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 Seventh Grade on p. 20 of your textbook, list details about the story s setting (TIME & PLACE) with a partner. Simply stating that the story takes place in a school is 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 Scholarship Jacket Rising Action 3. Marta asks her grandpa for money but he refuses because he thinks the scholarship jacket should be free. Climax: YOU TRY: Falling Action: 2. Principal tells Marta that the jacket will cost $15 1. Marta overhears teacher arguing about who should get the jacket. Mr. Boone says Joann should because her father is on the school board. Mr. Schmidt disagrees Exposition Characters: Marta, Marta s grandfather, Mr. Schmidt, Mr. Boone, the principal, Joann & her father Setting: Small town in Texas, only one store in town, grandfather s bean farm Inciting Incident: Teachers were discriminating against Marta, and debating giving the Scholarship Jacket to a white girl with a powerful father, even though Marta earned it. 1. Mr. Schmidt congratulates Marta 2. Marta goes home to tell her grandfather- tears of joy Resolution: Grandfather was proud of Marta for standing up for herself and happy that she will get the jacket she earned.
Plot Diagram for The Scholarship Jacket Rising Action 3. Marta asks her grandpa for money but he refuses because he thinks the scholarship jacket should be free. Climax: Marta tells principal she won t pay for the jacket because of what her grandfather said. Principal changes his mind, tells Marta she can have the scholarship jacket 2. Principal tells Marta that the jacket will cost $15 1. Marta overhears teacher arguing about who should get the jacket. Mr. Boone says Joann should because her father is on the school board. Mr. Schmidt disagrees Exposition Characters: Marta, Marta s grandfather, Mr. Schmidt, Mr. Boone, the principal, Joann & her father Setting: Small town in Texas, only one store in town, grandfather s bean farm Inciting Incident: Teachers were discriminating against Marta, and debating giving the Scholarship Jacket to a white girl with a powerful father, even though Marta earned it. Falling Action: 1. Mr. Schmidt congratulates Marta 2. Marta goes home to tell her grandfather- tears of joy Resolution: Grandfather was proud of Marta for standing up for herself and happy that she will get the jacket she earned.
Plot Diagram for Amigo Brothers Rising Action 4. They both fight really well and give it their all 3. They psych themselves up and get in to the ring. 2.They think about pulling punches so they don t hurt one another during the fight. 1. The two friends decide to split up when training so they don t think about their friendship Exposition Characters: Felix and Antonio Setting: Brooklyn, New York Inciting Incident : YOU TRY! Climax: You Try! Falling Action: 1. The boys leave the ring arm in arm, not waiting to hear who won. 2. Friendship is more important to them than winning the match Resolution:
Plot Diagram for Amigo Brothers Rising Action 4. They both fight really well and give it their all 3. They psych themselves up and get in to the ring. 2.They think about pulling punches so they don t hurt one another during the fight. 1. The two friends decide to split up when training so they don t think about their friendship Exposition Characters: Felix and Antonio Setting: Brooklyn, New York Inciting Incident : : The two boys are best friends but have to fight against one another in the golden gloves tournament. Climax: The announcer turns to tell the audience who won the match Falling Action: 1. The boys leave the ring arm in arm, not waiting to hear who won. 2. Friendship is more important to them than winning the match Resolution:
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 Shakespeare s Romeo and Juliet is rich with foreshadowing examples. One of which is the following lines from Act 2, Scene 2: Life were better ended by their hate, Than death prorogued, wanting of thy love In the balcony scene, Juliet is concerned about Romeo s safety as she fears her kinsmen may catch him. Romeo says, in the above lines, that he would rather have her love and die sooner than not obtain her love and die later. Eventually, he gets her love and dies for her love, too.