1. The Sign of the Beaver 5th Grade
Literary Elements
The Sign of the Beaver
5th Grade

2. Title!!
The name of the book…
The Sign of the Beaver

3. Setting
The setting of a story is the time and place in which the story occurs.
Physical details
Date
Time of Day
Season and/or weather conditions
Time in history
Geographic location

4. Characters
The people, animals, or other creatures in a story. The ones that act out the events of the story.
PROTAGONIST
The main character
Matt
ANTAGONIST
The character who works against the protagonist (main character)
???
List 5 characters that play a major role in The Sign of the Beaver

5. Characterization
This explains the roles and functions of the characters.
Shows what the character says, does, thinks, feels, or looks like.
What the other characters think about the main character.
Write down traits for each of your characters.
Make sure you are clear enough for a friend to understand your work.

6. Theme The overall message of the book.
What the author wants you to take away from the book, or wants you to know.
Collaborate with your table group to think of the theme!

7. Conflict/Problem
The conflict is the struggle the main character is having with himself, another character or thing.
Described as the heartbeat of the story.

8. Author The person who wrote the book Elizabeth George Speare
Author has many jobs throughout the book…let’s explore what the author can do for the reader!

9. Point of View The position from which the story is told First Person
The narrator is a character in the story
Tells the story from his or her perspective
Uses I and We
Third Person
The narrator is an invisible storyteller
Reports the events in the story
Uses he, she, or they

10. Mood & Tone What the reader feels when reading the story.
These emotions are influenced by the author’s choice of words!
What the author thinks and feels about the characters or story.
The reader can guess at this by thinking about the author’s choice of words!

11. Author’s Purpose
Usually, the author of the story writes a book for a purpose. Some purposes include entertainment, persuade or convince the reader, and possibly to teach or inform the reader.

12. Introduction Paragraph
The name of the book we read in class was The Sign of the Beaver. In the book, the author introduces us to Matt and Attean-two teenage boys from different cultures. These boys meet each other in the forests of Maine during a time when white men and Indians were not always at peace. Throughout this essay, we will watch how Matt and Attean develop an unlikely friendship. A-Title A-Character A-Setting A-Theme

13. Recap Title Point of View Setting Mood & Tone Character
Author’s Purpose
Characterization
Theme
Conflict/Problem
Author

14. Story Arc Plot The sequence of events in a story.
Plot consists of 5 parts:
Exposition
Rising Action
Climax
Falling Action
Resolution
Story Arc

15. Exposition
The beginning of a story where the characters, setting, and main conflict are introduced.
Often tells what happened before the story begins.
Background information is important to understanding the characters’ feelings, personalities, and motives.

16. Rising Action The series of events in the story that builds suspense.
Changes the conflict/problem
Makes you keep reading!!!
Collaborate with your shoulder partner to name some rising action details from The Sign of the Beaver

17. Climax The most exciting part of the story
Conflict/Problem can be at it’s worst
Called the turning point
Reader can predict the outcome

18. 2nd and 3rd Paragraph Use your handout as a guide!
This story begins with Matt’s father leaving to go get the rest of his family in Massachusetts. Matt is going to live on his own, in a new place, with no neighbors, for at least seven weeks. Matt quickly learns that living on your own can be dangerous. For example, one day he was craving honey and tried to take some from a beehive and was stung countless times. Luckily, Attean, and his Grandfather, Saknis, were close by to help him. To repay Saknis, Matt consents to teaching Attean how to read. This is the beginning of a long journey between the two young boys.
Following this, Matt and Attean start to become friends. There are many awkward times together, and a lot of childish fighting. But, as time progresses, the two boys start to share secrets and activities. For example, Matt shares a book Robinson Crusoe and the Bible stories with Attean. Attean teaches Matt how to hunt and fish without “white man tools.” The boys bond over fishing and even had a close call in the story. A bear attacked the two boys, and they worked together to kill the bear. Matt was slowly being accepted by the Indian tribe, and more importantly, was getting Attean’s friendship and respect. Matt got even more respect when he saved Attean’s “good-for- nothing dog” from another tribe’s traps. Attean knew, that Matt was a true friend. To show Matt that he was his “Indian brother” he and Saknis invited him to leave on the annual winter hunt and to move to a new location with the tribe. Matt was conflicted because he did not know if he should wait for his family.

19. Recap from yesterday
Exposition
Rising Action
Climax

20. Falling Action The characters try to resolve the conflict
The events that close the story

21. Resolution
The outcome of the story
The ending!!!!

22. 4th Paragraph Use your handout as a guide!
Matt decided to stay where his family could find him. Even though, Matt worked hard to make a new friend and gain the respect of his tribe, his family was still more important to him. He could not bear thinking his family thought something bad happened to him, or worse, the Indians did something to hurt him. Matt took all the skills that Attean had taught him and started preparing for his families return. He was probably extremely scared. By the time Attean left with his tribe, it was clear into November. It had been more than seven weeks. Finally, Matt’s family arrived at the cabin. His mother, father, and younger sister were excited to see him. Unfortunately, Matt’s new baby sister did not make the journey and died 5 days after she was born. Matt had grown up and his family was proud of him maintaining and providing for the entire family on his own.