Literary Elements Why reading can be fun!

Plot Elements What is a story made of?

Plot Map climax falling action rising action exposition resolution

Exposition Is the introduction of the story. There are 3 main elements included in the exposition: Characters Setting Conflict

Exposition Characters: There is always a ‘protagonist’ and an ‘antagonist’. Protagonist: Person who is the main character Usually has a ‘cause’ Could be deemed ‘the good guy’ Is usually dynamic (change during the story)

Exposition Characters: Antagonist: Person who is opposite of the Protagonist Causes problems for the Protagonist Could be considered the ‘bad guy’ Is usually static (doesn’t change during the story)

Exposition Setting: Is where and when a story takes place. Like a personal narrative, this might not be explicitly written, so the reader has to infer where and when, based on what was read.

Exposition Conflict: Is the main problem in the story. Always involves the Protagonist and usually Antagonist. Often, more than one kind of conflict can take place at the same time. Conflict creates understanding of a character and creates interest in a story.

Exposition Conflict: There are 4 different types of conflict: Man vs. Self Man vs. Man Man vs. Society Man vs. Nature

Exposition Conflict: Man vs. Self Internal conflict (inside) Is a good test of a character’s personality How a character deals with internal conflict is a good clue to that character’s inner strength.

Exposition Conflict: Man vs. Self Example: A guy has to decide whether to fight someone else, or to walk away. A girl has to decide whether or not to ditch class. A student has to decide between getting a job over the summer, or taking summer classes.

Exposition Conflict: Man vs. Man Conflict that pits one person against the other. Probably the most popular conflict in literature.

Exposition Conflict: Man vs. Man Example: Spiderman vs. The Green Goblin Popeye vs. Bluto

Exposition Conflict: Man vs. Society Society’s values and customs are being challenged by someone. A character may come to an untimely end as a result of his or her own beliefs. A character may convince others of his or her beliefs, or it may be decided in the end, that society was right after all.

Exposition Conflict: Man vs. Society Example: A guy who fights against ‘Ladies Night’ because he felt it is discriminatory. Anyone trying to overturn a huge organization like the government.

Exposition Conflict: Man vs. Nature A run-in with the forces of nature. Shows the insignificance of human life against ‘big picture’ (universe). Also tests the limits of a person’s strength and will to live.

Exposition Conflict: Man vs. Nature Example: Anything humans can not control Tornadoes Hurricanes Fire Lightening

Rising Action These events mainly consist of: complications Are the events occurring in a story that build up, or ‘rise’ to a certain point. These events mainly consist of: complications Which are events that intensify, or make the conflict worse.

Climax the ‘turning point’ or the most exciting part of the story. The story starts to change, or turn around here is what the rising action is leading up to.

Example: Definition: Theme Visual: Non-Example:

Theme Is the author’s message about life that he/she is trying to tell the reader through his/her story. Is NOT the subject of the story. The subject is what the story is about, or the topic.

Theme A theme makes a statement about that topic. Ex: a story could be about a kid with bad grades and works to pass his classes, BUT the theme could be the idea that people have to work hard for what they want.

theme Examples of Theme: Forrest Gump – life is unpredictable Finding Nemo – never underestimate yourself The Grasshopper and the Ants – don’t procrastinate

theme Examples of Theme: Think/Pair/Share Think of what could be the theme of each of these stories, Pair up with a partner, Share your idea with him/her

theme A Christmas Carol The Ugly Duckling money shouldn’t control lives Cinderella good things come to those who wait The Ugly Duckling Don’t judge a book by its cover

What it is: Definition: Foreshadow Visual: What it is NOT:

What it is: Definition: a literary technique used to provide clues about what will happen later in the story. Foreshadow Visual: What it is NOT:

What it is: -Predicting - Hints Definition: a literary technique used to provide clues about what will happen later in the story. Foreshadow Visual: What it is NOT:

What it is: -Predicting Definition: a literary technique used to provide clues about what will happen later in the story. Foreshadow Visual: What it is NOT: - Knowing

Foreshadow Let’s think . . . Where have we seen examples of foreshadowing in “The Most Dangerous Game?”