Literary Elements

Plot

A plot is a sequence of events, the "why" for the things that happen in the story.

The plot draws the reader into the character's lives and helps the reader understand the choices that the characters make.

What do you think the plot of this story is?

Setting

Setting – this is where and when the story takes place.

This can also be a description of what it looks like and how it feels. Ex: Cold, hot, ect…

What do you think the setting is?

Conflict

Conflict is simply a problem(s) which develop the plot and need to be solved tohave a resolution.

5 Levels of Conflict

Person vs. Person Person vs. Self Pperson vs. Nature Person vs. Society Person vs. Technology

What are these conflicts?

THEME

The central idea about life that the story highlights; the message the author is telling the audience.

THEME

Theme is NOT the moral of the story Theme is NOT plot Theme IS the general subject matter

of a work of art Theme may contain a message

THEME OR NOT A THEME?1) Red Riding Hood is about how you shouldn’t trust

strangers 2) Stars Wars is a movie about Luke Skywalker 3) Apocalypse Now is about the insanity of war.4) This painting is about loneliness 5) That story is about two guys who steal a car6) Romeo and Juliet is about love7) Romeo and Juliet is about two families fighting8) I saw a movie last night about survival9) Hansel and Gretel is about two children10) Cinderella is about poetic justice

Tone

Feelings of the speaker or the narrator within the story.

Mood A feeling or

attitude, usually expressed by the audience toward the writing.

FORESHADOWING

A hinting at events that may occur later in the plot.

FLASHBACK When and earlier or previous event is

added into the time order of the story.

CHARACTER(s) Any personalities

who are involved in the plot of the story (people, animals, fantasy characters)

Character(s)

Dynamic These characters

change emotionally and/or physically within the story.

Static These characters do

not change emotionally and/or physically, they remain the same, but interact with the dynamic characters.

PROTAGONIST The main

character that we follow

The character that strives to solve the conflict

ANTAGONIST Usually creates

conflict for the main character

Author’s Purpose

This is the reason the author wrote the text. Persuade Inform Entertain

Audience

The persons reached by a book, radio or television broadcast.

The people reading, listening and watching.

Point of View

POV is referring to who is telling the story. You can only look at the narration to

determine POV. Words in dialogue do not count.

First Person POV

The narrator is in the story and refers to him/herself.

Narrator will use words like I, me, we, us, our, my

Second Person POV The second person is almost never used in literature.This is reserved for poetry and letters.The second person is when the narrator says “You” and puts the reader directly into the story.

Third Person POV

The narrator is telling a story about other people.

• Narrator will use words like He, she, him, her, they, them, their, (and

characters’ names).

Plot Structure Components

Exposition: Where the setting and the characters are introduced.

Rising Action: Problems are introduced to the story. Conflict…

Climax: The problem is solved. The most exciting part of the story.

Falling Action: all of the action which follows the Climax.

Resolution: The conclusion, the tying together of all of the threads.