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Helps us understand stories more thoroughly
- Learning about literary elements helps us understand stories more thoroughly. It can also help people interested in creative writing construct their works.
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Jul 23, 2021 · The phrase ‘elements of literature’ refers to the constituent parts of a work of literature in whatever form it takes: poetry, prose, or drama. Why are they important? Students must understand these common elements if they are to competently read or write a piece of literature.
- Language. The most important literary element is language. Language is defined as a system of communicating ideas and feelings through signs, sounds, gestures, and/or marks.
- Plot. The plot of a work is defined as the sequence of events that occurs from the first line to the last. In other words, the plot is what happens in a story.
- Mood. The mood of a piece of literature is defined as the emotion or feeling that readers get from reading the words on a page. So if you've ever read something that's made you feel tense, scared, or even happy...
- Setting. Have you ever pictured yourself in living in the Gryffindor dormitories at Hogwarts? Or maybe you've wished you could attend the Mad Hatter's tea party in Wonderland.
Is it the subject matter? The language? The imagery? The author’s character? The formal elements such as rhyme and meter? How do you know if something you read is literature? Who decides whether a work is allowed to enter “the canon” and become required reading for students?
- Reading the text and identifying literary devices. The first step is to carefully read the text(s) and take initial notes. As you read, pay attention to the things that are most intriguing, surprising, or even confusing in the writing—these are things you can dig into in your analysis.
- Coming up with a thesis. Your thesis in a literary analysis essay is the point you want to make about the text. It’s the core argument that gives your essay direction and prevents it from just being a collection of random observations about a text.
- Writing a title and introduction. To start your literary analysis paper, you’ll need two things: a good title, and an introduction. The title. Your title should clearly indicate what your analysis will focus on.
- Writing the body of the essay. The body of your essay is everything between the introduction and conclusion. It contains your arguments and the textual evidence that supports them.
In literary analysis, those parts can be different devices and elements—such as plot, setting, themes, symbols, etcetera—as well as elements of style, like point of view or tone. When performing analysis, you consider some of these different elements of the text and then form an argument for why the author chose to use them.
Reviewing the essential elements of literature will give you a clear picture as to how to interpret stories that you are reading and also how to implement various elements in your own essays, narratives, and creative works.
Literature lets us live in different times and different places than we can ever experience in our real life. It can put us in the shoes of people whose situations are radically different from our own, promoting empathy and understanding.
