types of literature

Generally, a short story has one main conflict that involves the characters, keeps the story moving, and makes it interesting...  There are three common types of essays: EXPOSITO

Types of Literature

Genre – the type of literature, such as a novel or a short story

Fiction – works of

prose that have

imaginary elements

Short Story

 can usually be read in

one sitting

Generally, a short

story has one main

conflict that involves

the characters, keeps

the story moving,

and makes it

interesting

A long narrative poem

about the adventures of a hero whose actions reflect the ideals and values of a nation or race.

Narrative Nonfiction

 Nonfiction is writing that tells about real

people, places, or events

organized in chronological order

biography, autobiography, and certain

kinds of essays.

 The writer’s account of

his or her own life

Almost always told

from the first person

point-of-view, it

generally focuses on

significant events and

how those events and

people affected him or

her.

 An account of a person’s life

written by another person

 The writer usually reaches his or her subject to present accurate information, and ideally strives for a balances treatment,

highlighting weaknesses as well

as strengths, failures as well as achievements

 A brief work of nonfiction that deals with a single subject

 In a formal essay, ideas are

developed systematically and

 There are three common types of essays:

 EXPOSITORY - essays present or explain information and ideas.

 PERSUASIVE - essays present

arguments and attempt to convince readers to adopt particular points of view.

 PERSONAL - essays express

writers’ thoughts and feelings about subjects.

Elements of Storytelling

poetry, or drama includes

some or all of the following elements of storytelling:

 The sequence of events in

a story.

CONFLICT

 A struggle between

opposing forces

 The struggle may exist

between people, between people and nature or

society, or within a

character

 Perception about life or

human nature that the

writer conveys to the reader

It is also known as the

lesson learned throughout

the story by the character(s)

or even the reader.

conversation, episode, or

event that happened

before the beginning of

the story It often

interrupts the

chronological flow of a

story to give formation

that can help readers to

understand a

character’s present

situation.

Refers to the techniques used by

writers to develop characters A

writer may use any or all of the

following methods:

a) physical description

b) a character may reveal his/her own thoughts, feelings, or actions

c) the speech, thoughts,

feelings, or actions of other Characters can be used to

develop a character

d) narrator can make direct

comments about a

character

ANTAGONIST

main character Sometimes,

however, this is a force of

nature or a set of

circumstances against which

the main character is pitted.

that a writer creates for the

reader It is intended to shape the reader’s emotional

response to a work.

has toward his/her

subject.

to another literary

work, or to a famous person, place, or

event.

 Consists of descriptive words and phrases that re-create sensory

experiences for the

reader.

An example of imagery…

Ease my troubled mind

I left my body laying somewhere

In the sands of time

I watched the world float to the dark Side of the moon

I feel there is nothing I can do

 "Kryptonite" by Three Doors Down

PLOT DEVELOPMENT

events that take place in a

story A plot is almost always built around a conflict Most plots include these stages of development:

information about

characters, conflict, and setting

NARRATIVE HOOK

 the point at which the

author catches the

reader’s attention – the

reader becomes aware of the main character’s

problem.

RISING ACTION

 where the suspense builds because complications

arise that make the

conflict more difficult for

the main character to

resolve.

action when the

reader’s interest

reaches its highest

point

FALLING ACTION

where the conflict

ends and loose ends

are tied up.

TYPES OF CONFLICT

 conflicts involve a character pitted against an outside

force, such as nature, a

physical obstacle, or another character A character may even find him/herself pitted against a supernatural force

 one that occurs inside the character; the character must choose between two

courses of action.

TYPES OF IRONY

 Irony is the contrast between what is

expected to happen and what actually

exists or happens There are three types

of irony:

 the contrast between what a character or the reader expects to happen, and what actually happens.

 when someone says one thing but means another A common form of this irony is sarcasm

 the contrast between what a character knows and what the reader or audience knows

POINT OF VIEW

from which a story is told Point of view determines the overall tone of a story,

how much the reader learns about the

characters, and the reader’s opinion of the characters Fill in the chart below with

information about the three points of view that writers use most.

 First Person

 Third Person Limited

 Third Person Omniscient