Literary ElementsLiterary Elements

MotifMotif

►a word, character, object, image, a word, character, object, image, metaphor or idea that recurs in a metaphor or idea that recurs in a work or several workswork or several works

MotifMotif

►For example, in For example, in Haroun and the Sea of Haroun and the Sea of StoriesStories, water is a recurring image , water is a recurring image prevalent in various parts of the novel.prevalent in various parts of the novel.

OROR

In many heroic tales, the hero is a In many heroic tales, the hero is a “reluctant hero”. He/She may be “reluctant hero”. He/She may be apprehensive to begin a journey.apprehensive to begin a journey.

MoodMood

►The attitude of the author toward the The attitude of the author toward the subject.subject.

ToneTone

►The attitude of the author toward the The attitude of the author toward the audience.audience.

ImageryImagery

►““mental pictures” created by the mental pictures” created by the author which would appeal to one or author which would appeal to one or more of our five senses.more of our five senses.

ImageryImagery

► It is important to note that imagery It is important to note that imagery does not just describe what someone does not just describe what someone sees….it goes deeper than that. It can sees….it goes deeper than that. It can appeal to ALL of the senses.appeal to ALL of the senses.

SymbolismSymbolism

►The use of one object to represent or The use of one object to represent or suggest another. Generally, something suggest another. Generally, something concrete to represent something more concrete to represent something more abstract.abstract.

SymbolismSymbolism

►Can you think of any symbols in Can you think of any symbols in Haroun and the Sea of StoriesHaroun and the Sea of Stories??

SymbolismSymbolism

►Gup and Chupp symbolize the conflict Gup and Chupp symbolize the conflict between silence and storytelling.between silence and storytelling. Gup is Hindi for “gossip” or “nonsense.” Gup is Hindi for “gossip” or “nonsense.”

The Guppees possess a strong propensity The Guppees possess a strong propensity for speech. They talk so much that their for speech. They talk so much that their talk begins to lose its meaning. talk begins to lose its meaning.

Chup is Hindi for “quiet.” In Chup, silence Chup is Hindi for “quiet.” In Chup, silence has been ordered. Some take it to such an has been ordered. Some take it to such an extreme that they sew their lips together extreme that they sew their lips together and sacrifice themselves by starving and and sacrifice themselves by starving and thirsting to death.thirsting to death.

ThemeTheme

►The central idea of a work.The central idea of a work.

ThemeTheme

►Themes are not one-word answers. For Themes are not one-word answers. For example, the theme of example, the theme of Haroun and the Haroun and the Sea of StoriesSea of Stories is NOT “storytelling”. is NOT “storytelling”.

ThemeTheme

►Equation for identifying theme:Equation for identifying theme: Subject + author’s message about subject = Subject + author’s message about subject =

themetheme For example, “The most important theme in the For example, “The most important theme in the

novel is that in order for any society to be novel is that in order for any society to be successful, censorship cannot exist.”successful, censorship cannot exist.”

AllegoryAllegory

►A form of extended metaphor in which A form of extended metaphor in which objects, persons, and actions in a work objects, persons, and actions in a work are equated with meanings that lie are equated with meanings that lie outside the work itself.outside the work itself.

AllegoryAllegory

►Look at the handout on Allegory. Also Look at the handout on Allegory. Also consider the following quote from consider the following quote from Rushdie. Answer the questions and Rushdie. Answer the questions and come to a consensus on what kind of come to a consensus on what kind of allegory allegory Haroun and the Sea of StoriesHaroun and the Sea of Stories is.is.

AllegoryAllegory► ““See, I did think that what happened in the case of "The See, I did think that what happened in the case of "The

Satanic Verses" is that, in the end, it was pretty much a Satanic Verses" is that, in the end, it was pretty much a victory. That there was this attempt to murder a writer who victory. That there was this attempt to murder a writer who was not murdered. There was an attempt to suppress a work, was not murdered. There was an attempt to suppress a work, which was not suppressed. And in the end, the people issuing which was not suppressed. And in the end, the people issuing those threats were forced by international opinion and by those threats were forced by international opinion and by political realities to withdraw those threats. And it seems to political realities to withdraw those threats. And it seems to me that's a remarkable achievement, not just of mine but of me that's a remarkable achievement, not just of mine but of many, many people working on my behalf and with me and, many, many people working on my behalf and with me and, indeed, of the American and British governments working indeed, of the American and British governments working together. Really a collective achievement by publishers, by together. Really a collective achievement by publishers, by booksellers, readers, politicians and just ordinary people who booksellers, readers, politicians and just ordinary people who got very agitated about this matter. “got very agitated about this matter. “

► AND….AND….

AllegoryAllegory► ““Well, you know it's [Well, you know it's [HarounHaroun] a book that was written for my ] a book that was written for my

son, who was 11 at the time it was written and whose middle son, who was 11 at the time it was written and whose middle name is Haroun. Now he's 26, and really in a way I wrote it for name is Haroun. Now he's 26, and really in a way I wrote it for him at two ages. I wanted to write a book that could be read him at two ages. I wanted to write a book that could be read by an 11-year-old boy and from which he would get 11-year-by an 11-year-old boy and from which he would get 11-year-old pleasure. And then to think that, "Well, one of these days old pleasure. And then to think that, "Well, one of these days he's going to grow up and read it again. And I want that there he's going to grow up and read it again. And I want that there to be enough depth in it so that when he reads it as an adult to be enough depth in it so that when he reads it as an adult he gets adult pleasure from it." And certainly in the case of he gets adult pleasure from it." And certainly in the case of that audience of one, it seems to have worked. Then I thought that audience of one, it seems to have worked. Then I thought afterward, you know, many of the books that we think of as afterward, you know, many of the books that we think of as children's books were not really written as children's books. I children's books were not really written as children's books. I mean, "Grimm's Fairy Tales," for instance. Those weren't mean, "Grimm's Fairy Tales," for instance. Those weren't children's stories. Those were very dark, in many ways, children's stories. Those were very dark, in many ways, traditional folk tales.”traditional folk tales.”

AllusionAllusion

►A brief reference to a historical or A brief reference to a historical or literary figure, event, or object.literary figure, event, or object.

AllusionAllusion

►For example, an obvious allusion For example, an obvious allusion appears when Rushdie references appears when Rushdie references One One Thousand and One Arabian NightsThousand and One Arabian Nights by by naming the houseboat the same naming the houseboat the same name.name.

Elements of PlotElements of Plot

►A ExpositionA Exposition►B Rising ActionB Rising Action►C ClimaxC Climax►D Falling ActionD Falling Action►E Resolution (denouement)E Resolution (denouement)

Exposition Exposition

► Introduction to characters, setting, and Introduction to characters, setting, and often the main conflict of a storyoften the main conflict of a story

Rising ActionRising Action

►Where the story builds in plot (and Where the story builds in plot (and sometimes suspense) further sometimes suspense) further developing the characters and developing the characters and conflictsconflicts

ClimaxClimax

►The most exciting or tense part of the The most exciting or tense part of the narrative narrative

Falling ActionFalling Action

►The remaining action of the plot after The remaining action of the plot after the climax; often the loose ends are the climax; often the loose ends are tied up. tied up.

Resolution / DenouementResolution / Denouement

►The final unraveling of a plot. The The final unraveling of a plot. The story often comes to a reasonable story often comes to a reasonable ending.ending.