1. STORY ELEMENTS

2. Character(s)
People, Animals, Creatures, in a story.

3. Protagonist
The main character in a story.

4. Antagonist
The character opposing the Protagonist.

6. CHARACTERIZATION
The description of the personalities of the characters in the story and the way in which an author reveals their personalities.

7. Tips for Characterization
Look for character traits in the character’s actions and dialogue. Also look at how other characters in the story react to the character.
Examples:
Active, conceited, cowardly, brave, bossy, critical, greedy, dishonest, easygoing, clever, and charming. See poster for more examples.

8. Setting
The time and place of a story.

9. Point of View
Perspective from which a story is told.

10. Why is Point of View Important?
Three little pigs
What do you think about the wolf after watching this video?

11. The True Story of the Three Little Pigs
What do you think about the wolf after this video?

12. Why do you think it is important to hear more than one point of view?
Why is it important to know the point of view in reading?

13. First Person Point of View
The narrator is one of the characters in the story.
First person pronouns, such as I, me, my, and mine are used in telling the story.
Since the narrator is a character in the story, he/she may not be completely reliable.
We find out only what this character knows, thinks, and witnesses.

14. As I walked up the hill, I realized that the atmosphere was just too quiet. There was no sound from the cardinal who was nearly always singing from the top of the maple tree. I thought I saw a shadow move high up on the slope, but when I looked again it was gone. Still, I shuddered as I felt a silent threat pass over me like a cloud over the sun.

15. Second Person Point of View
Second person pronouns such as you, your, and yours are used.
Most stories are not told in second person. It is reserved for items of personal address,such as letters.

16. As you walk up the hill, you realize that the atmosphere's just too quiet. There's no sound from the cardinal you know is almost always singing from the top of the maple tree. You think you see a shadow move high up on the slope, but when you look again it's gone. You shudder as you feel a silent threat pass over you. You feel cold, like a cloud just passed over the sun.

17. Third Person Objective
The narrator is not a character in the story.
Third person pronouns such as he, his, she, hers, it, its, they, and them are used in telling the story.
The narrator is an observer who can only tell what is said and done.
The narrator cannot see into the minds of any of the characters.
We find out only what the characters say and do.

18. The girl walked up the quiet hillside.
            In the top of the maple tree, the cardinal tipped his head back and drew breath to sing. A dead branch cracked on the ground below the bird's perch.
            The man stepped on the branch and rattled the blades of grass as he moved behind the tree. He watched the girl come up the hillside toward him.
            Her gaze shifted quickly and warily from one shadowy area high on the slope to another, and she shuddered.

19. Third Person Limited
The narrator is not a character in the story.
Third person pronouns such as he, his, she, hers, it, its, they, and them are used in telling the story.
The narrator tells the story from the vantage point of one character.
The narrator can see into this character’s mind, but not any of the other characters.
We find out only what this character does, knows, thinks, and witnesses.

20.   As the girl walked up the hill, she realized that the atmosphere was just too quiet.
            In the top of the maple tree, the cardinal tipped his head back and drew breath to sing. A dead branch cracked on the ground below the bird's perch.
            The man stepped on the branch and rattled the blades of grass as he moved behind the tree. He watched the girl come up the hillside toward him.
            She thought she saw a shadow move high up on the slope, but when she looked again it was gone.
            The girl shuddered as she felt a silent threat pass over her. It felt like a cloud creeping over the sun.

21. 3rd Person POV: Omniscient
godlike narrator; he/she can enter character's minds and know everything that is going on, past, present, and future.
May be a narrator outside the text

22.   As the girl walked up the hill, she realized that the atmosphere was just too quiet.
            The cardinal tipped his head back and drew breath to sing, but just as the first note passed his beak he heard the crack of a dead branch far below his perch high in the maple tree. Startled, he looked down, cocking his head to one side and watching with great interest while the man rattled the blades of grass as he tried to hide himself behind the tree.
            As the man saw her start up the hill, he moved quickly into the shelter of the huge old maple tree. If she saw him now, everything would be ruined.
            She thought she saw a shadow move high up on the slope, but when she looked again it was gone.
            The man thought if he could stay hidden until she came within range, she'd have to talk to him. Wouldn't she?
            The girl shuddered as she felt a silent threat pass over her. It felt like a cloud creeping over the sun.

23. Narration not “Quotation”
When trying to determine point of view, you must look at the narration.
Do not look at anything in quotation marks.
Example:
John looked at the paper. “I think I’ve seen this man,” he said.

24. Plot Series of related events that make up a story.
There are 5 stages of plot.

25. Plot
Exposition-introduces the setting, characters and the start of conflict. The exposition usually occurs at the beginning of a book or story.

26. Plot
Rising Action-conflict becomes more intense and builds as the main characters struggle to resolve their problems

27. Plot
Climax - The point of crisis in the plot. It may be the reader’s point of highest interest.

28. Plot
Falling action - events that lead to resolution.

29. Plot
Resolution - outcome of the conflict; ties up most loose ends

30. PLOT DIAGRAM Climax Rising Action Conflict Exposition Resolution
Falling Action
Exposition
Resolution

31. Conflict Conflict - struggle between opposing forces within the plot
There are 3 types of External Conflict.
There is 1 type of Internal Conflict.

32. External Conflict
Person vs. Person- external struggle between two or more individuals

34. External Conflict
Person vs. nature - external struggle between man and an element of nature.

36. External Conflict
Person vs. society-When a person stands against a man-made institution. (ex: slavery)

39. Internal Conflict
Person vs. Himself-internal struggle concerning emotion and decision.
Ex: Remember when squidward tried a krabby patty, liked it, but didn’t want to show it?
That’s internal conflict!
Can you think of another example?

40. Another Example

41. Theme
An abstract concept, which the plot, characters, setting, and author’s purpose all emphasize.
The following are a few but not all the themes commonly found in literature.
Honesty, Friendship, Trust, Ambition, Courage, Self-knowledge, Survival, Self-Reliance, Romantic Love, Love of Family, Revenge, Justice, Prejudice… See poster more common themes.

42. Tips for Finding Theme
Ask yourself:
“What did the characters learn?”
“How did the characters grow or change?”
“Why did the character act this way?”

43. What is the theme?

44. CONCLUSION
Now that we have identified and defined the elements of a short story, let us use the elements to analyze a familiar fairytale. You may use your notes from the PowerPoint presentation.”

45. Story Time! Watch this video about the story of Cinderella.
Fill out your Short Story Elements Chart as you watch.
After the story is finished, work with a partner to complete the story map below the chart.

46. Finally, to finish it off........