Elements of Fiction
People, animals, or things
Key words: I, my, we, me, our
What is first person point of view?
The scout leader looked at the sky and muttered something
under his breath. Then he looked at the map. "Let's get moving," he called to the group of tired boys. "The faster the better."
What do you think the scout leader was feeling?
What is the the scout leader was feeling worried because he thought a storm was coming?
Mrs. Jones was nervous about flying on an airplane. She had never flown before. Her daughter REASSURED her by telling her that planes are very safe. What does REASSURED mean?
a) comforted
b) reminded
c) forced
What is comforted?
What is fake or not real?
Where and when the story takes place
What is the setting?
Key words: they, them, him, her, he, she, Names of characters
What is third person point of view?
Splat! "Oh, rats!" thought Katie as she stopped to clean up the mess. "I hope we have another one." She looked in the fridge and pulled out the carton. One left! Breakfast wasn't ruined after all.
What did Katie clean up?
What is a broken egg?
The meadow was full of wildflowers. There were not many large plants, and tress were SPARSE. What does SPARSE mean?
a) many
b) few
c) large
What is few?
Another name for "problem" in a story.
What is conflict or dilemma?
Beginning, Middle, and End
What is the plot?
Red looked across the prairie. He didn't see anything concerning. He wondered why Texas Joe had hollered like that. Texas Joe turned to him. The ghost that Texas Joe had just seen was gone. Texas Joe swatted at the air. Now he felt crazy. "You have to believe me, Red. It was just here," said Texas Joe. Red scowled at him in disbelief. "What was just here, Joe?" he asked. Red was angry with Texas Joe for disturbing his sleep for no apparent reason.
IDENTIFY THE POINT OF VIEW
What is third person?
Kim turned off the lights and everyone found a place to hide. Nicky hid under the table where everyone had put their presents. He peeked out and saw the front door starting to open.
What will happen next?
What is everyone will jump out and yell "Surprise!" because they are at a surprise party.
The artist had used VIVID colors in the painting, which made it stand out in the otherwise drab room. What does VIVID mean?
a) dull
b) tinted
c) bright
What is bright?
The feeling that the author is trying to convey.
What is mood?
The person telling the story; it may be a character in the story or the narrator.
What is point of view?
The dew on the grass made my running shoes damp. It didn't bother me. The sound of my feet hitting the street formed a rhythm, a steady pattern of light thumps. I timed my breathing with the rhythm. These sounds filled my head. I thought of nothing other than the next step and keeping my tempo. I soared over the sidewalks like concrete clouds.
IDENTIFY THE POINT OF VIEW.
What is first person point of view?
Maria woke up in the middle of the night. She had to go to the bathroom. The room was so dark.
The house was so quiet. Maria wished that she still shared her room with her big sister Laura, but Laura had moved into her own room a few days ago. Maria did not move.
Why didn't Maria go to the bathroom?
What is Maria did not go to the bathroom because she was frightened.
Adrian liked his new laptop computer because it was light and PORTABLE. He took it with him everywhere! What does PORTABLE mean?
a) small
b) movable
c) high-tech
What is movable?
What is dialogue?
The moral or lesson that the author is trying to teach.
What is the theme?
Jeremiah squinted from the sun. He was thinking about the game. They could have won. He could have won the game for them. All he needed to do was catch the ball, but he didn't. He dropped it. His coach talked to him. "Jeremiah, we had a great season. Nobody's perfect. Look at me. Ha ha," he said. Jeremiah smiled at the coach, but he couldn't forgive himself so easily.
IDENTIFY THE POINT OF VIEW.
What is third person point of view?
People kept coming over to visit Rachel's family. They brought food and gifts. Many of the visitors asked Rachel how she liked being a big sister.
Why were so many people coming to visit Rachel's family?
What is people are coming to visit because Rachel's mother has had a baby.
After Lily left home for college, her dad tried to sell the computer games she had played when she was little. However, he soon discovered they were OBSOLETE. The word OBSOLETE means:
a) too easy
b) out of date
c) boring
What is out of date?
When testing, you should ALWAYS go back into the text and find the ______________.
What is text evidence?