Story/Literature Elements and Terms

English 9Ms. Mathews

Plot TrianglePlot Triangle

Plot ElementsPlot Elements

• Exposition: setting and characters• The basic part of the work that introduces the

characters, the setting, and the basic situation

• Initiating Event: introduces the central conflict• There would not be a plot without this event!

• Rising Actions: all of the events leading up to the climax

• Exposition: setting and characters• The basic part of the work that introduces the

characters, the setting, and the basic situation

• Initiating Event: introduces the central conflict• There would not be a plot without this event!

• Rising Actions: all of the events leading up to the climax

Plot Elements Plot Elements

Climax: the high point of interest or suspense; when the conflict is decided one way or the other

Falling Action(s)/Denouement: actions that lead to the conclusion

Resolution/Conclusion: a general insight or change is conveyed

Climax: the high point of interest or suspense; when the conflict is decided one way or the other

Falling Action(s)/Denouement: actions that lead to the conclusion

Resolution/Conclusion: a general insight or change is conveyed

Protagonist and Antagonist

• Protagonist: The story’s central character.• Usually a hero or the “good guy”

• Antagonist: The story’s main villain or “bad guy.” • DOES not need to be a human• any force that works against the protagonist

Antagonist

Protagonist

FoilFoil• A foil is usually a minor

character who highlights the major character.

• The foil may present characteristics or behaviors that contrast with the main character.

• Examples: Donkey in Shrek Tinkerbell in

Peter Pan

Point of View

• Method the author uses to convey the plot to the audience

• Types:– First Person– Third-Person Objective– Third-Person Limited– Omniscient

Point of View

First Person• The narrator is a character

in the story.• Can reveal only personal

thoughts and feelings and what he or she sees and is told by other characters.

• Cannot tell the reader the thoughts of other characters.

• “I,” “me,” “my,” and “mine”

Third-Person Objective• The narrator is an outsider

who can report only what he or she sees and hears.

• This narrator can tell us what is happening.

• Cannot tell the reader the thoughts of the characters.

Point of View

Third-Person Limited• The narrator is an outsider

who sees into the mind of one of the characters.

Omniscient• The narrator is an all-

knowing outsider who can enter the minds of more than one of the characters.

• A struggle or clash between opposing characters and/or forces.

• Internal conflict: the main character is in conflict with himself/herself

• External conflict: the main character struggles against an outside force

Conflict

Types of Conflict

• Internal Conflict– Man vs. Self

• External Conflict– Man vs. Man– Man vs. Society– Man vs. Nature– Man vs. Supernatural– Man vs.

Technology/Machine

• A conflict between two people• Examples:• Joan and Steve argue about bills• Bill and Steve get into a physical fight • Mary is jealous of Suzy's wealth

Man vs. Man

Man vs. Society

• When a character struggles with a societal institution or “societal norm”

• Examples:• Jim is a slave who cannot read• Mrs. Mallard is in a loveless marriage because

society does not permit her to be independent.

Man vs. Nature

• When a character struggles with a force in nature• Examples:• Tom Hanks’ character in Cast Away• Brian Robeson in Hatchet

Man vs. Self

• The main character in the story has a moral/conscience problem within himself

• Examples:• Pinocchio and Jiminy Cricket• Good angel/bad angel • Self-doubt

Man vs. Supernatural

• A conflict where the character is pitted against elements outside of the natural realm.

• These include encounters with ghosts, extraterrestrials, external spiritual experiences, and other unexplained occurrences.

• Examples:• Scrooge is visited by the “Ghost of Christmas Past”• Odysseus angers the sea god, Poseidon whom

makes his journey home near impossible.

Man vs. Technology/Machine

• A conflict that places a character against man-made entities that may possess intelligence

• Examples:– Decepticons in the Transformers series– Terminator– I, Robot

Tone and MoodTone and Mood

• Tone in literature tells us how the author thinks about his or her subject. Tone is the author's attitude toward story and readers.

• Example tone words:– Sarcastic, pensive, encouraging, and comic

• Mood is the effect of the writer's words on the reader. Mood is how the writer’s words make us feel.

• Example mood words:• Silly, hopeful, morose, and tense

Theme

• The main idea• Perception about life or human nature• Not directly stated----inferred• Examples:– “Cinderella”• Fate and destiny

– “Little Red Riding Hood”• Trickery

Foreshadowing

• Writer uses hints/clues to indicate events and situations that will occur later in the plot

• Creates suspense • Prepares the reader for what is to come

Symbolism

• A person, place, activity, or object that stands for something beyond itself

• Allows people to communicate beyond the limits of language

• Examples:– American flag– Dollar bill

Flashback

• A conversation, episode, or event that happened BEFORE the beginning of the story

• Interrupts the chronological flow to give the reader understanding of a situation

Imagery

• Consists of descriptive words and phrases that re-create sensory experiences

• Appeals to one or more of the five senses– Sight– Hearing– Smell– Taste– Touch

• Helps reader imagine EXACTLY what is being described

Allusion

• Indirect reference to another literary work or to a famous person, place, or event

• Examples:– The Percy Jackson series makes references to

mythological stories and The Odyssey– The Twilight series makes references to

Wuthering Heights– The Harry Potter series makes references to Greek

and Roman mythological stories

Irony

• A contrast between appearance and reality• Reality is the opposite of what it seems• Types of Irony:– Situational Irony– Dramatic Irony– Verbal Irony

Simile

• Figure of speech• Makes a comparison between two things• Uses the words “like” or “as”• Examples:– He looked like a penguin in his tux.– Her eyes shined like diamonds in the night sky.

Metaphor

• Figure of speech• Makes a comparison between two things that

are mostly unalike• Does not use “like” or “as”• Example:– “All the world’s a stage, and all the men and

women merely players.” William Shakespeare from As You Like It

Onomatopoeia

• Use of words whose sounds suggest their meaning

• Examples:– Pow– Buzz– Crunch– Hiss