How Story Elements Interact: Questions to ask

Setting: 1)How does the setting affect what happens in the story? 2) How does the setting affect how the characters act, think, or feel? 3) How does the setting cause or contribute to the conflict in the book/story? 4) What about the setting reflects or contributes to the theme?

Events: 1)How do the events in the story show you the theme? 2) How do the events in the story change or affect the characters? 3) What events in the story lead up to and cause the conflict? 4) How do the events in the story change or affect the setting?

Characters: 1)How are the characters affected by the conflict? 2) How does what the characters do or say show you the theme? 3) How do the characters affect or change the setting? 4) How do the characters cause or shape what happens in the story?

Conflict: 1)How does the conflict shape what happens in the story? 2) How does the conflict change or affect the characters? 3) How does the conflict help reveal the theme? 4) What effect does the conflict have on the setting?

Use the plot line map to collect all 5 parts of the Elements of a short story. Then, one option is to transfer each part onto a tree map so that you can see a working summary statement across the page. Write the summary statement (overall gist statement for the passage) using the tree map. Or, using the plot map, write a summary statement (overall gist statement for the passage)

Example Plot Line

Helpful Link for a Lesson on how to answer the beginning questions:

For Practice Do the following: 1) Annotate for the 5 Elements of plot in the story 2) fill out a Plot Line 3) Pick out the theme, Protagonist and Antagonist, type of Conflict 4) Transfer your information to a Tree Map 5) Write an overall Gist statement for the entire passage