Literature (Book Assignment I)

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• havo, vwo
• Leerjaar 2

An introduction into Literature

What to expect

Today

• Literary devices (=terms)
  
• Use of the concepts

Next week

•  Analyse fairy tale

Literary devices

The 5 devices are:

1. Point of view
2. Character
3. Setting
4. Theme
5. Genre
6. Storyline

Point of View

A position or perspective from which the story is told

Common POVs

• First person POV   (I perspective)
• Third person POV (He perspective)
• Omniscient POV   (All knowing perspective)

Character

A person or animal that has impact on the story

• Protagonist: main character
• Antagonist: opponent of main character

Two types of characters:

• Static / flat
• Dynamic / round 

Dynamic/round character

Static character

• Many details are given about the character. Think of appearance, personality, relationships etc. 
• Development or growth within the story
• Big impact on the story 

• Just a few details are given.
• No development or growth over de course of the story 
• Little impact on the story 

Setting

The time and place the story takes place in

Not always specified but information from the story tells you what the setting is.

Theme

The main idea the writer discusses in the story

Not to be confused with genre. Genre is a characteristic used to categorize books, movies etc. 

Common themes in Children's/ YA Books

• Friendships and problems related to friendship
• Parents / divorce / remarriage of parents
• Concerns over grades / school
• Popularity 
• Puberty / Being a teenager

Genre

The name we use to describe the categories that have developed over time for what we read, what we watch, and what we listen to

Storyline and plot

• Storyline: All the events-, and the order in which the events happen in a story

• Plot: The events that influence the outcome of the story

Storyline

Plot

• Cinderella goes to the ball
• Cinderella loses her shoe
• The prince looks for Cinderella with the glass shoe
• Cinderella's sisters try the shoe on, but it does not fit
• The shoe fits Cinderella's foot so the prince finds her

• Cinderella loses her shoe at the ball
• The prince searches for Cinderella with the glass shoe
• The shoe fits Cinderella's foot so the prince finds her

Point of View

Character

Setting

Theme

Storyline

The perspective from which the story is told

A meaningful person in a book, play of movie

The physical location and time a story takes place

The main idea the writer discusses within the book

The events-, and the order in which the events happen in a story

There are 3 commons POVs

1. True
2. False

"Of course, her hopes hadn’t been high; they’d never given her a real present, let alone a cake – but to ignore it completely…”

1. Example of a 1st person POV
2. Example of 3rd person POV
3. Example of an omniscient POV

The main character and protagonist are different characters

1. True
2. False

If you know little information about a character, then it's a

1. Main character
2. Dynamic character
3. Static character
4. Antagonist

The main character is always a dynamic character

1. True
2. False

Time and place are always told in a story

1. True
2. False

Theme is the main idea of a story

1. True
2. False

Storyline and plot are the same thing

1. Yes, it 's just a different word for the same thing
2. Yes, because they both summarize the story
3. No, because storyline doesn't summarize the story
4. No, plot is just the events that lead to the outcome of the story

Activity

Answer these questions while watching the video:

1. What is the point of view used in HP?

2. Who is the main character? 

3. Give an example of a static character and a dynamic character

3. When and where does the story take place?

4. What is/ are the themes discussed in the book?

Activity

Answer these questions while watching the video:

1. What is the point of view used in HP?

2. Who is the main character? 

3. Give an example of a static character and a dynamic character

3. When and where does the story take place?

4. What is/ are the themes discussed in the book?