Literary Literary ElementsElements

Finding and describing Finding and describing literary elements in literary elements in

different types of mediadifferent types of media

Main IdeaMain Idea The main idea of a paragraph tells the The main idea of a paragraph tells the

topic of the paragraph. The topic tells topic of the paragraph. The topic tells what all or most of the sentences are what all or most of the sentences are about.about.

You can find the main idea not only in You can find the main idea not only in paragraphs, but also pictures, paragraphs, but also pictures, cartoons, weather reports, newspaper cartoons, weather reports, newspaper photos, visual narratives, and stories.photos, visual narratives, and stories.

Main IdeaMain Idea

CharactersCharacters

Characters are the Characters are the people or the people or the animals described animals described in a story.in a story.

Characters can be Characters can be found in pictures found in pictures as well.as well.

PlotPlot

The plot is the steps or action of a The plot is the steps or action of a story. story.

The plot should be told from what The plot should be told from what happens in the beginning to what happens in the beginning to what happens in the end.happens in the end.

It is usually described in an upside-It is usually described in an upside-down v form.down v form.

PlotPlot

ClimaxClimax

Rising ActionRising Action Falling Falling ActionAction

BeginningBeginning ResolutionResolution

PlotPlot

The plot must have a conflict.The plot must have a conflict.

Conflict is something that goes wrong Conflict is something that goes wrong or something that is troublesome.or something that is troublesome.

An example of conflict is a boy losing An example of conflict is a boy losing his sleeping bag in a story about a his sleeping bag in a story about a camping trip.camping trip.

ThemeTheme

The theme of a story is the central The theme of a story is the central idea of the story that lies beneath idea of the story that lies beneath the story’s surface.the story’s surface.

Examples:Examples:

FriendshipFriendship Growing Up Growing Up

Overcoming FearOvercoming Fear Learning About Learning About YourselfYourself

ThemeTheme

In In Bridge to TerabithiaBridge to Terabithia by K. Paterson by K. Paterson there are themes of friendship and death.there are themes of friendship and death.

FriendshipFriendship

SettingSetting

The setting is when and where the The setting is when and where the story takes place.story takes place.

The story can be set in the past, The story can be set in the past, present, or future.present, or future.

Example:Example:

In Chicago in 1973In Chicago in 1973

SettingSetting

Example: Times Square, New York City in Example: Times Square, New York City in the Winterthe Winter

SettingSetting

Spongebob Spongebob Squarepants takes Squarepants takes place in the ocean.place in the ocean.

SummarizingSummarizing

To summarize is to tell the main To summarize is to tell the main parts of the story in a shortened parts of the story in a shortened manner.manner.

Summarizing should not include Summarizing should not include many details.many details.

SummarizingSummarizing

Most of us know the story Most of us know the story CinderellaCinderella. .

You could summarize the story by saying:You could summarize the story by saying:

CinderellaCinderella is a story about a girl who is not is a story about a girl who is not good enough for her step mother. Thanks good enough for her step mother. Thanks to her Fairy Godmother, she goes to a ball to her Fairy Godmother, she goes to a ball but loses her glass slipper. Prince but loses her glass slipper. Prince charming returns it to her and it fits. charming returns it to her and it fits. They live happily ever after.They live happily ever after.

Cause and EffectCause and Effect

A cause is something that produces A cause is something that produces an effect, result, or consequence. an effect, result, or consequence. The cause leads to the effect.The cause leads to the effect.

An effect is something that is An effect is something that is brought about by an agent or cause. brought about by an agent or cause. The effect is the result of the cause.The effect is the result of the cause.

Cause and EffectCause and Effect

Compare and ContrastCompare and Contrast

To compare is to liken one thing to To compare is to liken one thing to another; to make things similar.another; to make things similar.

To contrast is to show differences in To contrast is to show differences in two or more things. Contrasting two or more things. Contrasting shows how things are opposite.shows how things are opposite.

Compare and ContrastCompare and Contrast

PredictionPrediction

To predict is to foretell what will To predict is to foretell what will happen. Predicting is telling about happen. Predicting is telling about something that is going to happen.something that is going to happen.

You can use context clues to predict You can use context clues to predict what will happen next in a story.what will happen next in a story.

SequenceSequence

You can put things in order if you You can put things in order if you sequence them. sequence them.

A sequence of someone’s day:A sequence of someone’s day: 1- Waking up1- Waking up 2- Going to school2- Going to school 3- Doing homework3- Doing homework 4- Going to sleep4- Going to sleep

SequenceSequence

Draw ConclusionsDraw Conclusions

Drawing conclusions is looking for Drawing conclusions is looking for information that never clearly information that never clearly stated, and figuring out what is stated, and figuring out what is being implied.being implied.

Drawing conclusions is also called Drawing conclusions is also called “reading between the lines.”“reading between the lines.”

Draw ConclusionsDraw Conclusions

Example:Example:

You hear screeching tires and a crash. What You hear screeching tires and a crash. What do you automatically think of?do you automatically think of?

Most think of a car accident. Most think of a car accident.

You know from previous encounters that the You know from previous encounters that the sound of screeching tires can lead car sound of screeching tires can lead car accidents.accidents.

Support DetailsSupport Details

Support details are those that give Support details are those that give more information than just the main more information than just the main idea. idea.

They tell the reader more They tell the reader more information than the main idea but information than the main idea but do not tell everything that happens do not tell everything that happens in the story.in the story.

REMEMBER:REMEMBER:

Read, Read, Read and Read, Read, Read and you learn anything!you learn anything!

ReferencesReferences

Webster’s DictionaryWebster’s Dictionary http://morguefile.comhttp://morguefile.com http://pics.tech4learning.com/http://pics.tech4learning.com/