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Elements of English Literature

While Reading the Text

Category

Element

Description

Examples

1. Structure


Plot

Sequence of events: beginning, rising action, climax, falling action, resolution.

In “Cinderella”: Beginning – Cinderella lives with her stepmother; Climax – She loses her slipper; Resolution – She marries the prince.

Story Sequencing

 

Chronological order of events.

 

In “The Lion King”: Simba’s birth → Mufasa’s death → Simba’s return → Scar’s defeat.

2. Character

Characters (main, major, minor, flat, round)

Observe who is who and how they behave.


 

Main: Harry Potter; Major: Hermione; Minor: Filch;
Flat: Dobby’s master (Lucius);
Round: Snape.

(i) Main Character

The central figure (e.g., protagonist).

 

(ii) Major Character

Important to the plot, appears frequently.

 

(iii) Minor / Supporting Character

Less frequent appearance but supports main plot

 

(iv) Flat Character

A character with only one or two traits, and no depth or development. They do NOT grow or change throughout the story.

 

 

(v) Round Character

A complex, fully-developed character with many traits (positive & negative). They often grow, undergo change, or evolve due to experiences in the story.

 

 

3. Setting

 

Physical Setting:

Time, Place and cultural Background

Psychological Setting: 
This refers to the internal atmosphere, including:

Characters’ emotions and mental states and mood of the narrative

 

Notice where and when the story takes place.

In “A Christmas Carol”: 19th-century London, during Christmas.

 

 

 

 

4. Narrator / Point of View

First person, second person, third person limited, third person omniscient

 

Identify who is telling the story

First-person: “To Kill a Mockingbird” (Scout narrates); Third-person omniscient: “Pride and Prejudice”.

 

 

 

(i) First Person

Narrator is a character in the story: "I" or "we" (When the writer tells the story through a character's eyes using "I" or "we", the character is the narrator)

 

 

 

“I walked into the room.”
“Diary of a Wimpy Kid” – Greg Heffley tells his own story.

“The Catcher in the Rye” – Holden Caulfield is the narrator.

 

 


(ii) Second Person

Narrator addresses the reader

 directly: "You" (rare in fiction)

 “You open the door”

“Choose Your Own Adventure” books
“Bright Lights, Big City” by Jay McInerney

 

(iii) Third Person Limited

Narrator outside the story, knows thoughts of one character. (The writer creates this narrator but is not the narrator themselves.)

“He felt nervous.”

The Lost Child – Mulk Raj Anand

 


(iv) Third Person Omniscient

A narrator outside the story who knows everything about all characters.
(The writer creates this narrator but is not the narrator themselves.)

“He was nervous, and she was calm.”

“Pride and Prejudice” by Jane Austen
“The Chronicles of Narnia”

 

5. Language

 

 


(i)Word Meanings

 

Understand unfamiliar words using context clues.

 

“Melancholy” in a poem can mean sadness – guess from lines around it.

 

 

 

 


(ii)Keywords and Phrases

To Write stronger literature answers

To Identify themes, tone, or character traits

To  Support your answer with evidence

 

In “Macbeth”: “Fair is foul and foul is fair” – important phrase indicating theme.

6. Reading Tools

 

(i)Synopsis

Short idea of what the story is about.

 

 

 

 

(ii)Reading with Annotations

 

Side notes for meaning, references, and explanations.

 

 

 

(iii)Important Lines and Passages

 

Lines worth highlighting for revision. Important lines need to be underlined and important passages need to be marked with a star symbol. 

 

 

 

(iv)Tone and Mood

 

Feel the author's tone and the emotional atmosphere.(feelings)
of the characters.

 

 

 

(v)Imagery

Visualize sensory details in the text.

 

 

 

 

 

 









                                           
                                                         While Analyzing the Text

Category

 

Element

Description

Examples

1. Deep Meaning

 

(i)Themes

The main subjects or topics explored in a story/poem. The big ideas or topics the story or poem talks about. (there can be multiple themes).

Courage, justice, loneliness in "The Diary of Anne Frank".

 

(ii)Central Idea

The one main idea that sums up the whole text. (It combines all the themes into one unified concept.)

In "Animal Farm"Power corrupts and leads to dictatorship.

 

(iii)Message
(explicit)

The clear lesson or moral given at the end. The explicit, surface-level moral or lesson conveyed by the work.

In many fairy tales, the message is “good triumphs over evil.”


In "The Thief’s Story"Love and trust can change a person.

 

 

(iv)Underlying Message (implicit)

A hidden or symbolic meaning that is not directly said. A hidden or implicit interpretation that adds depth beyond the obvious message.

In "The Great Gatsby"Money can’t buy happiness.

 

(v)Essence/ Gist

The overall feel or impression you get from the story.

Essence and Gist means summary too.

Sad and hopeful in "The Lost Child".

 

 

(vi)Title Justification

 

Why the title is appropriate, symbolic and justified.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(vii)Summary and Paraphrase (poetry)

Summary = short version; Paraphrase = rephrased in your own words.

Ozymandias – explaining each stanza in your own words.

 

 

 

 

(viii)Writing Style

 

Writer’s unique way of writing – word choice, tone, sentence type.

Simple and humorous in Ruskin Bond’s stories.

2. Narrative Study

Point of View

 

Who is telling the story and how it affects the narrative.

 

 

3. Language Tools

 

 

 

 

(i)Figurative Language

 

 

Brief: Imaginative language, beyond literal meaning. (used in all genres) For example - metaphor, Simile, Hyperbole.

 

  Definition: Language that uses figures of speech to be more effective, persuasive, and impactful.

  Purpose: To go beyond the literal meaning of words to create more vivid or imaginative expressions.


 (
Similes, metaphors, personification, hyperbole, irony, etc.)

·       Simile: “As brave as a lion.”

·       Metaphor: “Time is a thief.”

·       Personification: “The wind whispered through the trees.”

·       Hyperbole: “I’ve told you a million times!

 

 

 

 

 

(ii)Poetic Devices

 

 

Sound, rhythm, structure of poems

(Mostly poetry)

Example -

Alliteration, Rhyme, Meter

 

 

  Definition: Techniques poets use to enhance the musical quality, mood, or meaning of a poem.

  Purpose: To give poetry rhythm, structure, sound, and style.

Examples:

Alliteration: “She sells sea shells…”

Rhyme: “Sky” and “high”

Meter: A pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables (like iambic pentameter)

Enjambment: When a line flows into the next without a pause

Used mostly in poetry to create flow, sound, and emphasis.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(iii)Literary Devices

Used in all literature
Broader tools to enrich writing and meaning. (
Irony, Symbolism, Foreshadowing)

 

 

  Definition: Broad techniques used in any kind of literature to convey meaning or enhance writing.

  Purpose: To enrich storytelling, build themes, and engage the reader.

Covers both prose and poetry. It’s the umbrella term under which figurative and poetic devices often fall.

  • Examples:
  • Irony: Saying the opposite of what is meant

  • Foreshadowing: Hinting at future events

  • Symbolism: Using objects to represent ideas (like a dove for peace) Objects or colors representing deeper ideas.

  • Imagery: Descriptive language that appeals to the senses

 

 

                                                                                Exam Preparation

Category

Element

Description

Examples

1.Exam Preparation

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1.Reading and Summarizing

(i). Read the text thoroughly with key points and key words.

(ii)Summary
Themes
Characterisation
(Story/Play)

(iii)Summary and Paraphrase (Poetry).





Read the text with key points and key words.

Prepare three major things summary, themes and characterization.


Prepare Summary and Paraphrase of chapters. 

 


Meaning:

Summary- Condensed meaning with a central idea in two paragraphs. (Short Version)


Paraphrase - own words version of each stanzas or text. (longer version)

 

 

 

2.Story/Poetry/Play Analysis

Study all the elements thoroughly: Central idea, themes, messages, character sketch, literary devices, and Question & Answers.

 

Proper preparation of Character Analysis and Character Sketch

3. Character Analysis/ Character Sketch

Proper Preparation of Character Analysis and Character Sketch

Proper preparation of Character Analysis and Character Sketch

 

 

 

4. Value Points

Key points to be written for the questions asked

3 Mark - 3 value points

6 mark - 6 value points

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5. Focus Points

Critical areas from where questions are likely. (frequently asked questions)

 

Board Expected Questions (areas and points from where questions are expected)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

6. Beginning and ending of literature answers

 

Begin the answer with writer’s name and work’s name. Then add one line summary followed by three/six key points.
Finally add one line conclusion matching the question.


Structure the answer properly.

 

7.Names of Authors and Poets

Know who wrote each text – helps in exams and analysis.

William Wordsworth – “The Solitary Reaper” / Jane Austen – Pride and Prejudice

 

8.NCERT Questions

 

Official textbook-based questions.

 

All end-of-chapter questions in Beehive and Hornbill

 

9.Practice Questions

 

HOTS, PYQs, VBQs, BEQs for deeper understanding. (HOTS, Previous Year, Value-Based, Board Expected.)

What is materialism in lost child (HOTS)

 

10.Extrapolatory Questions & Revision

 

Questions requiring comparison, inference, or expansion. Revise all the topics thoroughly.

Compare how two characters handle fear in different stories.

 

 

 

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