Plot Elements/The Crow and the Pitcher

Plot Elements

LAFS.6.RL.2.5 Analyze how a particular sentence, chapter, scene, or stanza fits into the overall structure of a text and contributes to the development of the theme, setting, or plot.

The Crow & the Pitcher (English)

In a spell of dry weather, when the Birds could find very little to drink, a thirsty Crow found a pitcher with a little water in it. But the pitcher was high and had a narrow neck, and no matter how he tried, the Crow could not reach the water. The poor thing felt as if he must die of thirst.

Then an idea came to him. Picking up some small pebbles, he dropped them into the pitcher one by one. With each pebble the water rose a little higher until at last it was near enough so he could drink.

El cuervo y la jarra

En un tiempo seco, cuando las aves podían encontrar muy poco para beber, un cuervo sediento encontró una jarra con un poco de agua. Pero la jarra era alta y tenía un cuello estrecho, y no importaba cómo lo intentara, el cuervo no podía alcanzar el agua. El pobre sintió que debía morir de sed.

Entonces se le ocurrió una idea. Cogió unos pequeños guijarros y los dejó caer en la jarra uno a uno. Con cada guijarro el agua subió un poco más hasta que por fin estuvo lo suficientemente cerca como para poder beber.

What is plot?

Plot is the organized pattern or sequence of events that make up a story.  Every plot is made up of a series of incidents that are related to one another.

La trama es el patrón organizado o la secuencia de eventos que conforman una historia. Cada trama se compone de una serie de incidentes que están relacionados entre sí.

Exposition/Exposición

This occurs at the beginning of a story. Here the characters are introduced. We also learn about the setting of the story. Most importantly, we are introduced to the main conflict (main problem).

Esto ocurre al principio de una historia. Aquí se presentan los personajes. También aprendemos sobre el escenario de la historia. Lo más importante es que se nos presenta el conflicto principal (problema principal).

Multiple Choice

How does the setting fit into the overall meaning of the fable?

• It doesn't matter what the setting is for this story.

• There is no setting in this story.

• The setting must be outside so that the crow to find pebbles.

• The setting is a big city.

Multiple Choice

What is the conflict of this fable?

• The Crow cannot get water from the pitcher.

• The Birds want to eat the Crow.

• The Crow does not like the other Birds.

• The pitcher is broken.

Rising Action/Acción creciente

This part of the story begins to develop the conflict(s). A building of interest or suspense occurs.

Esta parte de la historia comienza a desarrollar el conflicto o conflictos. Se produce un aumento del interés o del suspenso.

Climax/Clímax

This is the turning point of the story. Usually the main character comes face to face with a conflict. The main character will change in some way.

Este es el punto de inflexión de la historia. Normalmente el personaje principal se enfrenta a un conflicto. El personaje principal cambiará de alguna manera.

Multiple Choice

Select one sentence from the fable that shows the climax.

• a thirsty Crow found a pitcher with a little water in it.

• when the Birds could find very little to drink

• With each pebble the water rose a little higher

• the Crow could not reach the water.

Falling Action/Acción de caída 

All loose ends of the plot are tied up. The conflict(s) and climax are taken care of

Todos los cabos sueltos de la trama están atados. El conflicto (s) y el clímax se resuelven

Resolution/Resolución

The story comes to a reasonable ending.

La historia tiene un final razonable.

Multiple Choice

How does the resolution fit into the overall structure of the fable?

• The Crow reaching the water satisfies the reader.

• The Crow should not be thirsty.

• The Crow should never reach the water.

• The Crow dies of thirst and this disappoints the reader.

Multiple Choice

What is the effect of the author's use of imagery in this sentence? With each pebble the water rose a little higher

• It expresses how angry the Crow is.

• It show how much the other animals like the Crow.

• It emphasizes the success of the Crow's idea

• It reveals how the other animals feel.

Multiple Choice

What is the impact of Aesop's use of the word poor in this sentence? The poor thing felt as if he must die of thirst.

• It makes the reader feel sorry for the Crow.

• It makes the reader hate the Crow.

• It makes the reader want to be the Crow.

• It makes the reader thirsty.

Multiple Choice

What is the definition of Narrow in this context?

But the pitcher was high and had a narrow neck,

• become or make less wide.

• become or make more limited or restricted in extent or scope.

• narrow channel connecting two larger areas of water.

• something that is considerably longer or higher than it is wide

Multiple Choice

What is the meaning of the word fable?

• A short story, typically with animals as characters, conveying a moral.

• A short story meant to support a claim.

• An informational text.

• An article from a magazine.

Multiple Choice

Which detail from the fable supports the theme?

• In a spell of dry weather

• But the pitcher was high and had a narrow neck,

• Then an idea came to him.

• A thirsty Crow found a pitcher

Multiple Choice

What is the moral or theme of this fable?

• Never judge a crow by its feathers.

• If the pitcher is broken, don't drink out of it.

• All pitchers should be washed.

• In a pinch a good use of our wits may help us out.

Multiple Choice

Which definition of spell is used in this sentence? "In a spell of dry weather, when the birds could find little to drink..."

• write or name the letters that form (a word) in correct sequence.

• be a sign or characteristic of.

• a period of a specified kind of weather.

• a form of words used as a magical charm or incantation.