Sounder
Plot, Setting, Connections, and Characterization
PLOT
 Plot is a literary term used to describe the events
that make up a story or the main part of a story.
 There are five main elements in a plot.
 The first is the exposition or the introduction.
 The second element of a plot is known as the rising
action which occurs when a series of events build up
to the conflict.
 The third element of a plot is known as the climax or
the main point of the plot. This is the turning point of
the story and is meant to be the moment of highest
interest and emotion.
PLOT cont.
 The 5 elements in a plot cont.
The fourth element of a plot is known as falling
action or the winding up of the story.
The last element of a plot is the resolution or the
conclusion. It is the end of a story and ends
with either a happy or a tragic ending.
Plot Diagram
Setting
 In literature, the word ‘setting’ is used to identify
and establish the time, place and mood of the events
in the story. It basically helps in establishing where
and when and under what circumstances the story
is taking place.
 When you are asked for the setting of a story, you
should use descriptive words to help create a visual
image. You would also discuss the time period in
which the story occurs.
Setting Example
 In the first installment of the Harry Potter series, a
large part of the book takes place at the protagonist,
Harry’s, aunt’s and uncle’s place, living in the
“muggle” (non-magical) world with the “muggle”
folks, and Harry is unaware of his magical
capabilities and blood. This setting establishes the
background that Harry has a non-magical
childhood with other “muggle” people and has no
clue about his special powers or his parents and is
raised much like, actually worse than, regular
people, till his 11th birthday.
Connections
 Students will make literary connections in 3 ways.
 #1 text-to-text You will connect an event in the story
to another story you have read.
 #2 text-to-self You will connect an event in the story
to something that has happened in your life.
 #3 text-to-world You will connect an event in the story
to something that you have seen or heard about, but it
did NOT happen to you.
Examples of Connections
 #1 text-to-text When reading The Watsons Go to
Birmingham, a student may relate events in the
story to an article (s)he read in Social Studies about
the Civil Rights Movement.
 #2 text-to-self When reading Charlotte’s Web, a
student may relate Wilbur to a pig on a farm the
student has visited.
 #3 text-to-world When reading Hoot, a student
may relate the story to a tv show about owls.
Characterization
 Characterization in literature refers to the step by
step process wherein an author introduces and then
describes a character. The character can be described
directly by the author or indirectly through the
actions, thoughts, and speech of the character.
 There are 2 types of Characterization. They are
direct and indirect characterization.
Direct Characterization
 Direct characterization consists of the author telling
the audience what a character is like. A narrator
may give this information, or another character in
the story may do it.
 Example:
 “Bill was short and fat, and his bald spot was
widening with every passing year.”
Indirect Characterization
 Indirect characterization consists of the author showing
the audience what kind of person a character is through
the character’s thoughts, words, and deeds. This requires
the audience to make inferences about why a character
would say or do those things.
 Example:
 “Bill sighed as he looked at the offer of a gym
membership. He really should join. But just thinking
about it made beads of sweat collect at the top of his bald
spot.”