Literary Elements
The purpose of the setting is to create _____ and atmospher
Mood
This is the sequence of events that tells what happens in a story, from beginning to end.
Plot
"I tiptoed down the hallway, holding my breath, hoping my little brother wouldn’t hear me sneak the last cookie."
Which point of view is this story written in?
First Person
This is a hint or clue about what will happen later in a story.
Foreshadowing
“Her smile was as bright as the sun” is an example of what?
Simile
What is the mood?
"The clock ticked louder with every passing second, each beat a reminder that something was coming—something she wasn’t ready for. Her hands trembled as she reached for the doorknob, praying the silence on the other side would stay unbroken."
Anxious or Suspenseful
This part of the plot is where the main problem or conflict is introduced.
Rising Action
"She watched from the window as the storm clouds rolled in, wondering if the train would make it on time."
Which point of view is this - be specific!
third-person limited
When an author shows something from the past to give background information.
Flashback
“The wind whispered through the trees” shows what device?
Personification
Where is the setting for this excerpt:
"The air shimmered with heat as grains of sand slipped through her fingers, the horizon rippling like a mirage. In the distance, a lone camel bell echoed, soft and hollow beneath the blazing sun."
Desert
"Liam stared at his broken science project, the pieces scattered across the floor. Instead of giving up, he took a deep breath and started rebuilding from scratch. When his project finally worked, he couldn’t stop smiling—he’d done it on his own"
Based on this excerpt, what theme is being shown through the events of the story?
Perseverance
Is Rainsford a static or dynamic character? Explain.
Dynamic – he changes his views on hunting after being hunted himself.
A sudden chnage or surprise the reader didn’t expect.
Plot Twist
“I told you a million times to clean your room!” is an example of what?
Hyperbole
A story opens with rain hammering against shattered windows, thunder shaking the walls, and a clock ticking past midnight. Without mentioning fear or tension, the author has established this literary element.
Mood
In a story where a character loses a race but learns that effort matters more than winning, this deeper message represents what element?
Theme
"The town slept peacefully, unaware of the danger creeping through the streets, while both Mara and Ben tried to stop it."
Which point of view is this - be specific!
Third-person Omniscient
An object, color, or event that stands for something deeper.
Symbolism
"Her dad smiled and said, "Break a leg out there kiddo!"
This is an example of what?
Idiom
When the sun-bleached streets fall silent, the smell of salt and rust fills the air, and a ship’s horn echoes in the distance, the author is using this element to shape how readers feel about the place before the characters even speak.
Setting influencing mood
A story begins with a drought, rises as a community struggles to survive, peaks when the first rain falls, and ends with crops beginning to grow again. The sequence of these connected events describes this key element of storytelling.
Plot structure
"Chelsea sat on the edge of the abandoned pier, waves slapping at the supports below. In her pocket, the crumpled letter burned her fingers—a secret she couldn’t decide whether to reveal. Across the harbor, shadows moved silently, waiting for her next move, but Tara’s mind kept replaying the choice she had made days ago."
Identify the point of view, the type of conflict, a character trait of Chelsea, and a possible theme suggested by this excerpt.
POV: Third-person limited (focuses on Chelsea’s thoughts and feelings)
Conflict: Person vs. self (Chelsea struggling with a moral decision) and person vs. person (shadows/unknown threat)
Character trait: Hesitant, thoughtful, or conflicted
Theme: The consequences of choices, guilt and responsibility, or the difficulty of moral decisions
This writing technique keeps the reader feeling excited, tense, or curious about what will happen next. Authors use it to hold the reader’s attention and make them want to keep reading.
Suspense
What technique uses contrast between appearance and reality, such as a villain pretending to be kind?
Irony