Chapter 7: Literary Elements

Chapter 7: Literary Elements

This chapter is a refresher on literary elements that we should be cognizant of when evaluating YA literature. The task is to use the resources to create definitions for each term using 50 words or less.

Literary Elements

·         Antagonist- is a character, or group of characters, that directly or indirectly oppose the
      main character (or protagonist).

·         Character- a person, figure, inanimate object, or animal that drives the plot forward 
       and serves a unique function in a story.

·         Conflict- a problem (or struggle) between two opposing forces: this can be between the  protagonist and antagonist, between the protagonist and his/herself (internal), 
       and the protagonist and other external fractures (nature, society, technology, etc.)

·         Mood- create feelings for the reader through descriptions and imagery.

·          Tone- expresses the attitude of the author/writer toward the subject or their audience.

·         Plot- is the sequence of events that make up a story; the events can be in a linear
       or nonlinear format

·         Protagonist- the main or central character that is the focus of poetry, narrative, or novel.

·         Setting- the environment and surrounding world that a story takes place in.

·         Themes- the central idea or an underlying message of a literary work, this can be
       direct or indirect message.  

Literary Devices

·         Allegory- the use of figurative language where abstract ideas like love, religion, 
       etc, are described using characters, figures, and events.

·         Allusion- a reference to a person, place, thing or idea that is of historical, cultural,
       literary or political significance.

·         Archetype- a type of character, action, or situation that represents universal patterns
       throughout human nature.

·         Deus ex machine- a circumstance in which an implausible or impossible 
       concept to introduced to a storyline.

·         Hyperbole- a figure of speech where the idea is over exaggerated for emphasis

·         Imagery- figurative language that represents objects, actions, and ideas that
       appeal to the 5 senses.

·         Metaphor- comparing two unlike things using a direct comparison; without 
       using like or as.

·         Motif- and object or theme that repeats itself throughout a literary work.

·         Point of view- the perspective of considering things – it shows the 
       character/authors opinions or feelings about a situation.

·         Simile- comparing two unlike things using like or as- a direct comparison.

·         Symbolism- using symbols to express ideas and qualities.

Reflection:

Literary elements and literary devices are very important when evaluating any type of literature, especially YA literature. I think it is especially important when evaluating YA literature because way too often people believe that YA literature does not have as much literary merit. We all know that these people think that because the books are written for children and adolescents, but this is a common misconception. YA literature is one of the most popular types of literature for a reason. YA literature is filled with literary devices and elements that enrich the text. YA literature, because it is written from the lens of adolescents, is especially enriched in character, plot, mood, tone, and conflict as these are common issues in each adolescent’s life. For example, a middle grade novel I recently read was The Size of The Truth by Andrew Smith is rich with literary elements. The protagonist, Sam Abernathy, tells his story in a non-linear fashion jumping between the present time (8^th grade) and the time that he was the boy who fell in the well when he was four years old. When he is in the well, the reader experiences “deus ex machine” when Bartleby the smart-aleck armadillo who claims he is a unicorn. Bartleby symbolizes Sam’s lingering PTSD from his time spent in the well. YA books are rich in their 
literary merit and their complex structures that often make them more complex than most adult books.