the conflict. Falling action: This is the time in the story when the characters are attempting to deal with conflict and solve complications that arise from it.

Plot
Resolution: If conflict is successfully resolved, then there is a denouement (untying of the knots or problems) and the story has a happy ending. If the conflict is not successfully resolved, then there is a catastrophe, and the story has a sad ending, often ending with the main character dying. Ending: The ending of the story is the point during which all of the loose ends are tied up. For example, the story may have a denouement which includes two characters deciding to resolve their conflicts and marry. The ending would be the marriage.

Character

The term character or characterization generally refers to the whole nature of a person in a literary work. This nature may be revealed in a number of ways. A fictional character may be discovered through his actions, his speech, his appearance, his ideals, and his beliefs. What others say about him, including the narrator, and how they behave toward him are also indications of the nature of the character.

Protagonist

The main character of the story Often referred to as the hero However, may not like the protagonist, and he or she may not do anything heroic

Antagonist

Sometimes the villain of the story The antagonist works against the protagonist and causes conflict May not be a character at all, but a force

E.g. The characters own character flaw may be his or her own worst enemy, not an outside force

Developing Character

A developing character is a character that changes and grows over time in a story He or she becomes a better person He or she learns the message of the story along with the reader

Three-Dimensional Characters

Sometimes called real or round characters They seem to be made of flesh and blood, to have real emotions, heart and soul, and they seem to take on an independent existence Main characters are often three-dimensional They could be developing characters they change and grow over the course of time and as a result of the events of the narrative

Two-Dimensional Characters

Sometimes called flat or cardboard characters Lack vitality and never seem to come to life They express little or no emotion and often are poorly described by the narrator Secondary characters or minor characters are often two-dimensional They tend to be static they are relatively unaffected by the events of the plot and do not experience growth as a result of said events.

Setting

Setting is used by authors to create mood (e.g. It was a dark and stormy night creates the expectation that something bad or scary is going to happen) and the appearance of reality in the story. Setting can also be used to support the theme the author is trying to convey; this is usually done through imagery and symbolism.

Temporal Setting - Time

This term refers to the time aspect of the setting It could be as detailed as the time of day, the day, the season, or the year It could be as vague as a decade in a certain century

Spatial Setting Place

This terms refers to the space aspect of the setting It could be as specific as a room in a house on a particular street in a particular town It could be as general as an unnamed village in the countryside

Atmosphere

The atmosphere is the feeling created by the author to enhance mood It was a dark and stormy night negative atmosphere we presume something bad will happen The sun was shining and the birds were singing in the trees - positive atomosphere

Social Setting

The social setting includes all of the history, culture, and values associated with the time and place the story is set This is important as characters will behave according to or against the values of their society

E.g. In a story set in the Canada in 1950s, women will likely be expected to stay at home to raise children E.g. In a story set in communist China, people would be expected to do what they are told by the government

Conflict

Without conflict, there is no plot There are six major conflicts:

Ch. vs Ch. Ch. vs Self (internal) Ch. vs Society Ch. vs Nature Ch. vs Supernatural Ch. vs Technology

Point of View

This refers to what kind of narrator the story has This is the perspective from which the story is told There are four major points of view used in fiction

Objective, First Person, Third-Person Limited Omniscient, Third-Person Omniscient

See handout

Literary Devices

Good literature tries to do more than tell a story it tries to convey a message or theme To help convey the theme, authors use literary devices There are literally thousands of literary devices for authors to chose from, and they need not use them all in any one story or novel

Theme

The theme is the message or moral of the story It answers the questions, So what? or Why did the author write the story? Some stories have multiple themes, so there isnt always one simple answer

Statements of Theme

When you are asked to write down the theme of the story, you must write a COMPLETE sentence The statement of theme should NOT include any references to the story The statement of theme should be a universal message or moral that can be discussed WITHOUT having read the story

Things that are NOT themes

Love Hate Family Education THESE ARE ALL TOPICS THEY DO NOT GIVE THE READER A MESSAGE

Statements of Theme

Topic: LOVE Themes:

It is better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all Love is the only thing that matters, so never be afraid to love with all of your heart. Love hurts so dont waste your time.

Foreshadowing is

The use of hints to let the reader know what is going to happen to the characters or in the plot

E.g. You are watching a mystery movie and it is clearly pointed out on several occasions that the main characters favourite book is Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens.

Foreshadowing: The key to solving the mystery is going come from that book.

Suspense is

A subset of mood That quality of a literary work that makes the reader or audience uncertain or tense about the outcome of events Suspense makes the reader ask, "What will happen next?" Suspense is greatest when it focuses attention on a sympathetic character https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=07l6HgPDJn0 Monsters Inc. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ucMLFO6TsFM Jaws

Imagery is

An authors use of images to convey the theme of a particular piece of literature. Images are:

Concrete word pictures that appeal to any or all of the five senses (taste, touch, smell, sight, and sound)

Literal Imagery

Provides concrete descriptions for the reader of actual events or objects.

E.g. The teachers desk is brown, wooden, four feet long by 2 feet wide and has a large scratch on the top near the left corner.

Figurative Imagery

May rely on literal images, but brings deeper meaning to the text through symbolism and other literary devices

E.g. The author may describe a beautiful spring day with the leaves budding on the trees and the baby birds twittering in their nest, which is literal IF the main character is making a fresh start on life, the imagery is figurative, too

Spring = new life, Character = new start on life

Allusion is

A reference to another work of literature, a movie, a religious text, a piece of art, etc. that, if the reader knows the reference, will help the reader to understand the theme

E.g. A short story refers a character watching the television show Lost the reader then knows the character probably is lost herself and needs to find her way in life

Personification is

When the author gives inanimate objects (i.e. things that are not alive) life-like qualities to make a point about the theme or the mood

E.g. The kettle sang

Kettles cannot sing: conveys a mood of happiness

E.g. The house was angry. Even houses dont like to die

Houses cant be angry or die, but the house is obviously the antagonist in the story and part of the theme

Alliteration is

The repetition of the same consonant sound at the beginning of adjacent words

She sells sea shells by the sea shore. Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers. like a devil sick of sin

Can affect mood or symbolism

Snake = sin/devil in Western literature S-sound is reminiscent of snakes

Onomatopoeia is

Greek for name of I make A word that mimics the sound of something real

Ding dong = doorbell Clickity clack = horses hooves Moo = cow sound Pop = sound of a lid coming off

Similes are

A comparison using like or as Usually an extreme comparison between two things that are entirely unalike to create imagery, mood, or theme

E.g. He was as big as a house E.g. Like a good neighbour, State Farm is there

Metaphors are

Comparisons between two unlike things WITHOUT using like or as More difficult to spot sometimes than similes

E.g. He is a rock

Comparing a rock and a person Shows how strong he is, either physically or emotionally

E.g. He sailed down the river, excited to see what would happen at each new bend and rapid

The river is like is life, with twists, turns and surprises

Symbols are

Concrete objects that represent ideas or emotions There are natural symbols and conventional symbolsthese are symbols most people in a culture know the meaning to There are also literary symbolsthese symbols authors can use to mean anything they want

Irony is

The most complex of the literary devices The opposite of what is expected or what should be happening in a story; the characters are usually unaware of the irony in the story until it is too late There is verbal irony (the character says the opposite of the truth) and dramatic irony (the opposite of what should happen happens) Irony is funny, but often in a dark and twisted kind of way

Is this Irony?

Student walks into the classroom and sees the teacher shivering Student asks, Are you cold? Teacher responds, No!

Is this Irony?

Character constantly calls his friend loyal and trustworthy Character trusts his friend completely, even when his friend tells him that his wife is having an affair Character divorces his wife because of his friends advice The wife was not having an affair at all The friend just said that because he was angry with the main character

Is this Irony?

Friend asks you to come over to help her get ready for her husbands surprise party You bake the cake, wash the floors, make food, and generally help out You go home and get ready for the party When you come back, everyone yells, Surprise! The party was for you: you baked your own cake!