Literary Elements

Master the building blocks of literature including plot, character, setting, theme, point of view, and conflict for the ParaPro Assessment.

Major Elements

Teaching Strategies

Practice Exercises

Literary Devices

Reading Study Guide • Literary Analysis Topic

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What You'll Learn

Major literary elements and their functions
How to identify elements in various texts
Teaching strategies for literary analysis
Common student misconceptions
Literary devices and figurative language

Understanding Literary Elements

Literary elements are the fundamental components that make up a story. Understanding these elements helps readers analyze literature more deeply and appreciate how authors craft their works. For the ParaPro Assessment, you'll need to identify literary elements and help students understand how they work together to create meaning.

📖 Why Literary Elements Matter

• Comprehension: Understanding structure improves overall understanding
• Analysis: Students can discuss literature more effectively
• Writing: Knowledge transfers to students' own writing
• Critical thinking: Analyzing elements develops deeper thinking
• Appreciation: Understanding craft enhances enjoyment

The Six Major Literary Elements

1 Plot

Definition: The sequence of events that make up a story.

Plot Structure (Freytag's Pyramid):

1. Exposition: Introduction of characters, setting, and situation
2. Rising Action: Series of events that build tension
3. Climax: The turning point or moment of highest tension
4. Falling Action: Events after the climax leading to resolution
5. Resolution (Denouement): How the conflict is resolved

Example - "Cinderella":

Exposition: Cinderella lives with cruel stepfamily
Rising Action: Invitation to ball, fairy godmother's help
Climax: Midnight strikes, Cinderella flees
Falling Action: Prince searches with glass slipper
Resolution: Shoe fits, they marry

2 Character

Definition: The people, animals, or beings who take part in the story.

Types of Characters:

Protagonist: The main character (hero)
Antagonist: The character opposing the protagonist
Round: Complex, fully developed characters
Flat: Simple, one-dimensional characters
Dynamic: Characters who change throughout
Static: Characters who remain the same

Character Development Methods:

Direct characterization (author tells us)
Indirect characterization (shown through actions)
Physical description
Dialogue and thoughts
Other characters' reactions

3 Setting

Definition: The time and place where the story occurs.

Components of Setting:

Time: Historical period, season, time of day
Place: Geographic location, environment, specific locations
Social context: Cultural and societal conditions
Mood/Atmosphere: The feeling the setting creates

Functions of Setting:

Creates mood and atmosphere
Influences characters' actions
Reflects or contrasts themes
Provides historical/cultural context
Can act as a character itself

4 Theme

Definition: The central idea or underlying message of the story.

Characteristics of Theme:

Universal ideas that apply beyond the story
Not the same as the subject or topic
Often implicit rather than stated
Can have multiple themes in one work

Common Themes in Literature:

• Love conquers all
• Good vs. evil
• Coming of age
• Power corrupts

• Sacrifice and redemption
• Appearance vs. reality
• The importance of family
• Overcoming adversity

5 Point of View

Definition: The perspective from which the story is told.

POV Type	Pronouns	Characteristics
First Person	I, me, my, we	Narrator is a character in the story
Second Person	You, your	Rarely used; reader is the character
Third Person Limited	He, she, they	Knows thoughts of one character
Third Person Omniscient	He, she, they	Knows all characters' thoughts

6 Conflict

Definition: The struggle between opposing forces that drives the plot.

Types of Conflict:

Character vs. Character: Protagonist against antagonist
Character vs. Self: Internal struggle within a character
Character vs. Nature: Struggle against natural forces
Character vs. Society: Individual against societal norms
Character vs. Technology: Human against machines/technology
Character vs. Supernatural: Against fate, gods, or magic

Note: Most stories contain multiple conflicts, with one central conflict driving the main plot.

Literary Devices and Figurative Language

Beyond the basic elements, authors use literary devices to enhance their writing and create deeper meaning.

Device	Definition	Example
Metaphor	Direct comparison without using like/as	"Life is a journey"
Simile	Comparison using like or as	"Brave as a lion"
Symbolism	Object represents abstract idea	Dove = peace
Irony	Opposite of what's expected	Fire station burns down
Foreshadowing	Hints about future events	Storm clouds before conflict
Personification	Giving human traits to non-human things	"The wind whispered"

Teaching Strategies for Literary Elements

As a paraprofessional, use these strategies to help students understand and analyze literary elements:

📊 Story Maps

• Create graphic organizers for each element
• Students fill in as they read
• Use different shapes for different elements
• Connect elements to show relationships

Example: Plot mountain for story structure

🔍 Element Hunt

• Assign each student an element to track
• Use sticky notes to mark examples
• Share findings with the group
• Create class charts of discoveries

📋 Before-During-After Charts

• Before Reading: Predict elements
• During Reading: Note examples
• After Reading: Analyze importance

📓 Literary Element Journals

• Dedicate sections to each element
• Add examples from various texts
• Compare elements across stories
• Reflect on author's choices

Common Student Challenges

Students often struggle with specific aspects of literary elements. Understanding these helps you provide better support:

Challenge 1: Confusing Theme with Topic

Problem: Students say theme is "friendship" instead of a complete idea.

Solution:

• Teach: Topic = one word, Theme = complete sentence
• Use formula: "This story shows that [theme]"
• Example: Topic = friendship; Theme = True friendship requires sacrifice

Challenge 2: Identifying Point of View

Problem: Students confuse narrator with author or miss POV shifts.

Solution:

• Highlight pronouns in opening paragraphs
• Ask: "Who is telling the story?"
• Practice with same story told from different POVs

Challenge 3: Understanding Symbolism

Problem: Students take everything literally or see symbols everywhere.

Solution:

• Start with obvious symbols (flag = country)
• Look for repeated objects or images
• Ask: "Could this represent something bigger?"
• Require textual evidence for symbolic interpretations

Practice Exercises

Exercise 1: Identify the Elements

Read the passage and identify the literary elements:

"Sarah trudged through the snowy streets of Chicago, her thin coat offering little protection against the December wind. She clutched the acceptance letter in her pocket - her ticket out of this neighborhood. But as she passed the familiar corner store where Mr. Chen always saved day-old bread for families in need, she wondered if leaving meant abandoning those who needed her most. 'Success means helping others succeed,' her grandmother always said. The city lights blurred through her tears as she realized her choice wasn't between staying and leaving, but between two different ways of making a difference."

Identify: setting, conflict, point of view, and potential theme.

Click to see answers

Setting: Chicago in December, snowy urban neighborhood, appears to be a lower-income area based on context clues
Conflict: Character vs. Self (internal) - Sarah struggles between pursuing personal success and staying to help her community
Point of View: Third person limited - we know Sarah's thoughts and feelings but not others'
Potential Theme: Success can be defined in different ways, or Personal achievement vs. community responsibility

Exercise 2: Literary Device Identification

Identify the literary device in each example:

1. "The classroom was a zoo during indoor recess."
2. "The stars danced playfully in the moonlit sky."
3. "She was as busy as a bee preparing for the test."
4. "The fire station burned down while the firefighters were at a safety seminar."
5. "The approaching storm clouds mirrored John's darkening mood."

Click to see answers

1. Metaphor - Directly compares classroom to zoo
2. Personification - Stars given human ability to dance
3. Simile - Uses "as...as" to compare
4. Irony - Opposite of what's expected (fire station burning)
5. Symbolism/Mood - Weather reflects emotional state

Exercise 3: Plot Structure Practice

Match these events from "The Three Little Pigs" to the correct plot element:

Events:

1. Three pigs leave home to build houses
2. Wolf blows down straw house
3. Wolf falls into boiling water
4. Wolf can't blow down brick house
5. Pigs live safely ever after

Plot Elements:

• Exposition
• Rising Action
• Climax
• Falling Action
• Resolution

Click to see answers

1. Three pigs leave home = Exposition
2. Wolf blows down straw house = Rising Action
3. Wolf can't blow down brick house = Climax
4. Wolf falls into boiling water = Falling Action
5. Pigs live safely = Resolution