3- T he se a r e t he ba s ic e le m en ts o f a s tor y :

A. Setting: Where and when is the story set? Setting represents both the physical location but also the
time (i.e. past, present, future) and the social and cultural conditions in which the characters exist.

B. Characterization: It is a person or animal or really anything personified. There can be one main
character or many, and often there are secondary characters, but not always.

C. Plot: The plot consists of the events that happen in the story. In a plot you typically find an
introduction, rising action, a climax, the falling action, and a resolution. Plot is often represented as an
arc.

D. Conflict: Every story must have a conflict, i.e. a challenge or problem around which the plot is based.
Without conflict, the story will have no purpose or trajectory.

E. Theme: Idea, belief, moral, lesson or insight. It’s the central argument that the author is trying to
make the reader understand. The theme is the “why” of the story.

F. Point-of-view: “Who” is telling the story? First person (“I”) or third person (“he/she/it”). Limited
(one character’s perspective), multiple (many characters’ perspectives) or omniscient (all knowing
narrator). Second person (“you”) is not often used for writing stories.

G. Tone: The overall emotional “tone” or meaning of the story. Is it happy, funny, sad, depressed?
Tone can be portrayed in multiple ways, through word and grammar choices, choice of theme, imagery
and description, symbolism, and the sounds of the words in combination (i.e. rhyme, rhythm,
musicality).

Style: This is how things are said. Word choices, sentence structure, dialogue, metaphor, simile,
hyperbole. Style contributes significantly to tone.

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 A- Description of setting/Construction of setting/atmosphere:

 Great writing is often described as immersive. You read, and you forget where you are,
disappearing for a moment into the world on the page. The secret is a well-developed setting.
 A good setting helps the reader visualize the places in the story.
 A good author includes descriptions of the setting using the five senses.

 Your description may also include:

 Time in setting can be expressed as a time of day (twilight, middle of the night, noon…..)
, or “clock time,” a season or time of year, or a historical time period.
Clock time is what drives the tense pace in a thriller; seasonal activity might provide life
and death stakes; historical periods defines the behavior of all the characters operating
within it.
 Weather ( storm brewing, band of heavy cloud, heatwave, strong wind blowing, thick
fog, light cloud in the sky, bright sunshine, hail bouncing off the ground…)
 Location ( by the sea, high up in the mountain, in a rough neighbourhood, in a park, in a
village, by the sea…..)
 Atmosphere ( a tranquil feel, a hostile feel, an electrifying feel, a mystical feel….

 Now read example 1:

The minute the sliding doors opened, I was hit with a freezing cold blast from the air
conditioning unit. Heading straight for the food court, the delicious aromas made my mouth
water. A young boy ran past me, laughing as he shouted out insults to his less than amused
older sister. As I stood in line, deciding what to have, veiled women in embroidered abayas
floated by, leaving their perfumed scent hanging in the air.
Underline the techniques used by the writer to visualize the scene.

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 Task 1:
The subway is an assault on your senses. You walk down the steep, smelly steps on the
subway platform. On the far right wall, a broken clock show that the time is four-thirty. You
wonder how long it has been broken. A mother and her crying child are standing to your left.
She is trying to clean dried chocolate syrup off the young child’s face. Farther to the left, two
old men are arguing about the most recent tax increase. You hear a little noise and see some
paper trash roll by like a soccer ball. The most interesting thing you see while you are waiting
for your subway train is a poster. It reads, “Come to Jamaica.” Deep blue skies, a lone palm
tree, and sapphire waters call you to this exotic faraway place.

Techniques used by the writer to visualize Examples

the scene

1-

2-

3-

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  Task 2: Look at the picture and write not less than 7 sentences to describe this setting. Don’t
forget the title. ( 2 simple sentences, 2 compound sentences , 2 complex sentences, a
compound complex sentence)

 Task 3: Take a look at the following extract from Robert Westall's novel, Urn Burial. The narrator
is telling us about a character called Ralph, who has been captured by an alien race:

This was the worst nightmare yet. He was standing with his back pressed against a smooth wall cold
as ice. The cold nibbled at his buttocks and legs; it ran up and down the knobbles of his spine,
making him shiver; it invaded his lungs so he could hardly breathe; he felt he had been shivering a
long time.

In the extract, the writer is using the narrator to create a creepy, sinister atmosphere. The way that
the narrator describes Ralph's imprisonment makes it sound very unpleasant.

The writer uses a range of literary techniques here. Explain.

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

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  The Red Room by HG Wells

The long, draughty, subterranean passage was chilly and dusty, and my candle flared and made the
shadows cower and quiver. The echoes rang up and down the spiral staircase, and a shadow came
sweeping up after me, and one fled before me into the darkness overhead. I came along the landing
and stopped there for a moment, listening to a rustling sound that I fancied I heard; then, satisfied of
the absolute silence, I pushed open the baize-covered door and stood in the corridor.

What sort of atmosphere is Wells trying to create and how does he do this? Find evidence to support
your answer.
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

 Have a look at this extract about 'Northland Wild' from a 19th-century novel by Jack London
called White Fang:

Dark spruce forest frowned on either side the frozen waterway. The trees had been stripped by a recent
wind of their white covering of frost, and they seemed to lean towards each other, black and ominous,
in the fading light. A vast silence reigned over the land. The land itself was a desolation, lifeless, without
movement, so lone and cold that the spirit of it was not even that of sadness. There was a hint in it of
laughter, but of a laughter more terrible than any sadness - a laughter that was mirthless as the smile of
the sphinx.

What sort of atmosphere is Jack trying to create and how does he do this? Support your answer with
evidence.
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

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 Let’s explore the passage from Bleak House by Charles Dickens:

Fog everywhere. Fog up the river, where it flows among green meadows; fog down
the river, where it rolls defiled among the tiers of shipping, and the waterside
pollutions of a great (and dirty) city. Fog on the Essex marshes, fog on the Kentish
heights. Fog creeping into the cabooses of collier brigs, fog lying out on the yards,
and hovering in the rigging of great ships; fog drooping on the gunwales of barges
and small boats. Fog in the eyes and throats of ancient Greenwich pensioners,
wheezing by the firesides of their wards; fog in the stem and bowl of the afternoon
pipe of the wrathful skipper, down in his close cabin; fog cruelly pinching the toes
and fingers of his shivering little ’prentice boy on deck. Chance people on the
bridges peeping over the parapets into a nether sky of fog, with fog all round
them, as if they were up in a balloon, and hanging in the misty clouds.

 ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
 ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
 ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
 ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
 ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
 ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
 ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
 ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
 ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

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 B) Characterization:
Explicit and implicit meaning

Explicit meaning

Something that is explicit is stated directly and is clear in meaning. Explicit meaning is the easiest to
pick out from a text.

Sometimes a writer wants it to be obvious that the atmosphere of a text is good, bad, dangerous,
happy, sad, and so on.

Explicit characterization is when a narrator or character describes another character directly.

Example:

 Timothy was a very smart boy who loved reading.

 Melinda is an extremely nervous student.
 Karen is bright, energetic, and helpful.
 Rahim is always distracted.

In the extract below, what do you learn about the character of Jim Wellings?

Jim Wellings was not a man to be glanced at. But nor was he a man to be stared at. To say he was a
big man is like calling Buckingham Palace a big house. He was a man who filled whatever space there
was. He wasn't fat, though; just big.

When thinking about a question like this, you may have lots of ideas but you need to be able to explain
them clearly. An effective way of doing this is to use PEA.

PEA stands for:

 point
 evidence (a quotation)
 analysis

Point

When planning a piece of writing based on something you've read, you first need to come up with the
point of your argument. For example, Jim Wellings is not a man to be glanced at.

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Evidence

Once you have decided on the point that you want to make, you will then need to show evidence from
the text which backs up your point. For example, 'He was a man that filled whatever space there was.
He wasn't fat, though; just big.'

Analysis

Your analysis will be a closing statement, showing the outcome of your argument. For example, the
text states that Jim Wellings is not a man to be glanced at. This is evidenced by the statement that
reads, 'He was a man that filled whatever space there was. He wasn't fat, though; just big.' The writer
is emphasising Jim's size, to highlight his imposing nature and provide us, the reader, with a sense of
fear and respect

Implicit meaning

Something that is implicit is inferred - it is suggested by the way it is said. Implicit meaning can be
harder to figure out than explicit meaning.

Writers like to be clever and draw you into a text. It is up to you to make your mind up about a setting,
in the same way that it is up to you to make your mind up about a new place you visit.

Writers often use language in effective ways so that the description of their settings also helps to
create a suitable sense of atmosphere and mood.

 The function of characters is to move the plot along in some way; characters generally change
as a result of what is happening in the story; they can be sorted into several different categories
– major/minor, protagonist (hero, heroine, anti-hero, anti-heroine), antagonist (villain/baddy),
messenger, supporter/carer, background filler.

 Well-developed characters are like people: they have traits, opinions, and
motivations. Characterizations are the methods by which story tellers reveal the traits of
characters. There are two types of characterizations: Explicit and implicit.

 Implicit characterization is when character traits are revealed through

character’s behavior. What do the characters say? The words that a person speaks say a lot
about them. If they use complex language, they may well be intelligent. If they swear, they may
be angry. If they talk a lot, they may be social or nervous.

How they say it? The accent, voice tone, speed, and other attributes of speaking also tells much
about a character.
Example:

 When Melinda saw Rita approaching, she groaned and looked away.

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  Recognizing implicit characterizations is a higher order thinking skill, whereby the student must
make an inference based on textual details.

 The clues you need to make up your mind about a character are all in the text. Look for the
following:

STEAL

 the character’s speech

 the character’s thoughts
 the character’s emotions
 the character’s actions
 the character’s look

 Task 1:

Have a look at the extract below from Holes by Louis Sachar. In this extract, Stanley has just arrived at
the prison camp and meets a character you learn later is a 'Mr Sir' (the man in the cowboy hat).

What do you learn about this mysterious character by 'reading between the lines', that is,
by implication?

A man was sitting with his feet up on a desk. He turned his head when Stanley and the guard
entered, but otherwise didn't move. Even though he was inside, he wore sunglasses and a cowboy
hat. He also held a can of cream soda, and the sight of it made Stanley even more aware of his own
thirst.

He waited while the bus guard gave the man some papers to sign.

"That's a lot of sunflower seeds," the bus guard said.

Stanley noticed a burlap sack filled with sunflower seeds on the floor next to the desk.

"I quit smoking last month", said the man in the cowboy hat. He had a tattoo of a rattlesnake on his
arm, and as he signed his name, the snake's rattle seemed to wiggle. "I used to smoke a pack a day.
Now I eat a sack of these every week."

The extract gives a lot of physical detail about the character. You can use this detail to form an opinion
about his personality.

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By 'reading between the lines' you will get an idea of what the writer is trying to tell us about the
character. Even though you are looking at a character’s physical details, you will still begin to form an
opinion about his personality.

Impression (characteristics) Evidence

* The secret of showing your reader what a character is like lies in choosing your vocabulary carefully.
One word could be a vital clue to what a character is thinking or feeling.

 Task 2:
Andy yawned. “You’ll be lucky,” he said.

Character’s message: ………………………………………………………………………..

 Andy lowered his voice. “You’ll be lucky,” he whispered.

Character’s message: ………………………………………………………………………..

Write three more sentences about Andy, changing the two highlighted elements in each sentence, and
then saying what the character message might be. To get you started, try to show Andy as sarcastic
and then really happy.

( Character’s message : being sarcastic)

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

( Character’s message: being happy)

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

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Task 3:

 Based on Sam’s thoughts, how would you describe his actions?

A- Sam thought that reading was boring!

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

B- Sam thinks he is better than everybody else.

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

 What does that action tell you about the character?

C- When she heard her baby crying last night, she just gritted her teeth and turned up her i-pod.
………………………………………………………………………………………….…………………………………………………………………………………

D- Tim croaked, “I’ll go start the car,” and ran away because somebody tried to start a fight with his friend.
………………………………………………………………………………………….…………………………………………………………………………………

E- The man had been sleeping on newspaper all night.

………………………………………………………………………………………….…………………………………………………………………………………

 Task 4: From ‘Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone’ by J. K. Rowling

He was a big, beefy man with hardly any neck, yet he did have a very large moustache. He was a giant
standing in the doorway. His face was almost completely hidden by a long, shaggy mane of hair and a
wild, tangled beard, but you could make out his eyes, glinting like black beetles under all the hair.

Answer the following questions:

1 What is the type of the first sentence?

……………………….......................................................................................................................................[1]

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2 How did the writer vary the sentence length? Why?

......................................................................................................................................................................
..............................................................................................................................................................[1]

3 Write four words that describe the man’s hair and beard.

………………………………………………………………………………….………...……………………………………………………………[1]

4 Find two figures of speech and mention the examples.

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………[2]

5 From the description of the character’s physical appearance, what impression do you get of the
character? Support your answer with evidence.

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………[2]

 Task 5:
Rewrite the sentence using implicit way to describe your character.
A- He smells bad.
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
B- Eva is clumsy.
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
C- Terry doesn’t like pets.
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
D- Parker really care about other people.
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

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 E- Sonya is very smart.
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

 Task 6: From the “The Twits by Roald Dahl”

Mr. Twit didn’t even bother to open his mouth wide when he ate. As a result (and because he never
washed) there were always hundreds of bits of old breakfasts and lunches and suppers sticking to the
hairs around his face. They weren’t big bits, mind you, because he used to wipe those off with the back
of his hand or on his sleeve while he was eating. But if you looked closely (not that you’d ever want to),
you would see tiny little specks of dried-up scrambled eggs stuck to the hairs, and spinach and tomato
ketchup and fish fingers and minced chicken livers and all the other disgusting things Mr. Twit liked to
eat. If you looked closer still (hold your noses, ladies and gentlemen), if you peered deep into the
moustachy bristles sticking out over his upper lip, you would probably see much larger objects that had
escaped the wipe of his hand, things that had been there for months and months, like a piece of
maggoty green cheese or a mouldy old cornflake or -even the slimy tail of a tinned sardine.

Answer the following questions:

1 Find a complex sentence.

................................................................................................................................................................[1]

2 How did the writer describe the eggs? What does this show?

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
….……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………...………………………………. [2]

3 The writer used an action to tell more about the character. What is the action? What does it say
about Mr. Twit?

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….[2]

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4 What impression does the writer give of the character?

Identify two characteristics and support each one with examples from the text. [4]

Characteristic Example

5 Give two reasons why the writer uses brackets and mention examples.

*………………………………………………………………………………………………….………………………………………….………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

*…………………………………………………………………................................................................................................
.................................................................................................................................................................[2]

6 Find a synonym for ‘looked’. …………………………………………………………………...………………… [1]

7 Find three different figures of speech and mention the examples.

*………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

*………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..………………………. [3]

Character Traits:
 Task 7: Directions: Read a short description of an event. Identify a character trait that is revealed by
each action. Explain your answer.

1. Jake is Cassie's older brother. One day they are walking home from school when a cold front rolls in and the
temperature drops 20 degrees. Jake is dressed more appropriately for the weather than Cassie. He takes off his
hooded sweatshirt and offers it to her. She gratefully accepts. Jake is now colder, but he is happier.

What character trait does Jake demonstrate? ________________________________________________

Explain your answer by referencing the text.

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2. Craig is a football player training over the summer for next season. The coach demands that all players come
in at 6:00 AM and lift weights until 8:00 AM, when practice begins. Craig gets there at 5:00 AM to begin his
training.

What character trait does Craig demonstrate? _______________________________________________

Explain your answer by referencing the text.

3. Anna volunteered to help Kylie clean her house. When Anna washed the mirrors, Kylie asked her if she used
paper towels instead of newspapers. When Anna admitted that she had, Kylie asked her to redo them. Then,
while Anna was sweeping, Kylie corrected her on her technique. "Don't just push the dirt around, Anna. SWEEP
it," Kylie told Anna.

What character trait does Kylie demonstrate? _______________________________________________

Explain your answer by referencing the text.

4. Corey came back from the bathroom and noticed that her rainbow pencil was missing. She looked around
the room and saw that Beth was using a rainbow pencil. Corey started crying uncontrollably and ran out of the
room.

What character trait does Corey demonstrate? ______________________________________________

Explain your answer by referencing the text.

5. Kelvin found a wallet on the ground. He opened up the wallet and saw an old woman's ID card. Kelvin took
the ID out of the wallet, walked to the woman's house, and returned the wallet to her.

What character trait does Kelvin demonstrate? ______________________________________________

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 Explain your answer by referencing the text.

6. Jonathan invited a bunch of friends over to his house. He then talked to them for hours about all the trophies
that he had won, his rare comic book collection, and how much money his dad makes. His friends did not enjoy
their time at Jonathan's.

What character trait does Jonathan demonstrate? ____________________________________________

Explain your answer by referencing the text.

7. Rocky's cousin brought him to a party. Rocky didn't know anyone at the party. Shortly after getting there,
Rocky's cousin disappeared. Rocky made a lot of new friends at this party and had a great time.

What character trait does Rocky demonstrate? ______________________________________________

Explain your answer by referencing the text.

8. The teacher asked Khadija what the answer was to the problem on the board. Khadija wore a worried
expression on her face for a moment and then put her head down on her desk. After the teacher moved on to
someone else, Khadija whispered to her friend that the answer was 26. Khadija was right.

What character trait does Khadija demonstrate? _____________________________________________

Explain your answer by referencing the text.

9. After Mark's mechanical pencil ran out of lead, he asked Pete, who sat next to him, if he could borrow a
pencil. Pete yelled, "No, Mark. If you didn't come prepared, why is that my fault? Bring TWO pencils to class!
You can't have one of mine or you'll never learn your lesson."

What character trait does Pete demonstrate? ________________________________________________

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 Explain your answer by referencing the text.

10. Scott doesn't talk much, but five girls in our homeroom class are currently competing for his attention. This
is nothing new. Girls have liked Scott for as long as I can remember.

What character trait does Scott demonstrate? _______________________________________________

Explain your answer by referencing the text.

11. Jason is an excellent accountant who works full-time for his best friend's company. A larger accounting firm
contacts Jason and offers to pay him twice what he makes if he will work for them. Jason thanks them for their
offer but declines. He doesn't even tell his friend that he received the offer.

What character trait does Jason demonstrate? _______________________________________________

Explain your answer by referencing the text.

12. Eric's car broke down in the woods and his phone wasn't getting a signal. He used his car antenna as a spear
and caught fresh salmon. He started a fire with sparks from his car battery, and he ate the cooked salmon while
waiting for help.

What character trait does Eric demonstrate? ________________________________________________

Explain your answer by referencing the text.

13. After coming home late from a party, Mae's father questioned her. She wanted to tell him that she was
studying at a friend's place and lost track of time, but she told him the truth instead: she was at a party.

What character trait does Mae demonstrate? ________________________________________________

Explain your answer by referencing the text.

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14. Michael has clothes all over the floor of his bedroom. Underneath the clothes on his floor is a pizza box with
crusts in it. Underneath the pizza box is bunch of pieces of a board game that Michael played and didn't put
away. Michael sat on his unmade bed with his shoes on and played video games all night.

What character trait does Michael demonstrate? _____________________________________________

Explain your answer by referencing the text.

15. Andy saw his neighbor struggling to get his lawn mower running, so Andy went over to his neighbor's house
and filled up his lawn mower with gas. When it still wouldn't start, Andy lent him his lawn mower.

What character trait does Andy demonstrate? _______________________________________________

Explain your answer by referencing the text.

16. When vandals burned down the orphanage, Ms. Cleary started a fundraising campaign and donated $5,000
dollars of her own money. After nine months of hard work from Ms. Cleary and her team, the funds were raised
and the orphanage was rebuilt.

What character trait does Ms. Cleary demonstrate? __________________________________________

Explain your answer by referencing the text.

17. The teacher told the students that they were not to start testing until everyone received all testing materials.
He went on to explain that the test booklet was to remain sealed until he had read through all the directions.
Immediately after receiving the test booklet, Chris raised his hand and asked if he could start the test.

What character trait does Chris demonstrate? _______________________________________________

Explain your answer by referencing the text.

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18. Katie's mother came home from a long day of work and noticed that the entire house had been cleaned. She
figured that Katie must have cleaned it. The strangest thing was that she didn't even ask Katie to clean. Then she
found a note on the counter from Katie asking for permission to sleep at her friend Heather's house. Katie's
mother smiled.

What character trait does Katie demonstrate? _______________________________________________

Explain your answer by referencing the text.

19. Orson sat on the couch. He wanted to change the television station, but the controller was all the way at the
end of the couch by his feet. Orson sort of scooted toward it and attempted to grab it with his feet. The
controller fell and landed several feet away from him. Orson quit trying to change the channel and just watched
whatever was playing.

What character trait does Orson demonstrate? ______________________________________________

Explain your answer by referencing the text.

20. It was Halloween and Valarie was dressed as Princess Rosemary from her favorite TV show, The Princess
Club. As Valarie was collecting candy, she noticed another little girl wearing a Princess Rosemary costume.
Valarie began rolling around on the ground and screaming about how she wants to be the only Princess
Rosemary. Valarie's tantrum continued long after the other Princess Rosemary vanished from sight.

What character trait does Valarie demonstrate? _____________________________________________

Explain your answer by referencing the text.

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C) Plot:

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Page 100
 Task 1:

Which of the following passages from J. K. Rowling’s Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire is an
example of exposition?

A. And then the chair was facing Frank, and he saw what was sitting in it. His walking stick fell to
the floor with a clatter. He opened his mouth and let out a scream. He was screaming so loudly
that he never heard the words the thing in the chair spoke as it raised a wand. There was a flash
of green light, a rushing sound, and Frank Bryce crumpled. He was dead before he hit the floor.

B. Harry was used to getting onto platform nine and three-quarters by now. It was a simple
matter of walking straight through the apparently solid barrier dividing platforms nine and ten.
The only tricky part was doing this in an unobtrusive way, so as to avoid attracting Muggle
attention. They did it in groups today; Harry, Ron, and Hermione…went first; they leaned
casually against the barrier, chatting unconcernedly, and slide sideways through it…and as they
did so, platform nine and three-quarters materialized in front of them.

C. There were rocks littering the lake bottom. He dived and snatched up a particularly jagged
one and returned to the statue. He began to hack at the ropes binding Ron, and after several
minutes’ hard work, they broke apart. Ron floated, unconscious, a few inches above the lake
bottom, drifting a little in the ebb of the water.

PLOT of MALEFICENT

 Exposition: When Maleficent was little, she was a powerful fairy, living in the Moors (enchanted
forest), bordering a human kingdom. She meets a boy, named Stephen, and they fall in love.
 Rising Action: As they grow older, Maleficent and Stephen stop seeing each other. Then when
they meet again, Stephen deceives Maleficent. He drugs her and cuts off her wings with iron. As
a result, he becomes the King. When Maleficent wakes up and realizes that her wings are gone,
her broken heart fills her with rage and she becomes evil. Maleficent throws a spell on Aroura,
Stephen’s daughter. Therefore, King Stephen sends Aroura far away to be raised safely in the
woods by three good fairies. Maleficent watches her, keeping her alive by the help of her crow,
so that the curse would come true. However, she starts to like her.
 Climax: When Aroura pricks her finger on the spindle, Maleficent tries to take the curse back, but
the spell cannot be broken.
 Falling Action: Maleficent breaks into the castle, and brings a young prince to kiss Aroura to break
the spell. However, this didn’t work. Then, when Maleficent weeps and kisses Aroura, the spell
breaks.

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  Resolution: Maleficent, Aroura and the crow try to escape the castle to go back to The Moors,
but the King’s guards throw an iron net on Maleficent. Aroura finds Maleficent’s wings. She re-
attaches them and is able to fly again.
 Task Two

Find out whether the following paragraphs belong to the beginning (exposition), build-up (rising
action), climax (problem), falling action or resolution:

1- Eric was sleeping when he suddenly heard shouting. He rushed outside and spotted a
dragon swooping off. The King was inconsolable as his daughter, Hermione, had been taken.
A reward was given of her hand in marriage for anyone who rescued her.
…………………………………………..

2- Eric was a woodcutter who lived in a small village in the forest. The sunlight was twinkling
through the gigantic trees. Birds were twittering as they flew through the trees, and leaves
were rustling. Eric was tall and handsome. He had dark hair and deep brown eyes. He was a
kind man who looked after his dad.
…………………………………………..

3- The King was so thrilled and delighted to see his daughter again. He let Eric marry Hermione
and the whole village celebrated.
……………………………………………

4- Eric took his father’s sword and climbed the steep narrow path up to the dragon’s lair. He
cut through prickly bushed to get up there. Although he was so horrified, he boldly battled
the dragon and was able to rescue the princess.
……………………………………………

5- The villagers started to hear sounds at night. Some trees had been burnt down. The villagers
were so worried and frightened that they didn’t dare to go out of their houses at night.
……………………………………………

 Task Three:

Choose a movie that you like. Mention its plot (Give a hint on each stage)

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 D- Tone and mood

TONE MOOD
Author’s Feeling Reader’s feeling

The author expresses the feeling The emotion that you as a reader feel
through the setting, choice of while you read the literature. This
words and characters’ intonation. happens through the situation’s
e.g.: Danger and power (because atmosphere and characters’ feelings.
of Maleficent) e.g.: You feel sorry for Maleficent when
she was deceived.

 While tone signifies an author's point of view, the mood of a piece of writing is the atmosphere
of a piece and the overall feeling it conveys to the reader.
 Authors convey mood through figurative language and literary devices, letting the reader feel
whatever mood the writing evokes.

 Task 1:
Highlight the words or phrases that create the mood in the following paragraphs then
compare between them.

I was over the moon. My beloved cousin, whom I haven’t seen for five years, has made me
an awesome surprise. He came for a short visit on his way to Dubai for work. I was overjoyed
to spend those pleasant moments with him. Although they were short, we were thankful
and content. I consider myself fortunate to have such a distinguished cousin like him.

I was down in the dumps. My resentful cousin, whom I haven’t seen for five years, has made
me an unpleasant surprise. He came for a short visit on his way to Dubai for work. I was
disappointed to spend those horrible moments with him. Although they were short, I felt
that they lasted forever. I consider myself doomed to have such a hateful cousin like him.

Page 103
 Task 2:
Complete the following paragraphs in order to create different tones/moods: one
is positive and the other is negative.

A beautiful forest
A _______________ forest _____________ near our house. It was a
__________________ day. The _____________ shone in the ____________ sky.
The trees __________________. The ____________ clouds _________________
above us. Grass seemed ________________ . Birds ________________ in their
nests. We were ________________ to spend time in that forest.

A forsaken forest
A _______________ forest _____________ near our house. It was a
__________________ day. The _____________ shone in the ____________ sky.
The trees __________________. The ____________ clouds _________________
above us. Grass seemed ________________ . Birds _________________ in their
nests. We were ________________ to spend time in that forest.

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  Task 3:

Directions: Read the passages and underline words and phrases that help set the mood. Write down the mood of
the passage and explain your answer.

1. Trey looked out the window. The rain was still pouring down. He threw his baseball glove on the couch with a
sigh. The thunder cracked and his phone dinged. Trey picked up the phone. It was a message from his cousin: The
game is cancelled because of the weather. Trey didn't reply to the message. He threw the phone back on his bed
and rubbed his temples. The rain pattered on the roof.

What is the mood of this paragraph? ______________________________________________________

Why do you believe this? Explain your answer by referring to the text.

2. Brett sweated in his chair. The clock in the classroom ticked loudly. Brett looked at the test question again. He
had no clue what the answer was. His teacher paced around the room. Brett felt like the teacher was circling him,
specifically him, not the rest of the class. "Remember, this test determines your future," the teacher said. Brett
read the choices again but they all blurred into a meaningless word soup. He could not concentrate. The clock
kept ticking, and the second hand sounded like a butcher's knife slamming down on a cutting board. "Time is
running out," said the teacher. Brett's heart pounded.

What is the mood of this paragraph? ______________________________________________________

Why do you believe this? Explain your answer by referring to the text.

3. Kiki the Cat licked her lips and stared at Bitty the Bird, who was singing a silly bird song in her cage. Cartoon
noises played in the background as the children watched TV. Kiki tiptoed to the edge of the kitchen counter. Bitty
kept singing, unaware of the creeping cat, but aware that she was protected by the metal birdcage. Kiki went for
it. She sprang toward the birdcage, but as she did she slipped on some milk on the counter that the children had
spilled. Kiki fell off the counter and landed in the trashcan. The lid closed on the milk-covered kitty. Laughter
played on the television. Bitty kept whistling.

What is the mood of this paragraph? ______________________________________________________

Why do you believe this? Explain your answer by referring to the text.

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4. We thought the game was over. The buzzer rang and we thought that we had lost, but then the referee blew
the whistle. A foul was called and now Derrick had a chance to win the game for us. He stepped up to the free-
throw line. The stadium, though filled with people, was completely silent. Everyone was still. Derrick dribbled the
ball a couple times. He squared up on the line. Sweat beaded on his forehead. All eyes were on Derrick.

What is the mood of this paragraph? ______________________________________________________

Why do you believe this? Explain your answer by referring to the text.

5. Katie cut out the construction paper heart with great care. Her hand moved with precision. This was not going
to be an ordinary Valentines Day card. Katie was going to make it special. She went over the penciled letters with
her nicest pen. Classical music played in the background. Katie made fancy cursive letters. Slowly, gently, she
pasted the lace to the edges of the heart. Her mom was going to love this card as much as Katie loved her. It was
almost complete. Just a few more special touches to go.

What is the mood of this paragraph? ______________________________________________________

Why do you believe this? Explain your answer by referring to the text.

6. Duncan balled his test paper and threw it in the trash. He hit the bed with a crash and started crying. "I don't
care anymore," screamed Duncan in between sobs. He wished that somebody would check on him, that someone
would help him through this, but there was no one. He was home alone again. "What does it matter?" he
screamed. Nobody responded. The house was empty. Duncan's sobs echoed.

What is the mood of this paragraph? ______________________________________________________

Why do you believe this? Explain your answer by referring to the text.

7. Farmer Dave woke to the sound of the rooster's crow. The sun was peaking over the horizon. Dave wasted no
time getting ready. He wanted to get to the field and start planting. The TV news prattled on while his wife made
coffee. He paid no mind to either. He was working out his strategy for today, going over the rows in his mind. He
had barely taken two bites of his toast when he grabbed his boots. "I've got to get a move on it," said Farmer
Dave. His wife rolled her eyes and gave him a kiss. The day began.

What is the mood of this paragraph? ______________________________________________________

Why do you believe this? Explain your answer by referring to the text.

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8. Thomas walked into the kitchen and the smell of fresh baked cookies filled his nose and lifted his heart.
"Thomas? Are you home already?" asked his mom. "Yeah, Mom, I've got some homework to do." She gave
Thomas a big warm hug and said, "I wanted to surprise you with some cookies." Thomas smiled and said, "You
did, Mom. What a great surprise." He took a bite of one and the gooey chocolate chips dissolved on his tongue.

What is the mood of this paragraph? ______________________________________________________

Why do you believe this? Explain your answer by referring to the text.

9. The cold wind whipped as Stanton raced against it. This was no night for a calm ride. The horse's hooves
clicked as Stanton whipped the reins. He clutched the king's message in one hand and his crossbow in the other.
A wolf howled. He saw motion in the bushes ahead. Not a good sign. It could be an ambush. Stanton extended his
finger over the trigger of the crossbow. More wolves howled together.

What is the mood of this paragraph? ______________________________________________________

Why do you believe this? Explain your answer by referring to the text.

10. Amar wiped the sweat from his brow. The sun laid into him as he trekked across the desert. He licked his lips
but there was no moisture on his tongue. His mouth was dry. His lips were cracked. He held his hand on his
forehead to block the sun, but he still couldn't see over the next dune. The waves of heat obscured his vision.
Amar looked up a saw the vultures circling. He felt his legs wobbling.

What is the mood of this paragraph? ______________________________________________________

Why do you believe this? Explain your answer by referring to the text.

11. Evan bounded from his bed. He drew his blinds and the sun poured through. He opened the window and
breathed in the fresh morning air. It was crisp and smelled like life and spring. Today would be a good day. Evan
bathed and got dressed in clean clothes. He packed his bag in an orderly way, making sure he had all his supplies.
He took a piece of toast and some fresh fruit with him for the road. It's hard to have a good day when you're
hungry, and Evan knew this. He would not be hungry today.

What is the mood of this paragraph? ______________________________________________________

Why do you believe this? Explain your answer by referring to the text.

107
12. "Give me my toy!" Tyler yelled at his little brother Taylor. "No, I was using it first!" Taylor shouted back. The
TV was blaring loudly. A cartoon was playing. The boys were not watching it. Toys covered the floor. Tyler
snatched the toy from Taylor's hands. Taylor started crying loudly. Loud stomping could be heard upstairs. The
stomps got louder as they headed down the stairs. A dog was barking ferociously. Tyler, still crying, said, "Taylor
snatched my toy!" Tyler snapped back, "It's my toy!"

What is the mood of this paragraph? ______________________________________________________

Why do you believe this? Explain your answer by referring to the text.

13. The old rowboat's squeaks and creaks could be heard clearly over the still water. Jae plopped the oars into
the pond and rowed. The sounds were rhythmic. The birds in the woods chirped. Jae put the oars down and
grabbed his fishing rod. He cast it near the shore and seemed pleased with his cast. He put his feet on the edge of
the boat and his hands behind his head. He yawned and stretched, keeping an eye on the bobber. The bobber
moved with the current of the water but was otherwise still. The breeze was gentle but refreshing. Jae took it in,
breathing in deeply through his nose. "This is the life," he said to himself.

What is the mood of this paragraph? ______________________________________________________

Why do you believe this? Explain your answer by referring to the text.

14. "I am so proud to say farewell to... our graduating class!" Principal Bubbletop said triumphantly. The students
threw their hats high in the air and cheered. The marching band began to play a classic graduation song. The
parents and spectators all stood and clapped loudly. Some whistled. Parents ran forward and presented their
matriculating children with flowers, candies, and really tight hugs.

What is the mood of this paragraph? ______________________________________________________

Why do you believe this? Explain your answer by referring to the text.

15. Joe looked at the pallet of shingles. It was a mountain of work. There were over 100 bundles. Each weighed
100 pounds. He looked at the house with three floors. The shingles went to the third floor. Someone would have
to carry them up two ladders. Joe was someone. The sun hung high in the sky. Its warm hands slapped the back
of Joe's neck. "Well," his boss said with his hands on his hips, "those shingles can't get up there by themselves."
Joe sighed. Then he slung a bundle atop each shoulder.

What is the mood of this paragraph? _____________________________________________________

Why do you believe this? Explain your answer by referring to the text.

108
16. Theresa stared blankly at the photograph. She and her ex-best friend Kristina were in it and they were on a
rollercoaster. They were smiling. Those were better days. Theresa was happier then. Thinking about those times
just made her sad now. Her tears wet the photograph. "I wish I could take it back!" Theresa yelled to herself. She
knew she couldn't though. What was done was done. Theresa knocked a vase off her dresser and it shattered.
She rolled over in her bed and cried into her pillow.

What is the mood of this paragraph? ______________________________________________________

Why do you believe this? Explain your answer by referring to the text.

17. Billy's heart skipped as he walked into the pet store. The store was literally crawling with life. There were cute
little bunnies scrunching their noses. Colorful fish flashed in tanks decorated with divers and plastic treasure
chests. Kitties clawed at carpeted posts. Billy's face featured a smile from ear to ear as he walked past playful
puppies and parakeets on perches. He wished that he could live in the pet store.

What is the mood of this paragraph? ______________________________________________________

Why do you believe this? Explain your answer by referring to the text.

18. Tammy was blown back by the smell as she walked into the pet store. She pinched her nose to block the foul
odor of urine that had seemingly soaked into the bricks of the cursed establishment. The puppies without owners
missed their mothers and cried loudly for them. Tammy ignored the cries as she marched toward the back of the
store to find the manager or owner. The birds in the dirty cages squawked, probably for lack of food. Tammy's
heart wrenched at the cruel misfortune of it all.

What is the mood of this paragraph? ______________________________________________________

Why do you believe this? Explain your answer by referring to the text.

19. Janet looked at the rickety rope bridge as it swayed in the wind. The small planks on the floor of the bridge
were spaced about a foot apart. They looked like they had been made from driftwood or wine corks. Janet looked
down into the canyon below the rope bridge. It was wide and deep. She could barely make out what was at the
bottom. She inched onto the first plank. It creaked loudly. Then she put her weight onto the weathered plank,
clinging tightly to the ropes. The wind had a ghostly whistle.

What is the mood of this paragraph? ______________________________________________________

Why do you believe this? Explain your answer by referring to the text

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20. Tom took the trophy, but it didn't feel good. He knew that he didn't deserve it. He knew that he had cheated.
The others didn't know now, but they might find out one day. Tom didn't know what he feared worse: getting
caught or living with this secret. He tried to smile as the others cheered for him. He forced a big fake one on his
face, and that made him feel even worse. Tom took a few more bows and left the stage. He brought his trophy
home and threw it in a pile of his dirty laundry.

What is the mood of this paragraph? ______________________________________________________

Why do you believe this? Explain your answer by referring to the text.

21. This test meant everything to Deshaun. If he passed, he'd be able to take the scholarship. If he failed, he'd be
held back and his future would be choked. He stayed up all night studying until the words blurred into
meaningless letters. He worked with tutors. His girlfriend helped him study. He did all that he could. But the
pressure was so intense. Now was the time to test. His palms were sweaty. His mind was racing. If only he could
slow it down. His senses sharpened. He heard the clock ticking slowly but steadily. It was test time.

What is the mood of this paragraph? ______________________________________________________

Why do you believe this? Explain your answer by referring to the text.

22. Gary's hands were calloused. They weren't soft like his brother's hands. His brother was an accountant. Gary
labored. He mixed heavy bags of cement. He carried shingles onto roofs. He swung pickaxes and hammers. The
work wasn't easy, but Gary made an honest living. He brought his check home and provided for his family. He
didn't have a hard time sleeping at night. Though he came home tired, his family was always happy to see him,
and they softened his landing spot.

What is the mood of this paragraph? ______________________________________________________

Why do you believe this? Explain your answer by referring to the text.

23. Katie used the blow-dryer to add volume to her hair. Then she curled it. She used eyeliner and makeup. She
chose the perfect outfit, and then threw it on the floor and chose another perfect outfit. Then she put on the
other perfect outfit that she had thrown on the floor. She looked at the time on her phone. Jacob would be here
any minute. Her pulse quickened. Her stomach felt uneasy. She was about to change her outfit again when the
doorbell rang.

What is the mood of this paragraph? ______________________________________________________

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 Why do you believe this? Explain your answer by referring to the text.

24. Kwami had been called short his whole life. When he told others that he was going to play basketball, they
laughed at him. Kwami never laughed back. He just kept practicing. He ran through drills. He focused on his skills.
He couldn't throw the hatchet block on the tall guys, but he sure could get around them. Now Kwami was going
to try out for his high school team. The coach didn't seem too interested in Kwami when he arrived. Then Kwami
started dribbling and the coach's jaw dropped. Kwami smiled.

What is the mood of this paragraph? ______________________________________________________

Why do you believe this? Explain your answer by referring to the text.

25. Derrick was never much of a student. He always felt like teachers were out to get him. But Ms. Robinson
made learning feel different. Ms. Robinson made Derrick feel like he was a part of something nice. She made
Derrick feel like he belonged. She walked into the classroom with more than learning objectives. She had a heart.
She could feel what Derrick was going through. She helped him. Derrick respected Ms. Robinson more than he
would ever show, but she knew it, because she knew him.

What is the mood of this paragraph? ______________________________________________________

Why do you believe this? Explain your answer by referring to the text.

26. Doug walked into the arcade and his eyes lit up. He had never seen such an impressive array of games. There
was ski ball, pinball, and arcade style basketball. There were driving games, shooting games, fighting games, and
puzzle games. Doug's stomach jumped. The scent of crispy cheese pizza drew him in. He didn't know where to
start, but he knew that he had found the place of his dreams.

What is the mood of this paragraph? ______________________________________________________

Why do you believe this? Explain your answer by referring to the text.

27. Jane stretched her arms out and relaxed in the grassy field. The sun warmed her skin and the breeze tussled
her hair. The insects hummed and worked and while the world turned, Jane did nothing at all. She took a deep
breath and let it fall from her lungs. The brook trickled its secrets and the sounds of nature blended into the
symphony of the spring. Jane was in no hurry at all. She was at rest.

What is the mood of this paragraph? ______________________________________________________

Why do you believe this? Explain your answer by referring to the text.

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 E- Theme

The basic message an author is trying to get across to readers is called the theme. The theme usually
centers on a major event or problem that the main character experiences. When you are the audience
and you are focused on grasping the author's message, it is important to read through the work and
highlight the problem and solution of the story. Try to get a deep understanding of who the characters
are to truly get an idea of where they are going with it.
Some common themes are:
Be prepared Betraying a friend also hurts you Revenge hurts the avenger

 Task 1:
Read the passages below. For each one, circle the keyword that best describes what the
passage is about. Then, think about the passage, and write a sentence that includes that
keyword, and which expresses its theme. Remember, theme is bigger than just the story itself;
it is a lesson or a message that is applicable in the real world.
1. It was Rebecca’s turn to cook dinner. She didn’t like to cook, so on her night, she usually heated
up a few cans of chili, or cooked a frozen pizza.
“This pizza is no good,” her brother Frank whined. “It tastes like cardboard. The cheese tastes like
rubber.”
Rebecca thought that Frank’s complaint was petty, especially since he gobbled up everything on
his plate.
“I am going to make a pizza every time it is my turn to cook,” Rebecca declared, “since I know that
you will eat it.”
Duplicity Fairness Effort

2. Ryan’s mother was trying to learn to cook. She wasn’t very good at it, though.
One night, she burnt the casserole. Another night, she scalded the soup. Ryan and his father did
their best to eat what she put in front of them, though.
“She’ll get better,” Ryan’s father whispered to Ryan. “We have to encourage her to so that she
will not give up.”

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 One afternoon, Ryan’s mother put too much baking soda in the cookies and they were so bitter
that Ryan had to spit a bit of cookie out into his napkin when his mother wasn’t looking.
“I am sorry that I’m not a good cook,” Ryan’s mother said.
“That’s ok, mum,” said Ryan with a smile. “The important thing is that you keep working on it, and
then you will get better.”
Lying Honesty Perseverance

3. Danny was very grumpy. He was rude to his teachers and to his classmates. No one liked to be
around him, and this suited him just fine, because he was introvert. Time went by, and Danny
developed an interest in writing stories. He admired the author of his favourite adventure series,
and was delighted to learn that the author would be signing books at a local bookstore. Danny
arrived early and stood in a long line to get the author’s autograph. When it was Danny’s turn, he
stepped up and began to tell the author how much he loved his stories and how much he admired
him. However, the author cut him off rudely; scribbled his name in Danny’s book; and shoved the
book back at Danny without so much as looking him in the eye. Danny trudged home, disappointed
and heart broken.
What is the theme?
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

4. Once there were three monkeys who were brothers. They did not always get along, but they
shared a common threat – the great jungle cat Luma who wanted to turn every monkey he saw
into a meal. Regardless of their differences, the three monkeys always came together with the
rest of the monkey village to defend themselves from Luma. Whenever Luma came around,
dozens of monkeys would pull his tail, and pluck at his eyes, and chew on his ears, coming at him
from all sides until Luma was too outraged and confused to defeat them, and would slink away in
disgrace.

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One day, the three monkey brothers had a huge disagreement. They were so angry with one another
that they could not bear the idea of living together in the same village any longer. The monkeys in the
village, too, were sick of the brothers’ arguments and couldn’t stand to hear it any longer. The combat
grew until the three monkey brothers were not only fighting with each other, but with others in the
village as well. The oldest and wisest monkey in the village ordered the three troublesome brothers
away, so each one set off in a different direction.

A few days later, Luma came upon one of the banished monkey brothers in the jungle. In a panic,
the monkey looked around for his brothers and the rest of the monkeys in the village to help him as
they always had, but he was alone. Luma gobbled up the monkey. The next day, Luma found the
second brother, who also looked wildly about for help. However, he didn’t find it. This monkey, too,
was rapidly eaten. The third monkey, hearing from the chatter of the jungle that his brothers had
been so dispatched, hastened back to the monkey village to apologise and rejoin the troupe.
What is the theme?
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

5. Elizabeth had two daughters whom she loved very much. The oldest daughter was very successful
in business and made a lot of money. The younger daughter did not have much money, but she
was thoughtful, kind and generous with what she had.
On Elizabeth’s birthday, both of her daughters came to see her and to wish her a happy birthday.
The oldest daughter breezed in; kissed her mother on the cheek; and gave her an expensive
diamond bracelet. Elizabeth thanked her daughter, but eventually the bracelet ended up in a
drawer and was never worn, because Elizabeth never went anywhere that would be appropriate
to wear it. The youngest daughter did not have any money to buy her mother a gift. She was a
gardener, and several months before, knowing how fond her mother was of bacon, lettuce and
tomato sandwiches, the youngest daughter had started two tomato plants for her mother. The
plants had grown tall and sturdy, and when the youngest daughter brought them to her mother

114
 in clay pots she had painted herself, they were already studded with green baby tomatoes.
Elizabeth was delighted, both with the tomato plants, and that her youngest daughter stayed with
her the entire afternoon.
What is the theme?
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

 Task 2: Think about some themes, and write them in the space provided.
…………………………………………………………………………………………………….
…………………………………………………………………………………………………….
…………………………………………………………………………………………………….
…………………………………………………………………………………………………….
…………………………………………………………………………………………………….

 Task 3:
From the above mentioned themes, think about a situation, and write it. You should include
some keywords which express its theme. Remember, theme is bigger than just the story itself;
it is a lesson or a message that is applicable in the real world.
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

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 Suspense Technique
 Task 1

Read the following paragraph and find out how the writer was able to create suspense.

The moonlight poked through the tree branches. Dead leaves were swirling on the cobbled ground.

Thunder rumbled. Lightning bolted. The sky was weeping. The moment I entered the house, sweat

dripped down my back. It was so decrepit. There was an acrid smell; it was like rotten eggs. The

crumbling walls were covered with cracks that were like tunnels. Suddenly, I heard a thud coming from

upstairs. Then a door creaked. What was that? Was there somebody inside? My eyes bulged like a

frog’s. Taking a deep breath, I staggered forward with trembling steps. The floorboards beneath me

groaned. Blood. Blood blanketed the floor beneath me. I froze. My breath was trapped inside my

lungs…

# Elements of Suspense
Suspense: It sets up a question or several that the reader hopes to get an answer to and
delays that answer by maintaining their interest and keeping them guessing.

1. Using an old, gloomy setting (old mansions or castles with winding halls and secret passageways)
2. Night time fog and storms.
3. Keep information hidden (something, a voice, a figure) while putting your character into a
situation where everything is going well, and suddenly he hears something unusual or sees
something darting out.
e.g. Awestruck overwhelmed me when I suddenly glimpsed it in the distance. It was coming
closer and closer.

4. Emphasis on doors, hallways and pathways.

116
5. Sound effect or onomatopoeia to bring the noise alive.
e.g. CREAK, CRASH, HISS, BANG, WOOSH!!!

6. Fragments, short sentences and short paragraphs.

e.g. I gasped. Gulped. Froze. Stood still and silent. Huge fear dwelled in my heart.

My heart kept thumping and thumping.

7. Ellipsis (…) for dramatic pause

e.g. I waited for a moment while the breath of something grew louder and closer to my neck…

8. Similes and metaphors for description.

e.g. The room was as dark as a grave.

The room was a black pitch.

9. Personification to make things seem alive.

e.g. The flowers starred at me.

10. Use questions to show the character’s confusion. e.g. What was it? (Rhetorical Question)
11. Fronted adverbial
e.g. Taking a deep breath, I staggered forward with trembling steps.

12. Repetition. e.g. I stood still, so still.

117
  Task 2: Read the extract and highlight elements of suspense:

Night fell suddenly. His heart beat fast. His throat went dry like a desert. He realized that he had not
reached the main road. The trees were still thick and the road was still narrow. Was anybody there? The
main road was broader, and the sky was not screened by branches. He could hardly see the sky. He
quickened his pace though he was tired. He ran a little distance, his feet falling on the crunching leaves
covering the ground with a sharp, rustling noise. Birds on the branches fluttered their wings. In that
deep, deep darkness, he was frightened and stood still. So still. He must reach the trunk road and find
his way home…

 Task 3: Read the extract and highlight elements of suspense:

The Haunted House

A door banged.
Sally jumped.
What was that?
Out of the silence, she heard steps.

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Somebody, or maybe something, was coming closer. It was climbing up the stairs. Closer and closer, the
noise of the footsteps echoing through the thick darkness of the night
air. She stood still, so still that even the room froze with her. Danger was there, waiting for her.
Carefully, she peered round the edge of the door.
"CREEEK!" A shadow, as quick as a spear, slipped past her…

 Task 4 :

Write this sentence and then complete it using all elements of suspense. You should write at least
10 sentences.
Joe took a deep breath. He gathered all his braveness and opened the old, wooden door of the
neglected room.

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 18- Success Criteria for all Genres

After writing your story, make sure that you fulfilled the following points.

1-Does my story have an attractive title?

2- Did I start with a hook?

2-Did I describe the setting clearly using my senses? Did I show and not tell?

3-Did I describe the characters using STEAL?

4- Did I use any similes, metaphors or personification….. in descriptions?

5- Did I use a variety sentences types?

6- Is the problem introduced in the 2nd paragraph? (build up)

7-Is the point of view character clear and consistent ?

8- Did I include dialogue in the 3rd Paragraph?

9-Is that problem getting worse in the 3rd paragraph? (climax)

10-Did I create suspense using at least 5 tools of suspense?

11- Did I use a variety of sentence openers?

12-Did I write the resolution?

13-Did I write the ending of my story?

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 Genre 1

Horror Story

# Vocabulary related to horror story

Create your own similes and metaphors in full sentence mixing all of the words and phrases below.

Words to describe a
Words to set the mood Words/Phrases that
scary situation
Eerie show fear
Sinister
Spine-Chilling Spooky Trembling
Horrifying Gloomy Witless
Terrifying Ghostly Panic-Struck
Frightening Somber Quaking
Petrifying Forbidding Knees Knocking
Alarming Dingy Quivering
Dreadful Ominous Teeth Chattering
Hair-Raising Creepy Shuddering
Blood-Curling Threatening Droplets of sweat
Unnerving Desolate Aghast
Menacing
Dreary
Echoing
Deserted
1. ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
2. ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
3. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
4. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
……………………………………………………………………………………………..………………………………………………………
5. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

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 The Adventure of the Hidden Cave

In the small town of Maplewood, a group of friends found themselves caught in an

adventure that would change their summer forever. Emma, a curious girl with a knack for
exploring, had always been fascinated by the stories her grandmother told her about a
hidden cave deep in the Whispering Woods. Legend had it that the cave was filled with
treasures and secrets waiting to be discovered. This summer, Emma decided it was time
to find it.

One bright Saturday morning, Emma gathered her friends—Jake, a brave boy who loved
challenges, and Mia, a smart girl with a love for maps. "Are you guys ready for a treasure
hunt?" Emma asked, her eyes sparkling with excitement. Jake grinned, and Mia nodded,
pulling out an old map she had found in her attic. "I think this might lead us to the cave!"
she said, pointing to a spot marked with a big red X.

The trio packed their backpacks with snacks, water, and a flashlight. As they ventured
into the Whispering Woods, the trees whispered secrets, and the sunlight danced through
the leaves, creating a magical atmosphere. They followed the path indicated on Mia's
map, which twisted and turned, leading them deeper into the woods.

After walking for about an hour, they reached a clearing where the map indicated they
should find a large rock formation. "This must be it!" Emma exclaimed. They looked
around and spotted a huge boulder shaped like a giant's head. Excitedly, they approached
it, and just as Mia was about to suggest they look for clues nearby, Jake noticed
something strange. "Wait! Look at that!" he shouted, pointing to a narrow opening at the
base of the boulder.

With a mix of excitement and nervousness, the friends crawled through the opening. It
led them into a dark tunnel, and they turned on their flashlights, revealing walls covered
in sparkling crystals. "Wow! This is amazing!" exclaimed Mia, her voice echoing in the
cavern. They moved deeper into the cave, their imaginations running wild with thoughts
of hidden treasures.

Suddenly, they came to a large chamber filled with glittering stones and ancient artifacts.
The sight took their breath away. "These must be the treasures of the cave!" Jake said, his
eyes wide with wonder. They carefully explored the room, discovering items from long
ago—old coins, beautiful jewelry, and mysterious tools.
 As they marveled at the treasures, Emma noticed something else. On the wall was a
carving of a map, similar to the one Mia had brought. "Look! This might show us more
secret locations!" Emma pointed out. The friends studied the carving closely, noticing
several other caves marked with the same red X. "We have to tell everyone about this!
There could be more adventures waiting for us!" Jake said, filled with excitement.

However, as they prepared to leave, they heard a rumbling sound. "What was that?" Mia
whispered, fear creeping into her voice. The ground shook slightly, and they realized they
might have disturbed something in the cave. "We need to get out of here!" Emma urged.
They quickly retraced their steps through the tunnel, the sound of rumbling growing
louder behind them.

Just as they reached the opening, a small rockslide began. The friends scrambled out of
the cave, tumbling onto the soft grass of the clearing outside. They lay there, panting and
laughing, their hearts racing from the thrill of the adventure. "We did it! We found the
cave!" Jake shouted, still in disbelief.

As they left the Whispering Woods, the friends knew this was only the beginning of their
adventures. The hidden cave had revealed not just treasures, but also the power of
friendship and courage. They promised each other they would return, ready to explore
more secrets the cave had to offer. With their imaginations ignited, they headed home,
already planning their next adventure in the magical woods of Maplewood.

Answer these question based on characterization

1. How does Emma's curiosity drive the plot of the story? Provide examples from the text.

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2. In what ways does Jake's bravery influence the dynamics of the group? Cite specific moments that
highlight his character.

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3. Describe Mia's role in the adventure. How does her love for maps contribute to the group's progress? Use
text evidence to support your answer.

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 4. What evidence in the text shows Emma's leadership qualities? Provide instances where she takes charge or
motivates her friends.

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5. How do the reactions of the characters to the cave's treasures reveal their personalities? Discuss how each
friend's response adds depth to their characterization.

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6. Analyze the moment when the friends encounter the rumbling sound in the cave. How does this situation
reveal the characters' fears and strengths?

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7. How does the setting of the Whispering Woods play a role in shaping the characters' experiences? Reference
specific descriptions from the text.

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8. How does the friendship among Emma, Jake, and Mia evolve throughout their adventure in the cave?
Provide examples that show their bond strengthening or changing.

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Answer Key:
1. Emma is portrayed as curious and adventurous, which drives her to seek out the cave based on her grandmother's
stories.
2. Jake shows bravery by encouraging the group and leading them into unknown situations, such as when he spots the
opening to the cave.
3. Mia's intelligence is demonstrated through her use of the map, which is crucial for navigating the woods.
4. The author describes the Whispering Woods as magical, creating an enchanting atmosphere that excites the characters.
5. Their interactions, filled with excitement and encouragement, suggest a strong bond of friendship and mutual support.
6. Emma’s excitement upon discovering treasures shows her adventurous spirit and wonder about exploration.
7. Jake’s wide-eyed wonder at the treasures indicates his values of discovery and thrill-seeking.
8. The group's quick decision to leave when they hear the rumbling shows their instincts for safety, highlighting their
courage and friendship.
9. Mia’s suggestion to search for clues shows her resourcefulness and leadership, aligning with her character as smart
and practical.
10. Their promise to return signifies their excitement for future adventures and underlines the themes of growth,
friendship, and exploration.
 …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
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8- Active & Passive Voice

We use the passive voice when the object is more important than the subject or when the
subject is unknown.

Active sentence: Technology improves education.

Passive sentence: Education is improved by technology.

To change from active to passive voice follow these rules:
1. The object becomes subject.
2. Use verb to be in the tense of the active verb.
3. Use the past participle.
4. The subject becomes object and use (by) before it

Active
 voice Passive voice

Technology bridges up Communication gaps are bridged up by

Present Simple communication gaps. technology.

Some people collect pictures. Pictures are collected by some people.

Technology bridged up Communication gaps were bridged up

Past Simple
communication gaps. by technology.

44
 Tom repaired the car. The car was repaired by tom.

Technology is bridging up Communication gaps are being bridged

communication gaps. up by technology.
Present Continuous
Mum is sending a letter to her A letter is being sent by mum to her
relatives. relatives.
Technology was bridging up Communication gaps were being
communication gaps. bridged up by technology.

Past Continuous A new mobile was being given to me by

dad.
Dad was giving me a new mobile.

I was being given a new mobile by dad.

Technology has bridged up Communication gaps have been bridged
communication gaps. up by technology.
Present Perfect
Many tourists have visited the new The new Egyptian museum has been
Egyptian Museum. visited by many tourists.

Technology had bridged up Communication gaps had been bridged

Past Perfect communication gaps. up by technology.

John had won many medals. Many medals had been won by John

Technology will bridge up Communication gaps will be bridged up

communication gaps. by technology.
Future Simple
The story will be explained by the
The teacher will explain the story.
teacher.

Exercises

A) Decide whether the sentences are written in the Active or Passive voice:

1. ___________These phones are produced in China.

2. __________John plays the piano.

45
3. ___________German is spoken in Austria.
4. _________ Lots of houses were destroyed in the Great Fire of London.
5. _________ Plans have been made.
6. _________ She is watching television now.
7. _________ The grapes are grown in California.
8. _________ The ship has left the harbour.
9. _________ The search will be stopped because of the storm.
10. _________ The train is going to arrive late.
11. ________ Our postman was hurt yesterday.
12. ________They often visit their grandparents.
13. ________She is reading a newspaper article now.
14. ________These cars are produced in China 2 years ago.
15. ________Jacob teaches Spanish.
16. ________English is spoken in many countries.
17. ________Lots of houses were destroyed by the earthquake in 1906.
18. ________Graham Bell invented the telephone.
19. ________The bus driver was hurt yesterday.
20. ________You should open your workbooks.

B) Read the texts and underline the passive verb forms:

Great Fashion Designers of the 20th Century

Yves Saint Laurent is considered to be one of the most influential fashion designers of the twentieth
century. His designs have been copied many times and his ideas form the basis of many of today’s most
famous fashion labels.

Saint Laurent was born in Algeria, but at the age of seventeen, he moved to Paris to work for the famous
clothes designer, Christian Dior. At first, Dior had him copy patterns and help with details, but it was clear
that this young man had a great talent for design. Therefore, when Christian Dior died in 1957, the job of
chief designer was given to Saint Laurent by the directors of the Dior fashion house.

Computer games have always been viewed in a negative light. You’ll hear parents boasting of their child’s
passion for reading, or how there is considered a chess champion. You would never dream of mentioning
how many hours are spent on the computer. I always wonder why. Computer games have been popular

46
since 1980s. They are the subject of both controversy and research. Some people are concerned that
computer games can lead to aggression, violence and anti-social behaviour.

Benjamin Zephaniah was born and raised in the Handsworth district of Birmingham, which he called the
“Jamaican capital of Europe.” His poetry is strongly influenced by the music and poetry of Jamaica. His
poetry readings were turned into concert-like performances. In 1996, Zephaniah was requested to host
the president’s Two Nations Concert in London. Benjamin is also a very successful children’s poet. In
1999, he wrote an immensely successful novel for teenagers.

Books are made on big machines. First, the writer puts words and pictures on a computer. These are sent
to publishers, a company that makes and sells books. There the text is carefully checked. This text is
passed on to a printer who puts the words on paper. This is done by different methods. Which method is
used? That depends. Some books are printed like newspapers on huge rolls of paper. The printer makes
these books quite cheaply, but in large numbers. The pages of the book are cut by machine and are
sorted into the correct order. Then the cover is put on. Now the publishers sell the book to bookshops
and readers.

Wibble fair is good fun. Everyone enjoys it. The street is decorated with games and balloons. The houses
are painted red, and flowers are planted in the gardens. The children draw pictures, make cakes and the
cakes are eaten at the street party. People wear fancy clothes, and a prize is given to the person with the
best clothes.

C) Change the following sentences to the passive voice:

1. They were painting that wall yesterday.
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….....
2. We have turned off the lights.
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….....
3. The company will send him an email tomorrow.
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….....
4. I have to fill in this form.
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….....

5. The engineer repaired my computer.

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
6. We never saw him in the dining room. A maid took all his meals up to him.
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….....
........................................................................................................................................................

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7. They are demolishing the entire block.
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….....
8. An ambulance took the sick man to hospital.
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….....
9. The watchman called the police. The police arrested the man.
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….....
10. They are repairing my piano at the moment.
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….....
11. He was made to surrender his passport.
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….....
12. Someone has posted my parcel.
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….....
13. No one had informed me of the change of plans
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….....
14. We have sold all our copies and we have ordered more.
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….....
15. You must keep dogs on leads in the garden.
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….....
16. You shall have to tow the car to the garage.
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….....
17. The stones were thrown by a student.
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….....
18. Visitors must leave umbrellas and sticks in the cloakroom.
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….....
19. We can’t repair your cloak.
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….....
20. The police shouldn’t allow people to park here.
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….....
21. They are watching my house.
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….....
22. For a long time, the earth was believed to be flat.
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….....
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 23. Nobody has used this room for ages.
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….....
24. They handed round coffee and biscuits.
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….....
25. They didn’t look after the children properly.
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….....
26. Then they called up men of 28.
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….....
27. The crowd shouted him down.
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….....
28. This rumor must have been started by our opponents.
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….....
29. The dead man was being guarded by the police.
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….....
30. The car wasn’t locked.
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….....
31. Lightning struck the old oak.
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….....
32. They couldn’t mend the roof.
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….....
33. People must not leave bicycles in the hall.
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….....
34. Someone has already told him to report for duty at six.
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….....
35. They used to make little boys to climb the chimneys to clean them.
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….....
D) Complete with the active or the passive voice of the verb between brackets:
1. Yesterday two dish washers ______ (sell).
2. Last week the guards ______ (save) the president’s life.
3. Chess _______ (play) in many countries.
4. The concert __________ (hold) next week.

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