1. The Elements of Literature What parts make up a story?
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. Why are the Elements of Literature important, anyway?
Question to Ponder …
Why are the Elements of Literature important, anyway?
Lead into class discussion

3. Story Grammar Setting Characters Plot Climax Theme Resolution
Denouement

4. 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

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

6. The central idea or lesson about
Theme
The central idea or lesson about
life the story conveys
What is the lesson the protagonist learns at the end of the story?

7. Setting Time and place that the action occurs Details that describe:
Furniture
Scenery
Customs/culture
Tradition
Religion
Transportation
Dialects
Weather
Time of day and year

8. The Functions of a Setting
We left the home place behind, mile by slow mile, heading for the mountains, across the prairie where the wind blew forever.
At first there were four of us with one horse wagon and its skimpy load. Pa and I walked, because I was a big boy of eleven. My two little sisters romped and trotted until they got tired and had to be boosted up to the wagon bed.
That was no covered Conestoga, like Pa’s folks came West in, but just an old farm wagon, drawn by one weary horse, creaking and rumbling westward to the mountains, toward the little woods town where Pa thought he had an old uncle who owned a little two-bit sawmill.
To create a mood or atmosphere
To create suspense
To foreshadow
To make action seem more real
To be the source of conflict or struggle
To symbolize an idea
Taken from “The Day the Sun Came Out” by D. Johnson

9. The point of view is the perspective of the story
“I was framed! I just wanted to borrow a cup of sugar!”
“That rotten wolf tried to eat us!!!!”

10. Characters Protagonist: main character
Antagonist: a villain, anything that stands in opposition to the protagonist
Round character: multidimensional, revealing complexity of human nature
Flat character: a stereotype, one kind of personality trait
Dynamic character: one who changes over time
Static character: one who does not change over time.

11. When you hear the terms “round character” vs
When you hear the terms “round character” vs. “flat character,” what do you think of?

12. Here are definitions of round vs.flat characters:
Round Character
Flat Character
Who has been fully developed by the author
A character we know a lot about
A three-dimensional character
A realistic character
A complex character who has strengths and weaknesses
Who has not been fully developed
A character we know a little about
A one/two dimensional character
A simple character
A character who is too obviously all good or all bad

13. Which characters here are round or flat? Why do you think so?

15. Sergeant Morris was the cruelest drillmaster in the regiment.
Methods of Characterization: Writers use several methods to reveal characters
Direct method
1. Stating directly what the character is like
Sergeant Morris was the cruelest drillmaster in the regiment.
What kind of character is Sergeant Morris?
How do you know it?

16. Indirect Methods Jack is __________ because …
2. Describing the appearance of the character:
Jack’s coat was gathered about his thin body and fastened with a safety pin.
Jack is __________ because …

17. Indirect Method 3. Showing the character in action:
=>Alijah glanced around, then tossed his gum wrapper on the grass and kept walking.
=> Alijah is ____________ because …

18. Indirect Method 4. Allowing the reader to hear the character speak:
“I don’t have to do what you say,” declared Andrew, glaring at the new babysitter.
Andrew is _____________ because …

19. Indirect Method Avery is _________ because…
5. Revealing character’s thoughts and feelings:
Avery didn’t like the looks of the squash pudding but decided to eat some to
please the cook.
Avery is _________ because…

20. 6. Showing how others react to the character or what the others say about the character:
“Team up with Jake?” said Leo. “Well, OK, if you can’t get anyone else. But when he was my partner last time, I did all the work while he socialized.”
Leo says Jake is _________ because …

21. 7. Choices/Decisions reveal the character’s value and what s/he thinks of self and the world around him/her
If Julia decides to help volunteer at the shelter, she values … because…
=> If Robert decides to cheat on his girlfriend, he does not value … because…

22. Plot
Plot is what happens and how it happens in a narrative. A narrative is any work that tells a story, such as a short story, a novel, a drama, or a narrative poem.

23. Parts of a Plot
Exposition – event that gives rise to conflict (Inciting incident)
Rising Action- events that occur as result of central conflict (Development)
Climax- highest point of interest or suspense of story
Resolution- when conflict ends
Denouement- when characters go back to their life before the conflict

24. Diagram of Plot Climax Resolution Development/ Rising Action
Exposition
Denouement
Inciting incident/ Opening situation

25. Special Techniques of Plot
Suspense- tension that creates discomfort about the unknown
Foreshadowing- hint or clue about what will happen in story
Flashback- interrupts the normal sequence of events to tell about something that happened in the past
Surprise Ending- conclusion that reader does not expect

26. Conflict Conflict is a struggle between opposing forces
Every plot must contain some kind of conflict
Stories can have more than one conflict
Conflicts can be external or internal
External conflict- outside force may be person, group, animal, nature, or a nonhuman obstacle
Internal conflict- takes place in a character’s mind

27. Point of View
First person point of view: the narrator tells his/her own story
Third person objective POV: The narrator does not get involved in the story and tells only what he/she observes
Third person limited POV: The narrator focuses on the thoughts and feelings of only one character.
Third person omniscient POV: all-knowing narrator. S/he knows each character’s thoughts and feelings.

28. Theme
A central message or insight into life expressed through a literary work
Expressed in a statement about human beings or about life
May be stated directly or implied
Interpretation uncovers the theme
a. character traits or motivation
b. conflict
c. resolution of the conflict

29. Practice Conflict: Character motivation Character traits Resolution
Lesson learned

30. Example of Theme
“Every man needs to feel allegiance to his native country, whether he always appreciates that country or not.”
From “A Man Without a Country” by Edward Hale pg. 185 in Prentice Hall Literature book