Literary Elements with Notes

Literary Elements 1.0

By Letana Brown

Any person, animal, or figure represented in a literary work. 

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​Characters can have many traits that change and grow over time just like people in real life.

Characters

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• ​The Protagonist

  • ​​the leading character or one of the major characters in a drama, movie, novel, or other fictional text.

• ​The Antagonist

  • ​A character in a story who opposes, or goes against the protagonist.

Multiple Choice

Who is a main characters in Amish Grace?

• Mr. Taskey

• TV news reporter

• Ida Gravers

• The policeman

Multiple Choice

Which of these characters from Amish Grace is a simple character?

• Amy Roberts

• Ida Gravers

• Giddeon Gravers

• TV Reporter

Multiple Choice

Which of these characters from Amish Grace is a complex character?

• Rachel

• Ida Gravers

• Mr. Taskey

• TV Reporter

Theme:

Theme describes the central idea(s) that a piece of writing explores. It refers to that story’s underlying meaning/lesson. All works of literature contend with certain complex ideas, and theme is how a story or poem approaches these ideas.​

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The lesson, moral, or message of a story.

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The lesson a main character learns, that we can all learn from in our lives.

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Some themes in literature include the following:

• ​Love

• Hate

• Pride

• Redemption

• Courage

• ​Grace

• Acceptance

• Compassion​

• Cooperation​

• Perseverence

• Forgiveness

• Honesty​

Multiple Choice

What is/are the central theme(s) of Amish Grace?

• revenge

• fear

• courage

• forgiveness

​Where and when a story takes place.

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​Winter vs. Summer

​Future vs. Past

Country vs. City​

​Earth vs. Mars

​2020 vs. 1920

​Day vs. Night​

Setting

Multiple Choice

The setting of Amish Grace is

• New York

• A tropical beach

• Nickel Mines Amish Settlement

• Philadelphia

Context

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Context is the background information, environment, setting, framework, or surroundings of events or occurrences.

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Context illuminates the meaning and relevance of the text, and may be something cultural, historical, social, or political.

Multiple Choice

Which of the following provides context for Amish Grace?

• The Amish community is very devout.

• The Amish community built a school.

• Amy Roberts was tall.

• Amish people live in Kentucky.

Plot

​The series of events in a story.

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• ​Exposition

• ​Conflict & Rising Action

• ​Climax

• ​Falling action

• ​Resoloution

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​Some text here about the topic of discussion.

Conflict & Rising action is what happens in a story leading up to the climax. The conflict and rising actions often include problems that the characters have to face and solve.

​Conflict & Rising Action

The exposition is the beginning of the story wherein the setting and characters introduced.

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​It occurs within the first few chapters.

Exposition

Some text here about the topic of discussion

Multiple Choice

Which is a good example of the larger/central conflict presented in Amish Grace?

• Marybeth gets new boots.

• Levi preaches about being separate.

• Charlie comes to the community to get milk.

• Ida has to defend communication with her sister.

Climax and Falling Action

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• ​The Climax of a story is the most exciting part, or major turning point of the plot wherein the conflict reaches its peak.

• The Falling Action ​is every action after the climax and before the end of the story. Falling Actions help to move the story towards the resolution of its central conflict.

Multiple Choice

The climax of the story Amish Grace is _____.

• Counseling session at the firehouse

• The arrival of the reporters

• The shooting

• The rebuilding of the school

Multiple Choice

A falling action in Amish Grace is ______.

• Amy Roberts volunteers for the Amish community.

• Giddeon quarrels with Ida after she announces her departure.

• Rebecca recovers and reveals Marybeth's last deeds.

• Levi is interviewed by the reporter.

​Resolution refers to the way in which the problem in the story is solved. How things end up in the story.

Subject | Subject

Some text here about the topic of discussion

Multiple Choice

The central conflict in Amish Grace is resolved when _____.

• The news team returns for a follow up.

• The Amish attend Charlie Roberts' funeral.

• Ida learns of Marybeths last deeds/words.

• Ida forgives and embraces Amy.

Multiple Choice

Irony usually involves something that is 

• false
• silly
• unexpected
• unimportant

Multiple Choice

The main message the author wants to express is _____.

• plot

• theme

• conflict

• resolution