9.1 Literary Elements

Literary Elements

Reviewing literary elements will give us a common vocabulary to use throughout the year.​

Story elements are:

• characters

• Plot

• Setting

• Theme​

• conflict​

​Story Elements

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The people in the story .

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A character can also be the person telling the story if it is written in 1st person. ​

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​Characters

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The protagonist is the main character in a story.

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The​ antagonist is whomever or whatever the protagonist is in conflict with.

​Protagonists are usually "good guys" but not always.

​Protagonists vs.

Antagonists​

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Dynamic characters change or grow or show the potential to change/evolve.

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Static character do not change. They think, feel, and act the same throughout a story.​

​These are also good general vocabulary terns to know.

​Dynamic vs. Static

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Round characters are fully developed with detailed character descriptions.

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Flat characters are minimally developed with few details or descriptions.

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Protagonists are almost never flat characters

​Round vs. Flat

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Direct vs. Indirect Characterization

Indirect characterization is harder because it requires the reader to make inferences: infer qualities about the character.

The personality of the character is revealed through his or her words and/or actions, or through the words and actions of other characters.

Indirect

The author directly tells the reader (audience) about the character’s personality.

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Example: The young boy was patient and quiet for his age.​

Direct

Point of View

​This is the vantage point from which the author tells the story.

FIRST-PERSON: the narrator is part of the story and uses the pronoun "I" frequently while narrating events.

THIRD-PERSON: the story is told by someone who is not in the story. The narrato​r may express emotions or opinion, especially toward the characters in the story.

SECOND-PERSON narration is a thing but it is very, very rare. You may never see a book that utilizes this.

...is a method of storytelling in which the narrator knows only the thoughts and feelings of a single character, while other characters are presented with a more limited perspective. Third person limited grants a writer more freedom than first person, but less than third person omniscient.

Like these guys, the narrator has a limited view of things.​

Third-Person Limited​

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Setting

This is the when and where that the story takes place. This includes, but is not limited to:

Time of day

Year

Season (fall, spring, or EVEN a holiday)

Location (like room, city, etc)

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SETTING ESTABLISHES ATMOSPHERE AND MOOD, AND PROVIDES A BACKDROP FOR THE ACTION.

Where and when a story takes place.

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Often the setting affects the plot. ​

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​Setting

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The main events that happen in a story. ​

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Plot has 5 different parts:

Exposition, rising action, climax, falling action and resolution. ​

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​Plot

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The problem that the characters are facing.

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It can be a problem with other characters, nature, self or animals. ​

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​Conflict​

The narrator knows the thoughts and feelings of all of the characters in the story. It is sometimes referred to as a god-like perspective where the narrator knows everything that happens and everything the characters are thinking and feeling.

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Omniscient like Merlin or Odin or Gandolf.

Third-Person Omniscient

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​Conflict is a struggle or clash between opposing characters, forces, or emotions.

MAN vs. MACHINE or SUPERNATURAL are other types of E.C.

A struggle caused by something outside (external to) the character.

MAN vs. MAN

MAN vs. NATURE

MAN vs. ​SOCIETY

​External Conflict

A struggle within a character due to conflicting needs, emotions, or desires.

MAN vs. SELF​

​Internal Conflict

Theme

Okay, so this is the hard one for most students.

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Theme is the main message or big idea of a story.

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Example: The theme of the book Rainbow Fish is friendship.

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​Theme

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​Theme

Some idea or insight about human life and human nature that gives meaning to the story.

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In a short story, there is usually just one theme. In longer stories (novels), there can be several themes.

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It's kind of like the main idea of a story.

But, the theme is not intended to teach or preach; in fact, it is not presented directly at all.

Readers determine the theme from the characters, the conflict, and setting of the story.

​The theme is the most important thing the author wants readers to understand. It is the author’s thoughts about a general belief of how things are or should be.

Theme is another element that requires readers to make an inference.

Multiple Choice

Which of the following are 5 of the basic literary elements necessary for a story?

• plot

  author

  table of contents

  story

  publisher

• character

  conflict

  plot

  setting

  theme

• Shaggy

  Scooby

  Fred

  Daphne

  Velma

Multiple Choice

The people in a story.

• character

• conflict

• setting

• plot

• theme

Multiple Choice

The main message or big idea in a story.

• character

• conflict

• setting

• plot

• theme

Multiple Choice

The problem the characters face in a story.

• character

• conflict

• setting

• plot

• theme

Multiple Choice

The main events that happen in a story.

• character

• conflict

• setting

• plot

• theme

Multiple Choice

Where and when the story takes place.

• character

• conflict

• setting

• plot

• theme

Multiple Choice

Paul Bunyan and Babe the Blue Ox are examples of what?

• setting

• characters

• plot

• theme

Multiple Choice

TRUE or FALSE

Setting only refers to where a story takes place.

• TRUE

• FALSE

Multiple Select

Select all the options that are settings.

• A classroom

• A concert in 1997

• Germany 1935

• People fighting

Multiple Choice

Setting affects the plot in a story. True or false?

• True

• False

Multiple Select

Select all the answers that are examples of themes.

• Tom and Jerry

• Friendship

• Family

• Being kind

• Helping People

Match

Match the following

• Protagonist

• Antagonist

• Dynamic character

• Flat character

Main character

in conflict with main character

a character who changes, grows, or evolves

a character without much detail or development

• Main character

• in conflict with main character

• a character who changes, grows, or evolves

• a character without much detail or development

Multiple Choice

Plot has 5 different parts. True or false?

• True

• False

Multiple Select

Select all the Story Elements.

• characters

• plot

• setting

• conflict

• theme