Academically Discussing
Literature
By: Sean Savoie
Once again in keeping with our topic of narration, I should now clarify the terms used in an academic setting to discuss a story. Understanding the jargon, specialized terms, that are used to evaluate and comment on literature is essential for scoring well on the English Regents Test, as well as attaining high grades in a college or University English course. Those of you who enjoy discussing books with friends or are involved in book clubs should also take special note.
There are two distinct facets of a work of literature that must be considered to converse or write about a book. These are called “literary elements” and “literary techniques”. Before going into examples of these aspects of a story, I should first define these terms for those readers who are not familiar with them. Literary elements are the qualities of a story to which any reader can relate. These elements include the description of the place, time, ideas, characters, conflicts, and general feeling of the story. The literary techniques are the methods that a writer employs to create the artistic qualities of the story. These techniques have an influence on the reader, allowing that reader to relate to the story in a certain way. It would be best to first explain these elements and techniques more clearly and then give examples.
Literary Elements:
Plot: the order in which the events in the story occur. In other words, the general story line. The plot is what a person may explain if another person asks what happens in the story.
Setting: the time and place in which the
story occurs, such as:
Theme(s): the ideas that are expressed in the story, such as “love, honesty, friendship, commitment, poverty, disappointment, bravery, etc… These are usually expressed as abstract nouns.
Point of view: the relationship the author has to the story. If the author is in the story, this is called 1st person point of view. If the author is not in the story, this author may write in a way that shows he or she knows the characters and situation in a limited way, which is called semi-omniscient narration. If the author knows everything about the thinking of the characters and the situation, this is called omniscient narration. Omniscient means “all-knowing”
Characterization: the development of the personalities and qualities of the people in the story. This element includes an understanding of how the author beings the reader to a deeper understanding about who the character really is.
Conflict: the problem or challenge in the story. A conflict may take many forms, such as: person against person, person against nature, person against machine, person against society, person against him or herself, person against the unknown, etc…
Tone: the mood or feeling of the story. A story may be joyful, humorous, sarcastic, dark, mysterious, etc…
Climax: the
Resolution: the way that the story comes to an end after the climax
Some common
Literary Techniques:
Metaphor: the use of an object or image to describe a more complex idea in a comparison. For example, “Life is a flower.”
Simile: the use of an object or image to describe a more complex idea in a comparison by using the words like or as. For example, “Life is like a flower.”
Analogy: the comparison of two relationships. (W is to X like Y is to Z). For example, my cousin and I are like oil and water.
Allegory: the use of a story to symbolize another situation or idea. Fairy tales such as the “Three Little Pigs” and “Sleeping Beauty” are allegories.
Imagery: the use of visual symbols and images to create a feeling or significant meaning in a story.
Personification: the use of words that describe human actions to depict the movement or quality of things. For example, “The wind cried out to me.” Or, “The leaves danced around the park.”
Hyperbole: the use of exaggeration to make a point stronger. “The afternoon shift at work was 700 hours.”
Sarcasm: the use of an opposite meaning to strongly imply the true meaning. “She is about as stupid as Einstein was.” (Meaning, of course, that she is extremely smart)
Anecdote: a very short, often funny, story used to illustrate an idea.
Foreshadowing: the hint of an image or action that will come later in the story, such as a storm in a movie often signifying that something bad will happen.
Allusion: the use of a reference to another story
to make an idea clear.
The key to understanding the art of writing lies in the ability to recognize and make use of literary techniques while skillfully constructing the literary elements. Remember that, as a writer, you are in complete control. This control is due to the fact that a skilled writer influences how the reader perceives the characters and other elements of a story. To illustrate the point, ask yourself this; have you ever hoped that the bad guy (antagonist) will defeat the good guy (protagonist)? If you watch a movie and hope that the bad guy wins, this feeling is probably because the director of the film intended for the audience to have strong sympathy of empathy for the bad guy. This is also true in writing. And, in a story, the writer is god!