Literature, the written word, encompasses everything from the
epic poetry of Homer to the sonnets of Shakespeare to the works
of great philosophers, historians, scientists and inventors. Cultural
View invites you to join us as we embark on a whirlwind exploration
of literature many facets.
Through literature we attempt to order the human experience by exploring cultural values. The literary author attempts to evoke an emotional response from the reader, hopefully showing you things and points of view that you have never seen or understood before, and hopefully, will never forget.
Literature, whether prose or poetry, requires sound architecture to induce the appropriate audience response. A proper understanding of the Elements of Literature are critical to the development of the right reader response.
What is a plot?
A plot is a sequence of events, that provide the why for the things that occur in the story. The plot pulls the audience into the main characters’ lives and helps the reader understand the thinking of the main characters and the subsequent choices that they make.
The structure of the plot is how the story elements are arranged. Authors create the structure based on the needs of the story.
So, how do you develop a plot?
Well, there are plot elements that should be in place for the telling of any story.
- Exposition --- the information required to comprehend what actually transpires in the story.
- Complication --- the mechanism that sets in motion the major conflict.
- Climax --- the turning point in the story which happens when the characters attempt to settle the complication.
- Resolution --- the collection of actions that bring the story to an appropriate conclusion.
Who’s voice do I hear?
When telling a story, there is always a point a view, or angle from which the story is told. The story can be told from the:
- Objective Point of View
The writer tells what happens without stating more than can be learned from the action and dialogue of the story itself. The narrator, being objective, never reveals anything about what the characters think or how they feel. The object point of view always appears as a detached observer.
- Third Person Point of View
The narrator in the third person point of view does not take part in the action of the story as one of the characters, but does describe the feelings of the characters, that is how we learn about the characters.
- First Person Point of View
The narrator in the first person point of view is actually part of the action. When told in this voice the reader must keep in mind that the narrator is describing what may not be the objective truth, just their self-interested view of the truth.
- Omniscient and Limited Omniscient Points of View
The narrator knows everything about all the characters. If the narrator's knowledge is limited to one character, even if the characters is a major one, the naratter has limited omniscient point of view.
When writing, keep in mind that the point of view affects the reader’s responses to the characters and the story.
It is also important to describe the characters and settings to make a story come alive. Readers can learn about characters in many ways, including:
- Physical traits
- Dialogue
- Actions
- Attire
- Opinions
- Point of view
The only limits to the types of characters you can create are your own imagination. The critical factor is that the characters connect emotionally with the reader.
The location of a story's actions, along with the time in which it occurs, is the setting. When describing the settings vividly paint in words the sights, sounds, colors, and textures, just as you would paint a canvas in art.
Put all these components together and you have the foundation for a good story. But, a truly good story requires first and foremost a spark of imagination.