Literature notes

What are literature notes ?

• Notes to help you better understand the stories you read !

• They have to do with different parts of the story.

• Very important for reading comprehensions and novel tests !!!!

Literary genres

Literary genres are the types/categories of a story. In grade 9, there are 2 types of literary genres that we will study :

1) Fiction : Not a true story (can seem real but is not)

2) Non-fiction : True story (ex : biography)

Point of ViewIt is the position from which the story is told (narrator)

2 types :

1) 1st person point of view: the person telling the story is in the story. The reader can only

know what the narrator sees, hears, and thinks.

(ex : “When I left the store, I walked ten blocks to go back to my home. I was so tired that I decided to go straight to bed.”)

2) 3rd person point of view : the person telling the story (narrator) is not in the story. The

reader can know the thoughts and feelings of all the characters.

(ex : When Shane left the store, he walked ten blocks to go back to his home. He was so tired that he decided to go straight to bed”.

SettingThe setting is both the time and the

place of the story.Time : when the story is happening (year, month, day, season, etc.)

Place : where the story is happening (city, country, school, home, etc.)

ConflictA conflict is a struggle (problem) between two opposing forces or beliefs in a story.

In a story, there is usually a protagonist and an antagonist.

Protagonist : Usually the main character

(« good guy »)

Antagonist : Usually the character that creates a problem (« bad guy »)

The conflict is often resolved when one force succeeds or fails in overcoming the opposing force.

Types of Conflict

Person vs. person

Person vs. nature

Person vs. time

Person vs. technology

Types of Conflict

Person vs. self (internal conflict)

Person vs. fate/God

Person vs. society

Person vs. supernatural

Person vs. ? : person, nature, self, society, time,

supernatural, fate\God, technology

1) When a person is confronted by ghosts, witches, werewolves, etc.

2) When a person is stuck in an avalanche. 3) When a person struggles with his own fears. 4) When a person gets into a violent fight with another person.5) When a person challenges traditions or values by which

everyone lives.6) When a person is confronted by a bear in the woods. 7) When a person is attacked by robotic forces or machines.8) When a person struggles to find out who they are.9) When a person fights against something which he or she has

no control (ex : death).10) When a person tries to beat his own record in a race. 11) When a person is in competition with other contestants.

Plot diagramThe plot of the story is the sequence (plan)

of events that make up the action in a story. There are 6 parts in the plot :

21

3

4

5

6

1) Preliminary action

2) Complicating incident

3) Rising action (suspense)

4) Climax

5) Falling action

6) Outcome/conclusion

Cliff Diving One hot August day in Cap-Pelé, my friends and I decided

it would be fun to go cliff diving in order to cool off. We soon realized that the wind was picking up and the waves were becoming big and dangerous. When my friend Tony jumped in the water, a gigantic wave crashed into him and swept him into the current. Panicking, my friend Josh and I began screaming for help. Tony had not yet come up for air and we were afraid that he had drowned. Suddenly, a lifeguard appeared beside us and dove into the water. He surfaced moments later, pulled Tony to shore, and started performing CPR. After a few moments, Tony regained consciousness. We were so relieved! An ambulance was called and brought us to the hospital. Tony was shaken, but not seriously injured. Tony thanked the lifeguard for having saved his life and from that moment on we were more careful when cliff diving on windy days.

1) What is the point of view ?

2) What is the setting of the story ?

3) What is the plot diagram for this story ?

One hot August day in Cap-Pelé, my friends and I decided it would be fun to go cliff diving in order to cool off. \\ We soon realized that the wind was picking up and the waves were becoming big and dangerous. When my friend Tony jumped in the water, a gigantic wave crashed into him and swept him into the current.\\Panicking, my friend Josh and I began screaming for help. Tony had not yet come up for air and we were afraid that he had drowned. \\Suddenly, a lifeguard appeared beside us and dove into the water. He surfaced moments later, pulled Tony to shore, and started performing CPR. After a few moments, Tony regained consciousness. We were so relieved! \\An ambulance was called and brought us to the hospital. Tony was shaken, but not seriously injured. \\

Tony thanked the lifeguard for having saved his life and from that moment on we were more careful when cliff diving on windy days.

1) point of view :

1st person point of view

2) Setting :

time : August day

Place : Cap-Pelé, cliffs