Literary Elements

• Plot
  Plot is the sequence of events in a literary work. In most novels, dramas, short stories, and narrative poems, the plot involves both characters and a central conflict. The plot usually begins with an exposition that introduces the setting, the characters, and the basic situation. This is followed by the inciting incident, which introduces the central conflict. The conflict then increases during the development until it reaches a high point of interest or suspense, the climax. All the events leading up to the climax make up the rising action. The climax is followed by the falling action, which leads to the resolution, or end, of the central conflict. Any events that occur after the resolution make up the dénouement.
  
  
• Setting
  The setting of a literary work is the time and place of the action. Time can include not only the historical period - past present or future - but also a specific year, season, or time of day. Place may involve not only the geographical place - a region, country, state, or town - but also the social, economic, or cultural environment.
  
  
• Point of View
  Defines the author's choice of narrator, usually in the first person, third person omniscient, or third person limited.
  
  
• Characterization
  Characterization is the act of creating and developing a character. In direct characterization, the author directly states a character's traits. In indirect characterization, an author tells what a character looks like, does, and says and how other characters react to him or her. It is up to the reader to draw conclusions about the character based on this indirect information.
  
  
• Theme
  The theme of a literary work is an insight about life or human nature that the writer presents to the reader.
  Go to the Themes page to explore the themes in THE PIGMAN.

Literary Techniques

• Antagonist
  The antagonist is a character or force in conflict with the main character, or protagonist.
  
  
• Character
  A character is a person or an animal who takes part in the action of a literary work. The main character is the most important character in the story. This character often changes in some important way as a result of the story's events. Characters are sometimes classified as round or flat, or dynamic or static. A round character shows many different traits - faults as well as virtues. A flat character is a character who appears to be one-sided and primarily demonstrates one trait. A dynamic character develops and grows during the course of the story. A static character does not change.
  
  
• Conflict
  A conflict is a struggle between opposing forces. Characters in conflict form the basis of stories, novels, and plays.
  There are two kinds of conflict: external and internal. In an external conflict, the main character struggles against an outside force. An internal conflict involves a character in conflict with himself or herself. The four major conflicts in literature are character vs. character, character vs. nature, character vs. society (external), character vs. self (internal).
  
  
• Epic
  An epic is a long narrative poem about the deeds of gods or heros.
  
  
• Flashback
  A flashback is a section of a literary work that interrupts the sequence of events to relate an event of an earlier time. Normally, events are told in chronological order, the order in which they happen in time. A flashback, however, interrupts chronological order to go back to an earlier time. A flashback may be a short part of the story, or the story may be built around a flashback.
  
  
• Foreshadowing
  Foreshadowing is the use in a literary work of clues that suggest events that have yet to occur. Use of this technique helps to create suspense, keeping readers wondering and speculating about what will happen next.
  
  
• Irony
  Irony is the general name given to literary techniques that involve differences between appearance and reality, expectation and result, or meaning and intention. In verbal irony words are used to suggest the opposite of what is meant. In dramatic irony there is a contradiction between what a character thinks and what the reader or audience knows to be true. In irony of situation, an event occurs that directly contradicts the expectations of the characters, the reader or the audience.
  
  
• Protagonist
  The protagonist is the main character in a literary work.
  
  
• Suspense
  Suspense is a feeling of curiosity or uncertainty about the outcome of events in a literary work. Writers create suspense by raising questions in the minds of their readers.
  
  
• Tone / Voice
  The tone of a literary work is the writer's attitude toward his or her audience or subject. The tone can often be described by a single adjective such as formal or informal,serious or playful, bitter, or ironic.