1. LITERATURE CIRCLES Story Elements

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

3. 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.

4. SETTING  When and where the story takes place  Physical location  Time period  Weather  Time span

5. 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.

6. PLOT (STORY MAP)  The series of events that happen in a literary work Exposition Rising Action Climax Falling Action Resolution

7. 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.

8. 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.

9. 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

10. CONFLICT  The central force of tension and drama in the story  Internal: within a character’s mind  External: forces battling outside a character

11. CATEGORIES OF CONFLICT  Character vs. Character (E)  Character vs. Self (I)  Character vs. Nature (E)  Character vs. Society (I)