Objective 2A: Plot
Plot is the pattern of events in a story. It shows the
movement of the story. Plot has six parts that help the
reader understand the causes and the effects of the
story.
Plot consists of the following:
1. Exposition: This consists of characterization and
setting.
2. Conflict: This is the main issue or problem that affects
the main character.
3. Rising Action: The main events that lead the main
character to the Climax.
4. Climax: the turning point of the story. It is the point of
no return for the main character. He or she cannot go
back to the way things once were.
5. Falling Action: The events that occur after the Climax.
6. Resolution: The return to normalcy. The conflict has
been overcome and life can begin again.
Plot Diagram
The plot diagram helps us identify the main events
of the story do we can see the causes (reasons)
that lead to the effects (outcome of the story).
Climax
Rising Action
Falling Action
Conflict
Exposition:
Characterization:
Setting:
Resolution
Plot Diagram The Three Little Pigs
Objective 2D: Point-of-View
Point-of-View tells us who is telling the story. It allows us not only to
know who is the narrator, but also gives us insight into the perspective
of the narrator.
There are five types of Point-of-View.
First Person: a character from the story tells the story. We only know
their feelings and thoughts. Word clues: I, me, we, us, and my
Example: personal narratives, short story, novels, essays, editorials.
Second Person: this is not from a character or a traditional narrator.
Word clues: you
Example: cookbooks, how to manuals.
Third Person: A narrator from outside the story. We do not know the
feelings or the emotions of any of the characters. Word clues: he,
she, it, they, and them
Example: newspaper article
Third Person Limited: A narrator from outside the story that tells the
story through the eyes of one of the characters in the story. We only
know that character’s emotions and thoughts. Word clues: he, she,
it, they, and them
Example: novel, short story
Third Person Omniscient: A narrator from outside the story that tells
the story through the eyes of several of the characters. We know the
thoughts and emotions of most of the characters. Word clues: he,
she, it, they, and them
Example: novel, short story
2D Point of View
Directions: Please highlight all of the words in each passage that help understand the point
of view for each passage.
1. He walked past the group of girls with his head down. He wished that he had the
nerve to talk to girls. He always seemed to make a fool of himself when he tried, so
he just stopped talking to them. He could feel them looking at him and heard a
giggle. Sweat broke out on his forehead, and he picked up his pace.
A.
B.
C.
D.
first person
third person
third person limited
third person omniscient
2. Laura , Carmen, and Michelle, my sisters, decided to go to Dublin, Ireland for a
week. They were able to visit Dublin Castle where the kings and queens of England
stayed. Carmen said that her favorite thing to see was the Long Room at Trinity
College. She was able to see a first edition of Dante’s Divine Comedy.
A.
B.
C.
D.
first person
third person
third person limited
third person omniscient
3. The house was dark and dirty as they walked down the long hallway. A bet had
brought them to the old haunted house, and only pride kept them here. Terence,
Sly, and Jesus continued walking, none of them wanted to admit to the others that
they were nervous. As they turned the corner Sly saw it first and felt a chill run
down his back. Terence’s feet seemed nailed to the floor. Jesus wanted to yell at it
to go away, but he could not get the words out of his mouth. A green light
surrounded the ghost of old man Simms as it swooped towards them. All of them
ducked, but they did not run-they did not run.
A.
B.
C.
D.
first person
third person
third person limited
third person omniscient
4. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. The words “you won” kept running through my
head. I had dreamed of getting the scholarship so that I could attend Heidelberg
College. Becoming a teacher meant everything to me. I was willing to work while I
went to school, but this scholarship would give me the freedom to focus on my
education. I still feel like it is a dream.
A.
B.
C.
D.
first person
third person
third person limited
third person omniscient
5. Twenty-two minutes! That was all the time they had to relax and talk to each other.
Well, the only time they could talk without being interrupted by a teacher, thought
Tanisha with a smile. She was trying to eat her fries as fast as she could and still
keep up with Latrina’s thoughts on dating. She sighed when she realized that she
missed something, and she had no idea who Latrina was talking about. When the bell
rang Tanisha sighed, packing up her stuff and looking at the fries that would have
to be thrown away.
A.
B.
C.
D.
first person
third person
third person limited
third person omniscient
6. The three little boys were busy digging in the sand box. Each one had a shovel and a
bucket. The first little boy began building a wall around him using the bucket to
pack the sand tightly. The second boy piled the sand in a circle pattern and began
making eyes on the surface. The third little boy dug a hole. He used his bucket to
move the sand away from his almost perfect hole.
A.
B.
C.
D.
first person
third person
third person limited
third person omniscient
Objective 2C: Characterization
Characterization is what the author reveals about
characters through direct statements and through
narration.
Direct Characterization: The statements that the
author makes about the character.
Indirect Characterization: What we STEAL from the
author’s statements or narration about the character.
Example:
Ursula Wills-Jones
The Wicker Husband
Once upon a time, there was an ugly girl. She was short and dumpy,
had one leg a bit shorter than the other, and her eyebrows met in the
middle. The ugly girl gutted fish for a living, so her hands smelt funny
and her dress was covered in scales. She had no mother or brother, no
father, sister, or any friends. She lived in a ramshackle house on the
outskirts of the village, and she never complained.
Direct Characterization:
From the first underlined statement we know that she is short, dumpy, and
physically disabled.
Indirect Characterization:
We can assume from the second underlined statement that she is very lonely (no
known family) and poor (ramshackle house). We can also assume that she is a good
person because she never complains. We STEAL this information because it is not
directly stated, but we use our prior knowledge and experience to help us fill in the
pieces.
Setting tells us where, when, and under what
circumstances the main character must work.
Where: The place where the story takes place. It could
be a room or the universe.
When: The time when the story takes place. It could be a
small as a minute or as large as a lifetime. It can also tell
us if the story is from the past, the present or the
future.
Circumstances: The conditions such as financial standing
of the character. If a character is poor in the story,
would the story change if the character was rich?
The Californian’s Tale
By Mark Twain
Thirty-five years ago I was out prospecting on the Stanislaus,
tramping all day long with pick and pan and horn, and washing a hatful
of dirt here and there, always expecting to make a rich strike,
and never doing it. It was a lovely region, woodsy, balmy, delicious,
and had once been populous, long years before, but now the
people had vanished and the charming paradise was a solitude.
Where: California, Stanislaus: it is lovely, wooded, balmy(warm and breezy), and
isolated.
When: 35 years ago, narrator is looking back on an event (past). We can assume
that it is during the California Gold Rush.
Circumstances: We can assume that he is poor, based on the fact that he is looking
for wealth. We also know that he is alone.
Read “Gift of the Magi” in Elements of Literature
page:286
Complete the Plot Diagram and answer the questions on
Characterization and Setting.
Give an Example of Direct Characterization for:
1. Della:_____________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
2. Jim:______________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
Give an example of Indirect Characterization for:
1. Della:_____________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
2. Jim:______________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
What is the Setting of the story?
1. Where did it take place?
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
2. When did it take place?
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
3. Circumstances:
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
4. O. Henry uses Irony to tell his tale of young love. Irony is the literary
technique that involves the differences between appearance and reality;
expectation and result; meaning and intention. Explain the irony in this
story._____________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
Objective 2B: Conflict
Conflict is the main problem or issue that the
character is experiencing. There are two main
types of conflict: Internal Conflict and External
Conflict
Internal Conflict: The problem or issue takes place
within the main character.
Man verses Self: The character trying to make a
decision, they are questioning a belief they have, or they
are battling an illness.
External Conflict: The problem or issue occurs to the
main character.
Man verses Man: Another person is causing the problem
Man verses Nature: Weather, animal, or a natural
occurrence causes the problem.
Man verses Society: The main character goes against
the laws or beliefs of the society in which they live.
Man verses Supernatural: The main character goes
against a mythological, spirit, or other “unworldly” entity.
Read “The Interlopers” in The Elements of Literature:
page 150
Complete the Plot Diagram and answer the questions on
Characterization and Setting.
Give an Example of Direct Characterization for:
3. Ulrich:____________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
4. Georg:____________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
Give an example of Indirect Characterization for:
3. Ulrich:____________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
4. Georg:____________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
What is the Setting of the story?
5. Where did it take place?
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
6. When did it take place?
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
7. Circumstances:
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
8. Saki uses Irony to tell his tale of feuding families. Irony is the literary
technique that involves the differences between appearance and reality;
expectation and result; meaning and intention. Explain the irony in this
story._____________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
9. Give examples from the story for each type of conflict
 Internal Conflict
Man verse Self
_______________________________________________
_______________________________________________
_______________________________________________
 External Conflict
Man verses Man
_______________________________________________
_______________________________________________
_______________________________________________
Man Verses Nature
_______________________________________________
_______________________________________________
_______________________________________________
Man verses Nature
_______________________________________________
_______________________________________________
_______________________________________________
Marigolds
Eugenia Collier
Goals:
 Influences on Characters – Eternal / Internal Conflict and Motivation
 Inferences about Characterization – Direct and Indirect
 Vocabulary in Context
 Figurative Language – Metaphors and Imagery
 Setting and Mood
 Interpretation
Introduction: Explain to the students that the Great Depression was an economic tragedy that lasted almost
10 years. To many who lived through the Depression, it seemed like a frustrating nightmare, one without
hope of an end.
Preview Vocabulary: See the vocabulary list on page 118
1. During the Great Depression, looking for work seemed ________________________.
2. The _____________________ soil made it difficult to grow crops.
3. The contented old woman worked _______________ in her garden.
4. The girl’s behavior had been ____________________; she had stirred up trouble by __________________
the others.
5. Afterward, the child felt ________________ for her mean behavior.
6. She saw her own actions with ___________________.
7. The girl looked ___________________ at the ____________________ old woman, who never planted
marigolds again.
Figurative Language
See the last sentence of page 120 – To what does the author compare poverty?
To what does she compare the hatred of poverty?
Conflict
See the 2nd paragraph on page 121 – What external conflict does the narrator’s father’s face?
Even though his unemployment is a result of the Depression, how might it cause an internal conflict?
See the last sentence of the 3rd paragraph and the 1st sentence of the 4th – What internal conflict does
the narrator of the story feel?
Setting and Mood
See the first paragraph on page 122 – How do these details about Miss Lottie’s house contribute to the
story’s mood?
Character Traits
See the 2nd Paragraph on page 122 – What do you learn about John Burke, Miss Lottie’s son?
See the last sentence of paragraph 2 – Why do you think the children make a game of disturbing John
Burke?
Conflict
See the last half of the past paragraph on page 122 (beginning with “For some perverse reason,”) – The
narrator says that she and the other children reveled in their youth and mocked Miss Lottie’s old age. How
would you describe such a conflict?
How would you characterize the other conflicts described in this passage?
Internal Conflict
See page 123, 1st full paragraph until the end of the page – Lizabeth struggles with the decision over
whether or not to join the other children. What does Lizabeth’s decision suggest about her at this point in
the story?
Character’s Motivation
See the 5th paragraph on page 124 – Why do you think Lizabeth is acting like this?
Read the 1st three sentences of the 6th paragraph on page 124 – What conflict is Lizabeth experiencing?
Read the last 3 sentences of the 6th paragraph on page 124 – Identify the type of figurative language
used to describe the sound and effect of Lizabeth’s mother’s voice.
Conflict
Read the last 3 paragraphs of page 124, and the 1st two paragraphs of 125 – Describe the internal and
external conflicts Lizabeths’s father is facing.
Motivation
Read the 4th paragraph of page 125 – What does Lizabeth’s father break down and cry?
Internal Conflict
Read last 2 full paragraphs of page 125 – What do you think is haunting Elizabeth?
What do you predict she might know?
Motivation and Conflict
Read the 1st paragraph on page 126 – Why does Lizabeth destroy the marigolds? Why do you think she
cries as she does so?
Read to the end of page 126 – What motivates Lizabeth to tell this story? Why does she still think of
Miss Lottie’s marigolds?
Interpretation
Read the last sentence of page 126 – What might Lizabeth mean by this last line?
Guided Practice
1. What does the narrator remember most about the place where she lived as a child?
2. Why do the children decide to go to Miss Lottie’s house?
3. What do the children call Miss Lottie?
4. What happens one night at home to upset Lizabeth?
5. In her rage, what does Lizabeth do?
A Sound of Thunder
By Ray Bradbury
Goals:






Evaluate the aesthetic qualities of style, including the effect of figurative language and mood.
Understanding cause-and-effect relationships
Identify significant literary devices that define a writer’s style.
Inference
Conflict
Vocabulary
Introduction: Set in the future, this tale of time travel asks the all important question of the significance of a
butterfly.
Preview Vocabulary:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
During a _____________ many people cannot find work.
The agitated patient’s ______________ was caused by a high fever.
After a driver gets too many tickets, the law may ___________________ his license.
Modern builders are careful not to completely _________________ the remains of ancient civilizations.
A time that is even older than ancient times is known as ___________________________.
The car will be yours after you _______________________ the final payment.
Items that are thrown overboard to lighten a load are ____________________________.
Good rubber tires are strong and ______________________________.
Thoughts that lie just below the surface are ________________________.
If a heavy load is light to carry, that is a ______________________.

Use vocabulary on page 499.
Analyzing
In paragraph 1 what do Eckels’ actions reveal about him?
Style
Find at least three examples of figurative language on the first two pages of the story.
(Similes, metaphors, and personifications)
Finding Details
What details in the last paragraph on page 501/first paragraph on page 502 tells you that Eckels is scared?
Figurative Language
Read on page 502 at the beginning of the third paragraph to the end of the fourth and identify the examples of
metaphor and personification. What effect does the use of figurative language have on the mood of the story?
Cause and Effect
According to Travis, on page 502, what might result of going off the path or of unintentionally killing an animal or
plant?
Using the statements made by Travis on page 503 complete the following chain of events
One mouse killed
Mouse’s family is destroyed
Families of the families destroyed
Fox and fox families are destroyed
In this cause-and-effect chain, what small cause leads to what enormous effect?
Foreshadowing
What purpose do you think Ray Bradbury had in including such detailed discussions of these scientific theories?
Vocabulary
In the third paragraph, in the second column, on page 504 we find the word bisect. If the prefix bi- means “two” and
the root word sect means “cut”, write a definition of the word bisect.
Conflict
On page 505, who are in conflict here? What is the conflict?
Cause and effect
What causes Eckels to step off the path? What might be an effect of his stepping off the path?
Figurative Language
On page 506, in the sixth paragraph, identify the two similes that help readers picture the falling dinosaur. What
mood does this passage create?
Vocabulary
On page 507 in the fourth paragraph we find the word malfunctioning. If the prefix mal- means “bad”, and the root
word func means to “perform”, write a definition for the word malfunctioning.
Conflict
On page 508 why is Travis angry with Eckels?
Making Judgments/Inference
On page 508 what does Eckels’ offer of payment reveal about him? Do you think that money can fix something like
this?
Cause and effect
On page 508 what does Travis fear might be the effects of Eckels stepping off the path?
On page 509 what chain of events do the dominoes refer to?
True or False
T or F Time Safari, Inc. offers hunting trips to the past.
T or F Keith, a candidate for the president, has dictatorial tendencies.
T or F Eckels shows little fear of the giant dinosaur.
T or F The hunters are unable to kill their prey.
T or F By stepping on a butterfly, Eckels changes the course of history.
Thinking Critically
When the time travelers return to the world of 2055, how has the setting changed? What details reveal the changes?
What happens to Eckels at the end of the story?
What is the cause of the final event?
What different meanings can you give for the story’s title?
Do you think that Bradbury’s purpose is simply to entertain, or does his story have a serious theme, or message?
Explain your answer.
Bradbury’s story has an exciting adventure plot, which could have been related in simple concrete language without
the use of figurative language. What might the story have gained if it were written in such a style? What might it
have lost