Elements of Literature Book Report
A. Plot
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Describe what occurs during the exposition.
Describe what occurs during the complication.
Describe what occurs in the climax.
Describe what occurs in the resolution.
List and describe 5 examples of external conflict.
List and describe 5 examples of internal conflict.
List and describe 3 examples of suspense- Make sure you describe the
most suspenseful event.
B. Character
What is revealed through the protagonist’s speech?
What is revealed through the protagonist’s thoughts?
What is revealed through the protagonist’s appearance?
What is revealed through what others say or think about the protagonist?
What is revealed through the protagonist’s actions?
Does the protagonist change during the story? Does this change make
the protagonist a dynamic character? How?
7. What is revealed through the antagonist’s speech?
8. What is revealed through the antagonist’s thoughts?
9. What is revealed through the antagonist’s appearance?
10. What is revealed through what others say or think about the antagonist?
11. What is revealed through the antagonist’s actions?
12. Is the antagonist a dynamic or static character and why?
13. List the static characters and describe their role in the story.
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C. Setting
1. Where is the location of the story? List the country, region, locale, and
exact place of most of the story.
2. When is the story taking place? What year, season, and time of day
dominate the story?
3. What do you sense about the setting? Describe the smells, tastes, sights,
sounds, and physical feelings.
4. What emotions are linked with the setting?
5. Does the setting act as a source of conflict? How and with what effect on
the characters?
6. Does the setting act as a character in the story? How?
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D. Point of View
1. Who is telling the story?
2. How much does the narrator know? Give examples.
3. How much does the narrator want the reader to understand? Give examples.
4. What point of view is the narrator taking in the story?
5. Describe the tone the narrator takes throughout most of the story.
E. Irony
1. Do the characters ever say one thing and mean the opposite? Give examples of
this use of verbal irony.
2. Do the characters say things in a cruel and harsh way, intending to hurt in a
personal manner? Give examples of these uses of sarcasm.
3. Does the reader know what is happening when a character does not? Give
examples of this use of dramatic irony.
4. Does something happen just the opposite of what is expected? Give examples of
this use of situational irony.
F. Theme
1. What insight about human nature is revealed in the story?
2. What view of the world is presented in the story?
3. Do you agree with the author’s view of the world? Why or why not?
4. If the title reveals a hint about the meaning of the story-describe how.
5. Does an object, a setting, an event, an animal, or a person stand for something
greater than itself? How often does this symbol occur?
6. What do the symbols stand for?
7. Is there a problem in the story? How is it solved?
8. Using the 3 steps, a. subject, b. values transmitted, c.how the main character
solves the problem and what this teaches about life in general, state a possible
theme for the novel.
Extra Credit
1. List, define, and use in sentences 10 words you learned in the story.
2. Draw a character, the setting, or anything that inspires you in the story.
3. Write a song, rap or poem about the story.
4. Act out a scene from the story.
5. Write a different beginning ending, or scene from the story.
6. Make a list of things you learned from the story.
7. Describe a mystery solved in the story.
8. Describe something a character does that you like/dislike.
9. Tell the story to a classmate. Have the classmate write one page about the story.
Both of you get extra credit
10. Describe how you would have solved a problem differently in the story.
11. Compare/contrast this book with the last book you have read.
12. Describe the most interesting part of the book and tell why it is so interesting.
13. Describe how you are similar/different to a character in the book.
14. Report to the class about the book
15. Write a review listing strengths and weaknesses.
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