ElementsofaStoryWhatyouneedtoknow!StoryElementsSettingCharactersPlotConflictResolutionPointofViewThemeSetting

Settingisthe“whereandwhen”ofastory.Itisthetimeand

placeduringwhichthestorytakesplace.SettingDetailsthatdescribe:FurnitureSceneryCustomsTransportationClothingDialectsWeatherTimeofdayTimeofyearTimeandplacearewheretheactionoccursTheFunctionsofaSettingTocreateamoodoratmosphereToshowareaderadifferentwayoflifeTomakeactionseemmorerealTobethesourceofconflictorstruggleTosymbolizeanidea

MoodMoodisthefeelingthattheauthortriestoconveythroughoutthestory.Theatmosphereoremotionalconditioncreatedbythepiece,withinthesetting.

Doestheauthorwantthereadertobefrightened

orsad,ordoesthestorymakethereaderlaughandthinkhappythoughts?Tofigureoutmood,examinehowyoufeelwhilereadingthestory.Oftenmoodisconveyedbythestory’ssetting.CharactersTheperson,animals,andthingsparticipatinginastoryCharactersProtagonistandantagonistareusedtodescribecharacters.Theprotagonististhemaincharacterofthestory,theonewithwhomthereaderidentifies.Thispersonisnotnecessary“good”.Theantagonististheforceinoppositionoftheprotagonist;thispersonmaynotbe“bad”or“evil”,buthe/sheopposestheprotagonistinasignificantwayPlot(definition)Plot

istheorganizedpatternorsequenceofeventsthatmakeupa

story.

Plot

istheliteraryelementthatdescribesthestructureofastory.Itshowsarrangementofeventsandactionswithinastory.PartsofaPlotExposition

-introduction;characters,settingandconflict(problem)areintroducedRisingAction-eventsthatoccurasresultofcentralconflictClimax-highestpointofinterestorsuspenseofastoryFallingAction-tensioneases;eventsshowtheresultsofhowthemaincharacterbeginstoresolvetheconflictResolution-looseendsaretiedup;theconflictissolvedPlotDiagram21345ExpositionThisusuallyoccursatthebeginningofashortstory.Herethecharactersareintroduced.Wealsolearnaboutthesettingofthestory.Mostimportantly,weareintroducedtothemainconflict(mainproblem).2.RisingActionThispartofthestorybeginstodeveloptheconflict(s).Abuildingofinterestorsuspenseoccursandleadstotheclimax.Complicationsarise3.ClimaxThisistheturningpointofthestory.Usuallythemaincharactercomesfacetofacewithaconflict.Themaincharacterwillchangeinsomeway.Thisisthemostintensemoment.4.FallingActionActionthatfollowstheclimaxandultimatelyleadstotheresolution5.ResolutionTheconclusion;alllooseendsaretiedup.Eitherthecharacterdefeatstheproblem,learnstolivewiththeproblem,ortheproblemdefeatsthecharacter.PuttingItAllTogether1.Exposition2.RisingAction3.Climax4.FallingAction5.ResolutionBeginningofStoryMiddleofStoryEndofStoryDiagramofPlotSetting,characters,andconflictareintroducedIntroduction/ExpositionDevelopment/

Rising

ActionClimaxFallingActionResolutionSpecialTechniquesusedinaStorySuspense-excitement,tension,curiosityForeshadowing-hintorclueaboutwhatwillhappeninstoryFlashback-interruptsthenormalsequenceofeventstotellaboutsomethingthathappenedinthepastSymbolism–useofspecificobjectsorimagestorepresentideasPersonification

–whenyoumakeathing,ideaoranimaldosomethingonlyhumansdoSurpriseEnding

-conclusionthatreaderdoesnotexpectConflict Conflictisthedramaticstrugglebetweentwoforcesinastory.Withoutconflict,thereisnoplot.

ConflictConflictisaproblemthatmustbesolved;anissuebetweentheprotagonistandantagonistforces.Itformsthebasisoftheplot.ConflictscanbeexternalorinternalExternalconflict-outsideforcemaybeperson,group,animal,nature,oranonhumanobstacleInternalconflict-takesplaceinacharacter’smindTypesofExternalConflict

CharactervsNatureCharactervsSocietyCharactervsCharacterCharactervsFateTypeofInternalConflictCharactervs.SelfPointofViewFirstPersonPointofView-acharacterfromthestoryistellingthestory;usesthepronouns“I”and“me”ThirdPersonPointofView-anoutsidenarratoristellingthestory;usesthepronouns“he”,“she”,“they”TypesofThird-Person

PointofViewThird-PersonLimitedThenarratorknowsthethoughtsandfeelingsononlyONEcharacterinastory.Third-PersonOmniscientThenarratorknowsthethoughtsandfeelingofALLthecharactersinastory.ThemeThethemeisthecentral,generalmessage,themainidea,thecontrollingtopicaboutlifeorpeopletheauthorwantstogetacrossthroughaliteraryworkTodiscoverthethemeofastory,thinkbig.Whatbigmessageistheauthortryingtosayabouttheworldinwhichwelive?Whatisthisstorytellingmeabouthowlifeworks,orhowpeoplebehave?TheThemeisalsothepracticallesson(moral)thatwelearnfromastoryafterwer