deep dive 1: listed below are all the elements of literature you should know. find as many as you can in the…
deep dive 1: listed below are all the elements of literature you should know. find as many as you can in the class period. for each, complete the following: explain the example on a surface level (what exactly it is). go on to explain how it qualifies as that type of figurative language (show what you know). elements of literature list: element | example and explanation setting plot characterization conflict point of view theme multiple layers mood tone diction syntax juxtaposition perspective
Answer
Answer:
| Element | Example and Explanation |
|---|---|
| Setting | Example: In The Great Gatsby, the 1920s Long - Island and New York City are settings. Explanation: The setting is the time and place in which a story occurs. It includes geographical location, historical period, social environment etc. The 1920s setting in The Great Gatsby helps create the backdrop for the themes of wealth, decadence, and the American Dream. Figurative language: The "valley of ashes" is a metaphorical description of the setting, representing moral decay. |
| Plot | Example: In Romeo and Juliet, two star - crossed lovers from feuding families fall in love and ultimately die. Explanation: The plot is the sequence of events in a story. It includes the exposition (introduction of characters and setting), rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution. Figurative language: The "star - crossed lovers" is an example of personification of the stars as having a hand in the lovers' fate. |
| Characterization | Example: In To Kill a Mockingbird, Atticus Finch is characterized as a moral, just, and wise man. Explanation: Characterization is how an author reveals the personality of a character. It can be through direct description (telling the reader about the character) or indirect (showing the character's actions, speech, thoughts etc.). Figurative language: Atticus's description as a "moral compass" is a metaphor for his guiding principles. |
| Conflict | Example: In 1984, Winston Smith has an internal conflict between his desire for freedom and his fear of the Party, and an external conflict with the totalitarian regime. Explanation: Conflict is the struggle between opposing forces in a story. It can be internal (within a character) or external (character vs. character, character vs. society, character vs. nature etc.). Figurative language: The "thought police" is a metonymy for the all - seeing surveillance of the Party. |
| Point of View | Example: In The Catcher in the Rye, the story is told from the first - person point of view of Holden Caulfield. Explanation: Point of view is the perspective from which a story is told. First - person uses "I", third - person limited focuses on one character's thoughts and feelings, and third - person omniscient knows the thoughts and feelings of all characters. Figurative language: Holden's use of hyperbole like "I'm quite illiterate, but I read a lot" shows his self - deprecating and exaggerated way of speaking. |
| Theme | Example: In Of Mice and Men, the theme of loneliness is explored through the characters' lives. Explanation: A theme is the central idea or message of a work of literature. It can be about human nature, society, or life in general. Figurative language: The title itself is a reference to Robert Burns' poem, "To a Mouse", which contains the line "The best - laid schemes o' mice an' men / Gang aft agley", a metaphor for how plans often go wrong. |
| Multiple Layers | Example: In The Divine Comedy, there are literal, allegorical, moral, and anagogical layers. Explanation: Multiple layers mean that a work can be interpreted on different levels. The literal level is what happens in the story, the allegorical level represents abstract ideas, the moral level gives lessons, and the anagogical level relates to the afterlife. Figurative language: The entire journey through Hell, Purgatory, and Heaven is an extended metaphor for the soul's journey to salvation. |
| Mood | Example: In The Tell - Tale Heart, the mood is one of suspense and horror. Explanation: Mood is the general atmosphere or feeling created in a story. It is often established through setting, description, and tone. Figurative language: The "beating of the old man's heart" is a personification of the narrator's guilt, adding to the mood of anxiety. |
| Tone | Example: In A Modest Proposal, the tone is satirical. Explanation: Tone is the author's attitude towards the subject matter or the audience. It can be serious, humorous, ironic, etc. In A Modest Proposal, Swift uses satire to criticize the British treatment of the Irish poor. Figurative language: The "modest proposal" itself is a euphemism for the extreme and immoral suggestion of selling Irish children as food. |
| Diction | Example: In Edgar Allan Poe's poems, his choice of words like "ebony", "nevermore", and "sorrow" creates a dark, melancholic atmosphere. Explanation: Diction refers to the author's choice of words. It can be formal, informal, archaic, etc. and affects the tone, mood, and meaning of the text. Figurative language: The repetition of "nevermore" is an example of anaphora, enhancing the poem's mournful tone. |
| Syntax | Example: In James Joyce's Ulysses, the long, complex sentences and stream - of - consciousness style are part of his syntax. Explanation: Syntax is the arrangement of words and phrases to create well - formed sentences in a language. It can affect the rhythm, pace, and meaning of the text. Figurative language: The fragmented sentences in stream - of - consciousness writing can be seen as a representation of the fragmented nature of human thought, a form of metaphor. |
| Juxtaposition | Example: In Pride and Prejudice, the juxtaposition of Elizabeth Bennet's intelligence and independence with her mother's vulgarity and obsession with marriage. Explanation: Juxtaposition is the placement of two contrasting elements side by side. It can highlight differences, create tension, or emphasize a theme. Figurative language: The contrast between the two characters can be seen as a form of irony, a type of figurative language. |
| Perspective | Example: In The Handmaid's Tale, the perspective of Offred gives a view into the dystopian world of Gilead from a female, oppressed point of view. Explanation: Perspective is related to point of view but can also refer to the way a character or the author sees the world. It can be influenced by factors like gender, class, and culture. Figurative language: Offred's description of her "wings" (the bonnet she has to wear) is a metaphor for her restricted freedom. |
Brief Explanations:
Each element of literature is defined with an example from well - known literary works. The explanations cover what the element is, how it functions in a story, and an example of figurative language related to it. This provides a surface - level understanding and shows how figurative language can be used in relation to each element.