LITERATURE CIRCLESStory Elements

PROTAGONIST

The central character of a story Physical description Personality How they react to situations What they say in dialogue Their emotions

ANTAGONIST

The character or force against which the protagonist struggles

Physical description Personality How they react to situations What they say in dialogue Their emotions NOTE: Even if the antagonist is not a person, describe how

the antagonist affects the protagonist.

SETTING

When and where the story takes place

Physical location Time period Weather Time span

THEME

The story’s main ideas—the “message” that the author intends to communicate by telling the story.

Themes are often universal truths that are suggested by the specifics in the story.

PLOT (STORY MAP)

The series of events that happen in a literary work

Exposition

Rising Actio

n

Climax

Fallin

g A

ction

Resolution

ELEMENTS OF PLOT

Exposition: Beginning of the story Rising Action: The part of the story in which the tension

increases Climax: The moment when the action comes to its

highest point of dramatic conflict Falling Action: The part of the story, following the

climax and leading to the resolution in which there is a sharp decline in dramatic tension.

Resolution: The conclusion of the story.

CHARACTERIZATION

Direct Characterization: When an author tells the reader directly about a character.

Indirect Characterization: When the author shows the character in action and lets the reader draw their own conclusions.

TYPES OF CHARACTERS

Static Character: a character who changes little or not at all throughout the story

Dynamic Character: a character who is changed by the actions and experiences in the story

CONFLICT

The central force of tension and drama in the story

Internal: within a character’s mind External: forces battling outside a character

CATEGORIES OF CONFLICT

Character vs. Character (E) Character vs. Self (I) Character vs. Nature (E) Character vs. Society (I)