“The Most Dangerous Game” & Literary elements of fiction Mr. Li ENGL 9CP Foothill Technology High School / Fall 2013

Talk to your neighbor about these literary terms (4-5 minutes) Setting: Theme: Foreshadowing: Plot:

Setting if plot is the “what,” then setting is the “where & when” – setting the story in a historical and physical time and space. Ask yourself: how might the setting change the story if it were set at some other time? Or place? What does this tell you about the protagonist? Or any of the other characters for that matter?

Theme This is the deep structure of the narrative consisting of the text’s ideas about human truths. Theme can be identified by: Abstract concept explored in the text Frequently recurring ideas Repetition of meaningful elements in the text The overarching essence of the literary work.

Which one is about theme? This story is about alienation. This story is about a man who goes to live by himself in the country. What is the difference?

Foreshadowing & Prediction Foreshadowing: early on in the narrative, the author gives hints of what will come later in the story Prediction – this is when you make an attempt to answer the question “What will happen next?” To make a prediction, look for: Interesting details about character, plot, and setting Unusual statements by the main characters And foreshadowing

Plot – this is the “what” of the story: what happens or the action Plot traditionally contains these five elements: 1.Exposition 2.Rising action 3.Climax 4.Falling action 5.Resolution

Exposition Sets up the conflict Rising action Build up of tension & main conflict Climax Conflict is confronted: physical or psychological change occurs Elements of plot found in a story

Tying up loose ends in the story Falling Action End of the narrative text Resolution Elements of plot found in a story

Traditional Plot Diagram

Conflict Stories are built around a a central conflict, or struggle. External Conflict: Involves a character pitted against an outside force, such as nature, a physical barrier, or another character, i.e., person vs. person, person vs. nature, person vs. obstacle Internal Conflict: This type of conflict is psychological, or conflict in the character’s mind

Here is another way to look at a plot diagram