Pre-reading Vocabulary: The Monsters are due on Maple Street

Pre-reading Vocabulary: The Monsters are due on Maple Street

​1) Exposition: This is the reader’s introduction to the story. The exposition offers background information to prime the audience for the rest of the story, including introducing the main character(s) (the “who”), setting (the “where”), and circumstances or time period (the “when”).

​Story Arc Terms

​2) Rising action: This is when conflict begins to ramp up. The rising action usually begins with what’s called an “inciting incident” or "conflict"—the triggering event that puts the main events of the story in motion. This is when the audience starts to see what your story is really about.

​Story Arc Terms

​3) Climax: This is the highest point of tension in your storyline, and often the point at which all the different subplots and characters converge. Typically, the climax requires the main character to face the truth or make an important choice.

​Story Arc Terms

​4) Falling action: This is what happens as a result of the protagonist’s decision. During the falling action, the conflict gives way to resolution. Loose ends are tied up, and tension begins to dissipate.

​Story Arc Terms

​5) Resolution: Also known as a denouement, this is how your story ends. The resolution of a narrative arc isn’t always happy, but it does close the loop and show how the events of the story have changed the characters and the world around them.

​Story Arc Terms

Vocab from the Text

1) flustered (​adj.): nervous; confused; in a state of agitated confusion.

2) sluggishly (adv.): as if lacking en​ergy; slow (like a slug).

​3) persistently (adv.): firmly and steadily; continuously.

​4) defiant (adj.): boldly resisting; showing a disposition to resist or challenge.

​5) metamorphosis (n.): changing of form; (in an insect or amphibian) the process of transformation from an immature form to an adult form in two or more distinct stages.

​6) scapegoat (n.): a person or group blamed for actions of others.

Multiple Choice

Exposition is the ...

• middle the story.

• introduction to the story.

• the setting of the story.

• the end or conclusion of a story.

Multiple Choice

The climax is....

• the highest point of tension in a story.

• the introduction of the story.

• the point in the story where things start to wrap up.

• the middle of the of the story.

Multiple Choice

The rising action is...

• the point when the tension starts to ramp up.

• the most intense part of the story.

• the introduction to the characters in the story.

• the part where things start to get resolved.

Multiple Choice

The falling action is...

• the part where the characters' decisions lead to resolutions, and loose ends are tied up.

• the part where characters fall down.

• the conclusion of the story.

• the introduction to the main conflict of the story.

Multiple Choice

The denouement is

• the end of the story.

• the part where new problems are discovered.

• the introduction to the setting of the story.

• the part where the characters meet each other.

Open Ended

Write a sentence for each of the following vocab terms:

flustered; sluggishly, persistently, defiant, metamorphosis, scapegoat.

BONUS: use as many words as possible in one sentence!