Fiction Elements
What is the sequence of events that happen in a story called?
Plot
In a script, what are the short descriptions that tell actors how to move, speak or act called?
Stage directions
When you use clues from the text plus what you already know to figure something out, what are you doing?
Making an inference
What is the big idea or lesson that a story teaches called?
Theme
What is the difference between a metaphor and a simile?
A simile compares two things using "like" or "as." A metaphor says something IS something else without using "like" or "as."
A story takes place in a specific time and location. What do we call this?
Setting
A drama is typically divided into large sections. What are these called?
Acts
Read this sentence: "Maya slammed her locker door and stormed down the hall." What can you infer about Maya's mood?
Maya is angry, upset, frustrated, etc.
What are the three reasons, or purposes, an author writes a piece of text?
Persuade, Inform, Entertain
What literary device does the following sentence show?
"The tea leaves danced in the hot water."
Personification
What is point of view? How do we know what point of view a story is in?
The perspective in which a story is told. First-person uses words like "I" or "me". Third person uses "he", "she", or "They"
What is the smaller division within an act that shows a change in location or time?
Scene
Based on the title "The Lost Puppy" and knowing it's a fiction story, what prediction might you make before reading?
Answers may vary: A puppy will be lost, someone will search for it, or the puppy will be found.
In a story about a character who learns to be brave despite being scared, what is a possible theme?
Courage means facing your fears, It's okay to be scared as long as you try, Bravery comes in many forms.
In a drama, a character says, "I've told you a million times!" Is this statement literally true? What literary device is being used?
What is the problem or challenge that a character must solve or overcome in a story called?
Conflict
In a drama, what labels appear before each characters dialouge to show who is speaking?
Character tags
A character has just discovered her best friend lied to her. What do you predict will happen next?
Conflict, confrontation, etc.
A story shows a character learning to accept help from others. What theme is the author most likely teaching?
It's okay to ask for help. No one can do everything alone. Asking for help is a sign of strength.
Read this sentence: "The old house groaned and creaked as the wind blew." What mood (or feeling) does this language create?
A spooky, eerie, mysterious, or scary mood.
How does the setting influence, or effect, what happens in a story?
Creating specific challenges, opportunities, mood, etc.
Explain how a character's tone of voice (shown in stage directions) can change the meaning of their dialogue.
The same words can mean different things depending on how they're said.
Explain how understanding a character's motivation (reason to take action or achieve a goal) helps you predict their actions in a story.
If you know why a character wants something, you can predict what they might do to get it. Understanding their goals and values helps you anticipate their choices.
Why might an author choose to set a story in a fantasy world instead of the real world?
To explore ideas in a new way, to make the story more exciting or imaginative, or to help readers see real-world problems from a different perspective.
Why do authors include figurative language, like similes, personification, and alliteration, into their writing?
Authors use figurative language because it helps them express big ideas in exciting and creative ways.