Literary Elements

Story GrammarStory GrammarSettingCharactersPlot ClimaxThemeResolutionDenouement

SettingSettingSettingSetting

Details that describe:Details that describe:FurnitureFurnitureScenerySceneryCustomsCustomsTransportationTransportationClothingClothingDialectsDialectsWeatherWeatherTime of dayTime of dayTime of yearTime of year

Time and place are where the Time and place are where the action occursaction occurs

Elements of a SettingElements of a Setting

Setting

Place

Atmosphere

Time

History

EraLife

Mood

Weather

Feelings

WordChoice

Location

Physical

Day

Use as activator to activate prior knowledge. Write the web on the board or overhead and students create one at their seats. Then as class share and fill in.

The Functions of a The Functions of a SettingSetting

To create a mood or atmosphere

To show a reader a different way of life

To make action seem more real

To be the source of conflict or struggle

To symbolize an idea

Types of CharactersTypes of Characters

People or animalsMajor charactersMinor charactersRound charactersFlat characters

CharacterizationCharacterization

A writer reveals what a character is like and A writer reveals what a character is like and how the character changes throughout the how the character changes throughout the story.story.

Two primary methods of characterization:Two primary methods of characterization:Direct-Direct- writer tells what the character is like writer tells what the character is likeIndirectIndirect-- writer shows what a character is like writer shows what a character is like

by describing what the character looks like, by by describing what the character looks like, by telling what the character says and does, and by telling what the character says and does, and by what other characters say about and do in what other characters say about and do in response to the character.response to the character.

Elements of CharacterElements of Character

Character

Main

Flat

Minor

Not Fully Developed

FriendsRelativesFully

Developed

Protagonist

AntagonistCo-Main

Enemy

Factors in Analyzing Factors in Analyzing CharactersCharacters

Physical appearance of characterPersonalityBackground/personal historyMotivationRelationshipsConflictDoes character change?

PlotPlot

Plot is what happens and how Plot is what happens and how it happens in a narrative. A it happens in a narrative. A narrative is any work that tells narrative is any work that tells a story, such as a short story, a a story, such as a short story, a novel, a drama, or a narrative novel, a drama, or a narrative poem.poem.

Parts of a PlotParts of a Plot

Inciting incident – event that gives rise to conflict (opening situation)

Development- events that occur as result of central conflict (rising action)

Climax- highest point of interest or suspense of story

Resolution- when conflict endsDenouement- when characters go back to

their life before the conflict

Diagram of PlotDiagram of Plot

Inciting incident/Opening situation

Introduction

Dev

elop

men

t/

Ris

ing

Act

ion

Climax

Resolution

Denouement

Special Techniques of Special Techniques of PlotPlot

Suspense- excitement or tensionForeshadowing- hint or clue about what

will happen in storyFlashback- interrupts the normal sequence

of events to tell about something that happened in the past

Surprise Ending- conclusion that reader does not expect

ConflictConflict

Conflict is a struggle between opposing forcesConflict is a struggle between opposing forcesEvery plot must contain some kind of conflictEvery plot must contain some kind of conflictStories can have more than one conflictStories can have more than one conflictConflicts can be external or internalConflicts can be external or internal

External conflictExternal conflict- outside force may be person, - outside force may be person, group, animal, nature, or a nonhuman obstaclegroup, animal, nature, or a nonhuman obstacle

Internal conflictInternal conflict- takes place in a character’s mind- takes place in a character’s mind

ThemeThemeA central message, concern, or insight

into life expressed through a literary work

Can be expressed by one or two sentence statement about human beings or about life

May be stated directly or impliedInterpretation uncovers the theme