Literary Elements and Devices
FICTION: “Follow the Water,” pages 11-17
September 2016
®
THE LANGUAGE ARTS MAGAZINE
Name: ___________________________________________________ Date: ________________________
Literary Elements and Devices
Identifying the basic elements of a literary work can help you understand it better.
Use this activity to help you understand “Follow the Water.”
See Scope’s “Glossary of Literary Terms” for definitions of the words that appear in bold.
Section 1: Characters
1. For the characters of Georgie, Buddy, and one other character of your choice: (1) decide whether the
character is major or minor; (2) briefly describe the character, including his or her appearance, personality,
and background; and (3) decide whether the character is static or dynamic and explain why.
A.
GEORGIE
is a
major
minor (check one) character.
Description: _______________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
She is a
static
dynamic (check one) character. I think so because
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
B.
BUDDY
is a
major
minor (check one) character.
Description: _______________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
He is a
static
dynamic (check one) character. I think so because
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
C.
is a
major
minor (check one) character.
Description: _______________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
He/She is a
static
dynamic (check one) character. I think so because
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
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Literary Elements and Devices
FICTION: “Follow the Water,” pages 11-17
September 2016
2. Give an example of something Georgie says or does. What does this reveal about her character?
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3. Give an example of something Buddy says or does. What does this reveal about his character?
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
4. What role does Buddy play in what happens to Georgie at the end of the story? Explain.
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Section 2: Plot
5. Describe two major conflicts in the story. For each, indicate whether the conflict is external or internal.
Conflict 1:
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
Conflict 1 is
external
internal. (Check one.)
Conflict 2:
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
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Conflict 2 is
external
internal. (Check one.)
6. What is the climax of the story? Explain your answer.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
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Literary Elements and Devices
FICTION: “Follow the Water,” pages 11-17
September 2016
Section 3: Setting
7. Is the setting an important part of the story? Why or why not?
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8. Based on the story, what kind of an environment does Mars have? What would it be like to live there? Give at
least three details from the story.
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Section 4: Figurative Language
In each quote from the story below, an example of figurative language is underlined. For each, check one of
the choices provided to show which type of figurative language it is. Then explain the effect of the figurative
language—what it helps the reader understand or what it adds to the story.
9. “We are two mermaids enjoying the freedom of the waves, the tug of the undertow, the rush of the water
around us, part of the ocean itself.” (p. 12)
simile
metaphor
personification
What the figurative language helps the reader understand or what it adds to the story:
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
10. “I know she’d laugh at the way we live in plastic tents. “Why, you all look like hamsters,” she’d say, and she’d
be right.” (p. 12)
simile
hyperbole
personification
What the figurative language helps the reader understand or what it adds to the story:
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
©2016 BY SCHOLASTIC INC. TEACHERS MAY PROJECT OR MAKE COPIES OF THIS PAGE TO DISTRIBUTE TO STUDENTS.
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