Four literary terms students should understand before you begin studying that text

Some of my students haven't grasped that background understanding of what we study about fictional texts.  Upon reflection (ooooh, fancy!) there really are four literary terms students should understand before you begin studying that text!  In fact, I’ll add this to the list of things to cover in that crazy first couple of weeks of term to ensure all ducks are in a row before we begin the 'juicy stuff'. 

(The other things I'll cover at the beginning of the year? 

• Basic sentence structure – I’m going to get students to achieve their ‘sentence licence’ – and

• Why English isn’t like any other subject (there’s no one ‘right’ answer and your opinions matter...).

So, what are the four literary terms students should understand before beginning a text study? 

Elements of literature

The elements of literature are the basic things we study about a fictional text.  They include:

·       Character – relationships (including conflicts), development (change)

·       Setting – physical, political, and social

·       Plot – significant events (turning points), beginning and end.

·       Symbolism

·       Significant quotations – not strictly an ‘element’ of literature, but one of the key things we focus on.

·       Theme...scratch that... Main idea

It’s important for students to understand these basic categories to add structure to their learning.  As fancy as we’d love to be sometimes, it’s better to keep it simple by studying one element, then the other.  I always save a solid look at ideas until the end because then we can look at how different elements work together to help illustrate key ideas or one main idea.

I always save a solid look at ideas until the end because then we can look at how different elements work together to help illustrate key ideas or one main idea. 

Theme

The theme of a text is a very general overview – the topic – that’s explored in a text.  Theme can be stated in one or two words.  Eg: discrimination.  It’s the ‘brand’ of the text – the ‘vibe’ of the thing!  HOWEVER, students mustn’t stop there (in fact, to keep things simple, I ban the word ‘theme’ in my classroom); they must describe what it is ABOUT that theme that the author/director wants us to understand (ie, the message).  Which leads us onto the third term…

Main idea

This is what the author/director wants us to understand about that theme.  Ideas must be described in a full sentence.   To ensure this is done, insist on the word “that” being part of that description.  Eg: The main idea is THAT in a discriminatory society, everybody loses – the perpetrator because they fail to learn and grow, living off the miserable emotion of hate, and the victims, who suffer traumatic abuse.”  (Woah, I’m no academic, but ‘that’ really forced it out of me!)  If there’s only one idea (message, lesson), or students plan to discuss only one, then this is the main idea, otherwise, they can discuss, “One idea [creator] explores is the idea that…”.   (Don’t overthink it!)

Aspects of Texts

Sometimes we talk about the ‘aspects’ of the texts we’re studying, but what are ‘aspects’?   Use alliteration to remember this:  'aspects' means all the things!  So, the aspects include:

·       Elements of literature (see list above)

·       Ideas (message) – an element of literature of course.

·       Language features

·       Structural features

·       Purpose and audience

·       Tone and mood

You know this stuff. Perhaps the students do too. But sometimes we're too busy to sit and think these things out to simplify them. Now the thinking has been done for you! Hope this helps!

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