Grades 4-7

1. Literary Elements
…words used to describe what
goes on in books

3. 
DIRECTLY STATED
› Obviously stated or
given to the reader
in the novel

INDIRECTLY
STATED
› Must figure out
theme by analyzing
what the novel
reveals about life or
the people

4. Friendship
Good
vs. Evil
Struggles
Courage
Determination
Perseverance
Acceptance Loyalty
Freedom
Love
Hope
Man vs.
Nature
Prejudice
Suffering
Death
Responsibility

5. Theme

6. 
The way an
author
develops the
characters in
the story

7. 
Clear statements are
made about the
character.

“Ron is honest.”

The author writes
about a character’s
thoughts or what
others are thinking
about them.

8. 



Time & place of the story
The “backdrop”
Helps create the feeling or atmosphere
of the book.
Real or imaginary.

9. Ocean
Europe
Cave
Desert
Farm
Glacial
Forest
19th
century
House
Asia
Tropical
School
Inner
city
Small
town
Magical
Urban
Outer
space
Island
museum

10. 



Clues
Hints
Builds suspense
Keeps reader
wondering.

11. 
Authors use
flashback to show
something about a
character’s past.

A flashback is a
scene that
interrupts a story to
describe an earlier
event.

12. Conflict is the struggle
or problem in the story.
Conflict drives the
action of a story.
Resolution is the way
the conflict is settled.

13. 

Takes place within the mind of a
character.
They may struggle to make a decision,
take action, or overcome a feeling.

A character struggles against an outside
force.

May have conflict w/ another character or a
force in nature.

14. Arrangement of events
in the story.

Exposition – introducing the
characters, setting, & situation
Rising
Action
• Events that increase action

Climax
• High point of the story, story’s
outcome becomes clear

Falling Action
• Events that follow the climax

Resolution
• Outcome

15. Mood
› Mood is the feeling the
author creates during the
story.

16. 
First Person

Narrator takes part in
the action of the
story and refers to
him/her self as “I”.
Limited insight to the
story.
Third Person

Narrator does not
take part of action.
Is an outside
observer, can share
information that
other characters do
not know. Is allknowing.


17. To develop ideas about what will happen
next in a story. You must use your prior
knowledge and clues from the story!!

18. Author’s purpose & perspective go
together.
 Author wants you to see the topic
based on his beliefs/background.
 Author reveals his feelings/personal
interest in the subject.


19. “Through My Eyes” by Ruby Bridges.

20. 
Inform – to learn something
› Facts, details, instructions

Persuade – to believe his position
› Non-fiction, contains facts & author’s
opinions
Entertain – tell story, describe places/events
› Play, poems, stories, jokes, comic strips

21. 

A symbol stands for or represents
something. In literature, symbols stand for
ideas (love or hope)
Symbolism – is used to reinforce the theme
or message.

22. 
Writers attitude towards the
audience/subject.
› Formal, informal, serious, playful, bitter

Scary Mary Poppins

Happy Mary Poppins

23. 

Facts – statements that can be proven
Opinions – personal beliefs or feelings

24. 
Brief work of fiction.
› Still contains a plot, conflict, & characters.

25. 
Making logical assumptions about
something not directly stated in the text.
Putting the clues
from the story
together… like a
puzzle!

26. When you draw a conclusion
you use 2 things:
1. What you know in
your head.
2. What you’ve read
in the story.
A conclusion is the decision you come
to when you put these two together.