Foreshadowing- is when the author gives us a clue about some-
thing that will happen in the future, usually some-
thing bad or unfortunate.

2. PLOT: The actual story line- what happens in the story. There are five
elements of plot.

a. setting- the opening- physical and mood
b . rising action- we find out about events in the past, and some conflict may begin
c . conflict- the problem gets worse
d . high point or climax- the point of highest tension, sometimes it is the turning point
e . resolution- the problem is solved, the conflict is resolved, the quest is over

3. CONFLICT: The tension or problem between characters or forces- or inside a
character- in a story. Without a conflict, there is no reason for the
story.

There are two types of conflict: internal conflict, and external.

Internal Conflict: is a problem or struggle going on inside the
character. This is called character versus self.

Examples:
RIGHT VS WRONG

LOW SELF-ESTEEM

FACING A FEAR

External Conflict: There are many kinds

CHARACTER VS CHARACTER

CHARACTER VS SOCIETY

CHARACTER VS ENVIRONMENT

CHARACTER VS FATE OR LUCK

CHARACTER VS NATURE

4. PROTAGONIST/ ANTAGONIST: These are the main characters or forces that
are engaged in the main conflict.

Protagonist: is the hero, heroine, or the positive force in the story. The
protagonist can be one person, a group, or a force such as justice,
truth, education, honesty, generosity, spirituality.
Often the protagonist is referred to as “the good guy”

Antagonist: is the negative character or force in the story. This is the murderer,
the thief, the dishonest person. Or it could be a negative force such
as:

racial prejudice social injustice
hatred ignorance
poverty drug abuse/alcoholism

5. CHARACTERIZATION: The methods an author uses to create, describe, and
develop a character.

There are two types of characterization: direct and indirect.

Direct characterization: is when the author describes the
characters directly. “Mr. Smith was a very simple and
uncomplicated man.”

Indirect characterization: is when the author reveals the
characters by having other characters talk about them.
“Mary, don’t you think Mr. Smith seems very simple and
uncomplicated?” asked Jane English

6. THEME: This is the main idea the author is trying to get across by writing
the story. A theme is usually a statement about life, or about
human nature. Themes are stated in complete sentences such as:
“People must learn to face their greatest fears.”
Theme is not the same as subject. The subject is what the story is
about. The story could be about murder, but the theme is a state-
ment about human nature such as – “Greed can lead to murder.”

7. POINT OF VIEW: The author’s choice of narrator for the story. There are two
main kinds of point of view.

First Person: This narrator tells the story as if it happened to him or her. This
narrator takes part in the story – “As I moved up the staircase, fear
entered my heart.”

Third person: This narrator tells the story but is not in the story.
Third person stories are often called omniscient
Which means “knowing and seeing all.” The narrator tells about
all the characters – “As she moved up the staircase, fear entered
her heart.”

8. FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE: This is the use of figures of speech such as
similes and metaphors to make an interesting
comparison or description

Simile: A figure of speech in which one thing is described as being like
another thing. Similes use like, or as. Examples

The night was like a velvet coat.

Her smile was like a rainbow.

He was as strong as a tornado.

Metaphor: A figure of speech in which one thing is another

The horse was a bolt of lightening

Her smile is a rainbow

The freeway is a nightmare

9. PERSONIFICATION: A figure of speech in which human characteristics
are used to describe non-human things

The wind whined and whistled

Winter put on a new white coat

The old house stood at attention

10. SYMBOLISM: The use of a real object to represent an idea.

The flag is a symbol of freedom, liberty, patriotism.

11. IRONY: This is when there is a difference between what we expect to
happen in the story, and what really does happen. It is the
difference between appearance and reality.

It is ironic to find out that the very rich man is actually unhappy
in spite of his wealth.

It is ironic to discover that the most popular girl in school has
low self-esteem.

It is ironic when a character tries to be very health conscious but
dies in cancer anyway.