Elements of Literature

Your Guide to Teaching the Elements of Literature at Different Levels

Kindergarten to Second Grade

Teaching Simple Literary Elements for Early Readers

• Identify fiction and non-fiction.
  
• Compare fantasy, realism, historical fiction, realistic fiction.
  
• Identify the main character.
  
• Discuss what the main character learned? What is the moral of the story?

3rd to 5th Grade

Teaching Literature for 3rd through 5th Grade

• Review the elements listed for K - 2nd grade (above)
  
• Describe the setting.
  
• Do a character sketch (what were the characters like).
  
• Discuss character development (how the main character changes from beginning to end).
  
• Identify the conflict and type of plot.
  
• Analyze the moral of the story.

6th through 8th Grades

Teaching Literary Elements in Middle School

• Review the elements taught in the younger grades. (above)
  
• Continuing exploring character development.
  
• Evaluate the purpose or message of the author.
  
• Analyze The action plot (exposition, rising action, crisis, falling action, denouement.) using the Action Plot Handout.

9th Grade and Above

Literature for High School and above

• Analyze the philosophy of the author.
  
• Define and identify all the literary elements for the different ages above. Develop a glossary of terms at the secondary level with examples.

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