1. The Elements of Literature
This slide show directly relates to the following U.S. National Curriculum standards (as posted on the Department of Defense Education Activity website) and the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction performance standards found at the following two websites:
I used the Department of Defense standards as DoDs schools use the United States National Curriculum and the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction standards as I am certified to be a teacher by that organization.
Department of Defense
The following are the standards which apply directly to this PowerPoint presentation:
Grade 6 - E5 Literature
Literature consists of poetry, fiction, non-fiction, and essays as distinguished from instructional, expository, or journalistic writing.
E5a.1: identifies recurring themes across works;
E5a.5: considers the function of point of view or persona;
E5a.6: examines the reasons for a character’s actions, taking into account the situation and basic motivation of the character
E5a.7: identifies stereotypical characters as opposed to fully developed characters;
E5a.8: critiques the degree to which a plot is contrived or realistic;
E5a.9: makes inferences and draws conclusions about contexts, events, characters, and settings.
Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction
By the end of grade eight, students will:
A.8.2 Read, interpret, and critically analyze literature.
Identify the defining features and structure of literary texts, such as conflict, representation of character, and point of view
Analyze the effect of characters, plot, setting, language, topic, style, purpose, and point of view on the overall impact of literature
This presentation is aimed at sixth grade English Language Arts students. I would use this slide show to introduce the Elements of Literature to my students. Some of these terms would be familiar to them and some would be new. The information on these slides would provide the foundation for the further study of literature through journal writing, small group discussion, and analytical essay writing using the writing process. In the past, I have often given this information through lecture and an overhead transparency. Boring! This PowerPoint slide show would definitely enhance my teaching and, I believe, my students’ learning because it is eye-catching, engaging and fun. I have often been unhappy with my delivery of this type of information to my sixth graders because it doesn’t fit with my teaching style, my educational philosophy and my personality. I was at a loss as to how to deliver this information in an upbeat and positive manner and would sometimes reflect and come up empty handed. I think I can stop looking now. Furthermore, this presentation can act as a good example to students when I ask them to create their own. And finally, this slide show offers students the opportunity to make connections in their minds between the graphics and animations and the concepts that are being taught. I find that this is one of the most powerful tools in my teaching arsenal. If I can get students to make connections, they learn more.

2. Characterization Protagonist Antagonist Static Dynamic
The character’s actions
The character’s thoughts
The character’s appearance
What the character says
What others say about the character
Protagonist: The main character in the story, sometimes known as the hero
Antagonist: The opponent of the protagonist, sometimes known as the villain
Static Character: One that never changes from the beginning of the story to the end
Dynamic Character: One that grows and changes due to the challenges and conflicts he/she encounters

3. Plot Climax Falling Action Rising Action Exposition Resolution
Exposition: The introduction; reader learns about the setting, major characters, etc.
Rising Action: The part of the story that builds the tension through conflict; most of the action of the plot occurs here
Climax: The high point in the tension of the story or the turning point of the story
Falling Action: The action and conflict that occurs after the climax; often very short
Resolution: The story is brought to its conclusion; all loose ends are tied up
Resolution

4. Setting
1852 A.D.
Time
Place
Jolly Ole England

5. Conflict Character v Character Character v Nature
Character v Supernatural
Character v Society
Character v Self

6. Mood Characters’ feelings
Reader’s feelings – how the book makes you feel
Mood: the emotions (of a character or of a reader) that are aroused as a result of plot events, setting, figurative language or conflict

7. The central idea or lesson about
Theme
The central idea or lesson about
life the story conveys
Growing Up
Death
Birth

8. Point of View First Person Third Person Omniscient
Third Person Limited Omniscient
First Person: One of the characters is the narrator of the story; uses personal pronouns I, me, my, mine, we, us, out, ours
Third Person Omniscient: “Fly on the wall”; narrator is NOT one of the characters in the story; narrator can read everyone’s thoughts and feelings and can be in all places at all times
Third Person Limited Omniscient: Restricted “Fly on the Wall”; narrator is NOT one of the characters in the story; narrator can read the thoughts and feelings of only one character (usually the protagonist) and can only be in the same place as the “host” character. The reader does not have access to all of the characters’ thoughts and feelings all of the time … some thumbs up, some thumbs down.

9. Style/Figurative Language
Personification
Onomatopoeia
Simile
Metaphor
Alliteration
Hyperbole
Oxymoron
Figurative Language gives colour and life to a written piece of work.
Personification: Giving an inanimate object the qualities and characteristics of a PERSON or human being
Onomotopoeia: The imitation of a sound using a word
Simile: The comparison of two basically unlike things use the words ‘like’ or ‘as’
Metaphor: The comparison of two basically unlike things NOT using the words ‘like’ or ‘as’
Alliteration: The repetition of a consonant sound
Hyperbole: Great exaggeration
Oxymoron: A combination of contradictory words

10. Why are the Elements of Literature important, anyway?
Question to Ponder …
Why are the Elements of Literature important, anyway?
Lead into class discussion