Literary Elements Setting Conflict/Inciting Incident Flashback/Foreshadowing
Definition: Setting The TIME (day, month, year) and PLACE where the action occurs in a story. Purpose: The setting can influence the type of characters that appear in a story as well as what events occur in the plot.
Setting Where: Geographical location (Wyoming, London, Cairo, Vancouver, etc.) Socio-economic characteristics (wealthy suburbs, depression dustbowl) Specific locations (prep school, log cabin, bus, military base)
When: Setting General time period: (Past, present, future) Specific time period: (1865, during WWII, during Colonial Times.) Time of year/time of day: (Seasons, morning, dusk)
Turn and Talk Using the story The Highwayman on p. 593 of your textbook, list details about the story s setting (TIME & PLACE) with a partner. Simply stating that the story takes place on a rois not a complete response.
Identifying the Elements of A Plot Diagram
Definition: Plot The sequence of events that make up a story All events are related to one another.
Plot Diagram 2- Rising Action 3- CLIMAX Middle-End of Story 4- Falling Action 1- Exposition Beginning of Story 5 Resolution/ Denoument End of Story
1. Exposition Definition: Occurs at the beginning of a story to give the reader background information. Characters are introduced. Setting of the story is introduced. The Inciting Incident is introduced. This is referred to as the INCITIING INCIDENT because it is the first indication that something has gone wrong. It causes a shift in the action during the beginning of the story. C S I
Definition: 2. Rising Action A series of events (in a particular order) that lead to the climax A building of suspense or interest occurs.
Definition: 3. Climax The major turning point or the most intense moment in the story. Usually the main character comes face to face with the conflict. The reader s emotion is piqued (sparked) by placing the outcome of the characters in doubt. Happens toward the end of a story.
Definition: 4. Falling Action All loose ends of the plot are tied up. The conflict(s) and climax are starting to calm down.
5. Resolution/Denoument Definition: The story comes to a reasonable ending (conclusion). Not every story has a resolution
Putting It All Together 1. Exposition 2. Rising Action 3. Climax 4. Falling Action 5. Resolution/Denoument Very Beginning of Story Beginning Middle of Story Near End of Story End of Story Very End of Story
Plot Diagram for The Highwayman Rising Action 3. Bess hears the highwayman returning and struggles to reach the trigger of the gun to warn him with the shot so he can get away. 2. The redcoats tie Bess up with a gun pointed at her chest. They want to use her to lure the highwayman back and shoot him before he can return to her. 1. The highwayman does not return in the morning, afternoon, or evening instead, the redcoats come to the inn-yard. Exposition Characters: The highwayman, Bess, Tim the ostler Setting: past, on a road at night near an inn-yard Inciting Incident: Tim the ostler loves Bess, but he overhears the highwayman tell her to wait for him while he goes to rob the rich and he will return to her with the gold. This angers Tim. Climax: YOU TRY: Falling Action: 1. The highwayman turns away from where he hears the gunshot. 2. Once he hears that it was Bess who died, he returned to the Inn, only to be shot down on the highway. Resolution: Legend has it that you can still see the highwayman s and Bess ghosts saying goodbye to one another at the Inn-yard.
Plot Diagram for The Highwayman Rising Action 3. Bess hears the highwayman returning and struggles to reach the trigger of the gun to warn him with the shot so he can get away. 2. The redcoats tie Bess up with a gun pointed at her chest. They want to use her to lure the highwayman back and shoot him before he can return to her. 1. The highwayman does not return in the morning, afternoon, or evening instead, the redcoats come to the inn-yard. Exposition Characters: The highwayman, Bess, Tim the ostler Setting: past, on a road at night near an inn-yard Inciting Incident: Tim the ostler loves Bess, but he overhears the highwayman tell her to wait for him while he goes to rob the rich and he will return to her with the gold. This angers Tim. Climax: Bess finally reaches the trigger and is able to take her own life before the redcoats can use her against the highwayman. Falling Action: 1. The highwayman turns away from where he hears the gunshot. 2. Once he hears that it was Bess who died, he returned to the Inn, only to be shot down on the highway. Resolution: Legend has it that you can still see the highwayman s and Bess ghosts saying goodbye to one another at the Inn-yard.
Definition: Flashback An interruption of the chronological sequence of events in a story. Purpose: To provide background or context to the current events in a story. For readers to gain insight in to a character s motivation. To increase tension.
Example: Flashback Often presented as dream sequences and memories When I went out of the drawing room, first thing that came into view in the open corridor way was the picture of my brother. [I just got the point why my mother used to see that portrait hours after he was killed in the WWII, and she left only when she saw any one of us coming to her.] I just heard steps and when I looked back, there was nothing that I could see. It was just a feeling of the past.
Definition: Foreshadowing Hinting at something that is going to happen later in the story. Often appears at the beginning of a story Purpose: To help a reader anticipate the coming events in a story. To create suspense/interest
Example: Foreshadowing From Miss Peregrine s Home for Peculiar Children : I was no tracker, and neither was Ricky. And yet something seemed to guide me anyway a quickening in the chest; a whisper in the viscous air and suddenly I couldn t wait another second. I tromped into the underbrush like a bloodhound scenting an invisible trail.
Characters
Character Development Strategies L: Looks A: Acts S: Says T: Thinks O: Others (What others think)
Practice L: Looks A: Acts S: Says T: Thinks O: Others (What others think) You try characterize the Highwayman from The Highwayman using LASTO.
Types of Characters Protagonist: The character that the story revolves around Involved in the main conflict of the plot and usually changes in some way throughout the story. NOT necessarily the good guy! Example Protagonists: Harry Potter Katniss Everdeen
Types of Characters Antagonist The character (or force) that creates a conflict for the protagonist. Doesn t necessarily have to be an person. It could be death, the devil, an illness, or any other challenge. Can be a likeable character ( the good guy ) whereas the protagonist can represent evil ( the bad guy ). Example Antagonists: Voldemort President Snow The Joker
Types of Characters Static Character: A character that DOES NOT change throughout the story Usually a minor character Static=Same
Types of Characters Dynamic Character: A character that DOES change throughout the story Usually a main character Dynamic=different
Types of Characters Practice Identify a protagonist and antagonist in Finding Nemo. Identify a static character and a dynamic character in Finding Nemo.
Types of Characters Possible Answers Protagonist: Marlin, Nemo Antagonist: The diver who took Nemo, Darla Static: Dentist, Darla, Flo, Scar Dynamic: Marlin, Dory, Nemo
Author s POV
Definition: FIRST PERSON POINT OF VIEW The MAIN CHARACTER tells the story Uses key words such as: I, Me, My and We We see the story from only ONE character s (main) perspective/view. Purpose: Readers can usually relate to the narrator It may be an autobiography
Definition: SECOND PERSON POINT OF VIEW The AUTHOR is the narrator. Uses key words such as: YOU and YOUR Sometimes this is implied ex: Open the door Least common point of view used Purpose: To give directions To persuade a person
Definition: THIRD PERSON POINT OF VIEW The AUTHOR tells the story Uses key words such as: HE, SHE, THEY, or CHARACTER S NAMES. There are two types of Third Person Point of View: Limited Omniscient Purpose: Readers can get a better perspective about all of the characters.
Third Person Point of View- LIMITED Definition: The narrator knows only the thoughts and feelings of one character. Purpose: Readers can get a better perspective about one character s thoughts as well as learning a lot about one character in particular Example: Joan had been preparing for weeks to deliver her speech in front of the class. However, when the teacher called her name, she felt a surge of panic go through her like a lightning bolt. Joan s classmates stared at her, but the words would not come out of her mouth.
Definition: Third Person Point of View- OMNISCIENT The narrator knows the thoughts and feelings of many characters. Purpose: Readers can get a better perspective about all of the character s thoughts and feelings to better understand relationships between characters in the story. Example: Joan had been preparing for weeks to deliver her speech in front of the class. However, when the teacher called her name, she felt a surge of panic go through her like a lightning bolt. Amy, Joan s best friend, could sense that something was wrong with her. So, Amy decided to volunteer to give her speech instead, even though she did not feel very prepared.