21ST CENTURY LITERATURE

2nd Quarter - 1st Semester

Ferry Sisracon

TYPES OF CHARACTERS
7. Foil
1. Round Characters - Refers to the character used to
- Have various characteristics or stand in contrast to another
character.
traits
8. Anti-hero
- Readers see one or more sides - A character who doesn’t
of the character. exhibit the stereotypical
qualities inherent to a hero.
2. Flat Character - This hero is known for being
- Readers only see one side of graceless, dishonest and stupid.
the character.
- Usually a minor character and ELEMENTS OF FICTION
reveal one or two traits.
- May be used as a contrast to 1. Characterization - writer reveals
the major character. characters by direct description, by
showing the character in action, or by
3. Dynamic Character the presentation of other characters.
- Can change or grow 2. Characters - can be classified as
throughout the story. major and minor, static and dynamic.
- From bad to good or good to a. Major Character - an important
bad. figure at the center of the
story’s action or theme.
4. Static Character b. Minor Character - function is
- Readers only see one side of partly to illuminate the major
the character. characters, often static.
- Do not develop. 3. Irony - may appear in fiction in three
ways: in a work’s language, in its
5. Protagonist incidents, or in its point of view. It
- The main character or hero. involves a contrast or discrepancy
They move against the between one thing and another.
antagonist. a. Verbal Irony - what is expected
to happen.
6. Antagonist b. Situational Irony - what
- The villain which opposes the actually happens.
protagonist. c. Dramatic Irony - what a
character believes or says and
what the reader understands to

1 11 - Nitrogen
21ST CENTURY LITERATURE
2nd Quarter - 1st Semester
Ferry Sisracon

be true. Happens when an around which the elements of the story

audience perceives something are organized.
that a character in the literature 10. Tone - the author’s implicit attitude
does not know. toward the reader, subject, and/or the
4. Plot - arrangement of events that make people, places, and events in a work
up a story. Many plots turn on a as revealed by the elements of the
conflict or struggle between opposing author’s style. It may be serious,
forces. sarcastic, resigned, joy, bitter, etc.
5. Point of View - refers to who tells the 11. Form - pertains to the design and
story and how it is told. arrangement of the parts that form the
6. Setting - physical and social context in whole. It also involves how a certain
which the action of a story occurs. The work is written and done.
major elements of setting are the time,
the place, and the social environment PATTERN/TECHNIQUES
that frames the characters. ● En media res (into the middle of
7. Style - the way a writer chooses words things in latin) - usually describes a
(diction), arranges them in sentences narrative that begins in the
and longer units of discourse (syntax) middle—usually at some crucial point
and exploits their significance. It is the in the action.
verbal identity of the writer. ● Flashback - earlier or past events are
8. Symbol - a person, object, image, inserted into the present or normal
word, or vent that evokes a range of chronological order of a narrative.
additional meanings. May be presented through recollection
a. Conventional Symbol - have of characters, narration by characters,
meanings that are widely dream sequences and reveries.
recognized by a society or ● Prolepsis - representation of a thing as
culture. existing before it actually does or did
b. Contextual Symbol - can be a so.
setting, a character, action, ● Foreshadowing - presentation of
object, name, or anything else material in a work in such a way that
in a specific work that later events are prepared for. The
maintains its literal purpose of foreshadowing is to
significance while suggesting prepare the reader for action to come.
other meanings. ● Frame story - literary technique that
9. Theme - the central idea or meaning sometimes serves as a companion
of a story. It provides a unifying point piece to a story within a story.

2 11 - Nitrogen
21ST CENTURY LITERATURE
2nd Quarter - 1st Semester
Ferry Sisracon

PLOT STRUCTURE, CONFLICT, AND CONFLICT

THEME
Internal External
Plot - shows the causal arrangement of events
and actions within a story. a. Character vs. a. Character vs.
him/herself - Character -
takes place in protagonist
the character's vs. antagonist
own mind. It b. Character vs.
has something Nature -
to do with usually a
choice or character is
overcoming struggling to
emotions or survive.
mixed c. Character vs.
feelings. Society -
groups of
character are
PLOT STRUCTURE
fighting
against the
1. Exposition - sets the scene society and
- Introduces the setting and they fight
characters against social
- Provides background traditions or
information. rules.
2. Rising Action - series of conflicts and Other types of conflict
crises that leads to the turning point. a. Character vs. Supernatural - gods,
3. Climax - also called the turning point ghost, monsters
- This is where the rising action b. Character vs. Fate - fight for choice;
and central conflict leads up to. against destiny
c. Character vs. Technology -
- Place where plot turns or
computers, machines, etc.
‘changes direction’ toward a
resolution.
4. Falling Action - result of the climax THEME
and the conflict is almost solved. - This is the universal message about
5. Resolution - main conflict is solved. the truth or life that is communicated
by the literary work.
- It is express with one sentence;
“Money can’t buy happiness”

3 11 - Nitrogen
21ST CENTURY LITERATURE
2nd Quarter - 1st Semester
Ferry Sisracon

- It can be inferred through metaphors IMAGERY

similes, personification, imagery, tone
of voice, and symbols Image - word or phrase that appeals to one of
our senses. It can help us to create a mental
POINT OF VIEW picture, eat a sound, feel a texture or
temperature, and taste a flavor.
DIALOGUE AND NARRATION
- It can be separated by quotation IMAGERY AND POETRY
marks.
Dialogue - when the character speaks Imagery - is part of a poet's style.
Narration - when the narrator speaks - A product of the poet’s own way of
seeing the world.
PRONOUN CASE - A reflection of the time and place in
First Person I, me, my, mine, we, which the poet lives.
us, ours
LITERARY CRITICISM APPROACH
Second Person You, your
1. Formalistic Approach - focuses on
Third Person he, she, her, they,
them (also form. The analysis stresses items like
character's names) symbols, images, and structure and
how one part of the work relates to
other parts and to the whole.
First person - narrator is part of the story
2. Philosophical Approach - focuses on
(character).
themes, view of the world, moral
Second person - usually for instructions.
statements, author’s philosophy, etc.
Third person - narrator usually isn’t involved.
3. Biographical Approach - focuses on
a. Third Person Omniscient - narrator
connection of work to author’s
tells the feelings of more than one
personal experiences.
character.
4. Historical Approach - This approach
b. Third Person Limited - narrator tells
focuses on connection of work to the
thoughts and feelings of one character.
historical period in which it was
c. Third Person Objective - narrator does
written.
not reveal any character thoughts or
5. Psychological Approach - focuses on
feelings. Only characters' dialogue or
the psychology of characters.
narrations are narrated.
6. Sociological Approach - focuses on
man’s relationship to others in society,
politics, religion, and business.

4 11 - Nitrogen
21ST CENTURY LITERATURE
2nd Quarter - 1st Semester
Ferry Sisracon

7. Archetypal Approach - focuses on

connections to other literature,
mythological/biblical allusions,
archetypal images, symbols,
characters, and themes.
8. Feminist Criticism - examines images
of women and concepts of the
feminine in myth and literature.
Feminist critics attempt to correct or
supplement what they regard as a
predominantly male-dominated critical
perspective.

5 11 - Nitrogen