Elements of Literature Keep these notes in your notebook. Use them to study for your TEST.

Plot Definition:  The sequence of events in a story

Plot Diagram Definition:  The chart used to describe the events of the story

Plot Diagram- Fill in your diagram with these terms. Characters Setting Conflict Rising Action Climax Falling Action Resolution Exposition

Exposition Definition:  Exposing the reader to the setting and characters at the beginning of the story.

Point of View Definition:  The perspective in which the story is told 1 st Person Point of View:  Uses pronouns “I”, “me”, “my”, “our”, “us”  Typically told by main character 3 rd Person Limited:  Narrator follows one character 3 rd Person Omniscient:  Narrator is “all knowing” and “all seeing”

Setting Definition:  When and Where the action takes place  The time and place of the story.

Inferring Setting Sometimes the author doesn’t come out and explain the setting. Can you make an inference with the following paragraph?

Inferring Setting Anna sighed. She hated having to do so many chores. Her mother was always telling her to fetch the water from the well, watch her brothers and sisters, and fetch wood for the fire. “I wish that I could go to school, ”she sighed, looking at her bare feet. But with her father in the Union Army, she had to help her mother.

Inferring Setting What is the time in history of the setting? What are some clues? What is the place of the setting? What are some clues?

Characterization Definition: The development of characters in a story  What the character says and does  What the character thinks and feels  What the character looks like  What others think and say about the character

Protagonist Definition:  The most important main character in the story.

Antagonist Definition:  The character against the protagonist

Dynamic Character Definition:  A character who changes as a result of what happens in a story

Static Character Definition:  A character who DOES NOT change in a story

Conflict Definition:  The problem in the story

External Conflict Definition:  A problem between either:  Character vs. Character  Character vs. Nature  Character vs. Society The problem is outside of the character

Internal Conflict Definition:  A problem occurring within a character

Rising Action Definition:  The events leading up to the climax

Climax Definition:  The most important or most suspenseful part of a story  The peak of the action

Falling Action Definition:  Events after the climax that tie up loose ends

Resolution Definition:  The end of the story  The conclusion of the story  Everything is resolved and explained.

Mood Definition:  The feelings the reader experiences in a story  It is created by the author’s choice of words

Theme Definition:  The main idea or lesson learned in the story  It may be an underlying idea, the big message, or the big idea.  It is the point of the story.

Theme You’ll often see the same themes pop up over and over again. Good will triumph over evil. Honesty is the best policy.

More Themes Friendship is more important than popularity. Hold onto dreams because they might come true. Hard work will pay off in the end.

Theme What tale has the theme of “Slow and steady wins the race”?