1. STORY ELEMENTS

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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…

5. 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…

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

7. 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

8. 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…

9. 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

10. 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…

11. 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…

12. 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…

13. 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

14. 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

15. 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

16. 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…

17. 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…