• Analyze literary elements as they relate to the comprehension of a passage, but not label or define the elements.

  • Drama terminology: protagonist, antagonist, foil, soliloquy

  • Plot, setting, character, point of view

  • Methods of characterization

  • Plot terminology: plot, exposition, complications, climax, denouement, conflict, rising action, falling action

  • Irony (verbal, situational, dramatic), mood, theme, tone

  • Allegory, ballad, dialect, diction, epic, paradox, point of view, Satire

  • Identify and interpret implied purpose

Tales of Edgar Allan Poe
Students analyze characters and plots including psychology involved in Poe's stories or poems

Dear Character
Students assume the voice of a character to write to another character -- not necessarily in the same story

Amy Lepore's Lesson
Students compare tone, purpose and point of view of Native American and Colonial literature

Writing about the Total Effect
This lesson about Julius Caesar shows how Shakespeare succeeds in leaving a great emotional impact on readers through orchestrating all the key literary elements, such as, plot, setting, point of view, tone, theme, symbol, and irony

By Any Other Name
Students read and contrast two different short stories with the same name

Perspective on the Slave Narrative
This lesson plan introduces students to one of the most widely-read genres of 19th-century American literature and an important influence within the African American literary tradition even today

PowerPoint Book Reports
Students create story maps of their books and present 15-slide presentations

Revising Point of View
Students practice revising by rewriting passages from a 1950 home economics textbook

Id, Ego, and Superego in Dr. Seuss's Cat in the Hat
The Cat in the Hat is used as a primer to teach students how to analyze a literary work using the literary tools of plot, theme, characterization, and psychoanalytical criticism.

Onomatopoeia: A Figurative Language Mini-Lesson
Students brainstorm a list of onomatopoeic words and then find examples of the technique in Edgar Allan Poe’s poem, “The Bells.”  

The Open Window, by Saki
This lesson plan deals with the story, "The Open Window" by Saki (H.H. Munro). Although this is a perfect "Halloween-time" story, this story introduces students to the "surprise twist" present in so many stories today. This story also lends itself perfectly to many literary terms and devices. The lesson will involve storytelling, listening, reading, writing, discussion, and group activities.
 

Episodic Notes  A handout to help identify plot and supporting details

Problem, Climax, Solution  A printable chart on which to chart a story plot

Five Elements of a Story  A printable graphic organizer

Suggestions for English Language Learners:                   

ESL Ideas      (B=Beginning, I=Intermediate, T=Transitional)
(B) Students copy a story map illustrating the plot of a story.
(B, I, T) Students complete a character chart by checking off character traits of the main characters of a story.
(I, T) Students assume moods of characters in oral reading such as in the balcony scene of Romeo and Juliet or passages from Voices in Literature.
 

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