Literary
Elements
Student Notes
Plot – order of events in a
narrative or story
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Plot
(definition)
• Plot is the organized
pattern or sequence
of events that make
up a story. Every
plot is made up of a
series of incidents
that are related to
one another.
1. Exposition
• This usually occurs at the beginning of a
short story and in the first chapter (if not the
first few chapters) of a novel. Here the
characters are introduced, we learn about
the setting of the story, and other
background information.
2. Inciting Incident &
3. Rising Action
• This part of the story begins to develop the
conflict(s) or problems that characters will
face throughout the story. The characters try
to solve the problems/conflict.
• The inciting incident is the specific moment
in the story when the major problem in
revealed.
4. Climax
• This is the turning point of the
story. This is the highest point of
tension in the story…and
characters actions and decisions
are critical. Usually the main
character comes face to face with
a conflict and will change in some
way. The end of the story results
from this specific moment that
“changes” things.
5. Falling Action
• These are the events
that follow the climax in
order to lead the reader
to the resolution. The
problem isn’t solved yet,
but it’s in the works!
6. Resolution
• All loose ends
of the plot are
tied up. The
conflict(s)/
problems(s) are
solved.
7. Denouement
• The story comes to a reasonable
ending. Typically a “Happily Ever
After” ending,
but not always.
Putting It All Together
1. Exposition
Beginning of
Story
2. Inciting Incident
3. Rising Action
Middle of Story
4. Climax
5. Falling Action
6. Resolution
7. Denouement
End of Story
Characters/Characterization
• Protagonist/Antagonist = the main character
and the force opposes him/her/it
Ex. Harry Potter vs. Voldemort
Katniss vs. The Hunger Games
Superman vs. Lex Luther
Dora vs. Swiper
• Major/Minor characters = major cannot be left
out of story without changing elements of plot,
while minor can be left out.
Come up with examples of each….
Characters/Characterization
• Static/Dynamic Characters = characters who
remain the same (static) throughout the story
vs. characters who change.
Ex.
Dynamic – Scrooge in A Christmas
Carol & Jonas from The Giver
Static – Stepmother from Cinderella
• Round/Flat characters = characters who are
fully developed (round) vs. characters who are
not (flat)
Come up with some examples.
Characters/Characterization
• Direct Characterization = author directly giving
reader information about characters.
• Indirect Characterization = author not giving
information about characters directly, but
rather forcing the reader to make inferences
based on other information including:
» Speech – what the characters says and what other
characters say about him/her
» Thoughts – what the character thinks as well as what other
characters think about him/her
» Effect – what effect the character has on others
» Actions – things the character does in the story
» Looks – the character’s physical appearance
• Moral = lesson taught by story
– Similar to fortune cookie messages
• Don’t judge a book by its cover
• Don’t knock it until you try it
– Things your parents/grandparents tell you
• Be kind to others
• If you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all
• Theme = universal message in story
– Not plot specific
– Pertains to many other stories
– What the whole story is about
• Bullying, hope, growing up, coping with difficult circumstances, love,
overcoming adversity, devotion, and the list go on and on and on
• Time and Place
• Specific or generic depending on story
• Importance:
– Establishes back drop for action
– Develops character psychology
• What characters will act like
• What characters will think like
– Determines character action
• What will happen in story
• How characters will respond to events
– Helps develop atmosphere of story
• The feel of story
• Mood
• Internal
– Character vs. self
• Character is conflicting with him/herself
• Examples include making a decision, feeling
guilt/regret, pushing through an injury
• External
– Character vs. character
– Character vs. nature
– Character vs. society
– Character vs. fate
– Character vs. supernatural
– Character vs. technology
Mood vs. Tone
• Mood is the feeling projected to the reader
after finishing a literary work
– How did you feel after finishing The Hunger Games?
Or after you watching The Help, The Notebook, or The
Conjuring
• Tone is the attitude of the author present
while reading the work
– You should be able to tell right away
– Could change throughout story, but usually does not
• Ex. formal, informal, light-hearted, condescending, serious,
threatening, etc.
1. It’s a figure of speech
where an object, person, or
situation has another
meaning other than its literal
meaning
2. Symbolism can describe
the actions of a character,
word, action, or event that
have a deeper meaning in the
story.
• At the end of The Notebook
there are birds flying higher
and higher into the sky
• The way a sentence or
piece of writing is put
together, including
sentence structure,
wording, vocabulary,
etc.
• Varies from author to
author and over time.
Point of View
• 1st person – narrator is present in story
• 2nd person – narrator is talking to the
reader using “you,” “your,” “yours, “ and/or
other conversational language.
• 3rd person – narrator is not present in the
story
– Objective – none of the characters’ thoughts
– Omniscient – all characters’ thoughts
– Limited - only 1 character’s thoughts
• A clue embedded in the
narrative that predicts
some later event or
revelation
• It could be something a
character says or does, an
event that doesn't make
sense until much later, a
meaningful name or really
anything at all.
• The foreshadowing may
be ominous or seem
perfectly innocent at the
time.
• The Lion King: A king's
time as ruler rises and
falls like the sun. The
sun will set on my time
here and will rise with
you.
• Tangled: One of Flynn's
first lines is how much
he wanted a palace.
He's joking, but that's
what he gets in the end.
• Can you think of other
movies/books/stories?
Disney’s Pixar is constantly
using foreshadowing!
• Toy Story 2 has characters from A Bug’s
Life on display in Al’s Toy Barn, Boo has a
stuffed Nemo doll in Monsters Inc, a little
boy is reading a Mr. Incredible comic in
Finding Nemo, WALL-E is seen in Bob’s
garage in The Incredibles… it just goes on
and on
• Literary device where an author depicts
specific events, which have taken place before
the events that are currently unfolding in the
story
• Forrest Gump
• Can you think of other movies/books/stories?
Irony
• A literary device meaning the opposite of what
is expected
• There are three types:
– Dramatic – words or actions of a character have a
different meaning for reader than for the characters
in the story
– Situational – contradiction between what is
expected or intendeded and what actually occurs
– Verbal – much like sarcasm, saying something but
meaning the opposite