Class Notes  

 

 

Characters

 

People or animals that are in the story.

 

Setting

 

When and where the story takes place.

 

 

 

Characterization

 

 What an author uses to reveal a characters traits.

 

Indirect Characterization

 

Words, thoughts, acts, appearance, response

 

Direct Characterization

 

 Direct statements about a characters personality.

 

 

 

REMEMBER STAARR!!!  Characterization Acronym:::

 

SAYS

 

THINKS/THOUGHTS

 

ACTS

 

APPEARANCE

 

RESPONDS

 

REACTS

 

 

Types of Characters:

 

 

1. Stock Character

 

Stereotypes (Police Officers, Nurses, etc.)

 

2. Foil Character

 

Helps bring out the main characters personality (Cinderella’s Stepsisters)

 

3. Static Character

 

Does not change!

 

4. Dynamic Character

 

 Experiences an INTERNAL change throughout the story

 

5. Flat Character

 

Not much information/detail is given about this character

 

6. Round Character

 

Well described/Several details are given

 

7. Protagonist

 

Good Guy in the story! MAIN Character (Professional- GOOD!)

 

8. Antagonist

 

BAD guy in the story. Causes conflict with the main character.  (Anti-Drug Policy- NO DRUGS!)

 

  

 

Conflict

The problem or issue in the story.

 

 

 

Internal Conflict

 Occurs inside your mind.

 

ONE type of INTERNAL Conflict---

 

  

CHARACTER VS. SELF

 

Struggle inside your mind (Remember the little devil and the angel on your shoulder!)

 

 

 

External Conflict

 

 Conflict that occurs with you and some other force

 

 

 

There are THREE types of EXTERNAL Conflict---

 

 1.  Character vs. Character

 

 Conflict between two characters in a story.

 

 2. Character vs. Nature-

 

Conflict between a character and some sort of force of nature. (Hurricane, FLOOD, tornado, volcano, cold weather, etc.)

 

3. Character vs. Society

 

 Conflict where the character goes against laws or rules. (Not wanting to pay taxes, running a red light, etc.)

 

 

THEME:

 

The moral or lesson learned from a story. (Friendship, love, family, etc.)

 

Remember a story can have more than one theme as long as the text can support it.

 

THEME is NOT stated! It is IMPLIED/INFERRED!

 

**Remember: Theme THE MEssage!

 

 

 

MOOD:

 

 The general atmosphere created by the author’s words.

 

It is the feeling the reader gets from reading those words.

 

Remember it can change throughout the story!

  

 

TONE:

 

The author’s attitude toward the writing (his characters, the situation) and the readers.

 

Set by the setting, choice of vocabulary and other details.

 

 

PLOT:

 

 

Remember PLOT IS A LOT!

 

The organized pattern or sequence of events that make up a story. 

 

 

 

There are FIVE parts of Plot! 

                          Remember the PLOT STAIRS or MOUNTAIN!                                   

1. Exposition

 

This usually occurs at the beginning of a short story.  Here the characters are introduced.  We also learn about the setting of the story.  Most importantly, we are introduced to the main conflict (main problem).

 

  

2. Rising Action

 

This part of the story begins to develop the conflict(s).  A building of interest or suspense occurs.

 

 

3. Climax

 

This is the turning point of the story. Usually the main character comes face to face with a conflict.  The main character will change in some way.

 

 

4. Falling Action

 

All loose ends of the plot are tied up.  The conflict(s) and climax are taken care of.

 

 

5. Resolution

 

The story comes to a reasonable ending.

 

 

 

 

https://www.superteachertools.us/jeopardyx/jeopardy-review-game.php?gamefile=214360#.V_K0ZeUrK1s

PLOT REVIEW GAME!!! 

 

http://www.ereadingworksheets.com/

 

This is a website that covers several skills we go over. 

 

http://www.slimekids.com/games/spelling-games/spellingfiles/whizz.swf

 

This a fun spelling website! (Kind of like Boggle) 

 

http://www.merriam-webster.com/word-games

 

These are several word games! Helps students with their vocabulary!