Plot Diagram

Conflict -a struggle between two opposing forces – -Man v. Man – -Man v. Self – -Man v. Nature – -Man v. Society

Exposition -occurs at the beginning of a story -characters (protagonist and antagonist), conflict, and setting are introduced

Inciting Incident -Interrupts the pace and balance of the situation and is the one event in the story’s action without which there would be no story

Rising Action This part of the story begins to develop the conflict(s). A building of interest or suspense occurs. -obstacles that interfere with the protagonist’s efforts to reach the goal

Climax -turning point of the story -Usually the main character comes face to face with a conflict -The main character will change in some way.

Falling Action -All loose ends of the plot are tied up. -The conflict(s) and climax are taken care of.

Denouement (Resolution) -The final outcome of the main dramatic complication in a literary work. -The protagonist is either: better off than at the beginning of the story or worse off than at the beginning of the story

Elements of Literature – Theme Statement, lesson, moral What the text is saying about life – Mood Atmosphere in the story MOOD=ME – Tone Attitude of the AUTHOR toward the reader or subject matter of a literary work Can be playful, humorous, serious, mocking, angry, commanding, apologetic, or colloquial Shown through the language of the story

Language of the Story – Colloquial Of or relating to conversation – everyday language Also, unacceptable or informal – Dialect A regional variety of language Characterized by features of grammar, regional varieties, pronunciation, or slang – Slang Informal non-standard vocabulary Characterized by coinages, arbitrarily changed words and figures of speech

Point of View First Person – Narrator is the main character – Tells the story using “I” Third Person Limited – narrator focuses on only one character’s thoughts and feelings Omniscient – Narrator knows everything about the characters and problems in the story as if from above (all-knowing) – He does not take part in the story

Allusions – Mercury Mythological allusion A Roman god of commerce, eloquence, travel, cunning, and theft who serves as a messenger to the other gods – Chopin’s Waltzes – Frederic Chopin, a Polish pianist and composer in the 1800’s – Dodge City – onetime rowdy cowboy town under the supervision of Bat Masterson and Wyatt Earp – Miss Quicksilver Liquid mercury Reference to the speed with which it flows