Studying a literary work

the novel

the short story

the play

the character

the protagonist (main character)

the narrator

the plot

the theme (big idea)

the setting / atmosphere

the extract / fragment

the (key) quotation

Two works, read in Spanish.

The narrator (el/la narrador/a) tells the story inside the work; the author (el/la autor/a) is the real writer. A first-person «yo» is the narrator, not the author.

Detalle → cita → efecto (detail → quotation → effect): name the detail, quote it, explain its effect.

the theme (the central themes)

the character

the protagonist (main character)

the antagonist (the opposing character)

the secondary / minor character

the motive / motivation (what drives a character)

the relationship (between characters)

the character's development / character arc

to embody a theme (a character standing for a central idea)

the recurring motif (a repeated image/object that points to the theme)

A topic is a single word (la familia); a theme is the claim the work makes about it («la familia puede ser refugio o prisión»). A theme is a sentence, not a noun.

Ask three questions: ¿qué se repite? (what recurs?), ¿qué decisión importa? (what choice matters?), ¿qué cambia al final? (what changes by the end?).

Rasgo → cita → significado (trait → quotation → meaning): name the trait, quote the text, explain what it shows. Look at motive, relationship and development.

No — the antagonist (el/la antagonista) is whoever opposes the protagonist's goal, not necessarily an evil character. And the protagonist is a character, never the real author.

the narrative voice (who tells the story)

the point of view

first-person narrator (uses «yo»)

third-person narrator (uses «él/ella»)

omniscient narrator (knows everything, even hidden thoughts)

the tone (the feeling/attitude of the writing)

the register (formal, informal, poetic…)

metaphor — calls one thing another directly («el tiempo es un ladrón»)

simile — compares using «como» («fiel como un perro»)

imagery — vivid sensory detail

symbol/symbolism — an object that stands for an idea

personification — gives human traits to a thing («el mar respiraba»)

A símil uses «como» (or «parecía»); a metáfora drops «como» and says it *is* the thing.

The narrator (el/la narrador/a) is the voice inside the work; the author (el/la autor/a) is the real writer. A first-person «yo» is the narrator, not the author.