Basic Literary Concepts and Elements for Beginners

Basic Literary Concepts and Elements for Beginners

Learning Objectives

At the end of the lesson, you will be able to define and identify different genres of literature. At the end of the lesson, you will understand the structure of a plot and its components. At the end of the lesson, you will be able to describe the role of characters in a story. At the end of the lesson, you will be able to explain the importance of setting in literature. At the end of the lesson, you will be able to identify and discuss the theme of a literary work. At the end of the lesson, you will recognize different types of conflict in a story. At the end of the lesson, you will be able to distinguish between different points of view in storytelling. At the end of the lesson, you will understand the concept of symbolism and its use in literature. At the end of the lesson, you will be able to describe the mood of a literary piece and identify the factors that contribute to it.

What do you already know about basic literary concepts and elements?

Understanding Literary Genres

Genre: A category of literature characterized by a particular form, style, or content.

The Structure of Plot

Plot: The sequence of events in a story that includes exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution.

Characters and Their Roles

Characters: The individuals participating in the action of a story, which can be people, animals, or inanimate objects.

Setting in Literature

Setting: The time and place in which the story's events occur.

Themes in Literary Works

Theme: The central idea or message conveyed by a literary work, often reflecting universal truths or experiences.

Identifying Conflict

Conflict: The struggle or problem that the characters face in a story, which can be internal or external.

Narrative Point of View

Point of View: The perspective from which a story is told, including first-person, third-person limited, and third-person omniscient.

Symbolism in Literature

Symbolism: The use of symbols to signify ideas and qualities beyond their literal sense.

Mood in Literary Pieces

Mood: The emotional atmosphere created by the author through language, setting, and events.

Key Literary Concepts and Elements

Genre, Plot, Characters, Setting, Theme, Conflict, Point of View, Symbolism, Mood

Write down 3 things you learned in this lesson.

Have students enter three things they learned in this lesson. With this they can indicate their own learning efficiency of this lesson.

Write down 2 things you want to know more about.

Here, students enter two things they would like to know more about. This not only increases involvement, but also gives them more ownership.

Ask 1 question about something you haven't quite understood yet.

The students indicate here (in question form) with which part of the material they still have difficulty. For the teacher, this not only provides insight into the extent to which the students understand/master the material, but also a good starting point for the next lesson.