What is a story? As the following statements are read aloud, stamp your feet for the statements that you think do not suggest a story. My shoes are tied Once, there were 3 raccoons and a skunk on my porch The beach is beautiful My name is Cori My cat escaped through the window this summer

PLOT: The series of events that create the basic situation Somebody Wanted But So

What is PLOT? Plot is the literary element that describes the structure of a story. A plot diagram is an organizational tool, which is used to map the significant events in a story. By placing the most significant events from a story on the plot diagram, you can visualize the key features of the story. Plot is the literary element that describes the structure of a story. The plot is all of the related events in the story that make-up the basic situation from beginning to end.

Plot Components Climax: the turning point, the most intense moment—either mentally or in action: when you discover at last how the conflict ends Rising Action: the series of attempts the character makes to try to solve the problem Falling Action: all of the action which follows the climax Exposition: The mood and conditions existing at the beginning of the story. The setting is identified. The main characters with their positions, circumstances and relationships to one another are established. The exciting force or initial conflict is introduced. Sometimes called the “Narrative HOOK” this begins the conflict that continues throughout the story. Rising Action: The series of events, conflicts, and crises in the story that lead up to the climax, providing the progressive intensity, and complicate the conflict. Climax: The turning point of the story. A crucial event takes place and from this point forward, the protagonist moves toward his inevitable end. The event may be either an action or a mental decision that the protagonist makes. Falling Action: The events occurring from the time of the climax to the end of the story. The main character may encounter more conflicts in this part of the story, but the end is inevitable. Resolution/Denouement: The tying up of loose ends and all of the threads in the story. The conclusion. The hero character either emerges triumphant or is defeated at this point. Exposition: the start of the story, the situation before the action starts: meet the characters and establish the setting Resolution: the conclusion, the tying together of all of the threads

Types of Linear Plots Plots can be told in Chronological order flashback In addition, you can note that some stories follow a circular or episodic plot, and hypertextual stories can be different every time they’re read, as the reader chooses the direction that the story takes. If a story that students are working on does not fit into the triangle structure, think about why the author would choose a different story structure and how the structure has changed. In media res (in the middle of things) when the story starts in the middle of the action without exposition

Setting Where and when a story takes place. Sometimes, we must guess the location or time period of a story from contextual clues, because the author does not tell us. anachronism: a detail of a story that does not fit the setting A computer in a Shakespearean tragedy would be out of place.

Mood Overall feeling of a story. (Ex. Happy, sad, depressing, scary)

Character: A person or animal that takes part in the action Character: A person or animal that takes part in the action. This includes the main character, called the protagonist. Types of Characters: Protagonist: Main character Antagonist: the opposing character or force to the protagonist Static characters (flat): Characters who do not change within the context of the story. Characters we don’t get to know very well. minor characters . Dynamic characters (round): Characters who change, grow, or develop within the context of the story. Characters we get to know well. We know their fears, fantasies, history, etc.

Characterization Authors reveal a character’s personality and motivation by what they THINK, FEEL, SAY, and DO 1) Appearance: How does a character look and dress—what does this reveal about the character? 2) Personality: Is the character emotional or rational—shy or outgoing—skillful or clumsy— happy or depressed—caring or cold—honest or dishonest? 3) Background: Where and how did the character grow up—what is the social status of the character—how have they been educated—hobbies or skills—what do they do for a living? 4) Motivation: What does the character want? What are the character’s wishes, desires, dreams,and needs? 5) Relationships: How is the character related to the other characters and how do they interact with each other? 6) Change: Does the character change in the course of the narrative? Does he or she learn or grow? In other words, is the character static (unchanging) or dynamic (changing)?

Conflict Conflict is the dramatic struggle between two forces in a story. Without conflict, there is no plot.

Types of Conflict External Conflict character vs character character vs. nature character vs. society character vs. supernatural character vs. technology character vs. self Internal Conflict

Theme The message or moral the author is trying to convey about society or just a truth of life. Usually suggested by characters’ thoughts or what the main character learns. “Bugs” The lightning bug has wings of gold, The goldbug wings of flame; The bedbug has no wings at all, But it gets there just the same. A person doesn’t have to be wealthy or beautiful to make it through life.

Point of View:The perspective from which the story is told First Person = When a story is told from the perspective of one of the characters in the story. Uses the pronoun “I.” Third Person  When a story is told from the perspective of someone outside the story looking in. Third person limited: perspective is limited to what one character does, observes, or thinks. (He, she, it) Third person omniscient: the story is told from the perspective of someone who knows and sees all (he, she, it)

Flashback Foreshadowing An interruption of story action to tell about something that happened earlier. Foreshadowing Hints of clues in a story about what is to come.

Genre: a category of artistic, musical, or literary composition characterized by a particular style, form, or content. There are 5 major forms genres of literature: Plays Non-fiction (autobiography, biography) Fiction (fantasy, historical fiction, magic realism, mystery, science fiction, realistic fiction, Western) Poetry Folk tale or classic