Story Element Notes

1
Literary Elements
2
Foreshadowing

• A hint about an event that will occur later in
  the story.
• Often designed to build suspense and keep the
  reader guessing about the outcome of an event.
• Example At the time, we had no idea that we
  would never see her again.
• Chapter Two of Downsiders hints at the causes of
  the Great Shaft Disaster which unfolds later in
  the story.

3
Flashback

• When the author takes the reader back in time to
  see an event that has already occurred.
• Helps the reader understand a situation better.
• Gives background information
• Often occurs as a dream, daydreaming, or a
  character being lost in thought.

4
Point of View (POV)

• The way in which the author chooses to tell the
  story.
• Four main points of view

5
4 Points of View

• 1st person the story is told by a character of
  the story using I speak. Think personal
  narratives!
• (Examples Twilight, Lightning Thief, La Linea,
  The Dream Bearer)
• 2nd person rarely used in fiction. Uses You
  speak. Most often seen in how-to or self help
  writing. (Example How to get Organized without
  Losing It)

6
4 Points of View (cont.)

• 3rd person limited the story is told by a
  narrator who is not part of the story. The
  narrator follows ONE character through the story.
• (Examples Bar Code Tattoo, Stormbreaker, The
  Conch Bearer)
• 3rd person omniscient the story is told by a
  narrator who is not part of the story. This
  narrator can follow SEVERAL or ALL characters at
  the same time through the story. Usually uses
  different chapters to tell about different
  characters.
• (Examples Harry Potter, Rangers Apprentice,
  Artemis Fowl)

7
Symbol

• A person, place or object that stands for
  something else.
• Often stand for something invisible like a
  feeling or idea
• What is a common symbol for
• Freedom - Love

8
Theme

• The message or moral of the story.
• This is what the author wants the reader to
  understand or come away from the story with.
• It is often a message about life or human nature.
• Themes are not single words they are big ideas
  or sentences.
• One story can have multiple themes.

9
Tone

• the writers attitude toward his/her subject
• Tone can often be inferred by analyzing the
  writers choice of words and details.
• Take a look at the paragraph on the next slide
  and try to determine the authors tone.

10
An excerpt from On Becoming Babywise by Gary Ezzo

• Marisas parents have adopted the
  child-centered approach. As a result, Marisa
  will never have to wait for anything. If she
  wants something, it is given to her on demand.
  Baby-sitters? They make Marisa uneasy. So an
  evening out alone together simply is not an
  option. Either her parents will take her
  everywhere they go, or they will miss a function
  due to her inability to take part. As for
  eating, if Marisa suddenly rejects her bananas,
  shell be offered a variety of options until her
  particular preference is revealed. Then mom will
  stock the shelves full of Marisas delight, only
  to learn days later that the childs pleasure is
  back to bananas. Welcome to the circus.

11
Mood

• the feeling the writer creates for the readers
• Moods may be suspenseful, sad, exciting or calm
• The young boy sat upright in bed, sure that he
  had heard a sound in the hallway. He strained to
  listen more closely. Were those footsteps that
  he heard creeping towards his room? But how can
  behe was home alone tonight. He looked over at
  his door and noticed the doorknob begin to slowly
  turn in a clockwise direction. Whoever or
  whatever was in the hallway was about to come
  into his room!