Essential Question

What are the different elements of literature?

Elements of Literature

What makes a story a story?

Movies

Novels

Short Stories

Protagonist

The main character in a work of literature

The protagonist is involved in the work’s central conflict

Antagonist

The antagonist is the character that is opposite the protagonist.

“anti” = against

Lex Luthor

Plot Structure

Exposition: the start of the

story, before the action

takes place

Plot Structure

Rising Action: the series of conflicts and crisis in the story that

leads to the climax.

Plot Structure

Climax: the turning point,

the most intense part of the story – mentally or in

action

Plot Structure

Falling Action: all of the

action that follows the

climax

Plot Structure

Resolution: the conclusion, the tying together

of the loose ends

Setting

The time and place of a story, poem, or play.

The setting may contribute to the emotional effect of the story.

ConflictA struggle

between opposing characters or opposing forces.

Man vs. ManMan vs. HimselfMan vs. NatureMan vs. Society

Point of View The vantage point

from which a story is told. Who is the person telling the story?

First person – one of the characters is telling the story

Third person – a narrator is telling the story.

Third Person Point of View

Two different types: Third Person OMNISCIENT point of view

is where the narrator knows everything about the characters and their problems. They can tell us about the past, the future, and the present. The narrator can also tell us what the characters are thinking and what is happening at the same time.

Third person LIMITED point of view is where the narrator focuses on the thoughts and feelings of only one character. From this point of view, we observe the action through the eyes of only one of the characters in the story.

The Tortoise and the HareOnce there was a Hare who used to laugh scornfully at a Tortoise because he plodded along so slowly. "You never can get anywhere with those short legs of yours. Look at my long legs! They're so swift no one would dare race me." 

 

The Tortoise and the Hare

All the animals of field and forest were tired of hearing the Hare brag. At last the Tortoise said, "If we were to run a race, I'm sure I would beat you."

The Tortoise and the Hare

The animals were astonished for they knew the Tortoise was the slowest of them all, and the Hare, bursting into loud laughter, cried, "What a joke! That slowpoke thinks he can beat me! Come on, Mr. Tortoise, you shall see what my feet are made of. Why, I can beat you before you are even half-started!

The Tortoise and the Hare

"You'd better not be too sure," cautioned the Tortoise. All the big and little animals gathered to watch the race. At the signal the Hare leaped forward in a great bound and soon left the plodding Tortoise far behind him on the dusty road. Looking back, the Hare could not even see the Tortoise after a little while.

The Tortoise and the Hare

"Hum-m, I've as good as won this race already," he thought. “There's really no reason to hurry." So, as the sun was very warm, he decided to rest a bit under a shady tree. "I'll come in way ahead of that Tortoise, anyhow," he told himself. Soon he was sound asleep but the little rest stretched into a good long nap.

The Tortoise and the Hare

Meantime, the Tortoise jogged steadily along on the hot, dusty road, ever so slowly, but surely, and soon he passed the Hare who was still peacefully sleeping. Quietly, the Tortoise plodded on nearing the goal. When the Hare finally woke up with a start, he saw the Tortoise just reaching the finish line far ahead and he could hear all the animals cheering the winner.

The Tortoise and the Hare

Boastful and careless, the Hare had lost the race. Now he would never again be able to count on his speed. Moral of the story: Perseverance wins the race.

Can you answer these questions?

Protagonist:Antagonist:Conflict:Point of View:Setting:

Tortoise

Man vs. ManHare

Third Person Omniscient

Dusty road, during the day

Plot Structure

A hare always teased a tortoise.

The tortoise challenges the hare to

a race

The hare rushed in front.

Since he was so far in

front, the hare

decided to take a

nap.

Tortoise wins the race!Animals cheered and the

hare was shamed.Moral

of the story.

Can you answer these questions?

Protagonist: JonasAntagonist: ???Conflict: Man v. SocietyPoint of View: Third Person,

OmniscientSetting: Dystopic world in the

future

Plot Structure for The Giver

Jonas and his family live in what seems a perfect world, but

then…

Jonas takes baby Caleb and leaves the dystopia.

Jonas comforts baby Caleb and finds peace as he approaches the neighboring village.

Jonas and Caleb may have survived, but it really depends on the

reader.