Introduction to Literature (with
literary terms)
Basics of a Novel
Novel - is a long, fictional story that is broken into chapters. It is a narrative, or
set of connected events, and has one main story.
It uses prose and dialogue to tell the story, which is a creation of the author’s
imagination.
Its purpose – it's to entertain the reader and make him of her think.
Background and setting
This refers to the time place in which the action of the novel takes place.
We understand the characters and their behavior better if we know something
about the place and historical time in which the novel set, as well as the
social, political and spiritual idea that were popular at that time.
Plot
Plot – this is the storyline.
It usually relies on some kind of conflict, either between the characters or
within a character, or both.
Most plots have the following five elements:
o Exposition – This usually introduces the main character, the setting,
the basic conflict and sets the mood.
o Rising action – This a series of events and complications within the
basic conflict, leading to the climax.
o Climax – The climax is the most exciting or important part of the story
o Falling action – This is the action that takes place after the climax,
when the story starts winding down to the end.
o Resolution/ denouement – This is the conclusion of the story. It is the
part of the story that comes at the end and helps us to understand the
plot in full.
, Character and Characterizations
Characters – The people in the novel
Protagonist – Is the main character
Antagonist – Characters who is in opposition of a main character.
Characters can be dynamic (round), which means that they grow and change
during the course of the novel.
Static (flat) – meaning that they are always the same or are stereotyped for
some reason.
Characterization – The way in which the author develops the character in the
story. It can be done :
o Describing their external appearance or personality.
o The choice of their names
o Dialogue
o Revealing their thought, attitudes and reactions to others
o Showing what other characters think of a particular character
o Describing the characters emotional reactions ti the incidents in the
narrative.
Theme and message
Themes – are the main ideas that are explored in the novel.
They are not the storyline, but rather the messages conveyed to the reader
through the story
Examples – love, jealousy, wickedness, prejudice, justice, morality and
poverty.
Style
Every author has his or her own style of writing. Some of the elements that
make up style are the following:
o Structure
Some novels follow a linear structure. This means that all the
vents in the novel happen in chronological order.
Authors prefer a circular style – beginning at the end and then
telling us what happened to lead up to this.
literary terms)
Basics of a Novel
Novel - is a long, fictional story that is broken into chapters. It is a narrative, or
set of connected events, and has one main story.
It uses prose and dialogue to tell the story, which is a creation of the author’s
imagination.
Its purpose – it's to entertain the reader and make him of her think.
Background and setting
This refers to the time place in which the action of the novel takes place.
We understand the characters and their behavior better if we know something
about the place and historical time in which the novel set, as well as the
social, political and spiritual idea that were popular at that time.
Plot
Plot – this is the storyline.
It usually relies on some kind of conflict, either between the characters or
within a character, or both.
Most plots have the following five elements:
o Exposition – This usually introduces the main character, the setting,
the basic conflict and sets the mood.
o Rising action – This a series of events and complications within the
basic conflict, leading to the climax.
o Climax – The climax is the most exciting or important part of the story
o Falling action – This is the action that takes place after the climax,
when the story starts winding down to the end.
o Resolution/ denouement – This is the conclusion of the story. It is the
part of the story that comes at the end and helps us to understand the
plot in full.
, Character and Characterizations
Characters – The people in the novel
Protagonist – Is the main character
Antagonist – Characters who is in opposition of a main character.
Characters can be dynamic (round), which means that they grow and change
during the course of the novel.
Static (flat) – meaning that they are always the same or are stereotyped for
some reason.
Characterization – The way in which the author develops the character in the
story. It can be done :
o Describing their external appearance or personality.
o The choice of their names
o Dialogue
o Revealing their thought, attitudes and reactions to others
o Showing what other characters think of a particular character
o Describing the characters emotional reactions ti the incidents in the
narrative.
Theme and message
Themes – are the main ideas that are explored in the novel.
They are not the storyline, but rather the messages conveyed to the reader
through the story
Examples – love, jealousy, wickedness, prejudice, justice, morality and
poverty.
Style
Every author has his or her own style of writing. Some of the elements that
make up style are the following:
o Structure
Some novels follow a linear structure. This means that all the
vents in the novel happen in chronological order.
Authors prefer a circular style – beginning at the end and then
telling us what happened to lead up to this.
