Plot
What are the five stages of a plot in order?
Exposition, Rising Action, Climax, Falling Action, Resolution.
What is the difference between direct and indirect characterization?
Direct characterization states traits explicitly, while indirect characterization shows traits through actions, dialogue, and thoughts.
What are the two main types of conflict in a story?
Internal and external conflict.
What are the two main components of a story’s setting?
Time and place.
What is a theme in literature?
A message or insight about life or human nature shared by the author.
Which part of the plot introduces the main characters, setting, and conflict?
Exposition.
Name three ways an author can reveal a character’s personality indirectly.
Speech, Thoughts, Effect on Others, Actions, Looks
Give an example of an internal conflict.
answers may vary
How can the setting influence the mood of a story?
The setting’s details (e.g., weather, lighting, location) can evoke emotions like fear, joy, or sadness.
What is the difference between a theme and a central idea?
A theme is a universal message, while a central idea refers to what a specific text is about.
What is the purpose of the rising action in a story?
To build tension and develop the conflict.
What is a dynamic character?
A character who undergoes significant development or change throughout the story.
What type of external conflict involves a character struggling against societal norms or expectations?
Character vs. Society
Name one way setting can influence a character’s actions.
Answers may vary
A dangerous setting (like a war zone) may force a character to make life-or-death decisions.
How can a character’s journey through the plot reveal a story’s theme?
The lessons a character learns through their experiences often reflect the theme.
How does the climax differ from the resolution in a story?
The climax is the turning point or moment of greatest tension, while the resolution resolves the conflict and ties up loose ends.
Explain how an antagonist can help develop the protagonist’s characterization.
Antagonists can challenge, support, or contrast with the protagonist, revealing their traits or growth.
How can a story have multiple conflicts? Provide an example.
A character may face both an external conflict (a natural disaster) and an internal conflict (overcoming fear).
How does the setting in historical fiction differ from the setting in realistic fiction?
Historical fiction uses a past time period with accurate details about historical events, while realistic fiction is set in the present or recent past and reflects modern issues.
What is a universal theme? Provide an example.
A theme that applies to all people regardless of culture or time, such as "Do not judge someone before you get to know them."
Explain how flashbacks (or Memory Moments) can affect the sequence of a plot.
Flashbacks interrupt the chronological order to provide background information, which can enhance understanding of characters or conflicts.
How can a character’s motivation drive the plot?
A character’s desires or goals can create conflicts and propel the story’s action forward.
How does resolving a conflict contribute to the theme of a story?
The resolution often reinforces the story’s message or universal truth by showing how the conflict is addressed.
xplain how the historical context of a story’s setting can affect its conflicts.
Historical events or social norms of the time can create external pressures that drive the story’s conflict.
How can recurring symbols or words in a story help convey the theme?
Symbols, words, or phrases that appear throughout the story often reinforce the theme by representing key ideas or messages (e.g., a dove symbolizing peace).