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

2. Plot
Definition:
The sequence of events in a story

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

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

5. Exposition Definition:
Exposing the reader to the setting and characters at the beginning of the story.
Sometimes authors will spend a lot of time setting up the story, and sometimes they will jump right into the story.

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

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

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

9. 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 .

10. 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?

11. 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

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

13. Antagonist
Definition:
The character against the protagonist

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

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

16. Conflict
Definition:
The problem in the story

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

18. Internal Conflict
Definition:
A problem occurring within a character

19. Rising Action
Definition:
The events leading up to the climax

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

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

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

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

24. 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.

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

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

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