📖 Chapter 4: Literary Texts
Understanding Themes, Characters, and Settings
🔹 Key Elements of Literary Texts
These components form the core of a fictional work and help convey its
overall message.
Title Definition Example
Theme The central idea or message the author A theme in “The Great Gatsby” is
wants to convey through the narrative. the corrupting power of wealth.
Plot The series of events that structure the In “Romeo and Juliet”, the plot
story. It usually consists of exposition, rising centers around the forbidden love
action, climax, falling action, and between two young lovers from
feuding families.
denouement.
Characters The individuals that populate the narrative. Gatsby in “The Great Gatsby” is a
These characters may undergo development character defined by his tragic
throughout the story. obsession with the past.
Setting The time and place in which the story The 1920s New York in “The
occurs, which provides context and Great Gatsby” serves as the
atmosphere. backdrop for themes of opulence
and decay.
🔹 Using Textual Evidence to Analyze Elements of
Fiction
Understanding textual evidence is essential for dissecting a text’s
deeper meaning.
🔹 Analyzing Character Motivations and Traits
To better understand characters, we must consider their motives, traits,
and how they interact with one another. This will shed light on their
influence on the plot.
● Example: Hamlet is melancholic and indecisive, and his inner conflict
drives much of the plot in “Hamlet”.
🔹 Connecting Textual Evidence to the Theme
Always tie your understanding of characters and events back to the
theme of the story.
📖 Point of View: The Lens Through Which We See the Story
How the Narrator Shapes Our Understanding of the Text
In literature, point of view (POV) refers to who is telling the story and
how much information they reveal to the reader. The author’s choice of
POV affects how we interpret characters, events, and themes.
🔹 Types of Point of View (POV)
Different perspectives allow readers to experience the story
differently. Here are the most common ones:
1️⃣ First-Person POV (The “I” Perspective)
● The narrator is a character in the story, sharing their personal
experiences.
● The reader is limited to what this character sees, thinks, and
feels.
● Example: “I walked through the abandoned house, my heart
pounding with every step.”
● Effect: Creates intimacy with the narrator, but we only see one
side of the story.
2️⃣ Second-Person POV (The “You” Perspective)
● The narrator directly addresses the reader using “you”, making
them feel like a character in the story.
● Rare in fiction but common in interactive books or instructional
writing.
● Example: “You turn the corner and suddenly, the door slams shut
behind you.”
● Effect: Creates immersion, as if the reader is living the experience.
3️⃣ Third-Person POV (The “He/She/They” Perspective)
● The narrator is outside the story, describing characters' actions
and thoughts.
● Comes in three variations:
💎 Third-Person Limited
● Focuses on one character’s thoughts and feelings.
● Example: "Sophia hesitated before entering the castle, unsure of
what she might find."
● Effect: The reader connects closely with the character but doesn't
know what others are thinking.
💎 Third-Person Omniscient (All-Knowing)
● The narrator knows everything—what all characters are thinking
and feeling.
● Example: "Sophia felt a sense of dread, while the king secretly
rejoiced at her hesitation."
● Effect: Gives a broad, sweeping perspective of the story’s world.
💎 Third-Person Objective
● The narrator only describes actions—no thoughts or feelings.
● Example: "Sophia entered the castle and glanced around cautiously."
● Effect: Leaves interpretation up to the reader, like watching a
movie scene.
🔹 Famous Example: Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen → Uses
third-person omniscient to reveal multiple characters’ thoughts and
social dynamics.
🔹 How to Identify POV in a Story
🔍 Look at pronouns (I, you, he/she/they) to determine whether it's
first, second, or third person.
🔍 Pay attention to what the narrator knows—are they limited to one
perspective or all-knowing?
🔍 Consider how the POV affects the story—does it create suspense,
intimacy, or distance?
🔹 Why Does POV Matter?
● It shapes our perception of characters and events.
● It controls what information is revealed and what remains hidden.
● It creates bias—a first-person narrator might be unreliable, while
a third-person omniscient narrator offers a more balanced view.
