Southern Literature

A distinct type of American Literature.

Written by authors who were born in or spent most of

their lives in the South. Tells us what the author perceived life to be like, or would have liked life to be like. The qualities that distinguish Southern Literature from the rest of American Literature is primarily the cultural differences from other parts of the country, mainly the North.

Southern Writers
Strong sense of history
Strong sense of belonging to a place Where he/she comes from is of great importance. A religious base There is a feeling about moral absolutes that run through the novel. Language that is rich and ornamental

A belief in the importance of the community In many southern novels, the people tend to get measured by their relationship to the community.

Common Southern Literature Themes

Racism
The Conservative Culture The significance of family, religion, and community in ones life. A sense of social class and place Persistence of the past Importance of ritual

Exploration of character

Everything in Literature Happens for a Reason!

Genres
Fiction (Not Real)
Drama Poetry Fairy Tales Short Story Realistic Fiction Historical Fiction Essays Biography Autobiography Speeches

Non-Fiction (Real)

Novels

The Narrator (Point of View)

The lens through which

a reader views a story. Point of view is the way the author allows you to see and hear whats going on. See handout on Point of View.

The Setting
Where the story takes place is of great importance to

understanding a novel. The setting is where the novel takes place. It may include historical background, time, local color. Local color is characteristics that set the place apart from other places. The author doesnt always state the setting of a novel, instead they provide details describing the location and/or time period. This allows a reader to paint a picture in their mind. (The use of imagery or sensory details.)

Characters
Static/Flat Characters Characters that do not change throughout the novel. Usually minor characters Dynamic/Round Characters Characters will undergo some kind of change in the course of the story. Usually major characters

Plot

(definition)

Plot is the organized

pattern or sequence of events that make up a story. Every plot is made up of a series of incidents that are related to one another.

Plot Diagram
3
4

2 1

1. Exposition
This usually occurs at the beginning of a novel. Here

the characters are introduced. We also learn about the setting of the story. Most importantly, we are introduced to the main conflict (main problem).

Conflict
The dramatic struggle

between two forces in a story . Without conflict, there is no plot.

Types of Conflict
Internal
A struggle that takes place in

External
A struggle between a

a characters mind.

character and an outside force.

Character vs. Self Character vs. Character Character vs. Society Character vs. Nature

2. Rising Action
This part of the story begins to

develop the conflict(s). A building of interest or suspense occurs.

3. Climax
This is the turning point of the story. Usually the

main character comes face to face with a conflict. The main character will change in some way.

4. Falling Action
All loose ends

of the plot are tied up. The conflict(s) and climax are taken care of.

5. Resolution
The story

comes to a reasonable ending.

Theme
A theme is a main idea, moral, or message portrayed

throughout a novel.
Themes often explore timeless and universal ideas. There will be many themes in a novel.