Ad Prima Charter School

R7.B.1.1.1- Interpret,
compare, describe,
analyze, and evaluate
components of fiction
and literary nonfiction
(Character, Setting,
Plot, Theme).
 Character
A
person or animal who takes part in the
action of a story, play or other literary work.
 Setting

The time and place in
which the events of a
work of literature take
place.
 Theme

The truth about life revealed in a work of
literature. Theme is not the subject but rather
an idea that describes the subject further.
Theme should be stated in a sentence. It is
broader than the topic, subject or main idea of
the work.
 Plot


Series of related
events that make
up a story.
Note, Setting and
characters affect
the plot, but they
are not considered
part of the plot.
Introduction/
exposition
 Tells
us who
the characters
are and what
their conflict
is.
Rising
 Are
action
the events that
happen between the
introduction of the
conflict and the climax.
Rising action will most
likely include plot
complications.
Complications
 Arise
as characters
take steps to resolve
the conflict. They
make the problem
worse. They are what
make the story more
interesting.
 Climax
 Most
emotional or
suspenseful moment in
the story toward the
end of the story. It is
the moment when the
outcome of the problem
or conflict of the story
is decided one way or
another.
Falling
 The
action
action that
happens after the
climax before the
final resolution.
Some falling action
can be considered
part of the
resolution.
Resolution
 When
the character’s or characters’
problem/s end (good or bad)
 It is when loose ends are tied and it is
the end of the story.
 Knowing
the text structure of a genre of
literature will help you be able to
anticipate what you can find in texts
that are similar in structure.
 When
you get to narrative stories that
have multiple characters and subplots,
you can handle it better when knowing
the basic structure. You need to know
the basics before you can understand an
extension of it.
 Understand
the main
character.



List the traits of the main
character.
physical and emotional
Decide if the reader is
supposed to identify with the
main character or if she/he
is someone the reader
doesn't (or shouldn't) want to
be.
 Identify
the conflict which
involves the main character in
some way.


The conflict can be between the
main character and
another, society or some force of
nature, or within the main
character himself.
Figure out specifically who or what
the main character is struggling
against in the short story.
 Know
how the conflict is
resolved can be one of the
biggest clues to theme.


Who wins the conflict is the
writer's way of telling the reader
which force was better.
If an evil main character, one you
wouldn't admire, wins out over
some force of nature, the theme
will have a negative slant.
 Make



a generalization.
Look at the items listed in the
first three steps. Put this
information together to decide
on a theme.
It might be easy to start by
understanding what the main
character learned in the short
story.
Then, generalize that lesson to
apply to everyone/
humans/society.
 Remember,
there are many
themes about human
experience that could be in
a story. There could also be
more than one theme in a
story depending on it’s
length and how many
complications are in it. It is
not always easy to find
theme so do not get
discouraged! Ask for help if
you need it!
 Read
the following short stories on the
attached papers and identify characters,
setting, theme and plot!
 Check
your work using the keys provided.
Try not to just look at the keys to finish the
work. Remember you are trying to better
yourself by doing this activity. If you cheat,
you are wasting your time!
 After
this activity practice identifying theme
looking at movies you may know!
 What
is the theme of …
 Akeelah and the Bee
 Monsters
Inc.
 Tangled
 The
Princess Frog
 Akeelah

and the Bee
Working hard and perseverance can lead to
success despite difficulties!
 Monster’s

Inc.
People are afraid of what they do not know or
understand. Experience with the unknown will usually
eliminate misunderstanding.
 Tangled

It’s OK to follow your dreams even if it means
you have to defy a few people to reach them.
Greed never wins.
 The

Princess Frog
Hard work and perseverance are important to
getting what you want.
 http://dictionary.reference.com
used to find
definitions of vocabulary.
 http://www.ehow.com/how_2063746_identif
y-short-story-theme.html to help ID theme.
 7th Grade Text book