Plot:  sequence of events in a literary work.  It involves both characters and a central conflict.

                The plot can be explained using Freytag's Pyramid, which is made up of exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution. 

A)  Exposition-  the part of the work that introduces the characters, the setting, and the basic situation. the part of the work that introduces the characters, the setting, and the basic situation.

B)  Rising Action- the events leading up to the climax  

C)  Climax- the high point of interest or suspense he high point of interest or suspense he high point of interest or suspense he high point of interest or suspense he high point of interest or suspense

D)  Falling Action- the events following the climax

E)  Resolution- the end of the central conflict he end of the central conflict he end of the central conflict he end of the central conflict he end of the central conflict

Theme:  a central message or insight into life revealed through a literary work.  The theme may be stated or implied.

Setting:  the time and place of a literary work.  Time can include not only the historical period- past, present, or future- but also a specific year, a season, or time of day.  Place may involve not only the geographical place- a region, country, state, or town- but also the social, economic, or cultural environment. 

Conflict:  a struggle between two opposing forces.  A story may have more than one conflict.   Conflict may in external or internal.

     external-a character struggles with an outside force

      internal-a character struggles with himself or herself ( man v/s man; man v/s self;                   man v/s nature)

Narrator: the speaker or character that tells a story.  The narrator may be either a character in the story or an outside observer.  The writer's choice of the narrator determines the point of view.

    1^st person point of view occurs when a character in the story narrates the story.  The reader sees only what this character sees. The 1^st person narrator may or may not be reliable.

    3^rd person point of view occurs when a voice outside the story narrates the story.  The two approaches to 3^rd person point of view are omniscient and limited.  Omniscient-  means "all knowing."  This type of narrator can tell readers what any character thinks and feels. Limited-  This type of narrator can see the world through one character's eyes and reveals only that character's thoughts and feelings.

Characterization- the act of creating and developing a character.  Character:  the person or animal who takes part in the action in a literary work.    There are four types of characters:

                round-the reader sees many different traits (faults and virtues)  in the character

                flat-the reader sees only one trait (only seen one way) in the character

                dynamic-the character develops and grows throughout the literary work the character develops and grows throughout the literary work

                static- the character does not change throughout the literary work the character does not change throughout the literary work

               *Antagonist-a character or force in conflict with a main character

                *Protagonist-the main character

Personification:  The act of giving a nonhuman subject human characteristics.

Tone:  The writer's attitude toward his or her subject and audience.  Ex)  formal, informal, serious, playful, bitter, sarcastic, etc