Literary Elements/ Story Grammar

1. Literary Elements/ Story Grammar Literary Elements basic pieces of information that need to be considered and developed by the author and Story Grammar a way to organize information about a story Copy any notes that are not on the note-sheet handout in the bottom ½ of your split notebook. The note-sheet should be placed behind the “blue” Reading separator.

2. Story Characteristics Introduction Plot Resolution Point of View Figurative Language

3. Setting when and where a story takes place time and place Provides: background info. character’s motives hardships/ opportunities that allow the character to grow What is the setting of Robin Hood? Methods of Characterization What s/he says, does, and thinks? What s/he looks like? How other characters interact with him/her? What author/narrator directly states about him/her? Introduction: draws reader into story

4. Characters: people, animals, and imaginary creatures who take part in the action • main character vs. minor character events centered around vs. interact with main character these characters • round character vs. flat character has weaknesses/strengths vs. simple, and full range of emotions one or two emotions • dynamic character vs. static character changes, grows, learns a lesson vs. does not change • protagonist vs. antagonist main character, good guy, vs. bad guy/villain, may cause problems hero/heroine sometimes there is not one

5. Protagonist: • good guy, hero/heroine, main character • Antagonist • bad guy/villain, sometimes causes problems; sometimes not present • Supporting characters • minor characters that interact in the story • Foil • person who hangs around main character (sidekick or friend), presents opposing view point or just adds humor

6. Plot:arrangement of incidents or events in a story leading to a conflict resolution of some kind

7. Exposition This is the beginning of the story shares the main character, setting, and beginning action events. A reader should be able to get a quick picture of what the story will be like. Minor characters and the inciting force may also be introduced at this time, but not always. • Inciting Force: the big conflict/ climax of the story; usually established between characters

8. Rising Action • the plot “thickens” • built around suspense: a feeling of uncertainty or anxiety • conflict between characters develops and becomes more pronounced conflict: opposing forces coming together • External Conflict vs. Internal Conflict character vs. outside force vs. character vs. self 1) P vs. nature 2) P vs. person 3) P vs. society 4) P vs. object

9. Climax moment of greatest suspense turning point of the story M. character makes major decisions, takes action, and changes story can end here Falling Action happens after the climax What are characters doing after climax? What happens after climax to help solve the problem?

10. 3. Resolution • end of the story • What happens to characters at end of story? • What happens in story after conflict is solved? Theme (may need to be inferred or could be directly told to reader) • Theme Phrase: not one word • Coming of age - Can’t run from the past • Value Life - Don’t go to extremes • Theme Statement:author’s message or opinion trying to be communicated to the reader

11. 4. Point of View:method or style of narration; Who is telling the story, and how much do they know? 1st Person Narrator is a character in the story “I, my, me, ours, us, we”- refers to self narrator knows thoughts and feelings of self may speak directly to the reader

12. 3rd Person:narrator does not participate in the action of the story; does not refer to self Limited narrator knows thoughts and feelings of one character allows the reader to maintain emotional distance from character Omniscient narrator knows thoughts and feelings of several (all) characters allows reader to gain insight into several characters

13. 5. Figurative Languagewriting/speech that is not meant to be taken literally Irony • some sort of discrepancy between what is expected and what actually happens • Verbal irony - the opposite is said from what is really intended (sarcasm) • Example - "Wasn't that a smart move!!" • Dramatic irony - a contrast between what a character says and what the reader knows to be true • Situational/Climactic irony – the opposite is done of what is expected

14. Tone the attitude a writer has towards the subject word choice may suggest tone Mood the state of mind of the story general feeling created within a story fear hope joy

15. Foreshadowing hints/ clues to indicate upcoming events used to build suspense Flashback a scene inserted into the story usually one that has already happened

16. Pacing the rhythm of the novel, chapters, and scenes Through how the paragraphs and sentences are written the rate at which novel events occur and unfold using specific word choices and sentence structure to elicit the emotions of the reader the reader feels what the writer wants the reader to feel

17. Symbol/ ism something that stands for something else Example: a conch shell representing authority Parable a short allegorical story designed to teach some lesson, moral, or truth Copy any notes that are not on the note-sheet handout in the bottom ½ of your split notebook. The note-sheet should be placed behind the “blue” Reading separator.