1.  Location and time period  Location  Can be specific (Lock Haven, Pa) or broad (United States)  May be given clues (dress, language, landmarks)

2.  time period  may be broad (1800s or distant past) or specific (the Renaissance or 1983)  may be given hints (the year after Abraham Lincoln was shot or the 10 year anniversary of 9/11)

3.  who is the narrator (who is telling the story)  1 st person- narrator is any character in the story (hints: “I”, “we”, “us”)  3 rd person- narrator is unknown and all knowing  Can the narrator be trusted?

4.  struggles or obstacles that characters face  Types of Conflicts  person vs person  person vs self  person vs nature  person vs technology  person vs fate  person vs society

5.  the message that the author is trying to give the audience  may or may not be stated in the story  theme is not one word (Nemo ≠ family)  thematic statements are full sentences  Nemo = Loving parents will do just about anything for their child.

6.  an object that stands for something besides itself

7.  the difference between what is expected to happen and what actually happens  President Reagan assassination attempt

8.  when the audience knows something the characters do not  Titanic  The Patriot

9.  clues or hints to what could happen later in story  “This ship is unsinkable.”