FCAT READING SKILL Literary Elements

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Alberta Flowers
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1 FCAT READING SKILL Literary Elements 1. What to do and what to watch for: There are other specific elements to look for in passages from literature that will help you to understand, appreciate and analyze it. 2. Setting. The setting of a story tells the time (when) and the place (where) the story takes place. It provides the background for the characters, events, and plot. Sometimes the setting of the story is specific, detailed and the most important information in understanding the story. The setting can help you understand a character, the theme, and plot. The setting sometimes defines the tone or mood of the story. a) When. The time of the story can be a time in history, a time of the year, or a time of the day. The time of the story includes everything in the story, from beginning to end. b) Where. The place of the story can be a country, region, city, town, or even a building, like a courthouse or a home. Examples: A story that takes place during a time of war, rebellion, prosperity or social conflict will have an effect on the mood, events and characters. A story that takes place over a short period of time and in a more limited location like a house will be intense and focus more on the characters and their feelings. WHEN: TIME WHERE: PLACE SETTING 3. Characters. The characters in a story are the people or animals. a) Character Trait. Each character is unique and has an individual personality with certain qualities, traits or characteristics that describe him/her. A character s words and actions will show his character traits. Examples: Julia is slim, reserved and serious in her mannerisms. Julia ate slowly and without raising her head or speaking a word. b) Motivation. A feeling, thought, goal or reason that causes or makes a character act in a certain way. Consider the motivation of a character when describing him. c) Characterization. This is a collection of characteristics or details about a character. A characterization shows a complete picture of a character from the beginning of the story to the end. Use a graphic organizer like the one below to collect information about a character. Character s Name Words & Thoughts Actions Goals Motivation

2 CHARACTER TRAITS Words & Thoughts Goals CHARACTER S NAME Motivation Theme: The theme of the reading is the message or main idea. This is what the reader ends up with at the end of the story. Everything works together to create the theme or message of the reading. 5. Plot. The series of events that make up a story are called the plot. Exposition. The beginning of the plot that tells the characters and the setting is called the exposition. Conflict. Struggles, problems or conflicts develop in the story to make it interesting. Conflicts occur between characters, between a character and nature, circumstances or outside forces. These are called external conflicts. Conflicts can also occur in the mind of the character as he struggles to make a decision. These are called internal conflicts. Rising Action. After conflict begins, the tension in the story begins to increase. Things are happening, and the reader doesn t know what will happen next. This is called rising action. Climax. When the rising action reaches a high point, or climax, the reader is at the highest point of interest in the story. At the climax, the reader really wants to know what will happen next. Resolution. Near the end of the story, the conflicts or problems are finally resolved. The reader finds out what happened or the resolution.

3 STORY PLOT: TITLE Exposition/Beginning Conflict: External /Internal Rising Action Climax Resolution/End Elements of a Tragedy A tragedy adds two additional elements in the storyline, complication, and reversal. All five (5) elements of a tragedy are Exposition, Complication, Climax, Reversal, and Resolution. The complication is the difficult decision or thing that goes wrong. The climax or high point of the story is when a character makes a difficult decision. After that, the reversal is unexpected consequences that force an important character to decide whether to reverse his/her action or decision. The story plot for a tragedy looks different (a complication in the plot causes a reversal at the end of the story):

4 Rising Action Narration Map Title Author Characters Setting: Time Place: Beginning Action Events Events Turning Point (Climax) Events Events Conclusion 6. Personal and Emotional Connections. The most important part of reading is the personal and emotional connection we make as we read. These connections are how and why we enjoy and appreciate what we read. Pay attention to these connections. Personal and emotional connections can help you to use your prior knowledge to understand characters, draw conclusions, make generalizations and inferences and understand cause and effect relationships in the reading. Ask yourself some questions that will engage you on a personal level and keep you reading actively. Do I identify with any of the characters or circumstances? Why, why not? How does this character or event make me feel? What would I do in the same situation? How would I feel under these circumstances? Why did the character take a certain action? If an event hadn t happened, how would the story have ended? How do I want the story to end?

Name LITERARY ELEMENT: SETTING TITLE/TOPIC/TEXT _ Author The setting of a story

A story that takes place during a time of war, rebellion, prosperity, or social

A story that takes place over a short period of time and in a more limited

WHERE (PLACE): The place of the story can be a country, region, city, town, or

How does the setting provide the background for the characters, events, and plot?

5 Name LITERARY ELEMENT: SETTING TITLE/TOPIC/TEXT _ Author The setting of a story tells the time (when) and the place (where) the story takes place. A story that takes place during a time of war, rebellion, prosperity, or social conflict will have the mood, events, and characters. A story that takes place over a short period of time and in a more limited location like a house will be intense and focus more on the characters and their feelings. SETTING WHEN (TIME): The time of the story can be a time in history, a year, a time of the year, or a time of the day. The time of the story includes everything in the story, from beginning to end. WHERE (PLACE): The place of the story can be a country, region, city, town, or even a building (like a courthouse or a home). How does the setting provide the background for the characters, events, and plot? Explain the importance of the setting to understanding the reading. Is it specific and detailed? How important is the setting of the reading? Explain how the setting helps you understand a character, the theme, or plot. Be specific. Explain how the setting contributes to the tone or mood of the story

Name LITERARY ELEMENTS: SETTING TITLE/TOPIC/TEXT WHERE (PLACE) The place of the story can be a country, region, city, town, or even a building, like a courthouse or a home.

How does the setting provide the background for the characters, events, and plot? Explain the importance of the setting to understanding the reading. Is it specific and detailed?

6 Name LITERARY ELEMENTS: SETTING TITLE/TOPIC/TEXT WHERE (PLACE) The place of the story can be a country, region, city, town, or even a building, like a courthouse or a home. WHEN (TIME) The time of the story can be a time in history, a time of the year, or a time of the day. The time of the story includes everything in the story, from beginning to end. How does the setting provide the background for the characters, events, and plot? Explain the importance of the setting to understanding the reading. Is it specific and detailed? How important is the setting of the reading? Explain how the setting helps you understand a character, the theme, or plot. Be specific. Explain how the setting contributes to the tone or mood of the story

7 Name LITERARY ELEMENTS: SETTING TITLE/TOPIC/TEXT WHERE (PLACE) The place of the story can be a country, region, city, town, or even a building, like a courthouse or a home. WHEN (TIME) The time of the story can be a time in history, a time of the year, or a time of the day. The time of the story includes everything in the story, from beginning to end. How does the setting provide the background for the characters, events, and plot? Explain the importance of the setting to understanding the reading. Is it specific and detailed? How important is the setting of the reading? Explain how the setting helps you understand a character, the theme, or plot. Be specific. Explain how the setting contributes to the tone or mood of the story

8 Name LITERARY ELEMENTS: SETTING TITLE/TOPIC/TEXT WHERE (PLACE) The place of the story can be a country, region, city, town, or even a building, like a courthouse or a home. WHEN (TIME) The time of the story can be a time in history, a time of the year, or a time of day. How does the setting provide the background for the characters, events, and plot? Explain the importance of the setting to understanding the reading. Is it specific and detailed? How important is the setting of the reading? Explain how the setting helps you understand a character, the theme, or plot. Be specific. Explain how the setting contributes to the tone or mood of the story

9 Name LITERARY ELEMENTS: CHARACTERIZATION TITLE/TOPIC/TEXT A Characterization is a collection of characteristics or details about a character. A characterization shows a complete picture of a character from the beginning of the story to the end. Use the organizer to collect information about a character in the reading. (Characters are people or animals.) CHARACTER S NAME_ Character Traits: Each character is unique and has an individual personality with certain qualities, traits or characteristics that describe him/her. A character s words, thoughts, actions and goals will show his character traits. Motivation is a feeling, thought, reason or goal that causes a character to act in a certain way. WORDS & ACTIONS GOALS MOTIVATION THOUGHTS

10 Name LITERARY ELEMENTS: CHARACTERIZATION TITLE/TOPIC/TEXT A Characterization is a collection of characteristics or details about a character. A characterization shows a complete picture of a character from the beginning of the story to the end. Use the organizer to collect information about a character in the reading. (Characters are people or animals.) Character Traits: Each character is unique and has an individual personality with certain qualities, traits or characteristics that describe him/her. A character s words, thoughts, actions and goals will show his character traits. Motivation is a feeling, thought, reason or goal that causes a character to act in a certain way. CHARACTERIZATION CHARACTER S NAME_ Words & Thoughts Goals CHARACTER S NAME Actions Motivation

11 Name LITERARY ELEMENT: PLOT & CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT TITLE/TOPIC/TEXT AUTHOR CHARACTER S NAME How the Character Feels. How the Character Acts BEFORE CAUSE What caused the character to change during the story? How the Character Feels. How the Character Acts AFTER

12 Name LITERARY ELEMENTS: CHARACTER TRAITS TITLE/TOPIC/TEXT AUTHOR 1 Use the lists below of positive/negative traits to describe characters in the reading or text. Use the lists to identify character traits for characters in the reading. Character Character Trait(s) Evidence of this Character Trait admirable adventurous affectionate agreeable amazing ambitious amusing attentive cheerful clever courageous angry anxious ashamed awkward boast boisterous bossy cautious chatty clumsy courteous creative daring decent dependable determined devoted eager efficient enchanting enthusiastic conceited confused cowardly cruel disagreeable dishonest disloyal disobedient disrespectful enraged SOME POSITIVE CHARACTER TRAITS fair honest loving faithful honorable loyal fearless hopeful neighborly friendly humble obedient funny humorous observant gallant innocent optimistic gentle inquisitive outgoing gleeful intelligent outstanding graceful jubilant overjoyed helpful kind patient heroic lively peaceful SOME NEGATIVE CHARACTER TRAITS envious forgetful frightened furious gloomy greedy grumpy harsh ill-tempered impolite indignant irritable jittery jumpy lazy lonely mean sluggish melancholy mischievous naughty nervous noisy nosy oblivious obnoxious outspoken prying resentful rough pleasant polite proud quick-witted relaxed reliable responsible self-satisfied serene shy sly rude secretive selfish snooping spiteful stubborn talkative tense timid unaware spirited stunning talented tasteful tender terrific thoughtful trustworthy truthful valiant watchful uneasy unfriendly unhelpful unpleasant unreliable vain vicious weak weary

13 Name LITERARY ELEMENT: Plot & CHARACTERIZATION TITLE/TOPIC/TEXT AUTHOR Note: Character name in circle (4) Character traits in triangles (4) Events in squares

14 Name LITERARY ELEMENT: CHARACTERIZATION TITLE/TOPIC/TEXT AUTHOR Follow Arrows: (1) Character (4) Traits (2) Details each Trait DETAIL _ DETAIL _ DETAIL TRAIT DETAIL TRAIT CHARACTER TRAIT DETAIL TRAIT DETAIL DETAIL DETAIL calm carefree caring cheerful conceited considerate cooperative courageous creative curious dainty daring demanding determined disagreeable dreamer energetic fighter friendly fun-loving funny generous gentle gullible handsome happy hard-working helpful honest humble humorous imaginative independent intelligent inventive joyful lazy leader loveable loving loyal mannerly mean messy mischievous neat patriotic proud quiet resourceful respectful responsible rude sad self-confident selfish serious shy stubborn studious successful thoughtful timid unselfish wild witty

15 Name LITERARY ELEMENTS: AUTHOR S THEME The theme of the reading is the message or main idea. This is what the reader ends up with at the end of the story. Everything works together to create the theme or message of the reading. Sometimes the author has more than one theme. TITLE/TOPIC/TEXT AUTHOR S THEME #1 AUTHOR S THEME #2 EVIDENCE EVIDENCE EVIDENCE EVIDENCE

16 Name LITERARY ELEMENTS: AUTHOR S THEME TITLE/TOPIC/TEXT Theme: The theme of the reading is the message or main idea. This is what the reader ends up with at the end of the story. Everything works together to create the theme or message of the reading. AUTHOR S THEME AUTHOR S THEME AUTHOR S THEME EVIDENCE EVIDENCE EVIDENCE EVIDENCE EVIDENCE EVIDENCE

17 Name LITERARY ELEMENTS: AUTHOR S THEME TITLE/TOPIC/TEXT Theme: The theme of the reading is the message or main idea. This is what the reader ends up with at the end of the story. Everything works together to create the theme or message of the reading. AUTHOR S THEME AUTHOR S NAME EVIDENCE

18 Name AUTHOR S TONE TITLE/TOPIC/TEXT _ Author The tone of a reading is the attitude the writer takes toward the subject. The author s choice of words sets the tone. Find evidence of author s tone & word choice in the reading.

19 Name LITERARY ELEMENTS: PLOT TITLE/TOPIC/TEXT Plot. The plot is the series of events that make up a story

20 Name LITERARY ELEMENTS: PLOT TITLE/TOPIC/TEXT Author The series of events that make up a story are the plot. Use the chart to plot the reading. STORY PLOT Exposition/Beginning: Conflict: External /Internal: Rising Action: Climax: Resolution/End:

21 Name LITERARY ELEMENTS: STORY MAP Complete the chart with the story elements. Use the text or lesson summary. TITLE/TOPIC/TEXT Author CHARACTERS SETTING TIME PLACE THEME TITLE/TOPIC/TEXT AUTHOR PLOT EVENTS CONFLICT RESOLUTION

22 Name STORY GRAMMAR STORY MAP PLOT MAP TITLE/TOPIC/TEXT Author Literary Elements: Complete the chart with information in the reading: Title, Author, Characters, Setting, Main Conflict, Events, & Resolutions. (What do the little characters show?) TITLE/TOPIC/TEXT AUTHOR CHARACTERS SETTING: TIME PLACE MAIN CONFLICT EVENT #1 EVENT #2 EVENT #3 EVENT #4 EVENT #5 RESOLUTION

23 Name STORY GRAMMAR/ MAP/ PLOT MAP: Turning Point/ Climax TITLE/TOPIC/TEXT Author Literary Elements: The series of events that make up a story are the plot. The elements of the plot are exposition, rising action, internal/external conflicts, climax (or turning point), and resolution. Complete the boxes with information from the reading. Climax: When the rising action reaches a high point, or climax, the reader is at the highest point of interest in the story. At the climax, the reader really wants to know what will happen next. External Conflicts (problems) between characters, nature, or outside forces Internal Conflicts in the mind of a character as she/he struggles to make a decision Rising Action After conflict begins, the tension in the story begins to increase. Things are happening, and the reader doesn t know what will happen next. This is rising action. Exposition is the beginning of the plot, telling characters and setting. Characters: Setting: Place- Time- Resolution: Near the end of the story, the conflicts are finally resolved. The reader finds out what happened (the resolution).

24 Name STORY GRAMMAR/ MAP/ PLOT MAP: Turning Point / Climax TITLE/TOPIC/TEXT Author Literary Element Plot: The series of events that make up a story are the plot. The four (4) main elements of the plot are Exposition, Rising Action (Conflict), Climax (or Turning Point), and Resolution. Use the chart to plot the reading. 4. Climax (Turning Point) 2. Rising Action 3. Conflict External /Internal 5. Conflict External /Internal 1. Exposition/Beginning 6. Resolution/End

25 Name STORY PLOT MAP ELEMENTS OF TRAGEDY TITLE/TOPIC/TEXT Author The series of events that make up a story are the plot. Study the differences between a regular story plot and a tragedy. The elements of the plot are Exposition, Rising Action (Conflict), Climax (or Turning Point), and Resolution. The elements of a tragedy are Exposition, Complication, Climax (or Turning Point), Reversal, and Resolution. 4. Climax (Turning Point) 2. Rising Action 3. Complication 5. Reversal 1. Exposition/Beginning 6. Resolution/End

26 Name LITERARY ELEMENTS: SUSPENSE (Climax-Turning Point) The three elements of suspense are mystery, surprise, or dilemma. Complete the organizer identifying the (3) causes of the suspense in the reading, mystery, surprise, and dilemma. TITLE/TOPIC/TEXT Author IDENTIFY the MYSTERY IDENTIFY the SURPRISE IDENTIFY the DILEMMA SUSPENSE: RISING ACTION ASCENDING TO THE CLIMAX Identify the climax (or turning point). Then identify (4) major events that lead to the climax. CLIMAX EVENT 1 EVENT 2 EVENT 3 EVENT 4

27 Name Literary Elements: PLOT: Rising Action TITLE/TOPIC/TEXT _ Author The PLOT is the series of events that make up a story. Use the chart to plot the reading. Rising Action Narration Map Title Author Characters Setting: Time Place: Beginning Action (Exposition) The beginning of the plot that tells the characters and the setting is called the exposition Events: Things that happen in a story: Rising Action: After conflict begins, the tension in the story begins to increase. Things are happening, and the reader does not know what will happen next. This is called rising action. Conflict: Struggles, problems or conflicts develop in the story to make it interesting. Conflicts occur between characters, between a character and nature, circumstances or outside forces. These are external conflicts. Conflicts can also occur in the mind of the character as he struggles to make a decision. These are internal conflicts. Turning Point (Climax):When the rising action reaches a high point, or climax, the reader is at the highest point of interest in the story. At the climax, the reader really wants to know what will happen next. Events: Things that happen in a story Falling Action: After the turning point/climax of the story, the tension and conflict increase as more events occur. Things (events) are happening, and the reader may predict how the story or parts of the story will end. This is called falling action. Conclusion (Resolution): Near the end of the story, the conflicts or problems are finally resolved. The reader finds out what happened (the resolution/conclusion).

28 Name LITERARY ELEMENTS: PERSONAL & EMOTIONAL CONNECTIONS TITLE/TOPIC/TEXT Author The most important part of reading is the personal and emotional connection we make as we read. These connections are how and why we enjoy and appreciate what we read. Use the faces to indicate your personal and emotional connections with characters & events in the reading. CHARACTER NAME OR EVENT REASON FOR CHOICE

29 Name LITERARY ELEMENTS: PERSONAL & EMOTIONAL CONNECTIONS TITLE/TOPIC/TEXT Author The most important part of reading is the personal and emotional connection we make as we read. These connections are how and why we enjoy and appreciate what we read. I identify with this character, event, or situation: My reason is This character (event, situation) makes me feel In the same situation the action I would take is Under these circumstances, I would feel My character.took this action: His/Her reason for the action was: OR If my event hadn t happened, the ending of the story would have changed this way: I I would like to change the ending of the story this way:

30 Name LITERARY ELEMENTS: PERSONAL & EMOTIONAL CONNECTIONS TITLE/TOPIC/TEXT Author The most important part of reading is the personal and emotional connection we make as we read. These connections are how and why we enjoy and appreciate what we read. Use the connection organizer to write your personal and emotional connections with the reading. Describe my experience: Describe an event (person) that I connect with in the story: What I have most in common with someone/something in the reading The reading made me remember The reading made me remember Personal or emotional connections with reading (Feelings I connected )

31 Name LITERARY ELEMENTS: PERSONAL & EMOTIONAL CONNECTIONS TITLE/TOPIC/TEXT Author The most important part of reading is the personal and emotional connection we make as we read. These connections are how and why we enjoy and appreciate what we read. Personal and emotional connections can help you to use your prior knowledge to understand characters, draw conclusions, make generalizations and inferences, and understand cause-effect relationships in the reading. Do I identify with any of the characters or circumstances? Why or why not? How does this character or event make me feel? What would I do in the same situation? How would I feel under these circumstances? Why did the character take a certain action? If a certain event (?) had not happened, how would the story have ended? How do (did) I want the story to end?

32 Name LITERARY ELEMENTS: PERSONAL & EMOTIONAL CONNECTIONS Title/Topic/Text Author How do specific facts from the reading impact you personally and emotionally?

33 Name LITERARY ELEMENTS: PERSONAL CONNECTIONS TITLE/TOPIC/TEXT Author 1 EVENT PERSONAL REACTIONS PERSONAL CONNECTIONS

* What is My Level? Reading Logs Genre Overview *AR Information

* What is My Level? *Reading Logs *Genre Overview *AR Information What is my Just Right Level? Date Level Reading Log Select a book to read. Record the title, author, and level on your reading log. When