Fairy Tale

• Characters, which may have magical abilities, often are distinguished as good or evil.

• Plot often leads to the defeat of evil.• Setting may take place “long, long ago.”• Theme is often a lesson learned about good

and evil.

Realistic Fiction

• Characters are fictional, yet could be real.• Plot of the story is fictional, but could happen

in real life.• Problems often present modern-day issues.• Settings present real-life times and places.

Historical Fiction

• Characters are fictional, but may be based on real people.

• Real, famous characters may enter the story.• Plot often includes real events or the past

mixed with fictional events.• Setting may be in a known historical place.• An accurate historical time period is

portrayed.

Mystery

• Characters are all involved with the mystery in some way.

• Problem centers on a mystery or a puzzle that needs a solution.

• Plot contains clues to lead and mislead the reader.

• Setting is realistic and recognizable to readers.

Fantasy

• Fictional characters may have magical or supernatural powers.

• Plot stretches the reader’s imagination and is not scientifically possible.

• Setting is modern and realistic in many ways, although at times it takes a fantastical turn.

Science Fiction

• Characters often solve problems through their knowledge and use of science and technology.

• Plots revolve around events that may actually happen based on scientific facts, although it is fantasy.

• Setting often takes place in the future in a world of modern science and technology.

Fable

• Characters are fictional and may be portrayed as animals with human traits.

• Plot builds a short tale.• The setting may not be important in order to

make the story universal.• Theme presents a moral lesson.

PlotA definition of plot in secondary institutions is more detailed than that of elementary texts. It is much more concrete not only for students, but also for teachers. Plot includes specific elements from beginning of a story to the end – but are labeled more specifically than sequence of events. Below you will find a brief definition of each part of the plot structure.Introduction: Specific things we want readers to notice about the introduction include: who is introduced in the beginning and what the setting is during the opening of this story. Things we can have students reflect on after the reading of the text include analysis of these characters to determine their roles and significance as well as the importance of any other characters introduced later in the text. We can have them also consider the importance of the setting and any changes that occur.Problem: The problem in a text is a conflict or struggle that the main character(s) is(are) facing. It can stem from something that the character desperately wants or could reflect character flaws. The problem in a text usually comes within the first few pages of a picture book or the first chapter of a novel. It is this problem that throws the progression of the rising action into full force.Rising Action: The major events that move the story forward are the events. This is the part of the story in which tension is built. Understanding problem and resolution help a reader determine importance of these events. We must be careful about having students find “three major events”. Putting an exact number on this can give students a false understanding about what they are to identify. They focus on “three” instead of sifting through the information and justifying for themselves what seems to be critical.

Climax: The climax is the “Aha!” or turning point of a story. For students, however, this definition by itself is still intangible. It is the place in the story where they can find the most critical event that creates the environment for the resolution. Resolution: Commonly called the “solution”, although the definition is really a bit deeper than the character’s problem being solved or going away. When we as readers can understand this element of plot on a deeper level, we begin to get a strong sense of the author’s message. Sometimes a problem is solved on a very simplistic scale. This is reflective of some early reader texts. However, more often than not, resolution is about coming to terms with a particular conflict or achieving something that was strongly desired. Stories with good plot structure include characters who walk away from the story changed in some manner. They become more aware of themselves and the relationships they encounter throughout the journey of the text. Conclusion: The conclusion of a story is the last scene within the story. It is the final picture we have before the curtain falls at the end of the performance. There are three basic types of conclusions: closed, open and cliffhanger.Closed Endings: These are the endings that give us the warm fuzzy at the end of a story. There is a definite closure that allows us to leave the book feeling satisfied with the outcome.Open Endings: A story may end without a clear feeling of closure. The reader has to infer the outcomes based on the information given in the book.? Cliffhangers: We find these endings at the end of chapters or novels that will have a sequel. They abruptly end at a very intense part of the plot, possibly without a clear resolution to entice the reader to want to read more.

Theme: Universal understandings that authors write about in their stories.

growing up jealousy making friends success

fear siblings romance trickery

failure change overcoming injustice

power arrogance death superficial

love courage acceptance selfishness

being ordinary moving on family

relationships (beginning, ending, trials within) wealth

Alliteration- repetition of identical consonant sounds. Usually at the beginnings of words - such as “The infamous killer fought for his freedom, wanting not flesh but retreat.”

Analogy- a comparison between two things to show their similarities by comparing something unfamiliar to something familiar

Anecdote- short account of a true event in a person’s life used to raise points, explain ideas or describe personalities.

Antagonist- person or force that opposes the protagonist

Autobiography- story of a person’s life written by that person. A diary is a from that gives day by day events.

Character- person in a literary work

static- remains the same through out the work

dynamic- changes due to the influence of events or other people

flat - reveals one personality trait

round- shows a variety of complex and sometimes contradictory traits. foil- a character that exhibits traits completely opposite of the main

character

Characterization- personality of character and the method the author uses to create this personality.

direct- writer states facts about the character

indirect-character revealed through physical appearance, the way they move, the way they talk, what they say and what

other characters say about them.

Climax- point of highest tension and excitement in a narrative - the turning point of the story

Colloquial language- everyday language used in conversation

Conflict- struggle between two opposing forces, center of plot

Internal - within a person –person vs. self

External- character struggles with an outside force, such as nature, a person, society, and fate

Connotation- all suggested meanings and associations a word brings to mind beyond its denotation or literal meaning

Connotation- all suggested meanings and associations a word brings to mind beyond its denotation or literal meaning

Description- writing that creates an impression of a person, place or thing to enhance poems, stories, and nonfiction

Dialect- type of speech that differs from the standard form of language, occurring in pronunciation, vocabulary, and grammar

Dialogue- conversation between characters in drama, fiction, non-fiction, epic, or dramatic poem—reveals characters’ thoughts nd opinions and allows for interplay of ideas

Diary- individual’s personal day-by-day account of impressions of events, may be chronicled in a journal-less intimate than a diary

Diction- choice of words to fit a character, theme, setting, or subject of a poem, story, essay, or play—used to express what is intended

Figurative Language- language not meant to be interpreted literally, but used in a special way to create a special effect: analogy, hyperbole, metaphor, onomatopoeia, simile, idioms

Flashback- interruption to relate events that occurred earlier, used in stream of consciousness and conventional narratives

Foreshadowing- use of clues by the author to prepare reader for events to come

Genre- is the French word for the type of literature

biography fables fairy tales fantasy folk tales historical non-fiction realistic fiction science fiction fiction legends/myths

Imagery- words or phrases that evoke sensory images in the reader’s mind, Visual is most common, but others occur.

Interior Monologue- internal speech by a single speaker provided by the narrator to explain a characters’ personalities or to reveal their thoughts.

Journal- daily record of events kept by an individual who is a participant or witness in the events - used toe learn about people and history

Lead- opening sentences that introduce a piece of writing and gain the reader’s attention: the “hook”

Legend- traditional tale, handed down, that is based on history: King Arthur

Mood- emotional feeling and atmosphere in a work of literature, created by description, actions of characters, and setting

eerie playful tense mysterious seriousexciting sad tumultuous

Narrative- writing that tells a story in chronological order, has evolved into the novel

Narrator- storyteller

stated - announced explicitly

implied- revealed indirectly

Tone- the attitude the writer expresses towards the subject ad reader. May be casual, angry, amused or indifferent.

Narrative Hook- point in the story, novel or play where the author catches the reader’s attention by presenting an interesting

problem or situation that begins the conflict

Onomatopoeia- words with sounds that imitate or suggest their meanings: thump, crack

Personification-figure of speech where human traits are given to inanimate objects, animals or ideas

Plot– structure in which fiction is framed around; relates to the struggles the main character goes through ; begins with introduction, then narrative hook (problem is announced), rising action, climax, falling action and resolution, conclusion

Point of View- relationship of the narrator to the story

1st person - story told by one of the characters

3rd person - story told by someone outside of the story

omniscient - told as if the writer is able to read the minds of

all of the characters

Protagonist- central character of the story who usually receives the reader’s sympathies

Style- author’s choice and arrangement of words in any kind of writing to convey individuality, theme and purpose

Theme- main idea of story, usually expressed as a statement about life