Literary elements

Setting The time and place a story occurs

Point of View The way a story gets told First Person — character in story tells story Third Person Limited — person outside of story tells story but focuses on thoughts and feelings of one character Third person omniscient — person outside of the story knows thoughts and feeling of all characters

Character Person or animal in the story Protagonist — Character faced with the conflict Antagonist — Character who creates the problem Static character — the character does not change from the beginning of the story to the end of the story Dynamic character — the character has some kind of internal change or insight by the end of the story

Plot The events in the story

Exposition Introduces the setting and the characters Sets up or hints at the conflict Once upon a time there were three bears who lived in a beautiful forest. While they were gone one day, a girl named Goldilocks broke into their house.

Inciting Incident The event that causes the conflict; what happens to get the story going

Rising Action Shows how the conflict becomes more difficult Builds suspense The three bears came home from their walk to find Goldilocks asleep in Baby Bear’s bed. As they stood talking about the situation, she woke up.

Conflict Problem in the story Man vs. Man Man vs. Nature Man vs. Society Man vs. Himself

Man vs Man

Man vs. Nature

Man vs. Society

Man vs. Himself Jealousy, envy, self-hatred, depression

Climax The most exciting part of the story (turning point) I wonder what’s going to happen?

Falling Action How the story wraps itself up The three bears came home from their walk and discovered that someone had eaten their food and sat in their chairs.

Resolution / Denouement How the conflict is resolved; how the story ends Then Goldilocks woke up, saw the bears, ran out of the house and never returned again.

Theme A central message or insight into life; a lesson about life or people that the literary work communicates. Love conquers all Money can’t buy happiness Don’t judge a man until you’ve walked in his shoes

Purpose The reason why the author wrote the book or article Entertain --Persuade Inform

Allusion Reference to famous historical, biblical, or literary people or events Donald Trump is such a King Midas.

Flashback Interruption in story to show scene which occurred earlier. Gives background information about character and plot. Going back in time to fill in details

Foreshadowing Clues from the author that tell the reader what is going to happen before the characters know

Mood The feeling created in the reader by a literary work or passage

Tone The writer’s attitude toward the audience or subject; can usually be described by a single adjective; often referred to as author’s attitude. Sad, excited, thrilled, apprehensive, anxious, shocked

Symbol A concrete object which represents an abstract idea Freedom Love