Literary Elements

Student Notes

Plot – order of events in a

narrative or story

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Plot (definition)

• Plot is the organized

pattern or sequence

of events that make

up a story. Every

plot is made up of a

series of incidents

that are related to

one another.

1. Exposition • This usually occurs at the beginning of a

short story and in the first chapter (if not the first few chapters) of a novel. Here the characters are introduced, we learn about the setting of the story, and other background information.

2. Inciting Incident &

3. Rising Action

• This part of the story begins to develop the conflict(s) or problems that characters will face throughout the story. The characters try to solve the problems/conflict.

• The inciting incident is the specific moment in the story when the major problem in revealed.

4. Climax

• This is the turning point of the

story. This is the highest point of

tension in the story…and

characters actions and decisions

are critical. Usually the main

character comes face to face with

a conflict and will change in some

way. The end of the story results

from this specific moment that

“changes” things.

• These are the events

that follow the climax in

order to lead the reader

to the resolution. The

problem isn’t solved yet,

but it’s in the works!

5. Falling Action

6. Resolution

• All loose ends

of the plot are

tied up. The

conflict(s)/

problems(s) are

solved.

7. Denouement

• The story comes to a reasonable

ending. Typically a “Happily Ever

After” ending,

but not always.

Putting It All Together 1. Exposition

2. Inciting Incident

3. Rising Action

4. Climax

5. Falling Action

6. Resolution

7. Denouement

Beginning of

Story

Middle of Story

End of Story

Characters/Characterization • Protagonist/Antagonist = the main character

and the force opposes him/her/it

Ex. Harry Potter vs. Voldemort

Katniss vs. The Hunger Games

Superman vs. Lex Luther

Dora vs. Swiper

• Major/Minor characters = major cannot be left

out of story without changing elements of plot,

while minor can be left out.

Come up with examples of each….

Characters/Characterization • Static/Dynamic Characters = characters who

remain the same (static) throughout the story

vs. characters who change.

Ex. Dynamic – Scrooge in A Christmas

Carol & Jonas from The Giver

Static – Stepmother from Cinderella

• Round/Flat characters = characters who are

fully developed (round) vs. characters who are

not (flat)

Come up with some examples.

Characters/Characterization • Direct Characterization = author directly giving

reader information about characters.

• Indirect Characterization = author not giving

information about characters directly, but

rather forcing the reader to make inferences

based on other information including: » Speech – what the characters says and what other

characters say about him/her

» Thoughts – what the character thinks as well as what other

characters think about him/her

» Effect – what effect the character has on others

» Actions – things the character does in the story

» Looks – the character’s physical appearance

• Moral = lesson taught by story

– Similar to fortune cookie messages

• Don’t judge a book by its cover

• Don’t knock it until you try it

– Things your parents/grandparents tell you

• Be kind to others

• If you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all

• Theme = universal message in story

– Not plot specific

– Pertains to many other stories

– What the whole story is about

• Bullying, hope, growing up, coping with difficult circumstances, love,

overcoming adversity, devotion, and the list go on and on and on

• Time and Place

• Specific or generic depending on story

• Importance:

– Establishes back drop for action

– Develops character psychology • What characters will act like

• What characters will think like

– Determines character action • What will happen in story

• How characters will respond to events

– Helps develop atmosphere of story

• The feel of story

• Mood

• Internal

– Character vs. self

• Character is conflicting with him/herself

• Examples include making a decision, feeling

guilt/regret, pushing through an injury

• External

– Character vs. character

– Character vs. nature

– Character vs. society

– Character vs. fate

– Character vs. supernatural

– Character vs. technology

• Mood is the feeling projected to the reader

after finishing a literary work – How did you feel after finishing The Hunger Games?

Or after you watching The Help, The Notebook, or The

Conjuring

• Tone is the attitude of the author present

while reading the work – You should be able to tell right away

– Could change throughout story, but usually does not

• Ex. formal, informal, light-hearted, condescending, serious,

threatening, etc.

Mood vs. Tone

1. It’s a figure of speech

where an object, person, or

situation has another

meaning other than its literal

meaning

2. Symbolism can describe

the actions of a character,

word, action, or event that

have a deeper meaning in the

story.

• At the end of The Notebook

there are birds flying higher

and higher into the sky

• The way a sentence or

piece of writing is put

together, including

sentence structure,

wording, vocabulary,

etc.

• Varies from author to

author and over time.

Point of View • 1st person – narrator is present in story

• 2nd person – narrator is talking to the

reader using “you,” “your,” “yours, “ and/or

other conversational language.

• 3rd person – narrator is not present in the

story

– Objective – none of the characters’ thoughts

– Omniscient – all characters’ thoughts

– Limited - only 1 character’s thoughts

• A clue embedded in the

narrative that predicts

some later event or

revelation

• It could be something a

character says or does, an

event that doesn't make

sense until much later, a

meaningful name or really

anything at all.

• The foreshadowing may

be ominous or seem

perfectly innocent at the

time.

• The Lion King: A king's

time as ruler rises and

falls like the sun. The

sun will set on my time

here and will rise with

you.

• Tangled: One of Flynn's

first lines is how much

he wanted a palace.

He's joking, but that's

what he gets in the end.

• Can you think of other

movies/books/stories?

Disney’s Pixar is constantly

using foreshadowing!

• Toy Story 2 has characters from A Bug’s

Life on display in Al’s Toy Barn, Boo has a

stuffed Nemo doll in Monsters Inc, a little

boy is reading a Mr. Incredible comic in

Finding Nemo, WALL-E is seen in Bob’s

garage in The Incredibles… it just goes on

and on

• Literary device where an author depicts

specific events, which have taken place before

the events that are currently unfolding in the

story

• Forrest Gump

• Can you think of other movies/books/stories?

Irony • A literary device meaning the opposite of what

is expected

• There are three types:

– Dramatic – words or actions of a character have a

different meaning for reader than for the characters

in the story

– Situational – contradiction between what is

expected or intendeded and what actually occurs

– Verbal – much like sarcasm, saying something but

meaning the opposite