CHARACTER CHARACTER: A person or animal in a story.

STATIC STATIC CHARACTER: A character who doesn’t change much during a story. DYNAMIC DYNAMIC CHARACTER: A character who changes as a result of the story’s events.

Exposition Conflict Rising Action Climax Falling Action Resolution

Exposition – introductory information about characters, places, and/or events Excerpt from Olive’s Ocean Olive Barstow was dead. She’d been hit by a car on Monroe Street while riding her bicycle. Weeks ago. That was about all Martha knew. Excerpt from Olive’s Ocean Olive Barstow was dead. She’d been hit by a car on Monroe Street while riding her bicycle. Weeks ago. That was about all Martha knew.

Tragedy – the protagonist is worse off at the end of the story than in the beginning Comedy – the protagonist is in a better situation at the end of the story than in the beginning Comedy and tragedy

Conflict – a struggle between opposing forces (characters, environment, self); this is also referred to as the narrative hook.

Internal conflict – struggle within a character’s mind.

External conflict – struggle between two characters or a character and his environment.

FOLLOWS THE CLIMAX OF THE STORY, MOST CONFLICTS ARE RESOLVED

Annie

Every Who Down in Who-ville Liked Christmas a lot... But the Grinch, Who lived just North of Who-ville, Did NOT! “The bees came the summer of 1964, the summer I turned fourteen and my life went spinning off into a whole new orbit, and I mean whole new orbit. Looking back on it now, I want to say the bees were sent to me. I want to say they showed up like the angle Gabriel appearing to the Virgin Mary, setting events in motion I could never have guessed. I know it is presumptuous to compare my small life to hers, but I have reason to believe she wouldn't mind; I will get to that. Right now it's enough to say that despite everything that happened that summer, I remain tender toward the bees. “

An object or action in a literary work that means more than itself, that stands for something beyond itself.

Skeleton Snake Butterfly Black Cat Rain Fire Sunshine Wilderness Red White Skeleton Snake Butterfly Black Cat Rain Fire Sunshine Wilderness Red White

“…a figure of speech that makes a direct comparison between two unlike things. A metaphor suggests that one thing is another thing, or is equal to another thing.” All the world's a stage, And all the men and women merely players They have their exits and their entrances Her home was a prison.

Cute as a kittenBusy as a beeLife is like a box of chocolates

Central message in a work of literature Not just a topic, but what the author wants you to take away from the work (not always, but often a lesson). Romeo & Juliet—Shallow, Superficial Love Based on Appearance OR Hate Breeds Hate and/or Misery. Despicable Me—The Love of A Family Can Overcome Pain & Hurt

Faith versus doubt Family – blessing or curse Fate and free will Fear of failure Good versus bad Greed as downfall Growing up – pain or pleasure Identity crisis Illusion of power Immortality Individual versus society Names – power and significance Nationalism – complications Nature as beauty Necessity of work Oppression of women Optimism – power or folly Overcoming – fear, weakness, vice Patriotism – positive side or complications Power of words Pride and downfall Progress – real or illusion Quest for discovery Quest for power Faith versus doubt Family – blessing or curse Fate and free will Fear of failure Good versus bad Greed as downfall Growing up – pain or pleasure Identity crisis Illusion of power Immortality Individual versus society Names – power and significance Nationalism – complications Nature as beauty Necessity of work Oppression of women Optimism – power or folly Overcoming – fear, weakness, vice Patriotism – positive side or complications Power of words Pride and downfall Progress – real or illusion Quest for discovery Quest for power THEME: the central and dominating idea in a literary work. THEME: the central and dominating idea in a literary work. Rebirth Reunion Role of men Role of Religion – virtue or hypocrisy Role of women Self – inner and outer Self-awareness Self-reliance Social mobility Technology in society – good or bad Temporary nature of physical beauty Vanity as downfall Vulnerability of the meek Vulnerability of the strong War – glory, necessity, pain, tragedy Will to survive Wisdom of experience Working class struggles Youth and beauty Rebirth Reunion Role of men Role of Religion – virtue or hypocrisy Role of women Self – inner and outer Self-awareness Self-reliance Social mobility Technology in society – good or bad Temporary nature of physical beauty Vanity as downfall Vulnerability of the meek Vulnerability of the strong War – glory, necessity, pain, tragedy Will to survive Wisdom of experience Working class struggles Youth and beauty

Figurative Language There's a ball at the castle And I've been invited And I need to practice my dancing Oh, please, Daddy, please?" So I will dance with Cinderella While she is here in my arms 'Cause I know something the prince never knew Oh, I will dance with Cinderella I don't want to miss even one song 'Cause all too soon the clock will strike midnight And she'll be gone... Language that has abstract meanings and usually includes figures of speech; NOT LITERAL!

Way in which story or narrative is told. Can be: First Person Point of View: This is very simple. "I went to the store. Afterward, I drove home." You're writing through the eyes of ONE person, and one person only. Nobody else gets to play. Third Person (Limited) Point of View: This is the most common form of story. You get to see the thoughts/feelings of only 1 character, not ALL of them. “Robert felt depressed and unhappy after his breakup with Helen. Despondent, he reached for a 5 gallon bucket of GIANT Vanilla Marble Ice Cream.” Third Person (Omniscient) Point of View: In Third Omniscient, you‘re ALL- KNOWING! You're telling an overview of the story through mechanisms that aren't available in Third Limited. You know how ALL of the characters think and feel!

1 st person I did. I think. I feel. I will…. – “My name is Robert Neville. I am a survivor living in New York City. I am broadcasting on all AM frequencies. I will be at the South Street Seaport everyday at mid-day, when the sun is highest in the sky. If you are out there... if anyone is out there... I can provide food, I can provide shelter, I can provide security. If there's anybody out there... anybody... please. You are not alone.” “My name is Robert Neville. I am a survivor living in New York City. I am broadcasting on all AM frequencies. I will be at the South Street Seaport everyday at mid-day, when the sun is highest in the sky. If you are out there... if anyone is out there... I can provide food, I can provide shelter, I can provide security. If there's anybody out there... anybody... please. You are not alone.”

The doorbell rang for the third time before Robert could get there. He turned the knob and felt his breath catch in his throat. Helen looked radiant with the sun behind her, setting her red hair on fire. "What are you doing here? I thought you- --" She looked contrite, but he couldn't understand why. Her fingernails tapped on her faded blue jeans. "I wanted to see you." The words were soft and sounded nearly embarrassed, but he didn't care why. She was here and oh, how he had missed her.

In Class Example

You will randomly select a setting, animal, emotion, and object for your story Before writing, you will map out your story on the Plot Mountain worksheet You must follow plot mountain when writing your story You must include one symbol within your story

Step One: Select a Setting, Animal, Emotion, and Object Step Two: Plan out your story on the Plot Mountain Organizer Step Three: Include One symbol within your story Step Four: Consider what Point-of-view you will write your story from Step Five: Write your story (three-four paragraphs long)