1. Some basics that every good story must have ….
Literary Elements
Some basics that every good story must have ….

2. The time and place of the story is the setting
Time – could be time of day, a certain year, or even a specific historical era
Place – could be a home, a small town, or outer space

3. The point of view is the perspective of the story or who is telling the story
It shapes the way the reader sees events and characters in the story.
“That rotten wolf tried to eat us!!!!”
“I was framed! I just wanted to borrow a cup of sugar!”

4. Every story needs characters
People
Animals
Or Creatures

5. The protagonist is often the “good guy.”

6. Protagonist
Main character or the one most central to the action of the story
Usually the hero
Can have both good and bad qualities

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

8. Antagonist
Person, thing or force that works against the protagonist or hero.
One of the main characters as well.
An antagonist can be another character, a family, a society, a force of nature, or a force within the main character

9. Identify the Protagonist/Antagonist:

10. More on Characterization
We talked about indirect and direct characterization. Here are two more ways to “label” a character in a story:
Dynamic (change) – the character often learns something about themselves, the others or the world; they “evolve” by the end of the story; think of dynamite – it “changes” things
Static (same) – a character that stays the same; used most often to help the main character move the story along

11. Notice where most of the story takes place.
Plot
The events that happen in the story
Notice where most of the story takes place.

12. How does the author “expose” the story?
Five Parts of Plot
Exposition – the author “exposes” or introduces the characters, setting, and possibly parts of the conflict
“It was an old building with an old elevator – a very small elevator with a maximum capacity of three people. Martin, a thin twelve-year-old, felt nervous in it from the first day he and his father moved into the apartment. Of course he was always uncomfortable in elevators, afraid that they would fall, but there was something especially unpleasant about this one.” -from “The Elevator” by William Sleator
How does the author “expose” the story?

13. Five parts of the plot 2. Rising Action
Conflict or complications/problems the characters face
Most of the story takes place in Rising Action.
There can be “mini” turning points or climaxes in this part of the story.

14. Five Parts of Plot
3. Climax - Turning point of the story where the conflict is decided one way or another, or the solution may have begun.
4. Falling action -Author describes how the problem is solved.
5. Resolution (ending) - Brings story to an end

15. Conflict
Internal conflict - character’s struggle within himself (man vs. self)
External conflict - struggle between two characters or forces (man vs. nature; man vs. man; man vs. society)
Identify the types of conflict in this clip:

16. Foreshadowing A hint about what will happen next is called foreshadowing.

17. Allusion
A reference to something out of the story with which the reader is likely to be familiar, such as a person, place, or event from history or literature.
Ask yourself: What doesn’t fit?

18. Allusion
What is the allusion in this passage, and WHY is it an allusion?
“Rafaela leans out the window and leans on her elbow and dreams her hair is like Rapunzel’s. On the corner there is music from the bar, and Rafaela wishes she could go there and dance before she gets old.” –from The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros

19. Mood and Tone Mood “I feel _________________.” Tone
The feeling that a literary work gives to readers –
“I feel _________________.”
Tone
The writer’s or speaker’s attitude toward the subject and audience –
“The author feels _____________ about the character/situation.”

20. Flashback
FLASHBACK: story stops for a past moment to be relived in the present
Watch this clip and identify the flashback:
Toy Story 2: When Somebody Loved Me. - YouTube

21. Foreshadowing and conflict
Suspense
Feeling of anxious curiosity
Keeps readers interested
The real power of story lies in its ability to create suspense.
What literary elements contribute to/create suspense?
Foreshadowing and conflict

22. Whether you’re the reader, or the writer, a great story includes all these literary elements!
foreshadowing
protagonist
conflict
climax
characters
setting
antagonist
point of view