4H - Literary Terms

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• havo
• Leerjaar 4

How many Literary Terms do you know?

Literary Terms

Words you can use to describe and talk about books.

Characters

Characters are the people in a story. 

Flat characters are minor characters. We don't know much about them and they don't change much.  There is no character development.

Round characters are main characters, they change throughout the story because of the things they have to deal with. Sometimes that change is good, other times it is not. 

Look up: what do the words protagonist & antagonist mean?

Protagonist

Antagonist

Genre

When talking about genres there is the difference between fiction & non-fiction. 

For non-fiction you can talk about:

+ Essays

+ Biographies

+ Autobiographies

+ True stories

Genre

. For fiction you have a lot more variety.

+ Drama

+ Poetry

+ Fantasy

+ Science Fiction

+ Short Story

+ Realistic Fiction

+ Folklore

+ Historical Fiction

+ Horror

+ Mystery

Genre

TIP: For more elaborate descriptions of each of these genres, take a look at your literature booklet p. 25-26.

Are these books fiction or non-fiction?

1. fiction
2. non-fiction

Is this book fiction or non-fiction?

1. fiction
2. non-fiction

Is this fiction or non-fiction?

1. fiction
2. non-fiction

Is this fiction or non-fiction?

1. Fiction
2. Non-fiction

Is this fiction or non-fiction?

1. fiction
2. non-fiction

Setting

When talking about setting it usually refers to the following things:

- Time

- Place

- Mood

In other words, where, when, and under what circumstances a story takes place. 

Time

Place

Point of View

Who is telling the story?

First Person POV

More personal; I, me, myself

Second Person POV

Least common; you, your, yourself

Third Person POV

Gives a more global view; he/she/they

+ Third person limited: Limited to 1 person's perspective. 

+ Third person omniscient: No limits.

First Person Point of View

Third person Limited

Third Person Omniscient

While Bob was planning a special night out with Melany, she was quietly making plans to break up with him. All of their friends would be shocked to discover her plans.

If it was up to me, I would choose the white car.

She was the one who knew all the answers on the test. She had the highest grade in the entire class.

Theme

NOT the same as a topic!

Topic = subject = war (for example)

Theme = opinion about the topic = was is bad

How do you find the theme?

Through feelings of the main character about the subject.

Through thoughts and conversations.

The experiences of the main characters.

The actions and events in the story. 

Theme?

1. summary of the story
2. central ideas in a story
3. the order of the story

What is NOT true about theme?

1. Central idea or message in a story.
2. Writer's opinion/message about it.
3. There is only 1 per story.
4. Usually expressed as generalizations about life.

Relevant Vocabulary

Do the vocabulary assignments 1, 2, 3 om p. 26 of your literature booklet for the vocabulary from A, B, and C (p.26-27).