The Story Basic Elements

Setting Time and place of the story’s action Includes ideas, customs, values, and beliefs

Characters Actors in the story’s plot Examples: people, animals, or whatever the writer chooses

Types of Characters Protagonist –Main character Antagonist –is in conflict with the main character

Point of View Relationship of the narrator to the story First person –Narrator is a character in the story; referred to as “I”

Point of View Third person limited –Narrator reveals the thoughts of only one character; referred to as “he” or “she”

Point of View Third person omniscient –Narrator knows everything about the story’s events and reveals thoughts of all characters

Theme Central idea or message of a story

Plot Sequence of events in a story What happens in the story

Conflict Struggle between opposing forces –External--between a character and an outside force –Internal--takes place within the mind of the character

5 Stages of Plot: Exposition –introduces the story’s characters, setting, and conflict Rising Action –occurs as complications or twists of the conflict occur

5 Stages of Plot: Climax –emotional high-point of the story Falling Action –logical result of the climax

5 Stages of Plot: Resolution –presents the final outcome of the story