1. What every good story must have
Literary Elements
What every good story
must have

2. Literary Elements Plot - the sequence of events
in a story, novel, or play

3. Plot
Exposition – the part of the story that introduces the characters, setting, and situation
Narrative hook - used to catch readers’ attention (inciting incident)

4. Conflict
Conflict - a struggle between opposing forces in a story or drama
external – conflict with outside force
character vs. nature

5. Conflict external – conflict with outside force
character vs. character
character vs. society
(struggles against ideas, practices, or customs of other people)

6. Conflict external – conflict with outside force
character vs. supernatural
(anything out of human control – fate)
character vs. technology

7. Conflict
internal – conflict within the mind of a character who is torn between opposing feelings or goals (must make some decision, overcome pain, quiet their temper, resist an urge, etc.)
character vs. self - ideas of right or wrong, physical limitation, choices, etc.

8. Plot
Rising action – the part of the story that adds complications to conflict and increases reader interest
Climax – point of highest emotional pitch

9. Plot
Falling action - the action that is a logical result of climax, the end of the central problem
Resolution (denouement) – presents the final outcome

10. Plot Diagram Rising Action Falling Action Exposition Resolution Climax
Narrative Hook
(Inciting incident)

11. Literary Techniques Flashback –
an interruption in a chronological narrative that tells about something that happened before that point in the story or before the story began
Gives information that helps to explain the main events

12. Literary Techniques Foreshadowing
the use of clues by an author to prepare readers for events that will happen in a story
A hint of what to expect
example: Jaws theme

13. Literary Techniques Suspense
a feeling of curiosity, uncertainty, or even dread about what is going to happen next

14. Point of View Narrator – Point of view – the person who tells a story
(sometimes a character)
Point of view –
the relationship of the narrator to the story

15. Point of View First person story is told by one of the characters
Uses “I”
Sees everything through that character’s eyes

16. Point of View Limited third person
narrator reveals the thoughts of only one character
Uses “he” or “she”
Sees everything through that one character’s eyes

17. Point of View Omniscient
narrator reveals the thoughts of several characters
Uses “he” or “she”
Sees things through the eyes of several characters

18. Character
Character
a person or animal in a literary work

19. Character Round many, sometimes contradictory, traits
faults and virtues

20. Character Flat reveal only one personality trait
Stereotype – flat character of a familiar
and often-repeated type

21. Character
Dynamic
characters who change and/or grow during the story

22. Character
Static
remain primarily the same throughout the story

23. Character Protagonist – the central character in a literary work
Antagonist – a person or force that opposes the protagonist in a literary work

24. Character
Hero/heroine – a literary work’s main character, usually one with admirable qualities

25. Characterization Characterization the methods a writer uses
to develop the personality of the character

26. Characterization Direct
the writer makes direct statements about a character’s personality
Example: Rita was small and fragile looking, but she had immense courage and independence.

27. Characterization
Indirect - writer reveals character’s personality through:
Character’s words and actions
“I’m afraid, but I’ll do it anyway!” said Rita.
With determined effort, Rita managed to get the rowboat into the lake and clambered aboard.

28. Characterization
Indirect - writer reveals character’s personality through:
Other characters’ thoughts and words about character
Polly watched from the shore, knowing it was impossible to stop Rita once she had decided to do something. “She’s so stubborn!” Polly thought.

29. Characterization
Indirect - writer reveals character’s personality through:
Character’s thoughts and feelings
As the cold water of the lake wrapped around her legs,
Rita trembled at the memory
of last summer’s accident.

30. Setting
Setting – the time and place in which the events of a literary work occur
often the backdrop – a context in which the characters interact
place - geographical location
Where is the action of the story taking place?

31. Setting time - historical period, time of day, year
When is the story taking place?
weather conditions –
Is it rainy, sunny, stormy, etc?

32. Setting social conditions –
What is the daily life of the character's like? Does the story contain local color (writing that focuses on the speech, dress, mannerisms, customs, traditions, etc. of a particular place)?
mood or atmosphere – the feeling created by a place
  Is it bright and cheerful or dark and frightening?

33. Theme Theme – a literary work’s overall message
about life or human nature
also found in television and film

34. Theme Stated theme – Implied theme – expressed directly
revealed gradually through other elements (plot, character, setting, point of view, symbol, and irony)

35. Theme Examples of themes:
By living with nature, we learn about the world and about ourselves.
Solving family problems involves love and compromise.
A friendship is sometimes tested by tough lessons and decisions.
Things are not always as they appear to be.
People are afraid of change.

36. Irony
Irony -
a form of expression in which the intended meaning of the words used
is the opposite of their literal meaning

37. Irony Verbal irony – person says one thing and means another
Situational irony –
the outcome of a situation is the opposite of what was expected