2. Elements of a Story Edited by Mr. Woodmansee for use at Good Shepherd Catholic School

3. Elements of a Story Plot – the series of events/conflicts Character – a person in a short story, novel, or play Setting - Time, place, general conditions of a work, and atmosphere Point-of-View – The perspective of the story Theme – The main idea

4. Plot

5. Pyramid Plot Structure The most basic and traditional form of plot is pyramid- shaped. This structure has been described in more detail by Aristotle and by Gustav Freytag.

6. Freytag's Pyramid Exposition: the start of the story, the situation before the action starts Rising Action: the series of conflicts and crisis in the story that lead to the climax Climax: the turning point, the most intense moment—either mentally or in action Falling Action: all of the action which follows the climax Resolution: the conclusion, the tying together of all of the threads

7. Types of Linear Plots Chronological Order – in time order

8. Conflict The problem in the story External conflict – the main character struggles with something or someone Internal conflict – the main character struggles with him/herself

9. Types of Conflict Human vs. Nature Human vs. Society Human vs. Self Internal Conflict Human vs. Human Interpersonal Conflict

10. Character

11. The protagonist is the “good guy”

12. Protagonist The main character The hero The character that the reader becomes emotionally involved with.

13. The antagonist is the “bad guy” or force

14. Antagonist The character who goes up against the protagonist in the man versus man conflict. The villain

15. Setting

16. The time and place of the story is the setting

17. Roles of Setting Background for action Adds details necessary to imagine or “see” the story

18. Furniture Scenery Customs Transportation Clothing Dialects Weather Time of day Time of year Setting Details Describe

19. Point-of-View

20. The point of view is the perspective of the story “That rotten wolf tried to eat us!!!!” “I was framed! I just wanted to borrow a cup of sugar!”

21. Point of View The relationship of the narrator, or storyteller, to the story First-person point of view, the narrator is a character in the story, referred to as “I” Third-person limited point of view, the narrator tells the story: though one character, referring to that character as “he” or “she” from a “God-Like” perspective knowing everything

22. Theme

23. What the protagonist learns The main idea of the story What the reader can take and apply to his/her life