STORY ELEMENTS

A) Place: Answers the “Where?” → where most of the action occurs Background, environment, rural or urban, place of employment B) Time: Answers the “When?” → when most of the action occurs Day, month, year, time of day, time of year, season, era in history C) Mood/Atmosphere: Answers the “Feeling/Emotion?” → for most of the story Eerie, tense, sorrowful, exciting, suspenseful SETTING

CHARACTER Answers the “Who?” → remember not necessarily people Main and supporting characters whose traits are revealed as the story progresses Story creates believable personalities CHARACTER

CHARACTER cont’d… A) Physical Traits: What characters look like Ex) build, eye colour, hair colour, skin colour (sometimes associated with ethnicity) B) Character Traits: Characters’ personalities Ex) stubborn, lazy, brave… Are described/observed in stories by: - What they do, What the author/narrator says about them, How others react to them, What others say about them Often, character’s actions/personalities are a result of trying to meet a need (i.e. Restitution Need) = love, fun, power, belonging CHARACTER cont’d…

CHARACTER cont’d… C) Protagonist: Usually the “hero” or “good guy” Can be (usually is) the main or leading character(s) Usually the main “action” and story revolves around them or happens to them Ex) Simba (Lion King), Harry (Harry Potter), Three Little Pigs D) Antagonist: Sometimes the “enemy”, “villain”, or “bad guy” Opposing character (or third force) to the protagonist An important character (or element) of the story Ex) Scar, Voldemort, Wolf CHARACTER cont’d…

** Sometimes the protagonist and antagonist can co-exist or be interchangeable within or amongst characters CHARACTER cont’d… BATMAN GOTHAM CITY POLICE JOKER

A clash/confrontation/meeting of or between two (or more) opposing characters/forces Centred around the protagonist(s) and usually the antagonist(s) Associated with the plot or is the plot Usually there are four types: CONFLICT

CONFLICT cont’d… A) Character vs. Character: Ex) B) Character vs. Self: Represents some type of inner conflict/struggle (physical, social, emotional, psychological) C) Character vs. Nature/Society/Environment: D) Character vs. Supernatural/Force: CONFLICT cont’d…

Refers to the sequence of events in a story which must be completed by the end of the story (with the exception of “to be continued…”) Usually develops around a struggle/conflict between characters or issues in a story Has five main parts: PLOT

PLOT cont’d… A) Introduction: Where the main character(s), setting, and main conflict are introduced B) Rising Action: Those involved struggle to overcome the conflict The main part of the story with the multiple interesting/exciting events C) Climax: Point of highest excitement, action, or interest Usually the part of the story where the conflict is resolved (or in the process of being resolved) PLOT cont’d…

PLOT cont’d… D) Falling Action: Signals that the end of the story is near Tells or reveals the characters’ thoughts, feelings, actions after the climax E) Conclusion: Usually or attempts to “tie up” any loose ends and answers any remaining questions about the plot or characters PLOT cont’d…

A plotline is used to graphically represent the plot of a story The plots are the events of the story while the line is used to connect them While there are highs and lows in the plotline, there is only ONE climax (which must be the highest point of the plotline) PLOT cont’d…

The controlling message/idea/lesson of the story; what the storyteller is trying to say about society/life/people/current issues The theme runs throughout the plot Ex) Don’t judge a book by its cover, money can’t buy happiness, be careful what you wish for ** Remember, an explanation must support the identification of the theme THEME

CONNECTIONS How we connect a text in other ways Usually there are three types: A) Text to Self: Ex) B) Text to Text: C) Text to Society/Environment/World: CONNECTIONS

MISCELLANEOUS A) Point of View: The view/perspective from which the story is told Omniscient – an all knowing observer First Person – the main character Third Person – a minor character’s or objective view B) Foreshadowing: When a hint/clue is given about what is going to happen next C) Flashback: The telling of an event that occurred earlier MISCELLANEOUS

MISCELLANEOUS cont’d… D) Symbolism: When an author uses an object or situation to represent something meaningful (“big idea”) Different than a symbol or logo Ex) bird = freedom, flower = growth E) Irony: The use of language to convey a meaning that is opposite than the intended/literal meaning Ex) an oncologist that smokes MISCELLANEOUS cont’d…

MISCELLANEOUS cont’d… F) Figurative Language: Simile – a comparison using the words “like” or “as” Ex) float like a butterfly, sting like a bee Metaphor – a comparison without using the words “like” or “as” Ex) the teacher planted the seeds of wisdom Personification - giving a non-living object living characteristics Ex) the chair trembled with fear MISCELLANEOUS cont’d…