Literary Elements

Literary Elements:

• Antagonist – character or group of characters that stand in opposition to and work against the protagonist (hero) of the story. In some cases an antagonist may exist within the protagonist causing inner conflict.
• Character - one of the people (or animals) in the story.
• Conflict - a struggle between two opposing forces, usually a protagonist and an antagonist. Four basic conflicts: person against person, person against self, person against society, and person against nature.
• Mood And Tone - the feeling or vibe a piece of literature is intended to create in a reader through words and descriptions. An attitude of a writer toward a subject or audience.
• Plot - the events that make up a story and follow a plan called a plot line.
• Protagonist - the main character or leading figure in a story, usually a good or heroic type.
• Setting - the place and time in which a story takes place. Social conditions, historical time, geographical locations, weather, immediate surroundings, and timing are all different aspects of setting. It has its three major components; social environment, place and time.
• Themes - a message about life or human nature stated or suggested by the author, the underlying meaning of a literary work. 

Literary Devices:

• Allegory - a symbolism device where greater, more abstract ideas are conveyed with more tangible examples through characters, figures, and events in a literary work.
• Allusion - an indirect reference to a well-known person, place, event, literary work, or work of art made by the author, leaving the reader to make the connection.
• Archetype - a character, action, or situation that represents a universal pattern of human nature. It employs the use of a famous concept, person or object to convey a wealth of meaning.
• Deus ex machina - refers to when an improbable concept or character is introduced into a storyline for the purpose of resolving its conflict and bringing about a pleasing solution.
• Hyperbole - exaggeration of ideas for the sake of emphasis. Often has a humorous effect created by overstatement.
• Imagery - words or phrases that appeal to our senses.
• Metaphor - one subject is implied to be another so as to draw a comparison between their similarities and shared traits. The comparison is either implicit, implied, or hidden.
• Motif - any element, subject, or idea that repeats itself throughout a literary work.
• Point of view - perspective from which the story is told. It shows the reader the opinion or feelings of the individuals involved in a situation. (Ex: First-person, third-person).
• Simile -  a comparison showing similarities between different things using the words "like" or "as."
• Symbolism - the use of a person, place, thing, or action that represents something beyond itself, most often something concrete or tangible that represents an abstract idea. 

It has been a while since I have delved this deep into literary devices and elements, so this assignment has been really helpful in brushing up my knowledge of each. I think it's helpful to be able to apply these definitions as I read books and as I teach literature to students. I think it really brings depth and greater understanding and appreciation to a book to know all of these things that make up the story. They are also useful to include when reviewing a book. It can add depth to a summary and review that will further encourage students to want to read a book.