Literary Elements
• Setting
• Plot
• Flashback/Foreshadowing
Plot Preview
*Watch and listen to the video that will help
review what we learned last week, and preview
what we will learn today
PLOT RAP
Setting
• Definition:
• 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.
• Be Sure To:
-Be as specific as possible when you’re identifying
the setting-this helps your understanding of the
story
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)
Setting
When:
• General time period: (Past, present,
future)
• Specific time period: (1865, during
WWII, during Colonial Times.)
• Time of year/Time of day: (Seasons,
morning, dusk)
Work With Your Table:
• Using the story “The Scholarship Jacket”
on p 278 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
Plot
• Definition:
–The sequence of main
events that make up a
story
–All events are related to
one another.
Plot Diagram
3- CLIMAX
Middle-End of
Story
2- Rising Action
1- Exposition
Beginning of Story
4- Falling Action
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. CSI
CSI
•Setting of the story is introduced.
• The Inciting Incident is introduced.
–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
2. Rising Action
Definition:
• A series of events (At least 3 in a particular order) that lead
to the climax
• A building of suspense or interest occurs
3. Climax
Definition:
• 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.
• Include at least 2
events that wrap up
the story before it ends
5. Resolution/Denoument
Definition:
• The story comes to a
reasonable ending
(conclusion).
• Not every story has a
resolution
Putting It All Together
1. Exposition
Very Beginning of Story
2. Rising Action
Beginning – Middle of Story
3. Climax
Near End of Story
4. Falling Action
End of Story
5. Resolution/Denoument
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.
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.
Climax:
Identify this with your table!!
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 “The Scholarship Jacket”
Rising Action
3. Marta asks her grandpa for money but he refuses because
he thinks the scholarship jacket should be free.
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.
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
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
Climax:
Try this with your table!
Falling Action:
3. They psych themselves up and get in to the ring.
1. The boys leave the ring arm in
arm, not waiting to hear who won.
2. They think about “pulling punches” so they don’t hurt one
another during the fight.
2. Friendship is more important to
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, present
Inciting Incident : Try this with your table!
them than winning the match
Resolution:
Try this with your table!
Plot Diagram for “Amigo Brothers”
Climax:
Rising Action
4. They both fight really well and give it their all
The announcer turns to tell the
audience who won the match
Falling Action:
3. They psych themselves up and get in to the ring.
1. The boys leave the ring arm in
arm, not waiting to hear who won.
2. They think about “pulling punches” so they don’t hurt one
another during the fight.
2. Friendship is more important to
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, present
Inciting Incident : Try this with your table!
them than winning the match
Resolution:
Felix and Antonio walked out of the
ring, arm in arm, not wanting to hear
who won the fight.
Flashback
Definition:
• An interruption of the chronological sequence of
events in a story.
• Often presented as dream sequences or memories
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.
Flashback
Example:
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.
Foreshadowing
Definition:
• Hinting at something that is going to happen
later in the story.
• Often appears at the beginning of a story
Purpose:
• To help the reader anticipate the coming
events in a story.
• To build suspense/interest
Foreshadowing
Example:
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.
Let’s Review
Using your knowledge from today’s lesson, match each
term with its definition. Be prepared to share out your
thinking!