Literary Elements

DAY 1

Plot Diagram Plot – all the events that happen in a story Exposition – story background, meet characters, see setting Rising Action – events leading to the climax Climax – most intense part; the turning point Falling action – event after the climax that helps to reach a decision Resolution – problem is solved; denouement

Setting Both the time and place of the story.

Point of View The perspective from which the story is told: 1 st Person - Narrator tells the story using I, me, my, etc. We know only what this character knows and only what he/she observes. 3 rd person limited - the narrator is not a part of the story, but tells the thoughts and feelings of only one character.

3 rd person Omniscient (all knowing) - the narrator is not a part of the story, but knows everything about the characters and their problems. Objective - The narrator never discloses anything about what the characters think or feel, remaining a detached observer.

Conflict The problem in a story that triggers the action. External Conflict – struggle with an outside force: man vs. man man vs. fate man vs. society man verses nature Internal Conflict – struggle with self man vs. self

Theme The message In most cases the theme will be implied rather than directly told. A hidden message about life, people or nature.

Characterization reveals characters and their personalities. Two types: Direct - tells us directly what a character is like or what their motives are. Indirect - allows us to interpret the kind of person we are meeting by their speech, actions, thoughts appearance, or how other characters feel about them. ***************************************** Motivation - why the character does what he or she does. DAY 2

Kinds of Characters Protagonist - Main character Antagonist - The person or thing working against the protagonist

Dynamic (round) – undergo some kind of change throughout the story. Static (flat) - do not change

Simile compares two things that are alike in some way using the words “like” or “as” EX: The desert is as dry as a bone. His temper erupts like a volcano.

Metaphor The comparison in which one thing is said to be another; does not use like or as: EX: A man is but a weak reed. The road was a ribbon of moonlight.

Foreshadowing clues to hint at events that will occur later in the story Flashback scene that takes the story back in time DAY 3

Suspense The uncertainty or anxiety we feel about what is going to happen next.

Irony A difference between the appearance and the reality EX: I posted a video on YouTube about how boring and useless YouTube is. The name of Britain’s biggest dog was “Tiny”.

Symbolism When the author adds an object to represent something it isn’t Allegory a story in which the characters and events are symbols

Inference When you use clues from the story to figure out something that the author doesn’t tell you.

Denotation The dictionary definition of a word. Connotation The implied meaning of a word. EX: The words childish, childlike and youthful have the same denotation but a different connotation. “Childish” and “childlike” have a negative connotation as they refer to immature behavior of a person. Whereas, “youthful” implies that a person is lively and energetic. DAY 4

Dialogue A conversation between characters. Quotation marks indicate a speaker’s exact words.

Allusion a reference to a place, person, or something that happened. EX: “I was surprised his nose was not growing like Pinocchio’s.” This refers to the story of Pinocchio, where his nose grew whenever he told a lie. “He was a Good Samaritan yesterday when he helped the lady start her car.” This refers to the biblical story of the Good Samaritan.

Paradox two opposite things that seem impossible but are actually true or possible EX: The beginning of the end. Deep down, you're really shallow. You can save money by spending it. Truth is honey which is bitter.

DIDLS Diction - The author’s word choices. Imagery - sensory language Details – Facts which are included or omitted Language – Words that describe the entire body of words in a text Syntax – sentence structure DAY 5

Mood How we are made to feel as readers Tone the author's attitude toward a subject.