Literature: is the writing that is preserved and valued by people, helps make up how we think or feel, gives us new ideas, makes us see things in a different way, or helps us to understand others. Literary Elements

3/13/2016Free template from Setting Where and when a story takes place.

3/13/2016Free template from Characters Characters are people or animals (can be real or imaginary) who carry the action of the plot. Characters are characterized directly and indirectly.

3/13/2016Free template from Protagonist The leading character, hero, or heroine of a drama or other literary work. Antagonist A character who is opposed to, struggles against, or competes with another.

3/13/2016Free template from Dynamic When a character undergoes an important internal change by the end of the story. He/She has a new understanding. Static When a character does not undergo any type of change; stays the same from the beginning to the end

3/13/2016Free template from Round Three-dimensional; reveals physical, mental and emotional expressions. (You know a lot about the character) Flat Two-dimensional; uncomplicated character; usually an extra that you do not know a lot about.

3/13/2016Free template from Inciting Incident It’s an event that starts the main character to “go into motion” and take action. Example: the tornado sweeps Dorothy and Toto out of Kansas

3/13/2016Free template from Conflict Conflict is the struggle between two opposing forces. It is the basis for the plot and serves to drive the action of the story forward. There a two types: External and Internal

3/13/2016Free template from External Conflict A character struggles with an out side force There are 4 types

3/13/2016Free template from Types of External Conflict Person vs. Person - a character (person or animal) that is in conflict with another character (person or animal) Example: physical fight, verbal argument, athletic event

3/13/2016Free template from Person vs. Nature – a person (or animal) is in conflict with a force of nature. Example: wild animal, flood, hurricane, sickness, etc.

3/13/2016Free template from Person vs. Group – a person is in conflict with two or more people, a group, or society Example-a person rejects a culture, person breaks a federal law, a group fight or argument

3/13/2016Free template from Group vs. Group – an entire group or culture is in conflict with another group or society. Example-team sports, gang rivalry, Republicans vs. Democrats.

3/13/2016Free template from Internal Conflict A person struggles to overcome some internal problems. There is one kind: Person vs. Self: It is a struggle between opposing needs, desires, or emotions. Example: fear, guilt, anxiety, making a decision.

3/13/2016Free template from Plot The plot is a sequence of events that happen in a story. It is the main storyline of a literary work. Exposition Rising Action Climax Falling Action Resolution

The Plot Diagram The plot diagram contains five main elements (see below) 3/13/2016Free template from Exposition Rising Action Climax Falling Action Resolution

3/13/2016Free template from Exposition The exposition usually occurs at the start of a story. In the exposition, the readers learn about the characters, setting, and are introduced to the main conflict. Exposition

Rising Action This part of the story is usually where the majority of the action takes place. The reader begins to see the conflict develop and interest as well as suspense are built. 3/13/2016Free template from Rising Action

Climax The climax is considered the turning point of the story. It is usually the moment that the rising action has built up to and is the most intense / emotional point. The main character will often change in some way at this point in the plot and the focus switches from the problem to the solution. 3/13/2016Free template from Climax

Falling Action During the falling action, loose ends of the plot are tied up. Usually the conflict and the climax are going through the process of being resolved. 3/13/2016Free template from Falling Action

Resolution At the resolution, the story comes to a conclusion. This usually means that the conflict is completely resolved or is determined unsolvable. The resolution is sometimes also called the denouement. 3/13/2016Free template from Resolution

Types of Plots 3/13/2016Free template from Linear (Chronological) Flashback/Flash-Forward In Media Res (Latin meaning "in the midst of things” is the literary and artistic narrative technique of relating a story from the midpoint, rather than the beginning

Linear Plot A linear plot in literature is a plot whereby the structure of actions follow chronologically (in time order) from beginning to end. It is usually used in written literature because it is the easiest to understand and demonstrate. This type of plot follows the plot diagram exactly. 3/13/2016Free template from Most fairy tales follow a linear plot

Flashback/Flash-forward Flash-forward or flashback is a literary device in which the plot is interrupted by going ahead or back in time. Generally, a flashback represents a memory, while a fast-forward represents expected or imagined events in the future. Both are interjected in the main plot to reveal something important. 3/13/2016Free template from Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol uses flashbacks and flash forwards with the visit of each of the ghosts. He must go back in time to see the mistakes he has made, and in the end he sees a grim future for himself and Tiny Tim.

In Medias Res In medias res (Latin for “in the middle of things”) is a narrative technique where the story starts from the mid-point rather than the beginning. The story usually opens with a dramatic action rather than an exposition. 3/13/2016Free template from William Golding’s classic The Lord of the Flies about boys stuck on an island starts in medias res. The reader is not brought through the journey of how they arrived on the island, but begins exactly where it gets interesting—with the boys’ reacting to their dilemma.

3/13/2016Free template from Author’s Purpose Writers write to entertain, to inform, to persuade, or to describe.

3/13/2016Free template from Author’s Perspective The combination of ideas, values, feelings and beliefs that influence the way an author looks at a topic, usually indicated by the tone.

3/13/2016Free template from Theme The author’s message or the lesson from the story. Examples-family, friendship, life & death, love & romance, good vs. evil, etc…

3/13/2016Free template from Tone The author’s attitude toward the characters, subject, or audience. Positive, negative, or neutral

Mood Mood is the way the reader is affected or how he or she feels when reading the book/story 3/13/2016Free template from

3/13/2016Free template from Point of view is the perspective the story is written 1 st person- from the view of the narrator, using I, me, we, etc.. 3 rd person limited- the narrator is NOT a character but knows the thoughts and feelings of only ONE character. 3 rd person pronouns are used-they, he, she, 3 rd person omniscient-the narrator is not a character in the story, but knows the thoughts and feelings of more than one of them. (omniscient-all knowing) 3 rd person objective- the narrator is not a character in the story nor do they know any thoughts of the characters.

2 nd person- using 2 nd person pronouns (you or your). Similar to self-help, telling you what you need to do or about you. 3/13/2016Free template from