Unit 1: Literary Elements - Vocabulary Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards covering point of view, perspective, setting, and theme from Unit 1 notes.

First-Person Point of View

The narrator is a character in the story and uses I, me, my; the reader experiences only what this character knows.

Third-Person Omniscient Point of View

An all-knowing narrator who reveals thoughts and feelings of all characters and can present events beyond any single character's knowledge.

Third-Person Limited Point of View

Narrator tells the story from one character's perspective; the reader knows only that character's thoughts, feelings, and senses.

Point of View

The perspective from which the story is told; includes 1st, 2nd, and 3rd person (limited or omniscient).

Perspective

A person’s experiences, background knowledge, preferences, feelings, and thoughts that influence how information is presented; related to the author’s viewpoint.

Setting

Where and when a story takes place; place and time, and changes in setting can affect the plot.

Place

Where the story takes place (state, country, or specific location).

Time

When the story takes place (time of day, time of year, year).

Theme

The central message, lesson, or moral of a story; universal and supported by the text through conflicts and character changes.

Theme Statement

A sentence expressing the theme; not a one-word idea or plot summary; should convey a broader lesson about life or human nature.

Steps to Determine Theme

1) Read the story carefully; 2) Identify the main conflict; 3) Observe character change; 4) Ask what the story teaches about life or people; 5) Write it as a single statement.