21st

• Literature


  Imaginative writing with a connection between fictional and factual writing
• Types of literature


  • Informative literature - facts, explanation, history
  • Imaginative literature - aims to elicit thought and feelings
• Informative literature


  Writing which expresses and communicates thoughts, feelings and attitudes towards life
• Imaginative literature


  Has a sense of entertaining display and provides pleasure in addition to the element of 'truth' involved
• The 'truth' in literature connotes the human values encapsulated in each literary piece, both positive (love, humility, courage, loyalty, commitment) and negative (dishonesty, selfishness, lust, pride, arrogance, jealousy)
• The goal of the reader is to discover the hidden truths in literature that would give lessons to apply in life and motivate them to become a better person
• Characteristics of 21st century literature

  • Created within the last decade (2000-present)
  • Written by contemporary authors
  • Deals with current themes/issues and reflects a technological culture
  • Often breaks traditional writing rules
  • Multi-modal orientation/genres
• Examples of 21st century literature

  • Digi-fiction
  • Graphic novels
  • Illustrated novels
  • Manga
  • Doodle fiction
  • Flash fiction
  • Blog, Vlogs, E-mail, 'Chat' novels
• 21st century readers


  • Grew up with technology as a primary learning tool
  • Capable of navigating and interpreting digital formats and media messages
  • Possesses literacy skills and technological abilities: communicate and interpret coded language, decipher graphics, and internet navigation
  • Active participants in societal, political concerns of their country through various social media modes
• Characteristics of 21st Century Prose

  • Themes are of current events
  • Practices intertextuality and classical allusions
  • Varied juxtaposition
  • Often multi-perspective
  • Myriad forms of other cultures and languages
• Elements of Prose


  • Setting
  • Characterization
  • Narration/Point of view
  • Plot
  • Conflict
  • Theme
• Setting


  Provides the when and where the story took place, as well as the context or historical background
• Setting


  • Era/Period/Year/Season
  • Political/social/economic status of the characters
  • Tone or atmosphere of the story using descriptive words (symbols, weather, color, motif)
• Characterization


  The people/animals that are the focal point of the story
• Protagonist


  The main character in a story who is always involved in the main conflict and its resolution
• Antagonist


  The person opposing the protagonist
• Methods of Characterization


  • Flat Characterization
  • Round Characterization
  • Dynamic Characterization
  • Static Characterization
• Flat Characterization


  A character who has one or two sides, representing one or two traits—often a stereotype
• Round Characterization


  A character who is complex and has many sides or traits with unpredictable behavior and a fully developed personality
• Dynamic Characterization


  A character who experiences an essential change in personality or attitude
• Static Characterization


  A character who does not change or develop beyond the way in which she or he is first presented
• Universal/Jungian archetypes


  • The creator
  • The caregiver
  • The everyman
  • The explorer
  • The innocent
  • The hero
  • The jester
  • The lover
  • The magician
  • The orphan
  • The rebel
  • The ruler
  • The sage
• The creator


  A motivated visionary who creates art or structures during the narrative
• The caregiver


  A character who continually supports others and makes sacrifices on their behalf
• The everyman


  A relatable character who feels recognizable from daily life
• The explorer


  A character naturally driven to push the boundaries of the status quo and explore the unknown
• The innocent


  A morally pure character, often a child, whose only intentions are good
• The hero


  The protagonist who rises to meet a challenge and saves the day
• The jester


  A funny character or trickster who provides comic relief, but may also speak important truths
• The lover


  The romantic lead who's guided by the heart
• The magician


  A powerful figure who has harnessed the ways of the universe to achieve key goals
• The orphan


  Reflects unmet needs and the desire for fulfillment and safety
• The rebel


  The outlaw who won't abide by society's demands
• The ruler


  A character with legal or emotional power over others
• The sage


  A wise figure with knowledge for those who inquire
• Narration/Point of View


  • First Person Point of View
  • Second Person Point of View
  • Third Person Omniscient
  • Third Person Limited
• First Person Point of View

  The narrator tells the story and is a character in the story
• Second Person Point of View


  The narrator addresses the reader intimately as you
• Third Person Omniscient


  The narrator is not a character in the story but can tell you the thoughts and actions of all characters at all times
• Third Person Limited


  The narrator is not a character in the story but can tell you the thoughts and actions of a few key characters at all times