Literature Studies: Reading Deeply into Stories, Novels, and Plays
Reading literature well means more than following a plot — it means seeing how a story is built and why its parts work together. The guides gathered here cover the foundations of literary analysis for the middle- and high-school classroom: how characters are constructed, how plots are shaped, how conflict and theme carry meaning, and how to bring it all together in a full novel study.
Each piece is written for the working teacher, with clear definitions, worked examples from widely taught texts, and printable tools. Start with whichever skill your students need next, or work through them in sequence — story elements first, then plot and character, then a complete novel that puts every skill to use.
Teaching Character Types
Round, flat, dynamic, static, and the roles characters play — with a free character map.
The Plot Diagram, Explained
Freytag’s Pyramid and the five parts of a story, with a worked example and a printable template.
Story Elements & Conflict
The building blocks of narrative and the types of conflict that drive every plot.
The Outsiders: A Novel-Study Guide
A teacher’s companion to S. E. Hinton’s novel — characters, themes, and classroom ideas.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Literature Studies cover?
It covers the foundations of literary analysis for middle and high school — how characters are constructed, how plots are shaped, how story elements and conflict carry meaning, and how to bring it all together in a full novel study.
Which guide should I start with?
If students are new to analysis, begin with Teaching Character Types and The Plot Diagram — together they give readers a vocabulary for who is in a story and how its events are arranged.
Is there a complete novel-study guide?
Yes. The Outsiders: A Novel-Study Guide is a full teacher’s companion to S. E. Hinton’s novel, covering characters, themes, and classroom activities that put the individual analysis skills to work on one text.
What are the main character types students should know?
The core set is round, flat, dynamic, static, and foil characters, plus the roles characters play in a story. Each is defined with examples — and paired with a free character map — in Teaching Character Types.