Literary Elements and Terms Georgia Performance Standard ELA8R1

Why study this? If you ever want to write- or even tell- a good story, it is important to understand the story elements. CRCT will test your knowledge of these elements.

KEY CONCEPTS Setting Characters Plot Conflict Resolution Point of view Tone Theme Flashback Foreshadowing

Point of View First-person: author uses the words I and me, and the story is told as though the author was a participant in the events. Third-person: the pronouns used are he, she and they, and the author is a storyteller outside of the events. Omniscient: knows what all the characters think and feel

Tone The author’s attitude, style, or manner that is expressed mostly by word choice

Setting Where and when the story takes place Time: Some authors tell you exactly the day, the month, the year, and even the hour that the action begins. In other stories, the reader must figure out the time period by clues in the characters’ clothing styles, modes of transportation, or way of speaking. Place: Stories always take place somewhere

Mood The feeling the author tries to convey throughout the story (frightened, sad, happy, etc)

Characters The people the story is about; characters are sometimes animals Protagonist: the main character or the “good guy” Antagonist: “bad guy” Example: (Forged By Fire) Gerald is the protagonist and Jordan the antagonist.

Conflict Conflict is the struggle or problem between two forces either externally or internally.

Man vs. Man In this common conflict, what one character wants conflicts with what another character wants. Example: Jason vs. Freddy

Man vs. Society The main character(s) does not fit in with society- who goes against what society wants or expects. Example: In Save the Last Dance, the African American boy dating the Caucasian girl.

Man vs. Nature The characters in stories fight against natural forces such as storms, cold, or extreme heat. The natural force is called the antagonistic force.

Man vs. Self This conflict involves an internal struggle. A character must overcome problems within himself. He may wish to do one thing, but be tempted to do another.

Plot The sequence of events which lead to the resolution

Plot structure: (Step 1)Exposition: introduces the readers to characters and explains the setting. Gives background information needed to understand the story.

Plot Structure (Step 2) Inciting Incident: the event that sets the story in motion Example: Forged By Fire: When Gerald accidentally sets the apartment on fire, he has to go live with Aunt Queen.

Plot Structure (Step 3) Rising Action: the sequence of events that occur during which time the conflict develops or builds (puts you on the edge of your seat). Example: In Forged By Fire when the kitchen catches on fire while Jordan and Angel are in the bedroom, the chapter ends leaving you wondering what will happen next.

(Step 4) Climax: the highest point of interest or suspense Plot Structure (Step 4) Climax: the highest point of interest or suspense Example: The final showdown between Gerald and Jordan

Plot Structure (Steps 5&6) Falling Action and Resolution: the events after the climax and the end of the story. Most of the time, all questions will be answered at this point. Some stories “leave you hanging.”

CLIMAX RISING ACTION FALLING ACTION INCITING INCIDENT EXPOSITION RESOLUTION

Theme What is the big message about life in the story?

The topic is simply what the story is about. Theme vs. Topic The topic is simply what the story is about. The theme is the author’s point about the topic.

Forged By Fire Topics: abuse, hardship, friendship, courage, death Themes: Abuse can damage an entire family. Hardships can make a person stronger. Death has no age limit.

3-Step Plan for understanding theme Step 1: Find the “big idea” (topic) Step 2: Pay attention to what the characters say and do that relates to the topic. Step 3: Write a theme statement

Flashback A narrative technique that allows a writer to present past events during current events, in order to provide background for the current narration

a method used to build suspense by providing hints of what is to come Foreshadowing a method used to build suspense by providing hints of what is to come