Elements of a Story Review What are they

Elements of a Story Review

What are they? There are 5 Elements (ingredients) to a story: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Character Setting Conflict Plot Theme

1. Character ● The different people, animals, or creatures in a story. ● Pay close attention to the physical and psychological qualities of every character. Protagonist, Antagonist, Secondary Characters.

Characterization Authors leave clues to let readers know what their characters are like. For example, an author may include: Describing words to tell what a character looks like Dialogue to show characters express themselves Actions to show what a character does Reactions of other characters to show the impact of a character’s actions

2. Setting ● where and when the story takes place ● think of the time and place Also consider the climate/weather patterns throughout a story and how it reacts with the plot and events

3. Conflict ● The problem(s) faced by the character(s)/protagonist. ● Characters can have internal conflicts and/or external conflicts. ● Some stories have resolutions (the major conflict is solved by the end) or no resolution (major conflict is not solved by the end). 4 major types of conflict: • Character vs Character (external) • Character vs Society (external) • Character vs Nature (external) • Character vs Self (internal)

4. Plot ● the storyline/major events. ● it is the sequence of events in a story. ● Generally, the plot is a planned, logical series of events having a beginning, middle, and an end. ● Plots can be linear (beginning, middle and end) or non-linear (start in the middle/future and build story up using flashbacks, for example).

Basic Plot Structure Climax Falling Action Rising Action Conflict Resolution? Introduction/ Exposition Conclusion/ Denouement

Five Elements of a Plot 1. Introduction/Exposition - The beginning of the story where the characters and the setting are revealed. 2. Rising Action - This is where the events in the story become complicated and the conflict(s) in the story is/are beginning to reveal themselves (events building up/leading to the climax) 3. Climax - The climax is the moment before we know the answers to the questions the conflict has created. It is the peak of suspense. 4. Falling Action – The unwinding of events; complications begin to resolve themselves (events between climax and conclusion). 5. Conclusion/Denouement – This has to do with the story’s end. It is usually where the resolution presents itself. That is, whether or not the story’s conflict(s) has/have been solved.

5. Theme ● Life lesson, meaning, and/or message in a story ● Usually addresses something about life or human nature ● Think of the “big idea” - what’s the message? What does the author’s purpose for telling the story?