Technical Devices in Literature

In the text, “Reality through the Arts” Dennis J. Sporre explains technical devices that will be seen in works of fiction. Devices include main types of point of view, tone, character, various types of plots, and theme. These devices are important and are substantial to reading fiction as they will appear in literature often.

One of the many devices is “Point of View.” Point of view is the way the author tells the story to the reader. There are three main types: first person singular, third person singular, and third person omniscient. Some stories are told in the narrative form, usually leading with “I.” This type is first person singular. When reading stories in first person, the character participates in the action of the story. Readers must take in account that the characters telling of the story may not be the objective truth. Third person singular is another type of way which the story can be told. Third person singular is when the story is told by the narrator. The narrator is not one of the characters in the story. According to Sporre, “The narrator writes from the viewpoint of a single character, describing only what that character sees, but not in the voice of that character (137).” In other words, we hear the story from an outsider and know how each character in the story feels. Third person omniscient is the last type. Omniscient means having complete or unlimited knowledge, awareness, or understanding. The narrator has the ability to take the viewpoint of any or all the characters. The narrator can also choose to be outside the story, having the freedom to comment on any aspect of the story. The narrator can also have limited omniscient point of view, according to learner.org, knowing minor knowledge about the characters.

Tone is a vital element found in stories that adds to the stories meaning. It leads the reader to the atmosphere of the story and represents the authors own attitude and intentions towards the story. Tone plays a huge role in conversation, as we often hear the words, “watch your tone of voice” because tone portrays emotion. We can tell how someone is feeling by their tone in their voice. Tone is also used in literature the same way it is used in everyday conversation. Sporre tells readers that words have meaning, but tone emphasizes much more meaning, “the words carry meaning, but the way in which the speaker or author says or presents them—their tone—shapes meaning much more than we realize (138).” According to slideshare.net, readers must be careful not to confuse tone with emotion. Tone is the author’s attitude toward the story. Mood is the emotion the author wants the readers to feel. Often times the authors tone is not direct, so this may require the reader to read more carefully and analyze the literature. Tone sometimes provides reader with subtle and powerful suggestions that lead us to greater understanding of the story.

Literature can be exciting to read, but what make it more entertaining are the characters in the story. As humans we can relate to characters because they may be going through the same experiences as we do. Authors draw readers in my inventing a character that people can identify with, and many times we continue reading because we want to find out the decisions, trials, and problems the character faces. Character is more than the identity of a person. Character is the psychological spine of individuals, which is “the driving force the driving force that makes them respond the way they do when faced with a given set of circumstances (138, Sporre).” When a character is faced with a challenge, he or she has many choices depending on the author’s purpose. Some characters may not be fully developed, but might be a “type” of character. For example, www.roanestate.edu states the general types of characters found in literature. The first type of character listed is a protagonist. A protagonist is usually the main character, and most of the time labeled as the “good” character. Antagonist is a character that opposes the protagonist, usually clarified as “bad.” A minor character supports the protagonist. A static character is one that will not change in the story. Dynamic character is opposite of a static character. This type of character changes significantly.  The way the characters develop tells us about the significance and meaning of the work.

Plot is the structure of the story and allows readers to bring the action into coherency. Plot is also like the final puzzle piece, creating unity and finding meaning to the story. Plot is essentially the arrangement of ideas in a specific order to cause an effect. According to www.roanestate.edu, the basic laws of plot include foreshadowing, suspense, conflict, rising action, crisis, and resolution. Sporre discusses open plot and closed plot. Open plot is when the story has little or no resolution. Closed plot is when the story has a final end. Closed plot cannot be continued like an open plot can. Plot is ultimately used to explaining the meaning of the work.

The last element to literature is theme.  Theme is the idea that shapes other elements and consists of what the author has to say. Clues to a theme can be displayed as soon as a reader reads the title, but usually the author will give clues throughout the story. According to www.ci.maryville.tn.us, many people get theme confused with the moral of the story. A theme is more complex than a novel and may not have direct advice or added value to our lives. Theme is usually never one word. It is a statement. For example, for a story about love the theme wouldn’t be “love,” that would give you the subject. Theme would have more meaning, such as “love conquers all.”Theme is not usually directed at readers either, so readers have to analyze the characters, setting, plot, and all the elements that make up a story. All the elements coincide to find the theme.

To conclude these set of elements in literature, Sporre gives us a short biography of the talented author, Toni Morrison. Toni Morrison was born with the name Chloe Anthony Wofford in 1931 in Ohio. Her family lived in the south, but moved to Ohio to avoid racism and receive better opportunities. In the first grade Toni was the only child that was black and who could read. She never received any racism until she started dating. Once she graduated high school, she attended college and that’s when she changed her name to Toni because people had trouble pronouncing her real name. She majored in English, and became a teacher as well as an author. Morrison has earned many rewards for her writings, such as the Nobel peace prize in 1993. Her books are centered on the lives of African Americans as they come to America. One of her most popular books involves a slave named Sethe that tries to escape, and as she has her fourth child she kills the baby because she doesn’t want the baby to live the life of a slave. That book is titles “Beloved” for that it what the mother names the baby. That book forms the first of a trilogy series. Morrison is still celebrated for her work today.

All these elements are used to create a story. Each element adds importance to the story. Technical devices consist of point of view, tone, character, plot, and theme and they are used make a story successful and logically.  

Works Cited
Sporre, Dennis J. Reality through the Arts. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall, 1991. Print.

"Literary Analysis: Using Elements of Literature." Literary Analysis: Using Elements of Literature. N.p., n.d. Web. 07 Feb. 2013.

"Literary Analysis Guide: Theme." Literary Analysis Guide: Theme. N.p., n.d. Web. 07 Feb. 2013.

"Author's Tone." Author's Tone. N.p., n.d. Web. 07 Feb. 2013.

"Literature -- Exploring Point of View." Literature -- Exploring Point of View. N.p., n.d. Web. 07 Feb. 2013.